Jente Ottenburghs’ Post

New Post: Bird Flu Found in Cow Milk in Texas and Kansas - https://lnkd.in/ggHX58WH - Bird flu has reached the cows. Health and agriculture officials announced this week that cattle in two states have tested positive for a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), likely caught from wild birds. Though the virus seems to have sickened the cattle, it is not thought to pose a high risk to humans…Read more... - #news #business #world -------------------------------------------------- Download: Stupid Simple CMS - https://lnkd.in/g4y9XFgR -------------------------------------------------- or download at SourceForge - https://lnkd.in/gNqB7dnp

Innovation and elaboration on the avian tree of life New approaches for modeling multivariate traits to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of elaboration and innovation in the evolution of bird beaks. https://lnkd.in/gD4pFxhE

The avian digit problem, also known as the "archaeopteryx problem," refers to the challenge of understanding the evolution of bird wings and the origin of the avian wing digits. Birds have a unique wing structure compared to other vertebrates. While most vertebrates have five digits (fingers or toes) on their limbs, birds have a greatly modified forelimb with only three digits. These three digits are thought to correspond to digits II, III, and IV or I,II, III in the typical five-digit vertebrate limb The avian digit problem arises from the fact that bird wings evolved from the limbs of their dinosaur ancestors, which had five digits. The question is how and why did the reduction from five digits to three occur during bird evolution? Scientists have proposed several hypotheses to explain the evolution of the avian wing digits. One hypothesis suggests that digits I and V were lost through evolutionary processes such as genetic mutations and natural selection. This could have been driven by the functional specialization of the remaining three digits for flight. Another hypothesis suggests that the reduction in digits was a result of changes in gene expression during embryonic development. The Hox genes, which play a crucial role in limb development, might have been responsible for altering the digit formation pattern. The study of fossil evidence, particularly the famous Archaeopteryx, an ancient bird-like dinosaur, provides valuable insights into the avian digit problem. Fossils of Archaeopteryx show a wing structure with three digits, indicating that the reduction occurred early in bird evolution. However, the exact mechanisms and evolutionary pathways involved in the reduction of digits are still a subject of scientific debate and ongoing research. Further analysis of fossil records, comparative anatomy, and developmental studies are helping scientists gain a better understanding of the avian digit problem and the evolutionary history of bird wings. Please refer the link my in bio to read the detialed review paper of this avian digit problem https://lnkd.in/dBdQTKGV #veterinarymedicine #veterinary #avianvet #avianmedicine #avian

New story on the Avian Hybrids blog! The evolution of complex behaviors in cranes https://lnkd.in/euMMynWj

New story on the Avian Hybrids blog! The role of extinction in speciation https://lnkd.in/emEPGc-E It might sound counterintuitive, but extinction can be a pivotal process in the origin of new species. Two recent papers introduce some interesting speciation models: speciation-by-extinction and the phoenix hypothesis. Both speciation models are still largely theoretical and remain to be tested in the field. 

New story on the Avian Hybrids blog! Do Noddies hybridize or not? https://lnkd.in/ekAvpe9h Assessing the reliability of hybrid records. Do not take the records in the Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World at face value, but always check the original papers.

Birds are indeed remarkably intelligent creatures, often underestimated due to their small size and seemingly simple behaviors. Avian intelligence varies across species, with some exhibiting remarkable cognitive abilities. One well-known example is the New Caledonian crow, known for its advanced problem-solving skills. These crows can use tools to extract insects from tree bark, demonstrating a level of problem-solving and tool-making comparable to some primates. African grey parrots are renowned for their exceptional vocal mimicry and the ability to understand and use human language. They can learn hundreds of words, comprehend abstract concepts, and even combine words to express novel ideas. Kea parrots from New Zealand showcase puzzle-solving skills and curiosity, often exploring and manipulating objects in their environment to learn about them. Songbirds display intricate learning patterns, memorizing complex melodies and reproducing them accurately. Some species, like the European starling, can mimic sounds from their surroundings, including human-made noises. These examples illustrate that birds possess a diverse range of cognitive abilities, from problem-solving to communication and memory. Their intelligence continues to intrigue scientists, shedding light on the fascinating world of avian cognition.