Bird migration is a synchronized event that has evolved over thousands of years. Changing temperatures due to climate change threaten the intricacies of migration timing for birds; however, the extent of these changes has only recently begun to be addressed. Utilizing data from the citizen-science website eBird and historical temperature data, we analyzed bird migration timing in two states warming quickly (Alaska and Maine) and one warming gradually (South Carolina). Using linear regressions, we looked at relationships between different temperature indices and year with bird migration timing from 2010 to 2016. Bird migration through all three states, regardless of warming rate, showed similar rates of alterations. Additionally, in every state over half of the birds that had altered migration timing were long-distance migrants. Furthermore, we performed feature selection to determine important factors for changing migration timing of birds. Changes to summer resident and transient bird migration were most influenced by state. In winter resident migration, departure date and length of stay were most influenced by maximum temperature, while arrival date was most associated with minimum temperature. Relationships between changing temperatures and migration timing suggest that global climate change may have consequential effects on all bird migration patterns throughout the United States.

Jay Zaifman

Daoyang Shan

Ahmet Ay

Ana Gabriela Jimenez

Shifts in Bird Migration Timing in North American Long-Distance and Short-Distance Migrants Are Associated with Climate Change

Tomistoma schlegelii is a slender snout crocodile, secretive in nature which is currently under Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Limited information is currently available on its wild population, especially in Malaysia. Thus this study aims to describe genetic relationship of T. schlegelii populations from Malaysia which was done using partial sequencing of Cytochrome b-control region mtDNA gene. The study reveals that the genetic diversity among T. schlegelii is high, ranging from 0.16&#x25; to 3.34&#x25;, suggesting healthy populations. Analysis showed that there is gene flow among populations (Da = 1.71&#x25; to 2.21&#x25;) within Western Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, and other geographical regions coherent with Sundaland theory, suggesting that there is ancient river system connecting the two regions of Peninsular Malaysia and West Borneo when the Sunda Shelf was exposed. Unique haplotypes had been observed in Northern Sarawak (SAM01 and SAM02) as well as in Sumatera; thus each T. schlegelii deserved its own management strategies to ensure the survival of the species.

Muhammad Amirul Arib Md Adzhar

Ruhana Hassan

Relationships among Tomistoma schlegelii in Malaysia Based on Cyt b-Control Region Gene Analysis

Migration represents a significant physiological challenge for birds, and increasing ambient temperatures due to global climate change may add to birds’ physiological burden during migration. We analyzed migration timing in a central New York county and two counties in the Adirondack region by using data from the citizen science network, eBird, and correlating it with historical temperature data. Species of birds sighted in Central NY (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="22.173pt" style="vertical-align:-0.2064009pt" id="M1" height="8.8423pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 22.173 8.8423"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-79" d="M822 650H589L583 622C660 617 677 607 674 561C672 534 664 481 647 390L600 137H596L273 650H126L120 622C176 620 194 615 207 594C221 571 225 557 214 504L161 257C141 166 129 112 121 85C108 42 83 30 29 28L23 0H260L266 28C193 33 173 42 176 89C178 122 186 172 202 255L256 527H259L583 -8H612L690 390C708 481 720 535 728 558C744 603 756 619 816 622L822 650Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,14.542,0)"><path id="g117-34" d="M535 323V373H52V323H535ZM535 138V188H52V138H535Z"/></g></svg><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18.721pt" style="vertical-align:-0.2064009pt" height="8.8423pt" version="1.1" viewBox="25.7551838 -8.6359 18.721 8.8423"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,25.805,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.045,0)"><path id="g113-58" d="M244 635C114 635 38 519 38 422C38 317 111 240 217 240C236 240 255 244 277 256L345 292C311 140 203 39 59 15L64 -15C89 -15 150 -5 204 17C339 72 440 202 440 386C440 521 368 635 244 635ZM228 602C326 602 352 479 352 390C352 370 351 347 348 324C327 308 293 296 258 296C174 296 124 369 124 458C124 517 152 602 228 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.286,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g></svg>) and the Adirondack region (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="22.173pt" style="vertical-align:-0.2064009pt" id="M2" height="8.8423pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 22.173 8.8423"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-79"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,14.542,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-34"/></g></svg><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="18.721pt" style="vertical-align:-0.2064009pt" height="8.8423pt" version="1.1" viewBox="25.7551838 -8.6359 18.721 8.8423"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,25.805,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.045,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-58"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.286,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-58"/></g></svg>) were categorized into year-round residents and one- and two-stopover groupings based on eBird observations. Using linear regressions, we looked at various relationships between temperature and variables relating to birds’ migration across 2010–2015. Of the total 195 species used within this data in Central NY, 35 species showed some alteration in their migration timing or in the temperature regime they experienced while breeding or on migration stopover. In the Adirondack region, of the total 199 species used within this dataset, 43 species showed some alteration in their migration timing or experienced significantly colder or warmer temperatures while breeding or on migration stopover during 2010–2015. Additionally, many of the bird species affected by temperature changes in the state of New York and those that altered migration timing tended to be long-distance migrants.

Natalie Pudalov

Sydney Ziatek

Birds in New York State Have Altered Their Migration Timing and Are Experiencing Different Thermal Regimes While Breeding or on Stopover from 2010 to 2015

The Mekong River and its tributaries possess the second highest diversity in fish species in the world. However, the fish biodiversity in this river is threatened by several human activities, such as hydropower plant construction. Understanding the genetic diversity and genetic structure of the species is important for natural resource management. Belodontichthys truncatus Kottelat &#x26; Ng is endemic to the Mekong River basin and is an important food source for people in this area. In this study, the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and demographic history of the twisted-jaw fish, B. truncatus, were investigated using mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences. A total of 124 fish specimens were collected from 10 locations in the Mekong and its tributaries. Relatively high genetic diversity was found in populations of B. truncatus compared to other catfish species in the Mekong River. The genetic structure analysis revealed that a population from the Chi River in Thailand was genetically significantly different from other populations, which is possibly due to the effect of genetic drift. Demographic history analysis indicated that B. truncatus has undergone recent demographic expansion dating back to the end of the Pleistocene glaciation.

Surapon Yodsiri

Komgrit Wongpakam

Adisak Ardharn

Chadaporn Senakun

Sutthira Khumkratok

Population Genetic Structure and Genetic Diversity in Twisted-Jaw Fish, Belodontichthys truncatus Kottelat &#x26; Ng, 1999 (Siluriformes: Siluridae), from Mekong Basin

Freshwater ecosystem degradation in the Turag River basin is increasing due to rising human settlement, reduced water flow during the dry season, new large land development projects, and toxic emissions caused by brick kilns. The population of river dolphins was estimated through surveys carried out from December 2012 to November 2013. Surveys were conducted on a fortnightly basis. The dolphins were counted within an 18.4&#x2009;km stretch (known to be the most polluted stretch) of the 75&#x2009;km long river. A total of 62 dolphin sightings were recorded, both as individual sightings and as groups. The highest monthly count was in August. The best-high-low estimates of 9-11-7 individuals were recorded in August 2013 in river ecology. Seasonal changes in spatial distribution were observed. The survey revealed that rising floodwater stimulated an increase in the dolphin population in the study area from July to October. The maximum encounter rate was also 0.49 sightings km&#x2212;1 for the month of August. The sightings and encounter rates of dolphins were lower from December to July (dry and premonsoon period) likely due to reduced water flow and adverse water quality of this river.

Mohammad Abdul Baki

Naser Ahmed Bhouiyan

Md. Saiful Islam

Shayer Mahmood Ibney Alam

Shibananda Shil

Md. Muzammel Hossain

Present Status of Ganges River Dolphins Platanista gangetica gangetica (Roxburgh, 1801) in the Turag River, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ankur Kashyap

Madhu Awasthi

Mohammad Serajuddin

Corrigendum to &#x201c;Phenotypic Variation in Freshwater Murrel, Channa punctatus (Bloch, 1793) from Northern and Eastern Regions of India Using Truss Analysis&#x201d;

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International Journal of Zoology | Hindawi

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International Journal of Zoology publishes original research articles as well as review articles in all areas of zoology.

International Journal of Zoology