1
|
Schalcher K, Milliet E, Séchaud R, Bühler R, Almasi B, Potier S, Becciu P, Roulin A, Shepard ELC. Landing force reveals new form of motion-induced sound camouflage in a wild predator. eLife 2024; 12:RP87775. [PMID: 39046781 PMCID: PMC11268889 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Predator-prey arms races have led to the evolution of finely tuned disguise strategies. While the theoretical benefits of predator camouflage are well established, no study has yet been able to quantify its consequences for hunting success in natural conditions. We used high-resolution movement data to quantify how barn owls (Tyto alba) conceal their approach when using a sit-and-wait strategy. We hypothesized that hunting barn owls would modulate their landing force, potentially reducing noise levels in the vicinity of prey. Analysing 87,957 landings by 163 individuals equipped with GPS tags and accelerometers, we show that barn owls reduce their landing force as they approach their prey, and that landing force predicts the success of the following hunting attempt. Landing force also varied with the substrate, being lowest on man-made poles in field boundaries. The physical environment, therefore, affects the capacity for sound camouflage, providing an unexpected link between predator-prey interactions and land use. Finally, hunting strike forces in barn owls were the highest recorded in any bird, relative to body mass, highlighting the range of selective pressures that act on landings and the capacity of these predators to modulate their landing force. Overall, our results provide the first measurements of landing force in a wild setting, revealing a new form of motion-induced sound camouflage and its link to hunting success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Schalcher
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Estelle Milliet
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Robin Séchaud
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Agroecology and Environment, AgroscopeZurichSwitzerland
| | - Roman Bühler
- Swiss Ornithological InstituteSempachSwitzerland
| | | | - Simon Potier
- Department of Biology, Lund UniversityLundSweden
- Les Ailes de l’UrgaMarcilly-la-CampagneFrance
| | - Paolo Becciu
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Emily LC Shepard
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea UniversitySwanseaUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Giovanetti L, Caliani I, Damiani G, Dell'Omo G, Costantini D, Casini S. A blood-based multi-biomarker approach reveals different physiological responses of common kestrels to contrasting environments. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118674. [PMID: 38492836 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The increase of urbanization and agricultural activities is causing a dramatic reduction of natural environments. As a consequence, animals need to physiologically adjust to these novel environments, in order to exploit them for foraging and breeding. The aim of this work was to compare the physiological status among nestling common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) that were raised in nest-boxes located in more natural, rural, or urban areas in a landscape with a mosaic of land uses around Rome in Central Italy. A blood-based multi-biomarker approach was applied to evaluate physiological responses at multiple levels, including antioxidant concentrations, immunological functions, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. We found lower concentrations of glutathione and GSH:GSSG ratio values and higher proportions of monocytes in urban birds compared to the other areas. We also found higher DNA damage in rural compared to urban and natural krestels and inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase activity in urban and natural birds compared to rural area. Finally, we found similar values among study areas for respiratory burst, complement system, bactericidal capacity, and plasma non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity. These results suggest that (i) city life does not necessarily cause physiological alterations in kestrels compared to life in other habitats, and (ii) environmental pressures are likely to differ in typology and intensity across habitats requiring specific responses that a multi-biomarker approach can help to detect. Further studies are needed to assess which factors are responsible for the physiological differences among city, rural, and natural birds, and whether these differences are consistent across time and space.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Giovanetti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - Gianluca Damiani
- Ornis Italica, Piazza Crati 15, 00199, Rome, Italy; Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università s.n.c., 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
| | | | - David Costantini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università s.n.c., 01100, Viterbo, Italy; Unité Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, UMR7221 CNRS-Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Urita C, Kusuda S, Rooney N. Physiological and behavioural assessments of stress levels in owls housed at owl cafes. Anim Welf 2022. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.31.3.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Owl cafes, where customers view and interact with owls, have become popular in Japan. There are multiple aspects of the environment which may be stressful to nocturnal owls, including lighting, tethering and frequent interactions with humans but, to date, welfare has not been investigated.
This preliminary study examines the effects of owl cafes and customers on the physiological stress (faecal corticosterone levels [FCL]) and behaviour of the owls. Seven eagle owls (Bubo bubo ) and two African scops owls (Ptilopsis leucotis), in two cafes, were studied over an
eight-day period. Cafe A (n = 5) was closed for one day per week, whilst cafe B (n = 4) was open every day. In cafe A there was higher FCL in owls during open days than closed days suggesting that the conditions on open days increase stress in owls. Eight of nine owls showed evidence of some
aversion or avoidance of humans, whilst no affiliative behaviours were observed. The number of visitor interactions was not associated with the level of physiological stress; and when comparing owls, there was a tendency for individual owls with a higher percentage of aversive responses to
customers to also have higher FCL. Close human interactions of a negative nature, that result in aversion, may be a significant stressor, but further research is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Urita
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
| | - S Kusuda
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido Gifu-City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
| | - N Rooney
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford BS40 5DU, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rabdeau J, Desbonnes M, Bretagnolle V, Moreau J, Monceau K. Does anthropization affect physiology, behaviour and life‐history traits of Montagu's harrier chicks? Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Rabdeau
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
| | - M. Desbonnes
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
| | - V. Bretagnolle
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
- LTSER “Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre”, CNRS Villiers‐en Bois France
| | - J. Moreau
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
- UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive Université de Bourgogne‐Franche‐Comté Dijon France
| | - K. Monceau
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé La Rochelle Université & CNRS Villiers en Bois France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Garrett DR, Pelletier F, Garant D, Bélisle M. Combined influence of food availability and agricultural intensification on a declining aerial insectivore. ECOL MONOGR 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Garrett
- Département de biologie Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke Québec Canada
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Département de biologie Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke Québec Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de biologie Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke Québec Canada
| | - Marc Bélisle
- Département de biologie Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke Québec Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cabodevilla X, Gómez-Moliner BJ, Abad N, Madeira MJ. Simultaneous analysis of the intestinal parasites and diet through eDNA metabarcoding. Integr Zool 2022; 18:399-413. [PMID: 35179820 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Agricultural expansion and intensification are having a huge impact on plant and arthropod diversity and abundance, affecting food availability for farmland birds. Difficult food access, in turn, can lead to immunosuppression and a higher incidence of parasites. In the studies designed to examine changes in the diet of birds and their parasites, metabarcoding is proving particularly useful. This technique requires mini-barcodes capable of amplifying the DNA of target organisms from faecal environmental DNA. To help to understand the impact of agricultural expansion on biodiversity, this study sought to design and identify mini-barcodes that might simultaneously assess diet and intestinal parasites from the faeces of farmland birds. The capacity to identify diet and parasites of two existing and three newly-developed mini-barcodes was tested "in silico" in relation to the behaviour of a reference eukaryotic barcode. Among the newly designed mini-barcodes, MiniB18S_81 showed the higher taxonomic coverage of eukaryotic taxa and a greater amplification and identification capacity for diet and parasite taxa. Moreover, when it was tested on faecal samples from five different steppe bird species, MiniB18S_81 showed high taxonomic resolution of the most relevant diet and parasite phyla, Arthropoda, Nematoda, Platyhelminthes and Apicomplexa, at the order level. Thus, the mini-barcode developed emerges as an excellent tool to simultaneously provide detailed information regarding the diet and parasites of birds, essential for conservation and management. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xabier Cabodevilla
- Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Benjamín Juan Gómez-Moliner
- Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - Naiara Abad
- Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - María José Madeira
- Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Different patterns of human activities in nature during Covid-19 pandemic and African swine fever outbreak confirm direct impact on wildlife disruption. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20791. [PMID: 34675330 PMCID: PMC8531377 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99862-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementation of various restrictions to eradicate viral diseases has globally affected human activity and subsequently nature. But how can the altered routines of human activity (restrictions, lockdowns) affect wildlife behaviour? This study compared the differences between human and wildlife occurrences in the study forest area with acreage of 5430.6 ha in 2018 (African swine fever outbreak, complete entrance ban), 2019 (standard pattern) and 2020 (COVID-19 restrictions) during the breeding season. The number of visitors was lower by 64% in 2018 (non-respecting of the entry ban by forest visitors) compared to standard 2019, while in 2020, the number of visitors increased to 151%. In the COVID-19 period, distinct peaks in the number of visitors were observed between 8-11 AM and 4-7 PM. The peaks of wildlife activity were recorded between 4-7 AM and 9-12 PM. Animals avoided the localities that were visited by humans during the people-influenced time (24 h after people visit), which confirmed the direct negative impact of human activities on wildlife.
Collapse
|
8
|
Watson H, Monaghan P, Heidinger BJ, Bolton M. Effects of human disturbance on postnatal growth and baseline corticosterone in a long-lived bird. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab052. [PMID: 34257995 PMCID: PMC8271141 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Prolonged or repeated episodes of environmental stress could be especially detrimental for developing young, via impaired growth or development. Despite this, most studies investigating the effects of human recreational and tourism activities have focused on adults. An increasing demand for nature-based tourism in remote locations means that many seabirds, which have evolved largely in the absence of predators and humans, are being exposed to novel pressures. The slow-growing semi-precocial nestlings of the European storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus experience higher mortality rates in nests exposed to human recreational disturbance. Here, we examine whether surviving nestlings reared in disturbed areas are also affected via changes in growth trajectories and baseline circulating glucocorticoids. Nestlings reared in high-disturbance areas displayed delayed mass growth, and we found weak evidence for slower rates of mass gain and tarsus growth, compared with nestlings reared in undisturbed areas. There were no differences in wing growth, consistent with prioritization of long wings, important for post-fledging survival. A tendency for a less marked age-related decline in corticosterone (CORT) in disturbed nestlings offers limited evidence that changes in growth trajectories were mediated by baseline CORT. However, disturbed nestlings could have experienced overall higher GC exposure if the acute GC response was elevated. 'Catch-up' growth enabled high-disturbance nestlings to overcome early constraints and achieve a similar, or even larger, asymptotic body size and mass as low-disturbance nestlings. While catch-up growth has been shown to carry costs for parents and offspring, the effects of disturbance were slight and considerably smaller than growth alterations driven by variation in environmental conditions between years. Nonetheless, effects of human recreational activities could be exacerbated under higher levels of human disturbance or in the presence of multiple pressures, as imposed by present rapid rates of environmental change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Watson
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- Evolutionary Ecology, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Britt J Heidinger
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Mark Bolton
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Béziers P, Korner-Nievergelt F, Jenni L, Roulin A, Almasi B. Glucocorticoid levels are linked to lifetime reproductive success and survival of adult barn owls. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1689-1703. [PMID: 32945025 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid hormones, such as corticosterone, are crucial in regulating daily life metabolism and energy expenditure, as well as promoting short-term physiological and behavioural responses to unpredictable environmental challenges. Therefore, glucocorticoids are considered to mediate trade-offs between survival and reproduction. Relatively little is known about how selection has shaped glucocorticoid levels. We used 15 years of capture-recapture and dead recovery data combined with 13 years of corticosterone and breeding success data taken on breeding barn owls (Tyto alba) to investigate such trade-offs. We found that survival was positively correlated with stress-induced corticosterone levels in both sexes, whereas annual and lifetime reproductive success (i.e. the sum of young successfully fledged during the entire reproductive career) was positively correlated with both baseline and stress-induced corticosterone levels in females only. Our results suggest that, in the barn owl, the stress-induced corticosterone response is a good proxy for adult survival and lifetime reproductive success. However, selection pressure appears to act differently on corticosterone levels of males and females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Béziers
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Lukas Jenni
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bötsch Y, Tablado Z, Almasi B, Jenni L. Human recreation decreases antibody titre in bird nestlings: an overlooked transgenerational effect of disturbance. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb210930. [PMID: 32205358 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.210930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Outdoor recreational activities are booming and most animals perceive humans as predators, which triggers behavioural and/or physiological reactions [e.g. heart rate increase, activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis]. Physiological stress reactions have been shown to affect the immune system of an animal and therefore may also affect the amount of maternal antibodies a female transmits to her offspring. A few studies have revealed that the presence of predators affects the amount of maternal antibodies deposited into eggs of birds. In this study, using Eurasian blue and great tit offspring (Cyanistes caeruleus and Parus major) as model species, we experimentally tested whether human recreation induces changes in the amount of circulating antibodies in young nestlings and whether this effect is modulated by habitat and competition. Moreover, we investigated whether these variations in antibody titre in turn have an impact on hatching success and offspring growth. Nestlings of great tit females that had been disturbed by experimental human recreation during egg laying had lower antibody titres compared with control nestlings. Antibody titre of nestling blue tits showed a negative correlation with the presence of great tits, rather than with human disturbance. The hatching success was positively correlated with the average amount of antibodies in great tit nestlings, independent of the treatment. Antibody titre in the first days of life in both species was positively correlated with body mass, but this relationship disappeared at fledging and was independent of treatment. We suggest that human recreation may have caused a stress-driven activation of the HPA axis in breeding females, chronically increasing their circulating corticosterone, which is known to have an immunosuppressive function. Either, lower amounts of antibodies are transmitted to nestlings or impaired transfer mechanisms lead to lower amounts of immunoglobulins in the eggs. Human disturbance could, therefore, have negative effects on nestling survival at early life-stages, when nestlings are heavily reliant on maternal antibodies, and in turn lead to lower breeding success and parental fitness. This is a so far overlooked effect of disturbance on early life in birds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yves Bötsch
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zulima Tablado
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Bettina Almasi
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Jenni
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Herring G, Eagles‐Smith CA, Buck JA, Shiel AE, Vennum CR, Emery C, Johnson B, Leal D, Heath JA, Dudek BM, Preston CR, Woodbridge B. The lead (Pb) lining of agriculture‐related subsidies: enhanced Golden Eagle growth rates tempered by Pb exposure. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Garth Herring
- Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Collin A. Eagles‐Smith
- Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Jeremy A. Buck
- Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Portland Oregon 97266 USA
| | - Alyssa E. Shiel
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | | | - Colleen Emery
- Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Branden Johnson
- Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - David Leal
- Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Portland Oregon 97266 USA
| | | | | | - Charles R. Preston
- Draper Natural History Museum, Buffalo Bill Center of the West Cody Wyoming 82414 USA
| | - Brian Woodbridge
- Division of Migratory Bird Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Corvallis Oregon 97330 USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Béziers P, San-Jose LM, Almasi B, Jenni L, Roulin A. Baseline and stress-induced corticosterone levels are heritable and genetically correlated in a barn owl population. Heredity (Edinb) 2019; 123:337-348. [PMID: 30837668 PMCID: PMC6781159 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-019-0203-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is responsible for the regulation of corticosterone, a hormone that is essential in the mediation of energy allocation and physiological stress. As a continuous source of challenge and stress for organisms, the environment has promoted the evolution of physiological adaptations and led to a great variation in corticosterone profiles within or among individuals, populations and species. In order to evolve via natural selection, corticosterone levels do not only depend on the strength of selection exerted on them, but also on the extent to which the regulation of corticosterone is heritable. Nevertheless, the heritability of corticosterone profiles in wild populations is still poorly understood. In this study, we estimated the heritability of baseline and stress-induced corticosterone levels in barn owl (Tyto alba) nestlings from 8 years of data, using a multivariate animal model based on a behavioural pedigree. We found that baseline and stress-induced corticosterone levels are strongly genetically correlated (r = 0.68-0.80) and that the heritability of stress-induced corticosterone levels (h2 = 0.24-0.33) was moderate and similar to the heritability of baseline corticosterone levels (h2 = 0.19-0.30). These findings suggest that the regulation of stress-induced corticosterone and baseline levels evolves at a similar pace when selection acts with the same intensity on both traits and that contrary to previous studies, the evolution of baseline and stress-induced level is interdependent in barn owls, as they may be strongly genetically correlated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Béziers
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland.
| | - Luis M San-Jose
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Lukas Jenni
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sumasgutner P, Terraube J, Coulon A, Villers A, Chakarov N, Kruckenhauser L, Korpimäki E. Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator. Front Zool 2019; 16:31. [PMID: 31406493 PMCID: PMC6683578 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-019-0331-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Selecting high-quality habitat and the optimal time to reproduce can increase individual fitness and is a strong evolutionary factor shaping animal populations. However, few studies have investigated the interplay between land cover heterogeneity, limitation in food resources, individual quality and spatial variation in fitness parameters. Here, we explore how individuals of different quality respond to possible mismatches between a cue for prey availability (land cover heterogeneity) and the actual fluctuating prey abundance. RESULTS We analyse timing of breeding and reproductive success in a migratory population of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) breeding in nest-boxes, over a full three-year abundance cycle of main prey (voles), and consider several components of individual quality, including body condition, blood parasite infection, and genetic diversity (n = 448 adults) that act on different time scales. Older individuals, and kestrel parents in higher body condition started egg-laying earlier than younger birds and those in lower body condition. Additionally, egg-laying was initiated earlier during the increase and decrease phases (2011 and 2012) than during the low phase of the vole cycle (2013). Nestling survival (ratio of eggs that fledged successfully) was higher in early nests and in heterogeneous landscapes (i.e., mosaic of different habitat types), which was evident during the increase and decrease phases of the vole cycle, but not during the low vole year. CONCLUSIONS We found a strong positive effect of landscape heterogeneity on nestling survival, but only when voles were relatively abundant, whereas a difference in the timing of breeding related to territory landscape heterogeneity was not evident. Therefore, landscape heterogeneity appeared as the main driver of high reproductive performance under favourable food conditions. Our results show that landscape homogenization linked to agricultural intensification disrupts the expected positive effect of vole abundance on reproductive success of kestrels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Sumasgutner
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Julien Terraube
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Global Change and Conservation Lab. Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aurélie Coulon
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
- Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Villers
- ONCFS, Unité Avifaune Migratrice, Station de Chizé, 405 route de Prissé-la-Charrière, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Nayden Chakarov
- Department of Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Luise Kruckenhauser
- Museum of Natural History Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Vienna, Austria
| | - Erkki Korpimäki
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Torres-Medina F, Cabezas S, Marchant TA, Wikelski M, Romero LM, Hau M, Carrete M, Tella JL, Blas J. Corticosterone implants produce stress-hyporesponsive birds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.173864. [PMID: 30111557 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.173864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In birds, the use of corticosterone (Cort) implants is a frequent tool aimed at simulating systemic elevations of this hormone and studying effects on biological traits (e.g. physiology, morphology, behavior). This manipulation may alter adrenocortical function, potentially changing both baseline (CortBAS) and stress-induced (CortSTRESS) plasma Cort levels. However, implant effects on the latter trait are rarely measured, disregarding downstream consequences of potentially altered stress responses. Here, we analyzed the effects of Cort implants on both CortBAS and CortSTRESS in nestling and adult European white storks, Ciconia ciconia In addition, we performed a review of 50 studies using Cort implants in birds during the last two decades to contextualize stork results, assess researchers' patterns of use and infer current study biases. High and low doses of Cort implants resulted in a decrease of both CortBAS (31-71% below controls) and CortSTRESS (63-79% below controls) in storks. Our literature review revealed that CortBAS generally increases (72% of experiments) whereas CortSTRESS decreases (78% of experiments) following implant treatment in birds. Our results challenge and expand the prevailing assumption that Cort implants increase circulating CortBAS levels because: (i) CortBAS levels show a quadratic association with implant dose across bird species, and decreased levels may occur at both high and low implant doses, and (ii) Cort implants also decrease CortSTRESS levels, thus producing stress-hyporesponsive phenotypes. It is time to work towards a better understanding of the effects of Cort implants on adrenocortical function, before addressing downstream links to variation in other biological traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Torres-Medina
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 41092 Seville, Spain .,Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5E2
| | - Sonia Cabezas
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 41092 Seville, Spain.,Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5E2
| | - Tracy A Marchant
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5E2
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Michaela Hau
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany.,Evolutionary Physiology Group. Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str., 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Martina Carrete
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 41092 Seville, Spain.,Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - José L Tella
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Julio Blas
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 41092 Seville, Spain .,Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5E2
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Corsini M, Dubiec A, Marrot P, Szulkin M. Humans and Tits in the City: Quantifying the Effects of Human Presence on Great Tit and Blue Tit Reproductive Trait Variation. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
16
|
Habitat degradation increases stress-hormone levels during the breeding season, and decreases survival and reproduction in adult common lizards. Oecologia 2017; 184:75-86. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3841-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
|