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Setash CM, Behney AC, Gammonley JH, Koons DN. Riding the wetland wave: Can ducks locate macroinvertebrate resources across the breeding season? Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11568. [PMID: 38932948 PMCID: PMC11199343 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Food availability varies considerably over space and time in wetland systems, and consumers must be able to track those changes during energetically-demanding points in the life cycle like breeding. Resource tracking has been studied frequently among herbivores, but receives less attention among consumers of macroinvertebrates. We evaluated the change in resource availability across habitat types and time and the simultaneous density of waterfowl consumers throughout their breeding season in a high-elevation, flood-irrigated system. We also assessed whether the macroinvertebrate resource density better predicted waterfowl density across habitats, compared to consistency (i.e., temporal evenness) of the invertebrate resource or taxonomic richness. Resource density varied marginally across wetland types but was highest in basin wetlands (i.e., ponds) and peaked early in the breeding season, whereas it remained relatively low and stable in other wetland habitats. Breeding duck density was positively related to resource density, more so than temporal resource stability, for all species. Resource density was negatively related to duckling density, however. These results have the potential to not only elucidate mechanisms of habitat selection among breeding ducks in flood-irrigated landscapes but also suggest there is not a consequential trade-off to selecting wetland sites based on energy density versus temporal resource stability and that good-quality wetland sites provide both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey M. Setash
- Colorado Parks and WildlifeFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | | | | | - David N. Koons
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
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Nadal J, Sáez D, Volponi S, Serra L, Spina F, Margalida A. The effects of cities on quail (Coturnix coturnix) migration: a disturbing story of population connectivity, health, and ecography. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:266. [PMID: 38353774 PMCID: PMC10867070 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12277-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The increasing impact of human activities on ecosystems is provoking a profound and dangerous effect, particularly in wildlife. Examining the historical migration patterns of quail (Coturnix coturnix) offers a compelling case study to demonstrate the repercussions of human actions on biodiversity. Urbanization trends, where people gravitate toward mega-urban areas, amplify this effect. The proliferation of artificial urban ecosystems extends its influence across every biome, as human reliance on infrastructure and food sources alters ecological dynamics extensively. We examine European quail migrations pre- and post-World War II and in the present day. Our study concentrates on the Italian peninsula, investigating the historical and contemporary recovery of ringed quail populations. To comprehend changes in quail migration, we utilize trajectory analysis, open statistical data, and linear generalized models. We found that while human population and economic growth have shown a linear increase, quail recovery rates exhibit a U-shaped trajectory, and cereal and legume production displays an inverse U-shaped pattern. Generalized linear models have unveiled the significant influence of several key factors-time periods, cereal and legume production, and human demographics-on quail recovery rates. These factors closely correlate with the levels of urbanization observed across these timeframes. These insights underscore the profound impact of expanding human populations and the rise of mega-urbanization on ecosystem dynamics and services. As our planet becomes more urbanized, the pressure on ecosystems intensifies, highlighting the urgent need for concerted efforts directed toward conserving and revitalizing ecosystem integrity. Simultaneously, manage the needs and demands of burgeoning mega-urban areas. Achieving this balance is pivotal to ensuring sustainable coexistence between urban improvement and the preservation of our natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Nadal
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Avd. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
| | - David Sáez
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Wildlife, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Avd. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Stefano Volponi
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Serra
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy
| | - Fernando Spina
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Cà Fornacetta, 9, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
- Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria, 12, 22700, Jaca, Spain
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McDuie F, Matchett EL, Prosser DJ, Takekawa JY, Pitesky ME, Lorenz AA, McCuen MM, T OC, Ackerman JT, De La Cruz SEW, Casazza ML. Pathways for avian influenza virus spread: GPS reveals wild waterfowl in commercial livestock facilities and connectivity with the natural wetland landscape. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:2898-2912. [PMID: 34974641 PMCID: PMC9788224 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Zoonotic diseases are of considerable concern to the human population and viruses such as avian influenza (AIV) threaten food security, wildlife conservation and human health. Wild waterfowl and the natural wetlands they use are known AIV reservoirs, with birds capable of virus transmission to domestic poultry populations. While infection risk models have linked migration routes and AIV outbreaks, there is a limited understanding of wild waterfowl presence on commercial livestock facilities, and movement patterns linked to natural wetlands. We documented 11 wild waterfowl (three Anatidae species) in or near eight commercial livestock facilities in Washington and California with GPS telemetry data. Wild ducks used dairy and beef cattle feed lots and facility retention ponds during both day and night suggesting use for roosting and foraging. Two individuals (single locations) were observed inside poultry facility boundaries while using nearby wetlands. Ducks demonstrated high site fidelity, returning to the same areas of habitats (at livestock facilities and nearby wetlands), across months or years, showed strong connectivity with surrounding wetlands, and arrived from wetlands up to 1251 km away in the week prior. Telemetry data provides substantial advantages over observational data, allowing assessment of individual movement behaviour and wetland connectivity that has significant implications for outbreak management. Telemetry improves our understanding of risk factors for waterfowl-livestock virus transmission and helps identify factors associated with coincident space use at the wild waterfowl-domestic livestock interface. Our research suggests that even relatively small or isolated natural and artificial water or food sources in/near facilities increases the likelihood of attracting waterfowl, which has important consequences for managers attempting to minimize or prevent AIV outbreaks. Use and interpretation of telemetry data, especially in near-real-time, could provide key information for reducing virus transmission risk between waterfowl and livestock, improving protective barriers between wild and domestic species, and abating outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona McDuie
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field StationSuite D DixonCaliforniaUSA,San Jose State University Research FoundationMoss Landing Marine LaboratoriesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Elliott L Matchett
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field StationSuite D DixonCaliforniaUSA
| | - Diann J Prosser
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge (formerly USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center)LaurelMarylandUSA
| | - John Y Takekawa
- Suisun Resource Conservation District, Suisun Marsh ProgramWest SacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Maurice E Pitesky
- University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Poultry Health and Food Safety Epidemiology, One Shields AvenueDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Austen A Lorenz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field StationSuite D DixonCaliforniaUSA
| | - Madeline M McCuen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field StationSuite D DixonCaliforniaUSA
| | - Overton Cory T
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field StationSuite D DixonCaliforniaUSA
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field StationSuite D DixonCaliforniaUSA
| | - Susan E. W. De La Cruz
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center, San Francisco Bay Estuary Field StationMoffett FieldCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael L Casazza
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field StationSuite D DixonCaliforniaUSA
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