1
|
Silva EML, Costa FJV, Nardoto GB. Diet and between-tissue isotope comparisons reveal different foraging strategies for age and sex of a Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola Linnaeus, 1766) population. BRAZ J BIOL 2024; 84:e282844. [PMID: 39166689 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.282844] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Measuring stable isotopes in different tissues offers the opportunity to provide insight into the foraging ecology of a species. This study aimed to assess how diet varies between yellow females, yellow males, and dull individuals of a Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) population. We measured δ13C and δ15N in blood over a year, and in different feathers, to estimate seasonal consistency of resource use for each category. We conducted this study in a private farm in the Central Brazilian savannas. We sampled 195 individuals in seven field samplings between January 2017 and March 2018. The mean blood δ13C values were similar among yellow females, yellow males and dull individuals, indicating that this population of Saffron Finch predominantly accesses similar resources throughout the year, with a predominant C4 signal. Although Saffron Finch is considered a granivorous species, the mean δ15N values found indicate that both adults and juveniles also incorporate in their tissues some invertebrate. The slight isotope-tissue difference between feathers and blood is similar to the reported in previous studies and may reflect tissue-to-tissue discrimination. The isotopic space of yellow males was greater than that of yellow females and dull individuals, indicating greater dietary diversity due to greater inter-individual variation in diet. In Saffron Finch, which delays plumage maturation, competition-driven partitioning of food resources seems essential in driving carotenoid-based plumage coloration between age classes and sexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E M L Silva
- Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - F J V Costa
- Instituto Nacional de Criminalística - INC, Polícia Federal, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| | - G B Nardoto
- Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Guo Q, Lu X, Xie C, Zhang J, Xu X, Qian Y, Luo X, Duan Y. Trophic Niche Differentiation in Two Sympatric Nuthatch Species ( Sitta yunnanensis and Sitta nagaensis). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1146. [PMID: 38672294 PMCID: PMC11047393 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Sympatric closely related species may experience interspecific trophic competition due to ecological similarity; they may isolate in terms of diet or habitat use as a strategy to avoid competition. The body tissues of consumers contain stable isotope signatures information that can be applied to infer their dietary information. In this study, δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes were analyzed to determine the dietary information and trophic niches of sympatric coexisting Sitta yunnanensis and Sitta nagaensis. The results showed that the food sources of S. yunnanensis and S. nagaensis were from six orders, including Orthoptera, and the cumulative contribution rate was 99.97%, with the two species eating similar diets but at different rates. The larger δ13C of S. yunnanensis indicates that it had a wider range of habitats for feeding, while the difference in δ15N values was not significant (p > 0.05), indicating that both species feed on similar nutrient levels. As determined by Bayesian ellipses, the isotopic niches of S. yunnanensis and S. nagaensis were differentiated; the isotopic niche width of S. yunnanensis is 2.69‱2, which was larger than that of S. nagaensis (0.73‱2), indicates that differentiation between the two species in diet or habitat use reduced competition. Trophic niche differentiation and differences in foraging proportions may be the principal resource allocation mechanisms behind S. yunnanensis and S. nagaensis coexistence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Guo
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (Q.G.); (X.L.); (J.Z.)
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (C.X.); (Y.Q.)
| | - Xi Lu
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (Q.G.); (X.L.); (J.Z.)
- Key Laboratory for Conserving Wildlife with Small Populations in Yunnan, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Chongxin Xie
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (C.X.); (Y.Q.)
| | - Jiansong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (Q.G.); (X.L.); (J.Z.)
- Key Laboratory for Conserving Wildlife with Small Populations in Yunnan, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Xianyin Xu
- Administration of Zixi Mountain Provincial Nature Reserve, Chuxiong 675008, China
| | - Yuhan Qian
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (C.X.); (Y.Q.)
| | - Xu Luo
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (Q.G.); (X.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Yubao Duan
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (Q.G.); (X.L.); (J.Z.)
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (C.X.); (Y.Q.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Filion A, Deschamps L, Niebuhr CN, Poulin R. Anthropogenic landscape alteration promotes higher disease risk in wild New Zealand avian communities. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265568. [PMID: 35333899 PMCID: PMC8956180 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic changes can have dramatic effects on wild populations. Moreover, by promoting the emergence of vector-borne diseases in many ecosystems, those changes can lead to local extinction of native wildlife. One of those diseases, avian malaria, has been shown to be on the rise in New Zealand, threatening native bird species that are among the most extinction-prone in the world. It is thus of prime importance to better understand the potential cascading effects that anthropogenic modifications have on those fragile species. Here, we aim to test how long-lasting modification to regional environmental filters can subsequently alter local biotic filters, in turn promoting the emergence of avian malaria in New Zealand avian communities. To this end, we used Bayesian structural equation modelling to unravel the drivers of disease emergence within the complex interplay between landscape and local species pools. We show that altered landscape, quantified through a lower enhanced vegetation index, leads to more infections in Turdus spp. and modification in avian community composition, potentially raising the probability of infection for other species in the community. In addition, we show that climatic variables associated with the presence of vectors play a predominant role in shaping the regional pattern of avian malaria occurrence. Our results suggest long-lasting impacts of anthropogenic changes on regional environmental filters and demonstrate that conservation efforts should align toward restoring the landscape to prevent further emergence of infectious diseases in wild ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Filion
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
| | - Lucas Deschamps
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivieres, Trois-Rivières (Québec), Canada
| | | | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Navarro AB, Magioli M, Moreira MZ, Silveira LF. Perspectives and challenges on isotopic ecology of terrestrial birds in Brazil. ZOOLOGIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-4689.v39.e21023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcelo Magioli
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Brazil; Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Brazil
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fernandez CN, Robe LJ, Bugoni L. Diet and trophic niche overlap among a native waterbird and two non-native herbivores in Pampas grasslands. FOOD WEBS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2021.e00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|