David J. Pearson’s research while affiliated with Mahidol University and other places

... Those nestlings not sexed by their plumage traits were molecularly sexed, using red blood cells or muscle tissue and primers 002R and 0057F (Round et al. 2007). ...

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Oxidative Stress Experienced during Early Development Influences the Offspring Phenotype

... Clearly more detailed work on the vocalisations, morphometrics (data for only two birds are widely available) and, to a much lesser extent, the morphology of the Arabian birds is demanded (Pearson et al. 2004 already noted that the two UAE specimens show slightly atypical wing formulae from Central Asian rama). Current data suggest that this population is almost certainly resident, as singing birds are present at Khor Kalba in January (Aspinall 1996) and A. Grieve et al. (pers. ...

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Will the real Sykes's Warbler please stand up? Breeding data support specific status for Hippolais rama and H. caligata, with comments on the Arabian population of 'booted warbler'

... Among avian species, morphology can frequently mislead taxonomic inference (Zink et al. 2000, Johnson et al. 2007, Hull et al. 2010b). Use of molecular genetic techniques has recently resulted in the recognition of cryptic species and subspecies within wide-ranging, morphologically similar avian populations (Ash et al. 2005, Christidis et al. 2008, Irwin et al. 2011) and can result in an improved recognition of extant biodiversity (see Lohman et al. 2010 ). Based on recent phylogenetic and population genetic findings (Hull et al. 2010a ) and recognizing that identification of distinct evolutionary lineages is central element in taxonomic classification (de Queiroz 2005) and conservation of biodiversity (Faith 1992, Moritz 2002 ), we consider that the isolated central Sierra Nevada population of Great Gray Owls warrants recognition as a new taxon, which we name: Morphometric measurements taken from the limited number of museum specimens and banded birds provide a preliminary qualitative description of the size of individuals from each subspecies (Table 1). ...

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A New Subspecies of Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) in the Sierra Nevada of California, U.S.A.

... In due course, and in the majority of cases, the taxon in question has been re-encountered (although sometimes more than 100 years later), additional specimens have been collected, and the authenticity of the form confirmed. Outstanding examples include Sillem's Rosefinch Carpodacus sillemi and Large-billed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orinus whose validity was first confirmed by genetic analyses before more specimens were identified and/or they were rediscovered in the field (Ayé et al. 2010;Bensch and Pearson 2002;Kazmierczak and Muzika 2012;Round et al. 2007;Sangster et al. 2016;Svensson et al. 2008;Timmins et al. 2009). Others have been relegated to synonyms or deemed to be aberrant individuals, or even revealed to be 'hoodwinks', e.g. ...

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A molecular analysis of the mysterious Vaurie’s Nightjar Caprimulgus centralasicus yields fresh insight into its taxonomic status

... Plasma samples were used to identify and quantify the concentrations of OCs and circulating carotenoids. Red blood cell samples were used to determine the sex of nestlings by molecular procedures using the primers 0057F and 002R (Round et al., 2007) and protocols described in GarcíaHeras et al. (under review). We obtained blood samples from a total of 101 nestlings from 44 nests. ...

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Pollutants and diet influence carotenoid levels and integument coloration in nestlings of an endangered raptor