1
|
Gillman SJ, McKenney EA, Lafferty DJR. Human-provisioned foods reduce gut microbiome diversity in American black bears (Ursus americanus). J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The distal gut is home to the dynamic and influential gut microbiome, which is intimately linked to mammalian health by promoting and facilitating countless physiological functions. In a time of increased anthropogenic pressures on wildlife due to widespread habitat destruction, loss of natural prey/foods, and rapid urbanization, the study of wildlife gut microbiomes could prove to be a valuable tool in wildlife management and conservation. Diet is one of the most influential determinants of a host’s gut microbiome; yet many wildlife agencies allow baiting to facilitate wildlife harvest, although the impact of human-provisioned foods on wildlife gut health is largely unknown. We used stable isotope analysis derived from carbon (δ 13C) to index the use of human-provisioned foods by 35 legally harvested American black bears (Ursus americanus), and16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to examine the impact of human-provisioned foods on the gut microbial diversity of black bears. We found that greater long-term consumption of human-provisioned foods was associated with significantly reduced microbial species richness and phylogenetic diversity. Our results indicate that consumption of anthropogenic foods through baiting significantly alters the mammalian gut microbiome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sierra J Gillman
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science Lab, Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
| | - Erin A McKenney
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Diana J R Lafferty
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science Lab, Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bauder JM, Ruid D, Roberts NM, Kohn B, Allen ML. Effects of translocation on survival of nuisance bears. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. M. Bauder
- Illinois Natural History Survey Prairie Research Institute University of Illinois Champaign IL USA
| | - D. Ruid
- United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services Rhinelander WI USA
| | - N. M. Roberts
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Rhinelander WI USA
| | - B. Kohn
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Rhinelander WI USA
| | - M. L. Allen
- Illinois Natural History Survey Prairie Research Institute University of Illinois Champaign IL USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hopkins JB, Ferguson JM, Frederick C, Jerina K. Measuring the impact of corn on mammalian omnivores. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In human-dominated landscapes throughout the world, wildlife seek out anthropogenic foods because they are high in nutritional value and are consistently available. To investigate this mode of foraging, some researchers use stable isotope analysis to detect these animals in populations and estimate their individual diets. In this study, we develop an integrative approach to measure the proportion of corn, a C4 plant, in the diets of free-ranging mammalian omnivores in C3-dominated ecosystems. We fed captive mice corn, C3 plants, and meat until carbon stable isotopes (δ 13C) from each diet equilibrated in their hair. We then used carbon discrimination factors (Δ 13C; offsets between stable isotope values of consumer tissues and their foods) for mice from these feeding trials and a simple carbon stable isotope mixing model to estimate the corn-based diets of free-ranging American black bears in Wisconsin and brown bears in Slovenia. We used Δ 13C factors for mice to estimate the diets of bears because mouse models are used commonly to study mammalian diet and health, including humans and bears, and body mass has no effect on carbon discrimination factors in monogastric mammalian omnivores. In this study, we found that mice grew fastest, largest, and δ 13C values equilibrated quickest in the hair of mice fed meat versus plant-based diets, suggesting protein quantity (quality was the same) has an effect on Δ 13C. Evidence also suggests that Δ 13C did not increase with animal growth rate as all mice grew throughout the 109-day feeding trials, but isotopic equilibration occurred early while mice still were subadults and was maintained throughout their adult lives. We also found that Δ 13C was highest and most variable in the hair, serum, and liver, of mice fed a mixed diet of C3 plants, supporting our mixed diet hypothesis that states that Δ 13C varies more among tissues of animals fed mixed diets than animals fed nonmixed diets because the former are composed of multiple foods, each with different macromolecular and isotopic compositions. Lastly, we found that corn may have been a more important component of bear diets in Wisconsin than previously thought (adults: x¯ = 29%; x¯ = 33%; subadults: x¯ = 22%; x¯ = 28%), and male brown bears may have fed on 50% more corn (x¯ = 47% versus 31%) in autumn during a year when beechnut availability was low. In a world that is rapidly changing, it is more important than ever to develop the appropriate quantitative tools to measure the impact people have on wildlife. Here, we provide such a tool for monogastric mammalian omnivores and encourage other researchers to do the same for other taxa of interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John B Hopkins
- Center for Wildlife Studies, North Yarmouth, ME, USA
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Večna pot 83, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jake M Ferguson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | | | - Klemen Jerina
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Večna pot 83, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Human disturbance increases trophic niche overlap in terrestrial carnivore communities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:26842-26848. [PMID: 33046630 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012774117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal foraging and competition are defined by the partitioning of three primary niche axes: space, time, and resources. Human disturbance is rapidly altering the spatial and temporal niches of animals, but the impact of humans on resource consumption and partitioning-arguably the most important niche axis-is poorly understood. We assessed resource consumption and trophic niche partitioning as a function of human disturbance at the individual, population, and community levels using stable isotope analysis of 684 carnivores from seven communities in North America. We detected significant responses to human disturbance at all three levels of biological organization: individual carnivores consumed more human food subsidies in disturbed landscapes, leading to significant increases in trophic niche width and trophic niche overlap among species ranging from mesocarnivores to apex predators. Trophic niche partitioning is the primary mechanism regulating coexistence in many communities, and our results indicate that humans fundamentally alter resource niches and competitive interactions among terrestrial consumers. Among carnivores, niche overlap can trigger interspecific competition and intraguild predation, while the consumption of human foods significantly increases human-carnivore conflict. Our results suggest that human disturbances, especially in the form of food subsidies, may threaten carnivores by increasing the probability of both interspecific competition and human-carnivore conflict. Ultimately, these findings illustrate a potential decoupling of predator-prey dynamics, with impacts likely cascading to populations, communities, and ecosystems.
Collapse
|
5
|
Johnson HE, Lewis DL, Breck SW. Individual and population fitness consequences associated with large carnivore use of residential development. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Heather E. Johnson
- Alaska Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 4210 University Drive Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - David L. Lewis
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife 415 Turner Drive Durango Colorado 81303 USA
| | - Stewart W. Breck
- USDA National Wildlife Research Center 4101 La Porte Ave Fort Collins Colorado 80521 USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pauli JN, Manlick PJ, Dharampal PS, Takizawa Y, Chikaraishi Y, Niccolai LJ, Grauer JA, Black KL, Garces Restrepo M, Perrig PL, Wilson EC, Martin ME, Rodriguez Curras M, Bougie TA, Thompson KL, Smith MM, Steffan SA. Quantifying niche partitioning and multichannel feeding among tree squirrels. FOOD WEBS 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2019.e00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
7
|
Newsome TM, Howden C, Wirsing AJ. Restriction of anthropogenic foods alters a top predator’s diet and intraspecific interactions. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAnthropogenic foods are utilized by many animals around the world, and these resources could impact dietary preferences and intra- and interspecific interactions. Under a quasi-Before-After-Control-Impact experimental design, we assessed how dingoes (Canis dingo) responded to a decline in anthropogenic foods in the Tanami Desert, central Australia. We did so by assessing dingo diets close to and away from human influence during a period when food waste was available at two rubbish tips, and then during a period when food waste was restricted at one of the tips. Our results demonstrate that access to anthropogenic foods can alter a top predator’s diet. Namely, dingoes showed a preference for eating the desert mouse (Pseudomys desertor) in areas where food waste was restricted, whereas dingo diets did not reflect ambient prey availability at areas where food waste was constantly available. Reduced availability of food waste also affected interactions between dingoes, with cannibalism decreasing where food waste was removed, and it may have increased consumption of a subordinate mesopredator, the feral cat (Felis catus). By implication, efforts to manage food waste could reestablish or strengthen interactions between predators and their wild prey with possible cascading consequences for ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Newsome
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chris Howden
- Sydney Informatics Hub, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Aaron J Wirsing
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Demeny K, McLoon M, Winesett B, Fastner J, Hammerer E, Pauli JN. Food subsidies of raccoons ( Procyon lotor) in anthropogenic landscapes. CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Food subsidies from human sources are often exploited by free-ranging vertebrates living in human-dominated landscapes. To explore the importance and attempt to estimate the reliance of raccoons (Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758)) — common synanthropes in North America — on such food subsidies, we analyzed hair samples from 122 raccoons collected across four states in the Midwestern United States (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois), including 9 raccoons that were livetrapped and sampled in Madison (Wisconsin). We found that raccoons inhabiting areas with more agriculture had higher δ13C values, indicating a diet enriched with anthropogenic food from C4 photosynthetic plants, like corn (Zea mays L.). Surprisingly, raccoons inhabiting increasingly urban areas showed lower δ13C values, suggesting a diet with less anthropogenic food. Regardless, raccoons in urban areas enriched in 13C possessed high indices of body condition, suggesting that anthropogenic food subsidies are contributing to their overall nutritional condition. Our findings reveal that the degree to which synanthropes rely upon human foods differs by land-cover type and that the use of these calorically rich subsidies has important implications on individual health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Demeny
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Meredith McLoon
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Benjamin Winesett
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Jenna Fastner
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Eric Hammerer
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Stewart FEC, Volpe JP, Fisher JT. The Debate About Bait: A Red Herring in Wildlife Research. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frances E. C. Stewart
- University of Victoria, School of Environmental Studies 3800 Finnerty Rd Victoria BC V8W 2L7 Canada
| | - John P. Volpe
- University of Victoria, School of Environmental Studies 3800 Finnerty Rd Victoria BC V8W 2L7 Canada
| | - Jason T. Fisher
- Ecosystem Management Unit InnoTech Alberta 3‐4476 Markham St Victoria BC V8Z 7X8 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
The cascading effects of human food on hibernation and cellular aging in free-ranging black bears. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2197. [PMID: 30792484 PMCID: PMC6385323 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38937-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human foods have become a pervasive subsidy in many landscapes, and can dramatically alter wildlife behavior, physiology, and demography. While such subsidies can enhance wildlife condition, they can also result in unintended negative consequences on individuals and populations. Seasonal hibernators possess a remarkable suite of adaptations that increase survival and longevity in the face of resource and energetic limitations. Recent work has suggested hibernation may also slow the process of senescence, or cellular aging. We investigated how use of human foods influences hibernation, and subsequently cellular aging, in a large-bodied hibernator, black bears (Ursus americanus). We quantified relative telomere length, a molecular marker for cellular age, and compared lengths in adult female bears longitudinally sampled over multiple seasons. We found that bears that foraged more on human foods hibernated for shorter periods of time. Furthermore, bears that hibernated for shorter periods of time experienced accelerated telomere attrition. Together these results suggest that although hibernation may ameliorate cellular aging, foraging on human food subsidies could counteract this process by shortening hibernation. Our findings highlight how human food subsidies can indirectly influence changes in aging at the molecular level.
Collapse
|
11
|
Fležar U, Costa B, Bordjan D, Jerina K, Krofel M. Free food for everyone: artificial feeding of brown bears provides food for many non-target species. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1237-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
12
|
Allen ML, Norton AS, Stauffer G, Roberts NM, Luo Y, Li Q, MacFarland D, Van Deelen TR. A Bayesian state-space model using age-at-harvest data for estimating the population of black bears (Ursus americanus) in Wisconsin. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12440. [PMID: 30127405 PMCID: PMC6102245 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30988-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Population estimation is essential for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife, but accurate estimates are often difficult or expensive to obtain for cryptic species across large geographical scales. Accurate statistical models with manageable financial costs and field efforts are needed for hunted populations and using age-at-harvest data may be the most practical foundation for these models. Several rigorous statistical approaches that use age-at-harvest and other data to accurately estimate populations have recently been developed, but these are often dependent on (a) accurate prior knowledge about demographic parameters of the population, (b) auxiliary data, and (c) initial population size. We developed a two-stage state-space Bayesian model for a black bear (Ursus americanus) population with age-at-harvest data, but little demographic data and no auxiliary data available, to create a statewide population estimate and test the sensitivity of the model to bias in the prior distributions of parameters and initial population size. The posterior abundance estimate from our model was similar to an independent capture-recapture estimate from tetracycline sampling and the population trend was similar to the catch-per-unit-effort for the state. Our model was also robust to bias in the prior distributions for all parameters, including initial population size, except for reporting rate. Our state-space model created a precise estimate of the black bear population in Wisconsin based on age-at-harvest data and potentially improves on previous models by using little demographic data, no auxiliary data, and not being sensitive to initial population size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian L Allen
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA. .,Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 107 Sutliff Avenue, Rhinelander, WI, 54501, USA. .,Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Andrew S Norton
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 35365 800th Avenue, Madelia, MN, 56062, USA
| | - Glenn Stauffer
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 107 Sutliff Avenue, Rhinelander, WI, 54501, USA
| | - Nathan M Roberts
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 107 Sutliff Avenue, Rhinelander, WI, 54501, USA
| | - Yanshi Luo
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.,Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Iowa State University, 3025 Black Engineering Building, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - David MacFarland
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 107 Sutliff Avenue, Rhinelander, WI, 54501, USA
| | - Timothy R Van Deelen
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Penteriani V, Delgado MDM, Krofel M, Jerina K, Ordiz A, Dalerum F, Zarzo-Arias A, Bombieri G. Evolutionary and ecological traps for brown bearsUrsus arctosin human-modified landscapes. Mamm Rev 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Penteriani
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO-CSIC-PA); Oviedo University; Campus Mieres 33600 Mieres Spain
- Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE); CSIC; Avda. Montañana 1005 50059 Zaragoza Spain
| | - María Del Mar Delgado
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO-CSIC-PA); Oviedo University; Campus Mieres 33600 Mieres Spain
| | - Miha Krofel
- Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources; Biotechnical Faculty; University of Ljubljana; Vecˇna pot 83 SI-1001 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Klemen Jerina
- Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources; Biotechnical Faculty; University of Ljubljana; Vecˇna pot 83 SI-1001 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Andrés Ordiz
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management; Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Postbox 5003 NO-1432 Ås Norway
| | - Fredrik Dalerum
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO-CSIC-PA); Oviedo University; Campus Mieres 33600 Mieres Spain
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; 10691 Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Zoology and Entomology; Mammal Research Institute (MRI); University of Pretoria; Private Bag X20 Hatfield 0028 South Africa
| | - Alejandra Zarzo-Arias
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO-CSIC-PA); Oviedo University; Campus Mieres 33600 Mieres Spain
| | - Giulia Bombieri
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO-CSIC-PA); Oviedo University; Campus Mieres 33600 Mieres Spain
| |
Collapse
|