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de Kock W, Mackie M, Ramsøe M, Allentoft ME, Broderick AC, Haywood JC, Godley BJ, Snape RTE, Bradshaw PJ, Genz H, von Tersch M, Dee MW, Palsbøll PJ, Alexander M, Taurozzi AJ, Çakırlar C. Threatened North African seagrass meadows have supported green turtle populations for millennia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220747120. [PMID: 37459551 PMCID: PMC10372671 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220747120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
"Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity" is the second official aim of the current UN Ocean Decade (2021 to 2030) calling for the identification and protection of critical marine habitats. However, data to inform policy are often lacking altogether or confined to recent times, preventing the establishment of long-term baselines. The unique insights gained from combining bioarchaeology (palaeoproteomics, stable isotope analysis) with contemporary data (from satellite tracking) identified habitats which sea turtles have been using in the Eastern Mediterranean over five millennia. Specifically, our analysis of archaeological green turtle (Chelonia mydas) bones revealed that they likely foraged on the same North African seagrass meadows as their modern-day counterparts. Here, millennia-long foraging habitat fidelity has been directly demonstrated, highlighting the significance (and long-term dividends) of protecting these critical coastal habitats that are especially vulnerable to global warming. We highlight the potential for historical ecology to inform policy in safeguarding critical marine habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willemien de Kock
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, 9712ERGroningen, Netherlands
- Marine Evolution and Conservation Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 9747AGGroningen, Netherlands
| | - Meaghan Mackie
- The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, 1353Copenhagen K, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, 2200Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Max Ramsøe
- The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, 1353Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Morten E. Allentoft
- Trace and Environmental DNA Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia6102, Australia
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, 1353Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Annette C. Broderick
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, PenrynTR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Julia C. Haywood
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, PenrynTR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Brendan J. Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, PenrynTR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Robin T. E. Snape
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, PenrynTR10 9FE, United Kingdom
- Society for the Protection of Turtles, Nicosia99150, North Cyprus
| | - Phil J. Bradshaw
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, PenrynTR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Hermann Genz
- Department of History and Archaeology, American University of Beirut, Beirut1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Matthew von Tersch
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5NG, United Kingdom
| | - Michael W. Dee
- Centre for Isotope Research, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 9747AGGroningen, Netherlands
| | - Per J. Palsbøll
- Marine Evolution and Conservation Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 9747AGGroningen, Netherlands
- Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA02657
| | - Michelle Alexander
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, YorkYO10 5NG, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto J. Taurozzi
- The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, 1353Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Canan Çakırlar
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, 9712ERGroningen, Netherlands
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Mott R, Prowse TAA, Jackson MV, Rogers DJ, O'Connor JA, Brookes JD, Cassey P. Measuring habitat quality for waterbirds: A review. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9905. [PMID: 37038530 PMCID: PMC10082184 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9905] [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: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying habitat quality is dependent on measuring a site's relative contribution to population growth rate. This is challenging for studies of waterbirds, whose high mobility can decouple demographic rates from local habitat conditions and make sustained monitoring of individuals near-impossible. To overcome these challenges, biologists have used many direct and indirect proxies of waterbird habitat quality. However, consensus on what methods are most appropriate for a given scenario is lacking. We undertook a structured literature review of the methods used to quantify waterbird habitat quality, and provide a synthesis of the context-dependent strengths and limitations of those methods. Our search of the Web of Science and Scopus databases returned a sample of 666 studies, upon which our review was based. The reviewed studies assessed habitat quality by either measuring habitat attributes (e.g., food abundance, water quality, vegetation structure), or measuring attributes of the waterbirds themselves (e.g., demographic parameters, body condition, behavior, distribution). Measuring habitat attributes, although they are only indirectly related to demographic rates, has the advantage of being unaffected by waterbird behavioral stochasticity. Conversely, waterbird-derived measures (e.g., body condition, peck rates) may be more directly related to demographic rates than habitat variables, but may be subject to greater stochastic variation (e.g., behavioral change due to presence of conspecifics). Therefore, caution is needed to ensure that the measured variable does influence waterbird demographic rates. This assumption was usually based on ecological theory rather than empirical evidence. Our review highlighted that there is no single best, universally applicable method to quantify waterbird habitat quality. Individual project specifics (e.g., time frame, spatial scale, funding) will influence the choice of variables measured. Where possible, practitioners should measure variables most directly related to demographic rates. Generally, measuring multiple variables yields a better chance of accurately capturing the relationship between habitat characteristics and demographic rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Mott
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Thomas A. A. Prowse
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Micha V. Jackson
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Daniel J. Rogers
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Department for Environment and WaterAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jody A. O'Connor
- Department for Environment and WaterAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Justin D. Brookes
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
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Thermal adaptation best explains Bergmann's and Allen's Rules across ecologically diverse shorebirds. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4727. [PMID: 35953489 PMCID: PMC9372053 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32108-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules state that endotherms should be larger and have shorter appendages in cooler climates. However, the drivers of these rules are not clear. Both rules could be explained by adaptation for improved thermoregulation, including plastic responses to temperature in early life. Non-thermal explanations are also plausible as climate impacts other factors that influence size and shape, including starvation risk, predation risk, and foraging ecology. We assess the potential drivers of Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules in 30 shorebird species using extensive field data (>200,000 observations). We show birds in hot, tropical northern Australia have longer bills and smaller bodies than conspecifics in temperate, southern Australia, conforming with both ecogeographical rules. This pattern is consistent across ecologically diverse species, including migratory birds that spend early life in the Arctic. Our findings best support the hypothesis that thermoregulatory adaptation to warm climates drives latitudinal patterns in shorebird size and shape. Global patterns in animal size and shape have been long observed, but their underlying drivers are not well understood. Here the authors suggest latitudinal patterns in shorebird size and shape are best explained by thermal adaptation to warm climates.
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Shimada T, Limpus CJ, Hamann M, Bell I, Esteban N, Groom R, Hays GC. Fidelity to foraging sites after long migrations. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:1008-1016. [PMID: 31785174 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Patterns of animal movement associated with foraging lie at the heart of many ecological studies and often animals face decisions of staying in an environment they know versus relocating to new sites. The lack of knowledge of new foraging sites means there is risk associated with a decision to relocate (e.g. poor foraging) as well as a potential benefit (e.g. improved foraging). Using a unique long-term satellite tracking dataset for several sea turtle species, combined with capture-mark-recapture data extending over 50 years, we show how, across species, individuals generally maintain tight fidelity to specific foraging sites after extended (up to almost 10,000 km) migration to and from distant breeding sites as well as across many decades. Migrating individuals often travelled through suitable foraging areas en route to their 'home' site and so extended their journeys to maintain foraging site fidelity. We explore the likely mechanistic underpinnings of this trait, which is also seen in some migrating birds, and suggest that individuals will forgo areas of suitable forage encountered en route during migration when they have poor knowledge of the long-term suitability of those sites, making relocation to those sites risky.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Shimada
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Colin J Limpus
- Threatened Species Unit, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Mark Hamann
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Ian Bell
- Threatened Species Unit, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Nicole Esteban
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Rachel Groom
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Northern Territory Government of Australia, Palmerston, NT, Australia
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Marchowski D, Jankowiak Ł, Wysocki D, Ławicki Ł, Girjatowicz J. Ducks change wintering patterns due to changing climate in the important wintering waters of the Odra River Estuary. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3604. [PMID: 28785517 PMCID: PMC5541925 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Some species of birds react to climate change by reducing the distance they travel during migration. The Odra River Estuary in the Baltic Sea is important for wintering waterfowl and is where we investigated how waterbirds respond to freezing surface waters. The most abundant birds here comprise two ecological groups: bottom-feeders and piscivores. Numbers of all bottom-feeders, but not piscivores, were negatively correlated with the presence of ice. With ongoing global warming, this area is increasing in importance for bottom-feeders and decreasing for piscivores. The maximum range of ice cover in the Baltic Sea has a weak and negative effect on both groups of birds. Five of the seven target species are bottom-feeders (Greater Scaup Aythya marila, Tufted Duck A. fuligula, Common Pochard A. ferina, Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula and Eurasian Coot Fulica atra), and two are piscivores (Smew Mergellus albellus and Goosander Mergus merganser). Local changes at the level of particular species vary for different reasons. A local decline of the Common Pochard may simply be a consequence of its global decline. Climate change is responsible for some of the local changes in the study area, disproportionately favoring some duck species while being detrimental to others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Marchowski
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology and Anthropology, Institute for Research on Biodiversity, Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Łukasz Jankowiak
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology and Anthropology, Institute for Research on Biodiversity, Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Dariusz Wysocki
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology and Anthropology, Institute for Research on Biodiversity, Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | | | - Józef Girjatowicz
- Hydrography and Water Management Unit, Faculty of Earth Science, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
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Aharon-Rotman Y, Buchanan KL, Klaassen M, Buttemer WA. An experimental examination of interindividual variation in feather corticosterone content in the house sparrow, Passer domesticus in southeast Australia. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 244:93-100. [PMID: 26699204 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Non-invasive techniques for measuring glucocorticoids (GCs) have become more prevalent, due to the advantage of eliminating the effects of animal disturbance on GC levels and their potential to provide an integrated, historic estimate of circulating GC levels. In the case of birds, corticosterone (CORT) is deposited in feathers, and may reflect a bird's GC status over the period of feather synthesis. This technique thus permits a retrospective view of the average circulating GC levels during the moult period. While it is generally assumed that differences in feather CORT content (CORTf) between individuals reflects their different stress histories during either natural or induced moult, it is not clear how much of this variation is due to extrinsic versus intrinsic factors. We examined this question by determining CORTf in free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus) from two populations, one urban and the other rural, that were plucked before and after exposure to different plasma CORT levels while held captive. We experimentally manipulated plasma CORT by implanting birds with either a corticosterone-filled, metyrapone-filled, or empty ('sham') silastic capsule as replacement feathers first emerged. The pattern of post-treatment CORTf was consistent with our expectations, based on plasma CORT levels of an experimentally implanted reference group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in CORTf between these treatment groups unless sex, population origin, and CORTf of original feathers for each individual were included in a model. Thus, birds with higher CORTf in feathers removed for this experiment tended to have higher CORTf in post-treatment replacement feathers, irrespective of treatment. In addition, we found that feather fault bar scores were significantly higher in CORT-treated birds than in the other two treatment groups, but did not vary directly with CORTf level. Our study therefore broadly confirms the use of feathers as a non-invasive tool to estimate plasma CORT during moult in birds, but importantly demonstrates the potential for intrinsic differences in stress characteristics between populations and individuals to obscure the effects extrinsic stressors might have on CORTf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaara Aharon-Rotman
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; Department of Zoology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
| | - Katherine L Buchanan
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - William A Buttemer
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
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