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M.S. Foster

Publications and source records attributed to M.S. Foster.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1996

A new Bephratelloides (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) from seeds of Cymbopetalum (Annonaceae) in Mexico

Bephratelloides ablusus Grissell and Foster, new species, is described and illustrated based upon specimens that emerged from seeds of Cymbopetalum mayanum (Annonaceae) in southern Mexico. This is the first species of Bephratelloides that is associated with a host other than Annona. Bephratelloides ablusus is compared with its congeners from which it differs in minor character states. No external morphological characteristics suggest a specialized association with Cymbopetalum.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washin↗
USGS1992

Four new species of frogs and one new species of snake from the Chapare region of Bolivia, with notes on other species

We report on a collection of 74 frogs, 11 lots of frog eggs or tadpoles, and two snakes collected from the Chapare Region in the yungas of the eastern Andean Cordillera de Cochabamba, Bolivia. Collecting localities range from approximately 300 m to >3200 m in elevation. The specimens pertain to 23 species, probably 10 of which are undescribed. We describe four new species of frogs, one each in the genera Bufo, Centrolenella, Colostethus, and Hyla, and one new species of snake, genus Dipsas. We place Atelopus rugulosus in synonymy with A. tricolor.

Herpetological Monographs↗
USGS1990

Bird specimens and documentation: Critical data for a critical resource

As governments impose increasingly stringent regulations on the collection of bird specimens and as man alters ever greater areas of habitat with the loss of many of their contained species, museum specimens increase immeasurably in importance. Yet at present, museum collections do not contain an adequate representation of the world's avifauna and, unfortunately, are not likely to do so. Thus, it is imperative that data associated with specimens that are obtained be as complete as possible. To this end, we describe categories of information with wide application to many types of studies, outline character states, and recommend standard forms of data notation. We recognize that under certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to record more limited data. However, we encourage at least those engaged in general collecting to record as many of these standard data as possible.

Condor↗
USGS1990

Factors influencing bird foraging preferences among conspecific fruit trees

The rates at which birds visit fruiting individuals of Allophylus edulis (Sapindaceae) differ substantially among trees. Such avian feeding preferences are well-known, but usually involve fruits and trees of different species. Factors controlling avian preferences for particular trees in a population of conspecifics are generally undocumented. To address this issue, I attempted to correlate rates at which individual birds and species fed in trees of Allophylus with 27 fruit or plant characteristics. Birds that swallow fruits whole were considered separately from those that feed in other ways. Plant characters were selected on the basis of their potential influence on feeding efficiency or predation risk, assuming that birds would select feeding trees so as to maximize the net rate of energy or nutrient intake and to minimize predation. Correlations were found between feeding visits by some groups of birds and percent water in the pulp, milligrams of mineral ash in the pulp, and crop size. No character was correlated with feeding visits by all groups of birds in both years of the study. The correlations with water and mineral ash are unexplained and may be artifacts. The correlation with crop size may represent a tactic to minimize predation.

Condor↗
USGS1989

Observations of a nest of red-crowned ant-tanagers in Paraguay

The nest and nesting behaviorof a pair of Red-crowned Ant-Tanagers ( Habia rubica rubica) from Paraguay is described. Results are compared with those from studies of other subspecies. Because the species occurs in temperate, subtropical, and tropical habitats from Mexico south to Paraguay, northern Argentina, and southeastern Brazil, we expected details of breeding to differ in different parts of the range. Other than differences in the timing of breeding north and south of the equator, only details of nest structure and egg coloration showed geographic variation.

Journal of Field Ornithology↗