In mosquitofish, of the genus Gambusia, male fish are smaller than females – sometimes only half the size. Biologists had previously assumed that smaller male mosquitofish had at least some reproductive advantages. Researchers from the transregional collaborative research centre NC3 at Bielefeld University, among them Bora Kim who is now doing research work at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, have shown in a systematic review and meta-analysis that larger mosquitofish are actually more successful at reproduction: they can, for instance, better challenge their rivals; they produce more sperm; and they are preferred by female fish.
Tracking white-tailed eagle population - on the rise in Austria
20 years ago Austria's heraldic animal, the white-tailed eagle, was still considered extinct in this country. The white-tailed eagle population has now grown to around 45 breeding pairs. A great success for nature conservation, which goes back to the strict Europe-wide protection. The research and protection programme of the nature conservation organization WWF is an essential part of this. Six young eagles in Lower Austria and Burgenland have now been equipped with GPS-GSM transmitters. The Donau-Auen National Park and Esterhazy Betriebe GmbH are important cooperation partners for this year's young birds. Together with the WWF, transmitters were attached to them at three locations - in the Danube floodplains, west of Lake Neusiedl along the Leithagebirge, and in the WWF reserve in the March-Thaya floodplains.
The feather-light telemetry tags do not impact the eagles´ movements and fall off by themselves after three to four years. Rings of the Austrian Ornithological Centre, which were also attached to the legs, ensure that the animals can be identified throughout their lifetime.
Avian fitness: birds go easy on their pectoral muscles
A European research team led by Vetmeduni Vienna has discovered a protective mechanism in migratory birds. According to the study, common quails are able to specifically safeguard their pectoral muscles from oxidative stress during migration. The researchers believe this mechanism is an essential factor in the ability of migratory birds to successfully complete their long flights.
The blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is one of the most common songbird species in Europe - and also in Austria. In their area of distribution, the small birds show a variety of different migration strategies. Ivan Maggini and Wolfgang Vogl, experts from the Austrian Ornithological Centre (Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Vetmeduni Vienna), examined these migration strategies in cooperation with colleagues from Germany (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön) using geolocators, which were attached to the backs of birds. During the study, the researchers found that some blackcap populations over-winter in the UK. It seems that blackcaps discovered the more favorable climatic conditions in Great Britain very quickly and adapted their migration behavior accordingly within a short period of time.
According to Maggini and Vogl, this study shows how the common blackcap helps to understand the flexibility and adaptability of migrating bird species to rapidly changing environmental conditions.
This website uses cookies. Those have two functions: On the one hand they are providing basic functionality for this website. On the other hand they allow us to improve our content for you by saving and analyzing anonymized user data. You can redraw your consent to using these cookies at any time. Find more information regarding cookies on our Data Protection Declaration and regarding us on the Imprint.
