Testing chemical markers on granivorous birds
- Steele, G R, Whittington-Jones, Craig A, Craig, Adrian J F K
- Authors: Steele, G R , Whittington-Jones, Craig A , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 1999
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6936 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011957
- Description: We tested two substances (oxytetracycline and rhodamine B) that can be added to food or water of free-living birds, and serve as markers in their plumage for later identification. Oxytetracycline produced no detectable changes in the plumage of red bishops or redbilled queleas. Rhodamine B fed to captive birds produced fluorescence in the wing feathers when viewed under ultraviolet light. This fluorescence lasted for at least 14 weeks, and was retained until feathers were moulted. Rhodamine B may thus be useful in identifying birds using a specific feeding site, and for studies of moult and feather growth.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Steele, G R , Whittington-Jones, Craig A , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 1999
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6936 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011957
- Description: We tested two substances (oxytetracycline and rhodamine B) that can be added to food or water of free-living birds, and serve as markers in their plumage for later identification. Oxytetracycline produced no detectable changes in the plumage of red bishops or redbilled queleas. Rhodamine B fed to captive birds produced fluorescence in the wing feathers when viewed under ultraviolet light. This fluorescence lasted for at least 14 weeks, and was retained until feathers were moulted. Rhodamine B may thus be useful in identifying birds using a specific feeding site, and for studies of moult and feather growth.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1999
Stuffed birds on trees: an historical review of avian systematics in southern Africa
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2000
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6931 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011949
- Description: Avian systematics in southern Africa has been heavily dependent on a small number of museum-based specialists. They produced bird checklists which prescribed the names to be used by other scientists. After an initial phase of cataloguing the avifauna, a major preoccupation was the description of geographical variation, which was documented in an extensive subspecific nomenclature. Until recent years, few African ornithologists have been involved in systematics as a biological discipline. This historical overview considers the contribution of particular individuals from Andrew Smith to Phillip Clancey.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2000
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2000
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6931 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011949
- Description: Avian systematics in southern Africa has been heavily dependent on a small number of museum-based specialists. They produced bird checklists which prescribed the names to be used by other scientists. After an initial phase of cataloguing the avifauna, a major preoccupation was the description of geographical variation, which was documented in an extensive subspecific nomenclature. Until recent years, few African ornithologists have been involved in systematics as a biological discipline. This historical overview considers the contribution of particular individuals from Andrew Smith to Phillip Clancey.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2000
Iris colour in passerine birds: why be bright-eyed?
- Craig, Adrian J F K, Hulley, Patrick E
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6902 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011756
- Description: An initial survey of iris coloration in passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes) showed that a brightly pigmented iris is much more common in southern African and Australian birds than in those from Europe, temperate North America, and Venezuela. However, the only statistical correlation reflected the distribution of particular bird families in these regions. Ten family-level groups considered to represent monophyletic taxa were then selected for a more detailed analysis, comparing iris coloration with distribution, status, taxonomy, plumage patterns, and some biological and behavioural characters for 1143 species. No pattern associating iris colour with particular traits was common to all families, but within families there were statistically significant associations with both plumage and biology. Our expectation that social behaviour would be an important predictor of iris colour was not supported, but critical information is still lacking for many species. Future studies of avian behavioural ecology should examine critically the role of iris coloration in individual species. , Rhodes Centenary issue
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6902 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011756
- Description: An initial survey of iris coloration in passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes) showed that a brightly pigmented iris is much more common in southern African and Australian birds than in those from Europe, temperate North America, and Venezuela. However, the only statistical correlation reflected the distribution of particular bird families in these regions. Ten family-level groups considered to represent monophyletic taxa were then selected for a more detailed analysis, comparing iris coloration with distribution, status, taxonomy, plumage patterns, and some biological and behavioural characters for 1143 species. No pattern associating iris colour with particular traits was common to all families, but within families there were statistically significant associations with both plumage and biology. Our expectation that social behaviour would be an important predictor of iris colour was not supported, but critical information is still lacking for many species. Future studies of avian behavioural ecology should examine critically the role of iris coloration in individual species. , Rhodes Centenary issue
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
A century of Zoology and Entomology at Rhodes University, 1905 to 2005
- Hodgson, Alan N, Craig, Adrian J F K
- Authors: Hodgson, Alan N , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6922 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011905
- Description: The history of the Department of Zoology & Entomology at Rhodes University is traced from its origin with a single staff member, through the era of permanent heads of department to the present day staff. Significant achievements and developments in teaching and research are highlighted, and some anecdotal material is included.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Hodgson, Alan N , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6922 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011905
- Description: The history of the Department of Zoology & Entomology at Rhodes University is traced from its origin with a single staff member, through the era of permanent heads of department to the present day staff. Significant achievements and developments in teaching and research are highlighted, and some anecdotal material is included.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
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