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Blanco G, Chamorro D, Lovas‐Kiss Á, Bravo C. Seed dispersal by the cosmopolitan house sparrow widens the spectrum of unexpected endozoochory by granivore birds. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11556. [PMID: 38932975 PMCID: PMC11199174 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the intricate web of plant-animal interactions, granivore birds can play a dual antagonist-mutualist role as seed predators and dispersers. This study delves into the ecological significance of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) as seed disperser by endozoochory. A sample of individual droppings and faecal pools were collected from a communal roost in central Spain to examine the presence of seeds. Seed viability was determined using the tetrazolium test. Our findings revealed that around 22% of the analysed droppings contained seeds, contradicting the prevalent notion of house sparrow solely as seed predator. Viability tests demonstrated that 53.9% of the defecated seeds were viable, although it varied between plant species, including those from fleshy-fruited common fig and five species of dry-fruited herbs. This study challenges the traditional perspectives on the ecological role of the house sparrow, and glimpses on their contribution to seed dispersal. Understanding the nuanced roles of granivore species like the house sparrow is crucial for developing holistic conservation and management strategies in urban and agricultural landscapes. Future studies are encouraged to unravel the actual role of this cosmopolitan species as disperser of a likely broad spectrum of wild, cultivated and exotic plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary EcologyMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSICMadridSpain
| | - Daniel Chamorro
- Departamento de Ciencias AmbientalesUniversidad de Castilla‐La ManchaToledoSpain
- Consejería de EducaciónCiencia y UniversidadesMadridSpain
| | - Ádám Lovas‐Kiss
- Department of Tisza River ResearchHUN‐REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic EcologyDebrecenHungary
- Institute of One HealthUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary
| | - Carolina Bravo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC)‐(CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM)Ciudad RealSpain
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Soares CS, Barnett AA, Scudeller VV, Borges SH. Searching for food in a concrete jungle: feeding ecology of a Psittacine assemblage (Aves, Psittacidae) in a major Amazonian city. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20220606. [PMID: 37909560 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficient use of food resources is a precondition for wild species´ survival in urban environments. The feeding ecology of animals in tropical cities, however, remains poorly investigated. Here we study the feeding ecology of parrots in Manaus, a major Amazonian city, and compare the results with a parrot assemblage living in undisturbed habitats. We recorded 203 feeding bouts from eight parrot species, which consumed parts of 51 plant species. Parrot diets were dominated by native palm species (Arecaceae). Exotic plants, however, constituted an important portion of the diet of some parrots. Levin's indices, a measure of food niche width, varied from 0.40 to 0.83, indicating an overall tendency to generalist diets. Diet overlap between species was small, indicating broad resource partitioning between members of the assemblage. The diversity of plants consumed in the natural environment was greater than in the urban environment (71 species vs. 52). However, the diversity of plants consumed was similar for parrot species recorded both in natural and urban environments, indicating that occupation of the city does not imply an impoverishment in parrot diets. Creation of municipal protected areas and increasing the city afforestation would provide complementary strategies for Manaus parrot conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane S Soares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. General Rodrigo Octávio, 6200, Coroado I, 69080-900 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Ecologia de Vertebrados Terrestres, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Estrada do Bexiga, 2584, Fonte Boa, 69553225 Tefé, AM, Brazil
| | - Adrian A Barnett
- Middlesex University, Department Natural Sciences, Hendon, London NW4 4BT, England
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, 2936, 69067-375 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Departamento de Biologia, Av. Lourenço Vieira da Silva, s/n, Tirirical, 65055-310 São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Veridiana V Scudeller
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Departamento de Biologia, Av. General Rodrigo O. Jordão Ramos, 6200, 69080-900 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Sérgio H Borges
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Departamento de Biologia, Av. General Rodrigo O. Jordão Ramos, 6200, 69080-900 Manaus, AM, Brazil
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Blanco G, Romero‐Vidal P, Tella JL, Hiraldo F. Novel food resources and conservation of ecological interactions between the Andean Araucaria and the Austral parakeet. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9455. [PMID: 36311393 PMCID: PMC9608793 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In fragile ecosystems, the introduction of exotic species could alter some ecological processes. The Austral parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineous) shows close ecological and evolutionary relationships with the Andean Araucaria (Araucaria araucana), so any alteration in these interactions may have negative consequences for both partners and for ecosystem functioning and structure. We conducted extensive roadside surveys to estimate the abundance of parakeets in the northern Patagonian Andes over 4 years and recorded the food plants consumed by foraging flocks. The use of native habitats and humanized areas like villages and farms was influenced by the Araucaria seed crop. In masting years, the large seed crop allowed a massive use of this resource during the non-breeding season, and even during the breeding season. The exploitation of exotic plants was minor in the masting year, but became predominant in non-masting years, especially during the non-breeding season. This feeding switch towards exotic plants primarily arose because the low Araucaria seed crop in non-masting years is entirely consumed just after production by domestic and wild exotic mammals living in Araucaria forests year-round, thus forcing the displacement of parakeets towards anthropic habitats to exploit exotic plants. Given the degradation of the remaining Andean Araucaria forests due to the impact of exotic mammals on the ecological interaction between Araucaria and Austral parakeets, ambitious programs to exclude or reduce the density of these alien mammals, including livestock, are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary EcologyMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Pedro Romero‐Vidal
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural SystemsUniversidad Pablo de OlavideSevillaSpain
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation BiologyEstación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC)SevillaSpain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation BiologyEstación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC)SevillaSpain
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Carrete M, Hiraldo F, Romero-Vidal P, Blanco G, Hernández-Brito D, Sebastián-González E, Díaz-Luque JA, Tella JL. Worldwide Distribution of Antagonistic-Mutualistic Relationships Between Parrots and Palms. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.790883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Palms, like all plants, show coevolutionary relationships with animals that have been traditionally categorized as mutualistic (seed dispersers and pollinators) or antagonistic (seed predators). This dual perspective, however, has prevented a full understanding of their true interactions with some animal groups, mainly those that do not ingest entire fruits. One clear example is parrots, which have been described to use palm species as feeding resources, while their role as seed dispersers has been largely neglected. Here, we combined fieldwork data with information from the literature and citizen science (i.e., naturalists and nature photographers) on parrot foraging ecology worldwide to evaluate the spatial and taxonomic extent of parrot-palm interactions and to identify the eco-evolutionary factors involved. We identified 1,189 interactions between 135 parrots and 107 palm species in more than 50 countries across the six realms where palms are present as natives or introduced. Combining this information, we identified 427 unique parrot-palm interacting pairs (i.e., a parrot species interacting with a palm species). Pure antagonistic interactions (i.e., parrots just preying on seeds or eating or destroying their non-reproductive parts) were less common (5%) than mutualistic ones (i.e., parrots benefiting by partially preying on the seed or fruit or consuming the pulp of the fruit or the flower but also contributing to seed dispersal and, potentially, pollination; 89%). After controlling for phylogeny, the size of consumed seeds and parrot body mass were positively related. Seed dispersal distances varied among palm species (range of estimated median dispersal distances: 9–250 m), with larger parrots dispersing seeds at greater distances, especially large fruits commonly categorized as megafauna anachronisms (>4 cm length). Although parrot-palm interactions are widespread, several factors (e.g., social behavior, predation fear, food availability, or seasonality) may affect the actual position of parrots on the antagonism-mutualism continuum for different palm species and regions, deserving further research. Meanwhile, the pervasiveness of parrot-palm mutualistic interactions, mainly involving seed dispersal and pollination, should not be overlooked in studies of palm ecology and evolution.
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Contributions of Distribution Modelling to the Ecological Study of Psittaciformes. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13120611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We provide an overview of the use of species distribution modeling to address research questions related to parrot ecology and conservation at a global scale. We conducted a literature search and applied filters to select the 82 most relevant studies to discuss. The study of parrot species distribution has increased steadily in the past 30 years, with methods and computing development maturing and facilitating their application for a wide range of research and applied questions. Conservation topics was the most popular topic (37%), followed by ecology (34%) and invasion ecology (20%). The role of abiotic factors explaining parrot distribution is the most frequent ecological application. The high prevalence of studies supporting on-ground conservation problems is a remarkable example of reduction in the research–action gap. Prediction of invasion risk and assessment of invasion effect were more prevalent than examples evaluating the environmental or economic impact of these invasions. The integration of species distribution models with other tools in the decision-making process and other data (e.g., landscape metrics, genetic, behavior) could even further expand the range of applications and provide a more nuanced understanding of how parrot species are responding to their even more changing landscape and threats.
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Roadside Car Surveys: Methodological Constraints and Solutions for Estimating Parrot Abundances across the World. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13070300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Parrots stand out among birds because of their poor conservation status and the lack of available information on their population sizes and trends. Estimating parrot abundance is complicated by the high mobility, gregariousness, patchy distributions, and rarity of many species. Roadside car surveys can be useful to cover large areas and increase the probability of detecting spatially aggregated species or those occurring at very low densities. However, such surveys may be biased due to their inability to handle differences in detectability among species and habitats. We conducted 98 roadside surveys, covering > 57,000 km across 20 countries and the main world biomes, recording ca. 120,000 parrots from 137 species. We found that larger and more gregarious species are more easily visually detected and at greater distances, with variations among biomes. However, raw estimates of relative parrot abundances (individuals/km) were strongly correlated (r = 0.86–0.93) with parrot densities (individuals/km2) estimated through distance sampling (DS) models, showing that variability in abundances among species (>40 orders of magnitude) overcomes any potential detectability bias. While both methods provide similar results, DS cannot be used to study parrot communities or monitor the population trends of all parrot species as it requires a minimum of encounters that are not reached for most species (64% in our case), mainly the rarest and more threatened. However, DS may be the most suitable choice for some species-specific studies of common species. We summarize the strengths and weaknesses of both methods to guide researchers in choosing the best–fitting option for their particular research hypotheses, characteristics of the species studied, and logistical constraints.
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Burrowing Parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus as Long-Distance Seed Dispersers of Keystone Algarrobos, Genus Prosopis, in the Monte Desert. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13050204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Understanding of ecosystem structure and functioning requires detailed knowledge about plant–animal interactions, especially when keystone species are involved. The recent consideration of parrots as legitimate seed dispersers has widened the range of mechanisms influencing the life cycle of many plant species. We examined the interactions between the burrowing parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus and two dominant algarrobo trees (Prosopis alba and Prosopis nigra) in the Monte Desert, Argentina. We recorded the abundance and foraging behaviour of parrots; quantified the handling, consumption, wasting, and dispersal of ripe and unripe pods; and tested the viability of soft and hard ripe seeds wasted and transported by parrots. We found a high abundance of burrowing parrots. They predated on soft seeds from unripe pods while exclusively feeding upon pulp wrapping hard seeds from ripe pods. Frequent pod wasting beneath the plant or transport at a distance invariably implied the dispersal of multiple seeds in each event. Moreover, soft seeds retained viability after desiccation outside the mother plant, suggesting effective seed dispersal after partial pod predation due to a predator satiation effect. In about half of the foraging flocks, at least one parrot departed in flight with pods in its beak, with 10–34% of the flock components moving pods at distances averaging 238 m (P. alba) and 418 m (P. nigra). A snapshot sampling of faeces from livestock and wild mammals suggested a low frequency of seed dispersal by endozoochory and secondary dispersal by ants and dung beetles. The nomadic movements and long flights of burrowing parrots between breeding and foraging sites can lead to the dispersal of huge amounts of seeds across large areas that are sequentially exploited. Further research should evaluate the role of the burrowing parrot as a functionally unique species in the structure of the Monte Desert woods and the genetic structure of algarrobo species.
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Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant-Animal Mutualism. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10040760. [PMID: 33924535 PMCID: PMC8070029 DOI: 10.3390/plants10040760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Plant–animal interactions are key to sustaining whole communities and ecosystem function. However, their complexity may limit our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the species involved. The ecological effects of epizoochory remain little known compared to other seed dispersal mechanisms given the few vectors identified. In addition, epizoochory is mostly considered non-mutualistic since dispersers do not obtain nutritional rewards. Here, we show a widespread but unknown mutualistic interaction between parrots and plants through epizoochory. Combining our observations with photos from web-sources, we recorded nearly 2000 epizoochory events in 48 countries across five continents, involving 116 parrot species and nearly 100 plant species from 35 families, including both native and non-native species. The viscid pulp of fleshy fruits and anemochorous structures facilitate the adherence of tiny seeds (mean 3.7 × 2.56 mm) on the surface of parrots while feeding, allowing the dispersion of these seeds over long distances (mean = 118.5 m). This parrot–plant mutualism could be important in ecosystem functioning across a wide diversity of environments, also facilitating the spread of exotic plants. Future studies should include parrots for a better understanding of plant dispersal processes and for developing effective conservation actions against habitat loss and biological invasions.
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Benavídez A, Tallei E, Lilian EA, Rivera L. Feeding ecology of the Green-cheeked Parakeet, Pyrrhura molinae (Psittaciformes, Psittacidae), in a subtropical forest of Argentina. NEOTROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.16.e62109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there are studies on certain aspects of the feeding ecology of several species of Neotropical parrots, there is scarce ecological information about Pyrrhura molinae – a Psittacidae species which is widely distributed in South America and abundant in the Yungas of Argentina. For two years (May 2014 to June 2016), the composition and seasonal variation in the Green-cheeked Parakeet diet in the Yungas Piedmont forest in Jujuy, Argentina were examined. Furthermore, fruiting phenology transects were established to evaluate food resource availability and the patterns of food resource used by the Green-cheeked Parakeet. In 214 food plant trees, it was found that flower and dry fruit availability was highest in the dry season, and fleshy fruit production peaked in the wet season, but these phenology patterns for aged plant species suggest that there were no significant differences in food availability. The consumption of 18 plant species was recorded, being Celtis iguanaea (30.73%) and Trema micrantha (22.01%) the most consumed species. In terms of food items, fruits were the most consumed items, followed by seeds and flowers and, to a lesser extent, nectar and leaves. Levins’ niche breadth showed varying levels of diet specialisation amongst seasons, which was narrower (B = 0.28) in the wet season, indicating specialisation in diet during this season. There was a medium overlap in parakeet diet between seasons (Morisita Index = 0.59). We did not find a statistically significant relationship between resource availability and food use, but expansion and contraction in Levins Index and variation in food items consumed throughout the year and season demonstrate high flexibility in the diet. Like other congeners, the Green-cheeked Parakeet has a flexible diet that could be adjusted to the seasonal availability of food resources. These data may contribute to the design of conservation plans for the species and its habitat.
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Predicting the Future Distribution of Ara rubrogenys, an Endemic Endangered Bird Species of the Andes, Taking into Account Trophic Interactions. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13020094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Species distribution models (SDMs) are commonly used with climate only to predict animal distribution changes. This approach however neglects the evolution of other components of the niche, like food resource availability. SDMs are also commonly used with plants. This also suffers limitations, notably an inability to capture the fertilizing effect of the rising CO2 concentration strengthening resilience to water stress. Alternatively, process-based dynamic vegetation models (DVMs) respond to CO2 concentration. To test the impact of the plant modelling method to model plant resources of animals, we studied the distribution of a Bolivian macaw, assuming that, under future climate, DVMs produce more conservative results than SDMs. We modelled the bird with an SDM driven by climate. For the plant, we used SDMs or a DVM. Under future climates, the macaw SDM showed increased probabilities of presence over the area of distribution and connected range extensions. For plants, SDMs did not forecast overall response. By contrast, the DVM produced increases of productivity, occupancy and diversity, also towards higher altitudes. The results offered positive perspectives for the macaw, more optimistic with the DVM than with the SDMs, than initially assumed. Nevertheless, major common threats remain, challenging the short-term survival of the macaw.
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Fine-scale genetic structure in the critically endangered red-fronted macaw in the absence of geographic and ecological barriers. Sci Rep 2021; 11:556. [PMID: 33436676 PMCID: PMC7804180 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79575-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioural and socio-cultural traits are recognized in the restriction of gene flow in species with high cognitive capacity and complex societies. This isolation by social barriers has been generally overlooked in threatened species by assuming disrupted gene flow due to population fragmentation and decline. We examine the genetic structure and ecology of the global population of the Critically Endangered red-fronted macaw (Ara rubrogenys), an endemic species to the inter-Andean valleys of Bolivia. We found a fine-scale genetic structuring in four genetic clusters. Genetic diversity was higher in wild compared to captive-bred macaws, but similar to that of captive wild-caught macaws. We found no clear evidence of severe genetic erosion in the population in recent decades, but it was patent in historic times, overlapping with drastic human habitat transformation and macaw persecution over millennia. We found no evidence of geographical and ecological barriers, owing to the high dispersal ability, nesting and foraging habits between genetic clusters. The lack of genetic intermixing despite long-distance foraging and seasonal movements suggests recruitment in natal colonies and other social factors reinforcing philopatry-related genetic structure. Conservation efforts should be specifically focussed on major threats in each genetic cluster as independent conservation units, and also considered in ex-situ management.
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Barbosa JM, Hiraldo F, Romero MÁ, Tella JL. When does agriculture enter into conflict with wildlife? A global assessment of parrot–agriculture conflicts and their conservation effects. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jomar M. Barbosa
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de DoñanaC.S.I.C. Seville Spain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de DoñanaC.S.I.C. Seville Spain
| | - Miguel Á. Romero
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de DoñanaC.S.I.C. Seville Spain
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de DoñanaC.S.I.C. Seville Spain
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Opportunistic or Non-Random Wildlife Crime? Attractiveness Rather Than Abundance in the Wild Leads to Selective Parrot Poaching. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12080314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Illegal wildlife trade, which mostly focuses on high-demand species, constitutes a major threat to biodiversity. However, whether poaching is an opportunistic crime within high-demand taxa such as parrots (i.e., harvesting proportional to species availability in the wild), or is selectively focused on particular, more desirable species, is still under debate. Answering this question has important conservation implications because selective poaching can lead to the extinction of some species through overharvesting. However, the challenges of estimating species abundances in the wild have hampered studies on this subject. We conducted a large-scale survey in Colombia to simultaneously estimate the relative abundance of wild parrots through roadside surveys (recording 10,811 individuals from 25 species across 2221 km surveyed) and as household, illegally trapped pets in 282 sampled villages (1179 individuals from 21 species). We used for the first time a selectivity index to test selection on poaching. Results demonstrated that poaching is not opportunistic, but positively selects species based on their attractiveness, defined as a function of species size, coloration, and ability to talk, which is also reflected in their local prices. Our methodological approach, which shows how selection increases the conservation impacts of poaching for parrots, can be applied to other taxa also impacted by harvesting for trade or other purposes.
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Gonçalves da Silva B, Koch I, Piratelli AJ. Fruit and flower availability affect bird assemblages across two successional stages in the Atlantic Forest. STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2020.1743550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Gonçalves da Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, CCTS, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos – UFSCar, Sorocaba, Brazil
| | - Ingrid Koch
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas – UNICAMP, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Augusto João Piratelli
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, CCTS, Universidade Federal de São Carlos – UFSCar, Sorocaba, Brazil
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Conserving the Diversity of Ecological Interactions: The Role of Two Threatened Macaw Species as Legitimate Dispersers of “Megafaunal” Fruits. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12020045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The extinction of ecological functions is increasingly considered a major component of biodiversity loss, given its pervasive effects on ecosystems, and it may precede the disappearance of the species engaged. Dispersal of many large-fruited (>4 cm diameter) plants is thought to have been handicapped after the extinction of megafauna in the Late Pleistocene and the recent defaunation of large mammals. We recorded the seed dispersal behavior of two macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus and Anodorhynchus leari) in three Neotropical biomes, totaling >1700 dispersal events from 18 plant species, 98% corresponding to six large-fruited palm species. Dispersal rates varied among palm species (5%–100%). Fruits were moved to perches at varying distances (means: 17–450 m, maximum 1620 m). Macaws also moved nuts after regurgitation by livestock, in an unusual case of tertiary dispersal, to distant perches. A high proportion (11%–75%) of dispersed nuts was found undamaged under perches, and palm recruitment was confirmed under 6%–73% of the perches. Our results showed that these macaws were legitimate, long-distance dispersers, and challenge the prevailing view that dispersal of large-fruited plants was compromised after megafauna extinction. The large range contraction of these threatened macaws, however, meant that these mutualistic interactions are functionally extinct over large areas at a continental scale.
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Blanco G, Bravo C, Chamorro D, Lovas-Kiss Á, Hiraldo F, Tella JL. Herb endozoochory by cockatoos: Is ‘foliage the fruit’? AUSTRAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales; CSIC. José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 28006 Madrid Spain
| | - Carolina Bravo
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales; CSIC. José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 28006 Madrid Spain
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; UMR 7372 CNRS; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Daniel Chamorro
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Toledo Spain
| | - Ádám Lovas-Kiss
- Department of Tisza River Research; MTA Centre for Ecological Research; Danube Research Institute; Debrecen Hungary
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology; Estación Biológica de Doñana; Sevilla Spain
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology; Estación Biológica de Doñana; Sevilla Spain
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17
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Sebastián-González E, Hiraldo F, Blanco G, Hernández-Brito D, Romero-Vidal P, Carrete M, Gómez-Llanos E, Pacífico EC, Díaz-Luque JA, Dénes FV, Tella JL. The extent, frequency and ecological functions of food wasting by parrots. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15280. [PMID: 31649288 PMCID: PMC6813306 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51430-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anecdotic citations of food wasting have been described for parrots, but we lack a comprehensive knowledge about the extent of this behaviour, and its ecological and evolutionary implications. Here, we combine experimental and observational approaches to evaluate the spatial, temporal, typological and taxonomic extent of food wasting by parrots, to identify the ecological and evolutionary factors driving food wasting, and to assess the incidence of two ecological functions derived from food wasting, such as food facilitation to other animal species and secondary seed dispersal. We found that food wasting is a widespread behaviour found in all the studied parrot species. However, the proportion of food wasted differed among species and throughout the year. Parrots wasted more food during the non-breeding season, when they relied on exotic plants and on unripe fruits or seeds. We also recorded 86 animal species feeding on the food wasted by parrots, 27 of which potentially acted as secondary seed dispersers. Overall, our study emphasizes the universality of food wasting among parrots, and the important implications that this behaviour may have for the species involved (i.e., the parrot, the plant, the other species feeding on wasted food), and for the functioning of the whole ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology, Doñana Biological Station CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dailos Hernández-Brito
- Department of Conservation Biology, Doñana Biological Station CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Pedro Romero-Vidal
- Department of Conservation Biology, Doñana Biological Station CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.,Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Eduardo Gómez-Llanos
- Department of Conservation Biology, Doñana Biological Station CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Erica C Pacífico
- Department of Conservation Biology, Doñana Biological Station CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José A Díaz-Luque
- Foundation for the Research and Conservation of Parrots in Bolivia (FPCILB), Barrio Estación Argentina, Calle Fermín Rivero 3460, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Francisco V Dénes
- University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - José L Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Doñana Biological Station CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
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18
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Brǿnnvik H, von Wettberg EJ. Bird Dispersal as a Pre-Adaptation for Domestication in Legumes: Insights for Neo-Domestication. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1293. [PMID: 31681385 PMCID: PMC6803499 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hester Brǿnnvik
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Eric J. von Wettberg
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
- Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechic University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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19
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Blanco G, Tella JL, Díaz-Luque JA, Hiraldo F. Multiple External Seed Dispersers Challenge the Megafaunal Syndrome Anachronism and the Surrogate Ecological Function of Livestock. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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20
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Barbosa AEA, Tella JL. How much does it cost to save a species from extinction? Costs and rewards of conserving the Lear's macaw. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190190. [PMID: 31417724 PMCID: PMC6689625 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Although the limited resources available to save species from extinction necessitate the optimization of conservation actions, little is known about their costs and effectiveness. We developed a costs-rewards framework that integrates information on which sectors of society contribute to funding conservation, how much is contributed, how funds are distributed among conservation targets and how these investments drive not only conservation rewards but also the economic and ecosystem services that benefit society. We applied this framework to the Lear's macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), a species discovered in the wild in 1978 with only 60 individuals. Funds invested over the last 25 years reached US$3.66 million. The contribution of governments, non-governmental organizations and private funders varied over time, as did the funding targets. Funds were proportionally invested to mitigate the main causes of mortality, while no funds were devoted to protecting foraging habitats. Conservation rewards were satisfactory, with the cost and time needed to downlist the species from critically endangered to endangered being similar to those invested in other bird species. However, economic rewards (through ecotourism and handicrafts linked to the conservation of the species) were low and require promotion, while ecosystem services provided by Lear's macaws have yet to be quantified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio E. A. Barbosa
- The National Center for Bird Conservation and Research (CEMAVE), BR 230, Floresta Nacional da Restinga de Cabedelo, Renascer, 58.108-012 Cebedelo-PB, Brazil
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
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21
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Kosman E, Burgio KR, Presley SJ, Willig MR, Scheiner SM. Conservation prioritization based on trait‐based metrics illustrated with global parrot distributions. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Evsey Kosman
- Institute for Cereal Crops Improvement Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel
| | - Kevin R. Burgio
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - Steven J. Presley
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - Michael R. Willig
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - Samuel M. Scheiner
- Division of Environmental Biology National Science Foundation Alexandria Virginia
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22
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Tella JL, Blanco G, Dénes FV, Hiraldo F. Overlooked Parrot Seed Dispersal in Australia and South America: Insights on the Evolution of Dispersal Syndromes and Seed Size in Araucaria Trees. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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23
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Kolchanova S, Kliver S, Komissarov A, Dobrinin P, Tamazian G, Grigorev K, Wolfsberger WW, Majeske AJ, Velez-Valentin J, Valentin de la Rosa R, Paul-Murphy JR, Guzman DSM, Court MH, Rodriguez-Flores JL, Martínez-Cruzado JC, Oleksyk TK. Genomes of Three Closely Related Caribbean Amazons Provide Insight for Species History and Conservation. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E54. [PMID: 30654561 PMCID: PMC6356210 DOI: 10.3390/genes10010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Islands have been used as model systems for studies of speciation and extinction since Darwin published his observations about finches found on the Galapagos. Amazon parrots inhabiting the Greater Antillean Islands represent a fascinating model of species diversification. Unfortunately, many of these birds are threatened as a result of human activity and some, like the Puerto Rican parrot, are now critically endangered. In this study we used a combination of de novo and reference-assisted assembly methods, integrating it with information obtained from related genomes to perform genome reconstruction of three amazon species. First, we used whole genome sequencing data to generate a new de novo genome assembly for the Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata). We then improved the obtained assembly using transcriptome data from Amazona ventralis and used the resulting sequences as a reference to assemble the genomes Hispaniolan (A. ventralis) and Cuban (Amazona leucocephala) parrots. Finally, we, annotated genes and repetitive elements, estimated genome sizes and current levels of heterozygosity, built models of demographic history and provided interpretation of our findings in the context of parrot evolution in the Caribbean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofiia Kolchanova
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR 00680, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany.
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Sergei Kliver
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Aleksei Komissarov
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Pavel Dobrinin
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Gaik Tamazian
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Kirill Grigorev
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR 00680, USA.
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Walter W Wolfsberger
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR 00680, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, 118 Library Drive, Rochester, MI 48309, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Uzhhorod National University, 88000 Uzhhorod, Ukraine.
| | - Audrey J Majeske
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR 00680, USA.
- Beaumont BioBank, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA.
| | - Jafet Velez-Valentin
- Conservation Program of the Puerto Rican Parrot, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rio Grande, PR 00745, USA.
| | - Ricardo Valentin de la Rosa
- The Recovery Program of the Puerto Rican Parrot at the Rio Abajo State Forest, Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico, Arecibo, PR 00613, USA.
| | - Joanne R Paul-Murphy
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Michael H Court
- Program in Individualized Medicine (PrIMe), Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, 100 Grimes Way, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | | | | | - Taras K Oleksyk
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR 00680, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, 118 Library Drive, Rochester, MI 48309, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Uzhhorod National University, 88000 Uzhhorod, Ukraine.
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24
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Cantor E, Lewis T, Louter M, Smith K, Schmitke D, Moore C, Kleindorfer S. Nest site attributes and nesting outcome in the vulnerable eastern Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides). T ROY SOC SOUTH AUST 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2018.1552825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Cantor
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tamara Lewis
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Marina Louter
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kevin Smith
- Department of Environment and Water, South Australian Regent Parrot Recovery Team, Berri, Australia
| | - Darren Schmitke
- Department of Environment and Water, South Australian Regent Parrot Recovery Team, Berri, Australia
| | - Claire Moore
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
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25
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Gómez JM, Schupp EW, Jordano P. Synzoochory: the ecological and evolutionary relevance of a dual interaction. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 94:874-902. [PMID: 30467946 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- José María Gómez
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Ctra Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, E-04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Eugene W Schupp
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, S. J. and Jesse E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, 5230 Old Main Hill, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5230,, U.S.A
| | - Pedro Jordano
- Departamento de Ecología Integrativa, Integrative Ecology Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda. Americo Vespucio S/N, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
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26
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Falcón W, Tremblay RL. From the cage to the wild: introductions of Psittaciformes to Puerto Rico. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5669. [PMID: 30397538 PMCID: PMC6214232 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduced psittacine birds can become highly invasive. In this study, we assessed invasions of Psittaciformes in Puerto Rico. We reviewed the literature, public databases, citizen science records, and performed in situ population surveys across the island to determine the historical and current status and distribution of psittacine species. We used count data from Ebird to determine population trends. For species whose populations were increasing, we modelled their potential distribution using niche modeling techniques. We found 46 Psittaciformes in Puerto Rico, of which 26% are only present as pets, at least 29 species have been reported in the wild, and of those, there is evidence that at least 12 species are breeding. Our results indicate that most introduced species which have been detected as established still persist, although mostly in localized areas and small populations. Clear evidence of invasiveness was found for Brotogeris versicolurus and Myiopsitta monachus, which have greatly expanded their range in recent years. Psittacara erythrogenys and Eupsittacula canicularis also showed population increases, although to a lesser degree. The niche models predicted suitable areas for the four species, and also indicate the potential for range expansion. We discuss the factors leading to invasion success, assess the potential impacts, and we discuss possible management strategies and research prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfredo Falcón
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, Humacao, Puerto Rico, United States of America.,Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, United States of America.,Bureau of Research and Conservation of Habitats and Biodiversity, Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Raymond L Tremblay
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, Humacao, Puerto Rico, United States of America.,Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, United States of America
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27
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Lopes DDC, Martin RO, Indjai B, Monteiro H, Henriques M, Regalla A, Catry P. Food diversity of Timneh Parrots (Psittacus timneh
) in the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea-Bissau. Afr J Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel da Costa Lopes
- Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; Lisbon Portugal
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre; ISPA - Instituto Universitário; Lisbon Portugal
| | - Rowan O. Martin
- World Parrot Trust; Hayle Cornwall UK
- Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology; DST/NRF Centre of Excellence; University of Cape Town; Cape Town South Africa
| | - Bucar Indjai
- INEP - National Institute for Study and Research; Bissau Guinea-Bissau
| | | | - Mohamed Henriques
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre; ISPA - Instituto Universitário; Lisbon Portugal
| | - Aissa Regalla
- IBAP - Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas; Bissau Guinea-Bissau
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre; ISPA - Instituto Universitário; Lisbon Portugal
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28
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Luna Á, Romero-Vidal P, Hiraldo F, Tella JL. Cities may save some threatened species but not their ecological functions. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4908. [PMID: 29942675 PMCID: PMC6016529 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Urbanization is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. Wildlife responses to urbanization, however, are greatly variable and, paradoxically, some threatened species may achieve much larger populations in urban than in natural habitats. Urban conservation hotspots may therefore help some species avoid regional or even global extinctions, but not conserve their often overlooked ecological functions in the wild. We aim to draw attention to this issue using two species of globally threatened parrots occurring in the Dominican Republic: the Hispaniolan amazon (Amazona ventralis) and the Hispaniolan parakeet (Psittacara chloropterus). Methods We conducted a large-scale roadside survey in June 2017 across the country to estimate the relative abundance of parrots in natural habitats, rural habitats, and cities. We combined this with informal interviews with local people to collect information on past and current human impacts on parrot populations. We also looked for foraging parrots to assess their potential role as seed dispersers, an ecological function that has been overlooked until very recently. Results Relative abundances of both parrot species were negligible in rural areas and very low in natural habitats. They were generally between one and two orders of magnitude lower than that of congeneric species inhabiting other Neotropical ecosystems. Relative abundances were six times higher in cities than in natural habitats in the case of the Hispaniolan parakeet and three times higher in the case of the Hispaniolan amazon. People indicated hunting for a source food and to mitigate crop damage as causes of parrot population declines, and a vigorous illegal trade for parrots (131 individuals recorded, 75% of them poached very recently), mostly obtained from protected areas where the last small wild populations remain. We observed parrots foraging on 19 plant species from 11 families, dispersing the fruits of 14 species by carrying them in their beaks and consuming them in distant perching trees. They discarded undamaged mature seeds, with the potential to germinate, in 99.5% of cases (n = 306), and minimum dispersal distances ranged from 8 to 155 m (median = 37 m). Discussion The loss of ecological functions provided by some species when they disappear from natural habitats and only persist in cities may have long-term, unexpected effects on ecosystems. Our example demonstrates how two cities may soon be the last refuges for two endemic parrots if overharvesting continues, in which case their overlooked role as seed dispersers would be completely lost in nature. The functional extinction of these species could strongly affect vegetation communities in an island environment where seed-dispersal species are naturally scarce. While conservation plans must include urban populations of threatened species, greater efforts are needed to restore their populations in natural habitats to conserve ecological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Luna
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Pedro Romero-Vidal
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jose L Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
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29
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Karyotype Evolution in Birds: From Conventional Staining to Chromosome Painting. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9040181. [PMID: 29584697 PMCID: PMC5924523 DOI: 10.3390/genes9040181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last few decades, there have been great efforts to reconstruct the phylogeny of Neoaves based mainly on DNA sequencing. Despite the importance of karyotype data in phylogenetic studies, especially with the advent of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques using different types of probes, the use of chromosomal data to clarify phylogenetic proposals is still minimal. Additionally, comparative chromosome painting in birds is restricted to a few orders, while in mammals, for example, virtually all orders have already been analyzed using this method. Most reports are based on comparisons using Gallus gallus probes, and only a small number of species have been analyzed with more informative sets of probes, such as those from Leucopternis albicollis and Gyps fulvus, which show ancestral macrochromosomes rearranged in alternative patterns. Despite this, it is appropriate to review the available cytogenetic information and possible phylogenetic conclusions. In this report, the authors gather both classical and molecular cytogenetic data and describe some interesting and unique characteristics of karyotype evolution in birds.
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30
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Network structure embracing mutualism–antagonism continuums increases community robustness. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:1661-1669. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0320-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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31
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Baños-Villalba A, Blanco G, Díaz-Luque JA, Dénes FV, Hiraldo F, Tella JL. Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystem. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7373. [PMID: 28785083 PMCID: PMC5547140 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07697-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Seed dispersal is one of the most studied plant-animal mutualisms. It has been proposed that the dispersal of many large-seeded plants from Neotropical forests was primarily conducted by extinct megafauna, and currently by livestock. Parrots can transport large fruits using their beaks, but have been overlooked as seed dispersers. We demonstrate that three macaws (Ara ararauna, A. glaucogularis and A. severus) are the main dispersers of the large-seeded motacú palm Attalea princeps, which is the biomass-dominant tree in the Bolivian Amazonian savannas. Macaws dispersed fruits at high rates (75-100% of fruits) to distant (up to 1200 m) perching trees, where they consumed the pulp and discarded entire seeds, contributing to forest regeneration and connectivity between distant forests islands. The spatial distribution of immature palms was positively associated to the proximity to macaws' perching trees and negatively to the proximity to cattle paths. The disperser role of livestock, presumably a substitute for extinct megafauna, had little effect due to soil compaction, trampling and herbivory. Our results underscore the importance of macaws as legitimate, primary dispersers of large-seeded plants at long distances and, specifically, their key role in shaping the landscape structure and functioning of this Amazonian biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Baños-Villalba
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, University Pablo de Olavide Ctra, Utrera km 1, E- 41013, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC. José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Díaz-Luque
- Bolivian Parrots Research and Conservation Foundation (CLB), Avda. Mariscal Sta. Cruz 5030, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Francisco V Dénes
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Américo Vespucio s/n, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Américo Vespucio s/n, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José L Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Américo Vespucio s/n, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain
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32
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Corlett RT. Frugivory and seed dispersal by vertebrates in tropical and subtropical Asia: An update. Glob Ecol Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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33
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Endangered plant-parrot mutualisms: seed tolerance to predation makes parrots pervasive dispersers of the Parana pine. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31709. [PMID: 27546381 PMCID: PMC4992845 DOI: 10.1038/srep31709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Parrots are largely considered plant antagonists as they usually destroy the seeds they feed on. However, there is evidence that parrots may also act as seed dispersers. We evaluated the dual role of parrots as predators and dispersers of the Critically Endangered Parana pine (Araucaria angustifolia). Eight of nine parrot species predated seeds from 48% of 526 Parana pines surveyed. Observations of the commonest parrot indicated that 22.5% of the picked seeds were dispersed by carrying them in their beaks. Another five parrot species dispersed seeds, at an estimated average distance of c. 250 m. Dispersal distances did not differ from those observed in jays, considered the main avian dispersers. Contrary to jays, parrots often dropped partially eaten seeds. Most of these seeds were handled by parrots, and the proportion of partially eaten seeds that germinated was higher than that of undamaged seeds. This may be explained by a predator satiation effect, suggesting that the large seeds of the Parana pine evolved to attract consumers for dispersal. This represents a thus far overlooked key plant-parrot mutualism, in which both components are threatened with extinction. The interaction is becoming locally extinct long before the global extinction of the species involved.
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Tella JL, Lambertucci SA, Speziale KL, Hiraldo F. Large-scale impacts of multiple co-occurring invaders on monkey puzzle forest regeneration, native seed predators and their ecological interactions. Glob Ecol Conserv 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Blanco G, Bravo C, Pacifico EC, Chamorro D, Speziale KL, Lambertucci SA, Hiraldo F, Tella JL. Internal seed dispersal by parrots: an overview of a neglected mutualism. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1688. [PMID: 26925322 PMCID: PMC4768710 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the fact that parrots (Psitacifformes) are generalist apex frugivores, they have largely been considered plant antagonists and thus neglected as seed dispersers of their food plants. Internal dispersal was investigated by searching for seeds in faeces opportunistically collected at communal roosts, foraging sites and nests of eleven parrot species in different habitats and biomes in the Neotropics. Multiple intact seeds of seven plant species of five families were found in a variable proportion of faeces from four parrot species. The mean number of seeds of each plant species per dropping ranged between one and about sixty, with a maximum of almost five hundred seeds from the cacti Pilosocereus pachycladus in a single dropping of Lear's Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari). All seeds retrieved were small (<3 mm) and corresponded to herbs and relatively large, multiple-seeded fleshy berries and infrutescences from shrubs, trees and columnar cacti, often also dispersed by stomatochory. An overview of the potential constraints driving seed dispersal suggest that, despite the obvious size difference between seeds dispersed by endozoochory and stomatochory, there is no clear difference in fruit size depending on the dispersal mode. Regardless of the enhanced or limited germination capability after gut transit, a relatively large proportion of cacti seeds frequently found in the faeces of two parrot species were viable according to the tetrazolium test and germination experiments. The conservative results of our exploratory sampling and a literature review clearly indicate that the importance of parrots as endozoochorous dispersers has been largely under-appreciated due to the lack of research systematically searching for seeds in their faeces. We encourage the evaluation of seed dispersal and other mutualistic interactions mediated by parrots before their generalized population declines contribute to the collapse of key ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC , Madrid , Spain
| | - Carolina Bravo
- Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universidad de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Erica C Pacifico
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC , Sevilla , Spain
| | - Daniel Chamorro
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Toledo , Spain
| | - Karina L Speziale
- Ecotono Laboratory, INIBIOMA (CONICET-National University of Comahue) , Bariloche , Argentina
| | - Sergio A Lambertucci
- Ecotono Laboratory, INIBIOMA (CONICET-National University of Comahue) , Bariloche , Argentina
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC , Sevilla , Spain
| | - José L Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC , Sevilla , Spain
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Blanco G, Hiraldo F, Rojas A, Dénes FV, Tella JL. Parrots as key multilinkers in ecosystem structure and functioning. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:4141-60. [PMID: 26445664 PMCID: PMC4588639 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutually enhancing organisms can become reciprocal determinants of their distribution, abundance, and demography and thus influence ecosystem structure and dynamics. In addition to the prevailing view of parrots (Psittaciformes) as plant antagonists, we assessed whether they can act as plant mutualists in the dry tropical forest of the Bolivian inter-Andean valleys, an ecosystem particularly poor in vertebrate frugivores other than parrots (nine species). We hypothesised that if interactions between parrots and their food plants evolved as primarily or facultatively mutualistic, selection should have acted to maximize the strength of their interactions by increasing the amount and variety of resources and services involved in particular pairwise and community-wide interaction contexts. Food plants showed different growth habits across a wide phylogenetic spectrum, implying that parrots behave as super-generalists exploiting resources differing in phenology, type, biomass, and rewards from a high diversity of plants (113 species from 38 families). Through their feeding activities, parrots provided multiple services acting as genetic linkers, seed facilitators for secondary dispersers, and plant protectors, and therefore can be considered key mutualists with a pervasive impact on plant assemblages. The number of complementary and redundant mutualistic functions provided by parrots to each plant species was positively related to the number of different kinds of food extracted from them. These mutually enhancing interactions were reflected in species-level properties (e.g., biomass or dominance) of both partners, as a likely consequence of the temporal convergence of eco-(co)evolutionary dynamics shaping the ongoing structure and organization of the ecosystem. A full assessment of the, thus far largely overlooked, parrot-plant mutualisms and other ecological linkages could change the current perception of the role of parrots in the structure, organization, and functioning of ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary EcologyMuseo Nacional de Ciencias NaturalesCSICJosé Gutiérrez Abascal 228006MadridSpain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de DoñanaCSICAmerico Vespucio s/nE‐41092SevillaSpain
| | - Abraham Rojas
- Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempf MercadoFundación para la Investigación y Conservación de Loros de Bolivia and Zoológico MunicipalSanta Cruz de la SierraBolivia
| | - Francisco V. Dénes
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de DoñanaCSICAmerico Vespucio s/nE‐41092SevillaSpain
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de DoñanaCSICAmerico Vespucio s/nE‐41092SevillaSpain
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