blurbs

Can you do me a small favour real quick? Have a listen to this episode! I hope you enjoy!

Follow me on instagram: matt.rossella
Want to help my work? click the support the show link at the bottom!

References:
Benítez-López, A., Santini, L., Gallego-Zamorano, J., Milá, B., Walkden, P., Huijbregts, M. A., & Tobias, J. A. (2021). The island rule explains consistent patterns of body size evolution in terrestrial vertebrates. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 5(6), 768-786.
Lomolino, M. V. (2005). Body size evolution in insular vertebrates: generality of the island rule. Journal of biogeography, 32(10), 1683-1699.
Matthews, T. J. (2023). Evolution: The rise and fall of island dwarfs and giants. Current Biology, 33(12), R684-R686.
Meiri, S., Raia, P., & Phillimore, A. B. (2011). Slaying dragons: limited evidence for unusual body size evolution on islands. Journal of Biogeography, 38(1), 89-100.
Ponti, R., Doutrelant, C., & Covas, R. (2023). Strength of the ‘island rule’ in birds is positively associated with absence of avian predators. Biology Letters, 19(3), 20220536.
Thomson, V. A., Mitchell, K. J., Eberhard, R., Dortch, J., Austin, J. J., & Cooper, A. (2018). Genetic diversity and drivers of dwarfism in extinct island emu populations. Biology Letters, 14(4), 20170617.
Wei, C., Peng, L., Zhang, Y., Nishiumi, I., Carey, G. J., Liu, Z., ... & Liu, Y. (2024). Integrative taxonomy of an East Asian songbird indicates rapid dwarfism after island colonization. Zoologica Scripta, 53(5), 509-522.
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Thankyou to Sam Holt for suggesting this topic! Follow them on instagram @samholtnz56 for excellent photography of New Zealand's landscapes and birds!
If you'd like to suggest a topic, then consider becoming a patron!: patreon.com/blurbs439

References:
Alley, M. R., Suepaul, R. B., McKinlay, B., Young, M. J., Wang, J., Morgan, K. J., ... & Gartrell, B. D. (2017). Diphtheritic stomatitis in yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) in New Zealand. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 53(1), 102-110.
Bergen, D. J., & Gartrell, B. D. (2010). Discospondylitis in a yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 24(1), 58-63.
Darby, J. T., Seddon, P. J., & Davis, L. S. (1990). Breeding biology of yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes). Penguin biology, 45-62.
French, R. K., Muller, C. G., Chilvers, B. L., & Battley, P. F. (2019). Behavioural consequences of human disturbance on subantarctic Yellow-eyed Penguins Megadyptes antipodes. Bird Conservation International, 29(2), 277-290.
Johnson, K. L. (2023). Marine predation injuries in yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes): a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Veterinary Science in Wildlife Health at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand (Doctoral dissertation, Massey University).
Moore, P. J. (2001). Historical records of yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) in southern New Zealand. Notornis, 48(3), 145-156.
Muller, C. G., Chilvers, B. L., & French, R. K. (2020). Population estimate for yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) in the. Notornis, 67(1), 299-319.
Muller, C. G., Chilvers, B. L., Chiaradia, A., French, R. K., Kato, A., Ropert-Coudert, Y., & Battley, P. F. (2021). Foraging areas and plasticity of yellow-eyed penguins Megadyptes antipodes in their subantarctic range. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 679, 149-162.

Website used for research:
https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/yellow-eyed-penguin
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Hear all about a little bird that has earned the big title of "GREAT SPECIATOR"!🥈
Connect with me on instagram: matt.rossella
References:
Estandía, A., Merino Recalde, N., Sendell‐Price, A. T., Potvin, D. A., Goulding, W., Robertson, B. C., & Clegg, S. (2025). Islands Promote Diversification of the Silvereye Species Complex: A Phylogenomic Analysis of a Great Speciator. Molecular ecology, e17830.
Estoup, A., & Clegg, S. M. (2003). Bayesian inferences on the recent island colonization history by the bird Zosterops lateralis lateralis. Molecular Ecology, 12(3), 657-674.
Scott, T., Scholer, M., Melville, D. S., & Underhill, L. G. (2023). Timing and duration of primary moult in New Zealand’s silvereye (tauhou, Zosterops lateralis). Notornis, 70, 97-110.
Sendell-Price, A. T., Ruegg, K. C., Anderson, E. C., Quilodrán, C. S., Van Doren, B. M., Underwood, V. L., ... & Clegg, S. M. (2020). The genomic landscape of divergence across the speciation continuum in island-colonising silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis). G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 10(9), 3147-3163.
Books used for research:
Birdstories - Geoff Norman 
Bird New Zealand (Beauty Like No Other) - Paul Gibson
The Brilliance of Birds (a New Zealand Birdventure) - Skye Wishart & Edin Whitehead
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You "mast" listen to this episode!

Follow me on instagram: matt.rossella
Support the show: patreon.com/blurbs439

References:
Bogdziewicz, M., Zwolak, R., & Crone, E. E. (2016). How do vertebrates respond to mast seeding?. Oikos, 125(3), 300-307.
Elliott, G., & Kemp, J. (2016). Large‐scale pest control in New Zealand beech forests. Ecological Management & Restoration, 17(3), 200-209.
Kelly, D., Koenig, W. D., & Liebhold, A. M. (2008). An intercontinental comparison of the dynamic behavior of mast seeding communities. Population Ecology, 50(4), 329-342.
O'Donnell, C. F., & Hoare, J. M. (2012). Quantifying the benefits of long-term integrated pest control for forest bird populations in a New Zealand temperate rainforest. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 131-140.
Pearse, I. S., Wion, A. P., Gonzalez, A. D., & Pesendorfer, M. B. (2021). Understanding mast seeding for conservation and land management. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 376(1839), 20200383.
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Come and hear about the only entire bird family to go extinct in recent times...

Footage of the last Kauaʻi ʻōʻō :
https://youtu.be/x2KH5AoyeBc?si=rEONFaoyUNL6Cpsm 

References:
Fleischer, R. C., Campana, M. G., & James, H. F. (2022). Hawaiian songbird radiations. Current Biology, 32(20), R1070-R1072.
Fleischer, R. C., James, H. F., & Olson, S. L. (2008). Convergent evolution of Hawaiian and Australo-Pacific honeyeaters from distant songbird ancestors. Current Biology, 18(24), 1927-1931.
Lovette, I. J. (2008). Convergent evolution: raising a family from the dead. Current Biology, 18(24), R1132-R1134.
Pender, R. J., Morden, C. W., & Paull, R. E. (2014). Investigating the pollination syndrome of the Hawaiian lobeliad genus Clermontia (Campanulaceae) using floral nectar traits. American journal of botany, 101(1), 201-205.
Schmitt, C. J., & Edwards, S. V. (2022). Passerine birds. Current Biology, 32(20), R1149-R1154.
Zhao, M., Kimball, R. T., & Braun, E. L. (2025). The phylogenetic position of the extinct Hawaiian honeyeaters: Overcoming the limitations of antique DNA. bioRxiv, 2025-06.
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