Distribución espacio-temporal de aves acuáticas de la familia Laridae en un humedal costero sudamericano / Spatio-temporal distribution of aquatic birds of the family Laridae in a South American coastal wetland

Resumen Introducción: El humedal costero Poza de La Arenilla (HCPA), Callao, Perú, es un hábitat importante para el descanso y reposo de aves acuáticas, entre ellas la familia Laridae. Sin embargo, el humedal está sufriendo una degradación crítica debido al desarrollo de actividades antropogénicas. Objetivo: Evaluar la distribución espacio-temporal de las aves acuáticas de la familia Laridae reportadas en HCPA según la temporada del año entre 2013 y 2018. Métodos: Se realizaron muestreos quincenales en 11 zonas delimitadas de HCPA de enero 2013 a diciembre 2018, durante la mañana y la tarde, mediante el método de recuento total. Resultados: Se registraron 12 especies de la familia Laridae. Leucophaeus pipixcan fue la especie de mayor dominancia en la mayoría de las zonas estudiadas y su presencia se destaca en verano y primavera. Las especies con mayor distribución en el humedal son L. pipixcan, Larus dominicanus y Larus belcheri, que se registraron en todas las zonas estudiadas. La mayor abundancia total promedio de especies se registró en verano y la menor en invierno. Se observó un aumento gradual de la abundancia promedio de aves, siendo estos aumentos notables entre primavera y verano de un año a otro. Además, se observó una disminución de la riqueza global de los láridos durante el periodo evaluado. Se observó un patrón de variación estacional del índice de diversidad de Shannon-Weaver (H') similar de un año a otro, debido a que los láridos son aves migratorias, y una tendencia a la disminución del índice con el paso del tiempo. Conclusiones: El HCPA desempeña un papel fundamental para la avifauna acuática de la región. Se ha registrado la presencia de cinco especies migratorias y siete residentes de esta familia, las cuales muestran preferencias espaciales en diferentes zonas del humedal. A pesar de que se observa una disminución en la riqueza global de las especies en el tiempo, la abundancia promedio de aves aumenta.

Abstract Introduction: The coastal wetland Poza de La Arenilla (HCPA), located in Callao (Peru), is an important resting and roosting habitat for aquatic birds, including the family Laridae. However, the wetland is suffering critical degradation due to the development of anthropogenic activities. Objective: To evaluate the spatiotemporal distribution of aquatic birds of the family Laridae reported at HCPA seasonally during the period 2013-2018. Methods: Biweekly sampling was carried out in 11 delimited zones in HCPA between January 2013 and December 2018, during morning and afternoon hours using the total count method. Results: A total of 12 species of Laridae birds were recorded. Leucophaeus pipixcan is the most dominant species in most of the studied zones and its presence is highlighted in summer and spring. The species with the greatest distribution in the wetland was L. pipixcan, Larus dominicanus, and Larus belcheri, which were reported in all the zones studied. The highest average total abundance of species was recorded in summer, while the lowest in winter. A gradual increase in the average abundance of aquatic birds was observed, with these increases being noticeable between the springs and summers from one year to the following. Also, overall richness of the larids was observed to decrease throughout the period evaluated. A similar seasonal variation pattern of the Shannon diversity index (H') was observed from one year to the following, due the fact that Laridae are migratory, and a tendency for the index to decrease with the passage of time. Conclusions: The HCPA plays a key role for the aquatic birds of the region. The presence of five migratory and seven resident species of Laridae has been recorded, which show spatial preferences in different areas of the wetland. Despite a decrease in overall species richness over time, the average abundance of Laridae birds is increasing.

Closely related gull species show contrasting foraging strategies in an urban environment.

The expansion of urban landscapes has both negative and positive effects on wildlife. Understanding how different species respond to urbanization is key to assessing how urban landscapes influence regional wildlife behavior and ecosystem structure. Gulls are often described as strong urban adapters, but few studies have explored species-specific differences in habitat use. Here, we use GPS tracking in conjunction with stable isotope analysis (SIA) to quantify the habitat use and trophic ecology of great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) and herring gulls (L. argentatus) in an urbanized area. Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) of foraging locations revealed significant differences in the habitat use between species. Great black-backed gulls foraged primarily in marine habitats and herring gulls foraged primarily in specific urban habitats (e.g., landfills, dumpsters) and showed higher site fidelity in terms of the proportion of foraging sites revisited. Further, great black-backed gulls had significantly higher δ15N and δ13C than herring gulls, reflecting the use of marine, rather than urban, food sources. This study highlights the variability in urban habitat utilization among closely related species, assesses stable isotope signatures of urban diets in wild birds, and discusses ecological implications of the relative contribution of urban and marine foraging.

Abundancia de aves playeras (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) y su relación con la temperatura del agua en un humedal de Perú (2013-2019) / Abundance of shorebirds (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) and its relationship with water temperature in a wetland in Peru (2013-2019)

Resumen Introducción: La familia Scolopacidae (Orden: Charadriiformes) es una de las familias más abundantes en los humedales costeros. El Humedal Costero Poza de la Arenilla cuenta con un registro histórico de 20 especies de escolopácidos; los eventos climáticos podrían afectar la distribución y migración de varias especies de esta familia taxonómica, reduciendo su riqueza y abundancia. Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre la riqueza y la abundancia de las especies pertenecientes a la familia Scolopacidae y la temperatura superficial del mar (TSM) y el índice costero El Niño (ICEN) en el Humedal Costero Poza de la Arenilla. Métodos: Se realizaron muestreos dos veces por mes entre enero 2013 y enero 2019 utilizando el método del conteo total para determinar la abundancia de las especies (N = 292). Se realizó un análisis de correlación de Spearman entre la abundancia, riqueza, TSM e ICEN, y se procedió a calcular la diversidad beta a través del índice de Whittaker, tanto para analizar el recambio anual para cada estación como el recambio estacional dentro de cada año. Resultados: Se obtuvieron dos correlaciones significativas: entre TSM y abundancia y entre ICEN y riqueza. Por otro lado, la prueba ANOSIM arrojó diferencias estacionales en las abundancias de las especies, y la prueba SIMPER arrojó que la mayor diferencia en las abundancias entre estaciones fue entre otoño y primavera (disimilitud de Bray-Curtis = 81.57 %), y la mínima entre invierno y primavera (disimilitud de Bray-Curtis = 49.86 %). Conclusiones: Las dinámicas ecológicas de las comunidades de escolopácidos en La Arenilla se ven modificadas de manera importante en función a las variaciones de los parámetros térmicos ambientales relacionados al cambio climático.

Abstract Introduction: Scolopacidae family (Order: Charadriiformes) is one of the most abundant families found in coastal wetlands. La Arenilla coastal wetland has a historical record of 20 scolopacid species; climatic events could affect the distribution and migration of the several species of this taxonomic family, reducing their species richness and abundance. Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between richness and abundance of the species belonging to the Scolopacidae family and both Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and the coastal El Niño index (ICEN) in La Arenilla Coastal Wetland, La Punta, Callao. Methods: Sampling were carried out twice a month, between January 2013 and January 2019 using the Total Count Method in order to determine species abundance (N = 292). A Spearman correlation analysis between abundance, species richness, SST and ICEN was performed, and beta diversity was calculated through the Whittaker index (βw) to analyze both the annual turnover for each season and the seasonal turnover within each year. Results: Two significant correlations were obtained: between SST and abundance and between ICEN and species richness. On the other hand, the ANOSIM test showed seasonal differences in abundance, and the SIMPER test showed that the greatest difference in abundance between seasons was between autumn and spring (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity = 81.57 %), and the minimum difference between winter and spring (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity = 49.86 %). Conclusions: The ecological dynamics of scolopacid communities in La Arenilla coastal wetland face important changes according to the variations in the environmental thermal parameters related to climate change.

First record of helminths parasitizing Vanellus chilensis (Aves, Charadriiformes) in Acre state, southwestern Brazilian Amazon / Primeiro registro de helmintos parasitando Vanellus chilensis (Aves, Charadriiformes) no estado do Acre, sudoeste da Amazônia brasileira

The southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis, is a bird frequently seen in most of Brazil. Although it is widely distributed in other Brazilian biomes, including some parts of the Brazilian Amazon, it has only been recorded in the western Amazonian state of Acre since 2000. We report the presence of intestinal parasites in individuals of V. chilensis from the Cazumbá-Iracema Extractive Reserve in Acre through a coproparasitological analysis. Seven of the nine sampled individuals were parasitized. We observed larvae of Strongyloides sp. (28.5% of the samples), and eggs of Ascaridia sp. (28.5%), Ancylostoma sp. (14.2%), and Choanotaenia sp. (42.8%). These parasites are reported for the first time parasitizing V. chilensis in Brazil. The parasitized birds may act as reservoirs and were recorded in a peridomicile area, which may facilitate their contact with domestic birds.

O quero-quero, Vanellus chilensis é uma ave vista com frequência no Brasil. Apesar de ser uma espécie amplamente distribuída em todos os biomas brasileiros, incluindo algumas partes da Amazônia bresileira, somente a partir de 2000 começou a ser observado no Estado do Acre. Neste trabalho relatamos a presença de parasitas intestinais em indivíduos de V. chilensis capturados na Reserva Extrativista Cazumbá-Iracema, no Acre, por meio de análise coproparasitológica. Dos nove indivíduos com amostras coletadas, sete estavam parasitados. Foram encontradas larvas de Strongyloides sp. (28,5%), ovos de Ascaridia sp. (28,5%), ovos de Ancylostoma sp. (14,2%) e ovos de Choanotaenia sp. (42,8%). Estes parasitos são registrados pela primeira vez parasitando V. chilensis no Brasil. As aves parasitadas podem atuar como reservatórios e foram registradas em área de peridomicílio, o que pode facilitar o contato com aves domésticas.

An avian dominance hierarchy at a supplemental water source in the Patagonian steppe.

Birds often compete and engage in interspecific agonistic interactions for access to resources such as food and breeding territories. Based on the observed outcomes from such interactions (i.e., patterns of displacements) dominance hierarchies can be established. Knowing which species can outcompete others for essential resources allows researchers to make predictions about the broader ecological impacts of interspecific interactions. We constructed an interspecific dominance hierarchy of twelve avian species which visited an artificial water source in an arid region of coastal Patagonia, Argentina. Displacements were categorized into four types, based on the behaviors involved in the interaction, and we tested if they could predict the difference in dominance between the interacting species (the difference between calculated dominance coefficients for the two focal species). Indirect displacements, involving only the arrival of the dominant species to the water source without direct aggression toward the subordinate bird, occurred more frequently between species with a large difference in dominance. The most dominant bird observed was the kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), which, due to an increasing population and expanding range, in part due to food supplementation from fisheries waste, is likely to outcompete terrestrial and marine avian species for other scarce resources.

Cryptic species and independent origins of allochronic populations within a seabird species complex (Hydrobates spp.).

Humans are inherently biased towards naming species based on morphological differences, which can lead to reproductively isolated species being mistakenly classified as one if they are morphologically similar. Recognising cryptic diversity is needed to understand drivers of speciation fully, and for accurate estimates of global biodiversity and assessments for conservation. We investigated cryptic species across the range of band-rumped storm-petrels (Hydrobates spp.): highly pelagic, nocturnal seabirds that breed on tropical and sub-tropical islands in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In many breeding colonies, band-rumped storm-petrels have sympatric but temporally isolated (allochronic) populations; we sampled all breeding locations and allochronic populations. Using mitochondrial control region sequences from 754 birds, cytochrome b sequences from 69 birds, and reduced representation sequencing of the nuclear genomes of 133 birds, we uncovered high levels of genetic structuring. Population genomic analyses revealed up to seven unique clusters, and phylogenomic reconstruction showed that these represent seven monophyletic groups. We uncovered up to six independent breeding season switches across the phylogeny, spanning the continuum from genetically undifferentiated temporal populations to full allochronic species. Thus, band-rumped storm-petrels encompass multiple cryptic species, with non-geographic barriers potentially comprising strong barriers to gene flow.

Virome heterogeneity and connectivity in waterfowl and shorebird communities.

Models of host-microbe dynamics typically assume a single-host population infected by a single pathogen. In reality, many hosts form multi-species aggregations and may be infected with an assemblage of pathogens. We used a meta-transcriptomic approach to characterize the viromes of nine avian species in the Anseriformes (ducks) and Charadriiformes (shorebirds). This revealed the presence of 27 viral species, of which 24 were novel, including double-stranded RNA viruses (Picobirnaviridae and Reoviridae), single-stranded RNA viruses (Astroviridae, Caliciviridae, Picornaviridae), a retro-transcribing DNA virus (Hepadnaviridae), and a single-stranded DNA virus (Parvoviridae). These viruses comprise multi-host generalist viruses and those that are host-specific, indicative of both virome connectivity (host sharing) and heterogeneity (host specificity). Virome connectivity was apparent in two well described multi-host virus species -avian coronavirus and influenza A virus- and a novel Rotavirus species that were shared among some Anseriform species, while virome heterogeneity was reflected in the absence of viruses shared between Anseriformes and Charadriiformes, as well as differences in viral abundance and alpha diversity among species. Overall, we demonstrate complex virome structures across host species that co-exist in multi-species aggregations.

Phylogenetic position of the presumably extinct slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris.

The high-capacity DNA analysis of museum samples opens new opportunities, associated with the investigation of extinct species evolution. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome of the presumably extinct bird species, the slender-billed curlew Numenius tenuirostris (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) is presented. Our results showed that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is 16,705 base pairs (bp) in length and contain 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The overall base composition of the genome is 30.8% - A, 29.8% - C, 25.4% - T, 14.0% - G, and without a significant GC bias of 43.7%. Phylogenetic analyses based on the cytochrome B (cytB) gene and the whole mtDNA sequences revealed that N. tenuirostris had a close genetic relationship to Eurasian curlew (N. arquata), Far Eastern curlew (N. madagascariensis), and long-billed curlew - N. americanus. Besides, it reveals that Numenius genus is genetically distant from other Scolopacidae taxons. Together, these results provide a clear genetic perspective into the speciation process among the curlew genus members and points to a clear taxonomic position of N. tenuirostris.

The mitochondrial genome of the Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae) and phylogenetic analysis of Charadrii.

The suborder Charadrii (Aves: Charadriiformes), one of the most species-rich radiations within shorebirds, which contains good source for studies of ecology, behaviour and evolution. The resources of mitogenome have rapidly accumulated in recent years due to the advanced genomic sequencing, while suborder Charadrii's mitogenome has not been well studied. The primary objective of this study was to determine the complete mitogenome sequence of Charadrius alexandrinus, and investigated the evolutionary relationship within Charadrii. The mitogenome of C. alexandrinus were generated by amplification of overlapping Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) fragments. In this study, we determined the complete mitogenome sequence of the Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, and comparative analysed 11 species to illustrate mitogenomes structure and investigated their evolutionary relationship within Charadrii. The Charadrii mitogenomes displayed moderate size variation, the mean size was 16,944 bp (SD = 182, n = 11), and most of the size variation due to mutations in the control region (CR). Nucleotide composition was consistently biased towards AT rich, and the A+T content also varies for each protein-coding genes. The variation in ATP8 and COIII was the highest and lowest respectively. The GC skew was always negative, with the ATP8 had higher value than other regions. The average uncorrected pairwise distances revealed heterogeneity of evolutionary rate for each gene, the COIII, COI and COII have slow evolutionary rate, whereas the gene of ATP8 has the relative fast rate. The highest value of Ks and Ka were ND1 and ATP8, and the ratios of Ka/Ks are lower than 0.27, indicating that they were under purifying selection. Phylogenomic analysis based on the complete mitochondrial genomes strongly supported the monophyly of the suborder Charadrii. This study improves our understanding of mitogenome structure and evolution, and providing further insights into phylogeny and taxonomy in Charadrii. In future, sequencing more mitogenomes from various taxonomic levels will significantly improve our understanding of phylogenetic relationships within Charadrii.

Seabirds.

In this Quick Guide, Votier and Sherley explain how diverse seabirds play important roles in ecosystem functioning, global nutrient cycling and climate regulation, but are declining in the face of multiple threats.

Purifying selection and concerted evolution of RNA-sensing toll-like receptors in migratory waders.

Migratory birds encounter a broad range of pathogens during their journeys, making them ideal models for studying immune gene evolution. Despite the potential value of these species to immunoecology and disease epidemiology, previous studies have typically focused on their adaptive immune gene repertoires. In this study, we examined the evolution of innate immune genes in three long-distance migratory waders (order Charadriiformes). We analysed two parts of the extracellular domains of two Toll-like receptors (TLR3 and TLR7) involved in virus recognition in the Sanderling (Calidris alba), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), and Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). Our analysis was extended to 50 avian species for which whole-genome sequences were available, including two additional waders. We found that the inferred relationships among avian TLR3 and TLR7 do not match the whole-genome phylogeny of birds. Further analyses showed that although both loci are predominantly under purifying selection, the evolution of the extracellular domain of avian TLR3 has also been driven by episodic diversifying selection. TLR7 was found to be duplicated in all five wader species and in two other orders of birds, Cuculiformes and Passeriformes. The duplication is likely to have occurred in the ancestor of each order, and the duplicated copies appear to be undergoing concerted evolution. The phylogenetic relationships of wader TLR7 matched those of the five wader species, but that of TLR3 did not. Instead, the tree inferred from TLR3 showed potential associations with the species' ecology, including migratory behaviour and exposure to pathogens. Our study demonstrates the importance of combining immunological and ecological knowledge to understand the impact of immune gene polymorphism on the evolutionary ecology of infectious diseases.

Unexpected diversity in socially synchronized rhythms of shorebirds.

The behavioural rhythms of organisms are thought to be under strong selection, influenced by the rhythmicity of the environment. Such behavioural rhythms are well studied in isolated individuals under laboratory conditions, but free-living individuals have to temporally synchronize their activities with those of others, including potential mates, competitors, prey and predators. Individuals can temporally segregate their daily activities (for example, prey avoiding predators, subordinates avoiding dominants) or synchronize their activities (for example, group foraging, communal defence, pairs reproducing or caring for offspring). The behavioural rhythms that emerge from such social synchronization and the underlying evolutionary and ecological drivers that shape them remain poorly understood. Here we investigate these rhythms in the context of biparental care, a particularly sensitive phase of social synchronization where pair members potentially compromise their individual rhythms. Using data from 729 nests of 91 populations of 32 biparentally incubating shorebird species, where parents synchronize to achieve continuous coverage of developing eggs, we report remarkable within- and between-species diversity in incubation rhythms. Between species, the median length of one parent's incubation bout varied from 1-19 h, whereas period length-the time in which a parent's probability to incubate cycles once between its highest and lowest value-varied from 6-43 h. The length of incubation bouts was unrelated to variables reflecting energetic demands, but species relying on crypsis (the ability to avoid detection by other animals) had longer incubation bouts than those that are readily visible or who actively protect their nest against predators. Rhythms entrainable to the 24-h light-dark cycle were less prevalent at high latitudes and absent in 18 species. Our results indicate that even under similar environmental conditions and despite 24-h environmental cues, social synchronization can generate far more diverse behavioural rhythms than expected from studies of individuals in captivity. The risk of predation, not the risk of starvation, may be a key factor underlying the diversity in these rhythms.

A new extinct species of Snipe (Aves: Scolopacidae: Gallinago) from the West Indies.

We describe an extinct species of snipe (Gallinago kakuki, new species) from late Quaternary fossils in the Bahamian Archipelago (Abaco, New Providence, Little Exuma, Long, and Middle Caicos islands). The new species is known as well from fossils on Cuba, and Cayman Brac in the Cayman Islands. This rather large species of snipe was volant, although because of its relatively short carpometacarpus, the primary flight feathers probably were short. The only other species of Gallinago from the West Indies is the extant, migratory G. delicata, which breeds only in North America. Gallinago kakuki shares more osteological characters with two Eurasian species (G. media, G. hardwickii) than with either of the New World species we examined (G. delicata, G. paraguaiae). A possible inter-hemispherical relationship has been proposed as well for the two extinct, late Quaternary species of woodcocks from the West Indies (Scolopax anthonyi of Puerto Rico, S. brachycarpa of Hispaniola).

Recurrent hybridization and recent origin obscure phylogenetic relationships within the 'white-headed' gull (Larus sp.) complex.

Species complexes that have undergone recent radiations are often characterized by extensive allele sharing due to recent ancestry and (or) introgressive hybridization. This can result in discordant evolutionary histories of genes and heterogeneous genomes, making delineating species limits difficult. Here we examine the phylogenetic relationships among a complex group of birds, the white-headed gulls (Aves: Laridae), which offer a unique window into the speciation process due to their recent evolutionary history and propensity to hybridize. Relationships were examined among 17 species (61 populations) using a multilocus approach, including mitochondrial and nuclear intron DNA sequences and microsatellite genotype information. Analyses of microsatellite and intron data resulted in some species-based groupings, although most species were not represented by a single cluster. Considerable allele and haplotype sharing among white-headed gull species was observed; no locus contained a species-specific clade. Despite this, our multilocus approach provided better resolution among some species than previous studies. Interestingly, most clades appear to correspond to geographic locality: our BEAST analysis recovered strong support for a northern European/Icelandic clade, a southern European/Russian clade, and a western North American/canus clade, with weak evidence for a high latitude clade spanning North America and northwestern Europe. This geographical structuring is concordant with behavioral observations of pervasive hybridization in areas of secondary contact. The extent of allele and haplotype sharing indicates that ecological and sexual selection are likely not strong enough to complete reproductive isolation within several species in the white-headed gull complex. This suggests that just a few genes are driving the speciation process.

Temporal trends of mercury in eggs of five sympatrically breeding seabird species in the Canadian Arctic.

We compared temporal trends of total mercury (Hg) in eggs of five seabird species breeding at Prince Leopold Island in the Canadian high Arctic. As changes in trophic position over time have the potential to influence contaminant temporal trends, Hg concentrations were adjusted for trophic position (measured as δ(15)N). Adjusted Hg concentrations in eggs of thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) and northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) increased from 1975 to the 1990s, followed by a plateauing of levels from the 1990s to 2014. Trends of adjusted Hg concentrations in eggs of murres, fulmars, black guillemots (Cepphus grylle) and black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) had negative slopes between 1993 and 2013. Adjusted Hg concentrations in glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) eggs decreased by 50% from 1993 to 2003 before starting to increase again. Glaucous gull eggs had the highest Hg concentrations followed by black guillemot eggs, and black-legged kittiwake eggs had the lowest concentrations consistently in the five years compared between 1993 and 2013. Based on published toxicological thresholds for Hg in eggs, there is little concern for adverse reproductive effects due to Hg exposure in these birds, although the levels in glaucous gull eggs warrant future scrutiny given the increase in Hg concentrations observed in recent years. There is evidence that the Hg trends observed reflect changing anthropogenic Hg emissions. It remains unclear, however, to what extent exposure to Hg on the overwintering grounds influences the Hg trends observed in the seabird eggs at Prince Leopold Island. Future research should focus on determining the extent to which Hg exposure on the breeding grounds versus the overwintering areas contribute to the trends observed in the eggs.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae).

The complete mitochondrial DNA genome of spoon-billed sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus was determined by using the polymerase chain reaction method and the phylogenetic tree including 15 species of Charadriiformes were reconstructed to validate our samples in this study. The circular mitogenome (16,707 bp in length) contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 tRNA genes and a control region. The content of four kinds of bases of the complete mitochondrial DNA is 31.29% for A, 24.85% for T, 13.84% for G and 30.02% for C, respectively.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Recurvirostra avosetta (Charadriiformes: Recurvirostridea).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Recurvirostra avosetta (Charadriiformes: Recurvirostridea) is a circular DNA with 16,897 bp in length, which contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a control region. The overall base compositions of the complete mtDNA are A (31.72%), T (23.59%), G (13.56%), and C (31.13%). The non-coding regions include a control region (1333 bp) and a few intergenic spacers (range from 17 to 90). The phylogentic trees were also reconstructed to validate the samples.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus (Ciconiiformes: Charadriidae).

The Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus) is a Vanellus bird belonging to the group Ciconiiformes, which breeds in northeast China and Japan. In this study, we sequenced its complete mitochondrial genome by PCR-based method. The mitochondrial DNA is packaged in a compact 17,135 based pair (bp) circular molecule with A + T content of 55.14%. It contains 37 typical mitochondrial genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs and a non-coding control region (D-loop). All protein-coding genes are initiated by ATG codon, except for the COI gene and ND5 gene starting with GTG codon, and ND3 uses ATC codon. TAA is the most frequent stop codon. All tRNAs possess the classic cloverleaf secondary structure except for tRNA(Ser(AGY)) and tRNA(Leu(CUN)), which lack the ''DHU'' stem. The D-loop is a 1563 bp long A + T-rich region, which is located between tRNA(Glu) and tRNA(Phe).

Complete mitochondrial genome of the South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki (Charadriiformes, Stercorariidae) in Antarctica.

The South Polar Skua, gull-like seabirds is the most fascinating Antarctic seabirds that lay two eggs at sites free of snow and ice and predominantly hunt pelagic fish and penguins. Blood samples of the South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki was collected during the summer activity near King Sejong station in Antarctica. The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of S. maccormicki was 16,669 bp, showing conserved genome structure and orientation found in other avian species. The control region of S. maccormicki was 93- and 80 bp shorter compared to those of Chroicocephalus saundersi and Synthliboramphus antiquus respectively. Interestingly, there is a (CAACAAACAA)6 repeat sequence in the control region. Our results of S. maccormicki mt genome including the repeat sequence, may provide useful genetic information for phylogenetic and phylogeographic histories of the southern skua complex.

Structural characteristics of the Relict Gull (Larus relictus) mitochondrial DNA control region and its comparison to other Laridae.

The structure of the mitochondrial DNA control region in the Relict Gull (Larus relictus) was predicted and compared with data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) on five other gulls. The results showed that the control regions of the six gulls comprise three domains. Sequences of CSB-1-like (domain I) and CSB-1 (domain III) in L. relictus have the highest similarity with those in the other five gulls. The insertion fragments are located in downstream domain I of L. ridibundus, L. brunnicephalus, and L. saundersi. Seven conserved sequence boxes (additional box, F-box, E-box, D-box, C-box, bird-similarity-box, and B-box) are located in domain II in all six gulls. It is suggested that the CSB-2/3 sequence, the origin of H-strand replication, and bidirectional light- and heavy-strand transcription promoters in domain III of L. relictus have some distinguishing features to those of other gulls. Some repeat units are contained in the 3' end of the control region in the five gulls; however, no repeat units are found in the sequence CAAACAACAAA in L. relictus. The distribution of nucleotide diversity analysis will provide the useful information on the selected DNA fragment within the control region for genetic analyses among gulls.