Search Results (6)

Background: Thrushes (family Turdidae) are ecologically important passerine birds widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. However, the phylogenetic placement of several East Asian congeners, including Turdus pallidus, remains insufficiently resolved due to the limited resolution of partial mitochondrial or nuclear markers used in previous studies. Methods: In this work, we sequenced and annotated the complete mitochondrial genome of T. pallidus (16,739 bp) using high-throughput Illumina sequencing. The mitogenome exhibited the typical circular architecture and contained 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs), with an overall GC content of 47.32%. Results: Most protein-coding genes initiated with the standard ATG codon, although lineage-specific deviations such as GTG in COX1 and ND2 were identified, and incomplete stop codons (T– or TA–) were observed, consistent with post-transcriptional polyadenylation. The 22 tRNA genes displayed typical cloverleaf secondary structures, except for trnS(AGN), which lacked a DHU arm, while rRNA genes were 977 bp (12S, 48.52% GC) and 1590 bp (16S, 44.65% GC), showing conserved stem regions but variable loop regions. Codon usage analysis revealed a strong bias toward A/T-ending codons, with a total of 3798 codons and an effective number of codons (ENC) of ~40, indicating moderate codon bias shaped by both mutational pressure and translational selection. Comparative analysis of evolutionary rates demonstrated that conserved genes such as COX1 and CYTB are suitable for resolving deeper relationships, whereas rapidly evolving genes like ATP8 provide resolution among closely related taxa. Conclusions: Phylogenetic reconstructions based on 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes robustly supported the monophyly of Turdidae and recovered T. pallidus as most closely related to T. obscurus. Overall, this study provides a novel mitogenomic resource for T. pallidus, enhances phylogenetic resolution within Turdus, and underscores the value of complete mitochondrial genomes for molecular identification, conservation management, and avian evolutionary studies. Full article

Tarsiger indicus (Vieillot, 1817), the White-browed Bush Robin, is a small passerine bird widely distributed in Asian countries. Here, we successfully sequenced its mitogenome using the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) for PE 2 × 150 bp sequencing. Combined with other published mitogenomes, we conducted the first comprehensive comparative mitogenome analysis of Muscicapidae birds and reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships between Muscicapidae and related groups. The T. indicus mitogenome was 16,723 bp in size, and it possessed the typical avian mitogenome structure and organization. Most PCGs of T. indicus were initiated strictly with the typical start codon ATG, while COX1 and ND2 were started with GTG. RSCU statistics showed that CUA, CGA, and GCC were relatively high frequency in the T. indicus mitogenome. T. cyanurus and T. indicus shared very similar mitogenomic features. All 13 PCGs of Muscicapidae mitogenomes had experienced purifying selection. Specifically, ATP8 had the highest rate of evolution (0.13296), whereas COX1 had the lowest (0.01373). The monophylies of Muscicapidae, Turdidae, and Paradoxornithidae were strongly supported. The clade of ((Muscicapidae + Turdidae) + Sturnidae) in Passeriformes was supported by both Bayesian Inference and Maximum likelihood analyses. The latest taxonomic status of many passerine birds with complex taxonomic histories were also supported. For example, Monticola gularis, T. indicus, and T. cyanurus were allocated to Turdidae in other literature; our phylogenetic topologies clearly supported their membership in Muscicapidae; Paradoxornis heudei, Suthora webbiana, S. nipalensis, and S. fulvifrons were formerly classified into Muscicapidae; we supported their membership in Paradoxornithidae; Culicicapa ceylonensis was originally classified as a member of Muscicapidae; our results are consistent with a position in Stenostiridae. Our study enriches the genetic data of T. indicus and provides new insights into the molecular phylogeny and evolution of passerine birds. Full article

Bryophytes are one of the main resources for bird nest construction; however, studies are limited and have been oriented to preliminary species lists. We evaluated for the first time in Ecuador the changes in the richness and composition of bryophytes in 17 nests of the species Myadestes ralloides and Catharus fuscater, of the family Turdidae. The presence/absence of bryophytes was recorded in each nest. A total of 25 bryophyte species were recorded (13 mosses and 12 liverworts). The most frequent species in the nests of the two species were the mosses Thuidium tomentosum and Meteoridium remotifolium and the liverworts Trichocolea flaccida and Frullania peruviana. The results indicated that bryophyte species’ richness and composition did not differ between the nests of the two studied bird species, because they select similar bryophyte species for nest elaboration. In general, our study showed that for the two species of birds of the family Turdidae, mosses and liverworts are key components in the elaboration of nests both internally and externally. On the other hand, we would suggest that further investigations should focus on analyzing the relation between bird nests and bryophyte phytochemistry, as well as the functional traits of bryophytes. Full article

We describe the first predation record of an undescribed adult male tarantula from the genus Euathlus in a juvenile austral thrush (Turdus falcklandii Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) (Aves: Turdidae) in central Chile. The precise moment of predation was not observed; it could have been an opportunistic event or active hunting. In support of the later alternative, this undescribed species of Euathlus has been relatively frequently seen walking on tree trunks. These incidental observations raise the question of how important Euathlus is as a predator of juvenile birds. Full article

Birds play a role in maintaining tick-borne diseases by contributing to the multiplication of ticks and pathogens on a local scale during the breeding season. In the present study, we describe the diversity of tick and pathogen species of medical and veterinary importance in Europe hosted by 1040 captured birds (56 species) during their breeding season in France. Of the 3114 ticks collected, Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species (89.5%), followed by I. frontalis (0.8%), I. arboricola (0.7%), Haemaphysalis concinna (0.5%), H. punctata (0.5%), Hyalomma spp. (0.2%), and Rhipicephalus spp. (0.06%). Because they may be representative of the bird infection status for some pathogen species, 1106 engorged tick larvae were screened for pathogens. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was the most prevalent pathogen genus in bird-feeding larvae (11.7%), followed by Rickettsia spp. (7.4%), Anaplasma spp. (5.7%), Babesia spp. (2.3%), Ehrlichia spp. (1.4%), and B. miyamotoi (1%). Turdidae birds (Turdus merula and T. philomelos), Troglodytes troglodytes, and Anthus trivialis had a significantly higher prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l.-infected larvae than other pathogen genera. This suggests that these bird species could act as reservoir hosts for B. burgdorferi s.l. during their breeding season, and thus play an important role in acarological risk. Full article

Sensitive indicators of spatial and temporal variation in vector-host contact rates are critical to understanding the transmission and eventual prevention of arboviruses such as West Nile virus (WNV). Monitoring vector contact rates on particularly susceptible and perhaps more exposed avian nestlings may provide an advanced indication of local WNV amplification. To test this hypothesis we monitored WNV infection and vector contact rates among nestlings occupying nest boxes (primarily Eastern bluebirds; Sialia sialis, Turdidae) across Henrico County, Virginia, USA, from May to August 2012. Observed host-seeking rates were temporally variable and associated with absolute vector and host abundances. Despite substantial effort to monitor WNV among nestlings and mosquitoes, we did not detect the presence of WNV in these populations. Generally low vector-nestling host contact rates combined with the negative WNV infection data suggest that monitoring transmission parameters among nestling Eastern bluebirds in Henrico County, Virginia, USA may not be a sensitive indicator of WNV activity. Full article