ADVANCED LEC 15 University of Rio Grande Donald P. Althoff, Ph.D. ORNITHOLOGY Dickcissel Ecology & Distribution Reference Chapters 19 & 20 Arcadian flycatcher Perching birds
Distribution Terms (handout) • Pantropical • Circumpolar • Disjunctive • Allopatric • Sympatric • Parapatric • Endemic • Cosmopolitan • Indigenous • Exotic • Insular • Continental
ZOOGEOGRAPHY--the study of the distribution of animals Nearly every region of the world contains fauna that reached the “region” at different______, from different_______, by different _______. How, when, and from where did animals reach the areas they now occupy?
Zoogeographic Regions • Palearctic (Europe/Asia) • Nearctic (Canada/USA/Mexico) • Neotropical (Central & South America) • Ehtiopian (central & southern Africa) • Oriental (India, Indonesia, Philippines) • Austrialian • Oceanic
EQUATOR latitude longitude
Distribution PATTERNS • Most diverse of zoogeographic regions is the _____________ (including families, genera, & total species) Neotropical
Distribution PATTERNS • _____ “sharing” of species occurs between regions to the ____________of each other…not East and West of each other (see below & handout)
Distribution PATTERNS…USA • ______ of birds that are endemic found in Rocky Mountain coniferous forest (17%). Birds in this region are _______________.
Distribution PATTERNS…USA…con’t • _______ of birds that are endemic found in Mohave/Sonoran Desert (17%). Birds are very adapted to _________________.
MOJAVE DESERT (mostly) Cactus wren Gambel’s quail Costa’s hummingbird Bendire’s thrasher LeConte’s thrasher
BARRIERS to Distribution • ________________ (think too wet, too cold, too dry, too warm) • ________________ (think mountains, valleys, oceans, canyons) • ________________ (think competitors, diseases, parasites, etc.) • ________________ (highways, residential areas, manufacturing areas, industrial areas, agricultural areas--overall fragmentation)
Impact of ISLANDS • Some species use islands to expand distribution from ____________________________ • _____________ are good “island hoppers” • _________ are not good “island hoppers”. Proof: 91 species in the OLD WORLD, only 1 endemic to the NEW WORLD (horned lark)
COSMOPOLITAN species • Typically __________ with ___________________ • Can feed on _________________…but seldom rely on insects • All strong fliers, can cross oceans usually • Examples: peregrine falcon osprey barn owl
COSMOPOLITAN species: Peregrine Falcon
COSMOPOLITAN species: Osprey
RESTRICTED RANGE species • Best example: ________________ a) ______ distribution (about 6,000 mi2 in Michigan although that is being expanded—including WI b) found in ______________ ______________ c) can’t cope with _________ brood parasitism d) ______ winter mortality
Pure stand 10-20 years old …________________ for Kirtland’s warbler Pure stand 30-50 years old …________________ for Kirtland’s warbler
2013 2,004 2013 Singing Males 2013
RESTRICTED RANGE species…con’t • Another example: ___________ a) in Hawaiian Islands b) ___________ duck in middle of the ocean c) rats destroyed nests…a threat that was introduced d) decline started 1,000-1,600 years ago with colonization by Polynesians & rats, pigs and mongooses d) derivative of mallard duck-- (not reproductively isolated)
What Do Birds Respond to? __________ (aka physical) factors • Temperature—mean or extremes…most important • Precipitation—total, precip-evaporaton ratio, or timing • Wind—wind chill factor and with rain • Soil/substrate—important for nesting • Sunlight • Humidity
What Do Birds Respond to? __________ (aka living) factors • Plants—food, cover, territorial perches • Animals: a) predators for prey, prey for predators b) competitors c) parasites (ecto, endo, & brood parasitizers) d) Darwin’s finches example: exploit total resources (seeds in this case)
Darwin’s finches: ______________________ Maximum diversity in order to exploit total resource large large medium medium small small ________________ ___________________ cactus & ground trees Original ancestor
WARBLERS: High Degree of __________________ Major Foods Veget. Matter Arthropods Arthropods Insects Insects Arthropods Omnivores Insects Omnivores No. of Species 11 15 7 13 2 3 11 6 5 Location Crown foliage Foliage & twigs Branches & twigs Foliage-air Grnd/Tree/Air Grnd/Tree/Air Grnd/Tree/Air Aerial General
In Summary…. • Much ____________________________ in birds • Evolution of geographical distribution differences among natural bird populations depends on the relative strength of two opposing forces: a) _____________________________ favoring one genetic attribute over another b) rate of genetic blending as a result of interbreeding of individuals from different locations (i.e., gene flow) • Coexistence of reproductively isolated species in sympatry requires ______________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________
