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Mohring B, Öst M, Jaatinen K, Parenteau C, Pallud M, Angelier F. Parenting in a changing environment: A long-term study of prolactin, parental effort and reproductive success in common eiders. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 357:114574. [PMID: 38936675 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Parental care is regulated by multiple endocrine mechanisms. Among these hormones, prolactin (PRL) is involved in the expression of parental behaviors. Despite the consensus that PRL mediates variation in parental effort with age and body condition, its role in the adjustment of parental effort to fluctuating environmental conditions, including changing predation pressure, still awaits further investigation. To shed light on this knowledge gap, we relied on a long-term monitoring of female common eiders Somateria mollissima (n = 1277 breeding attempts, 2012-2022) incubating under fluctuating predation risk to investigate the link between baseline PRL levels and female minimum age, body condition, clutch size, environmental parameters (predation pressure, climate, nest microhabitat) and hatching success. We predicted that PRL would be higher in older females, those in better condition or incubating larger clutches. We also predicted that females would reduce parental effort when nesting under challenging environmental conditions (high predation pressure or poor climatic conditions), translated into reduced baseline PRL levels. We also explored how variation in PRL levels, female characteristics and environmental parameters were related to hatching success. Following our predictions, PRL levels were positively associated with body condition and female age (before showing a senescent decline in the oldest breeders). However, we did not observe any population-level or individual-level reduction in PRL levels in response to increasing predation pressure. Population-level baseline PRL levels instead increased over the study period, coincident with rising predation threat, but also increasing female body condition and age. While we did not provide evidence for a direct association between baseline PRL levels and predation risk, our results support the idea that elevated baseline PRL levels promote hatching success under internal constraints (in young, inexperienced, breeders or those incubating a large clutch) or constraining environmental conditions (during years of high predation pressure or poor climatic and foraging conditions). Finally, the low repeatability of baseline PRL levels and high interannual variability highlight considerable within-individual flexibility in baseline PRL levels. Further research should explore flexibility in parental effort to changing environmental conditions, focusing on both baseline and stress-induced PRL levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertille Mohring
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20500 Turku, Finland; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France; School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GP, United Kingdom.
| | - Markus Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20500 Turku, Finland; Novia University of Applied Sciences, 10600 Ekenäs, Finland
| | - Kim Jaatinen
- Finnish Environment Institute, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, 10900 Hanko, Finland
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Marie Pallud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
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Swenson JD, Brooks EN, Kacev D, Boyd C, Kinney MJ, Marcy‐Quay B, Sévêque A, Feldheim KA, Komoroske LM. Accounting for unobserved population dynamics and aging error in close-kin mark-recapture assessments. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10854. [PMID: 38327683 PMCID: PMC10847890 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10854] [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: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Obtaining robust estimates of population abundance is a central challenge hindering the conservation and management of many threatened and exploited species. Close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) is a genetics-based approach that has strong potential to improve the monitoring of data-limited species by enabling estimates of abundance, survival, and other parameters for populations that are challenging to assess. However, CKMR models have received limited sensitivity testing under realistic population dynamics and sampling scenarios, impeding the application of the method in population monitoring programs and stock assessments. Here, we use individual-based simulation to examine how unmodeled population dynamics and aging uncertainty affect the accuracy and precision of CKMR parameter estimates under different sampling strategies. We then present adapted models that correct the biases that arise from model misspecification. Our results demonstrate that a simple base-case CKMR model produces robust estimates of population abundance with stable populations that breed annually; however, if a population trend or non-annual breeding dynamics are present, or if year-specific estimates of abundance are desired, a more complex CKMR model must be constructed. In addition, we show that CKMR can generate reliable abundance estimates for adults from a variety of sampling strategies, including juvenile-focused sampling where adults are never directly observed (and aging error is minimal). Finally, we apply a CKMR model that has been adapted for population growth and intermittent breeding to two decades of genetic data from juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) in Bimini, Bahamas, to demonstrate how application of CKMR to samples drawn solely from juveniles can contribute to monitoring efforts for highly mobile populations. Overall, this study expands our understanding of the biological factors and sampling decisions that cause bias in CKMR models, identifies key areas for future inquiry, and provides recommendations that can aid biologists in planning and implementing an effective CKMR study, particularly for long-lived data-limited species.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D. Swenson
- Department of Environmental ConservationThe University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | - Elizabeth N. Brooks
- Population Dynamics Branch, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationWoods HoleMassachusettsUSA
| | - Dovi Kacev
- Marine Biology Research DivisionScripps Institution of OceanographySan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Charlotte Boyd
- International Union for Conservation of NatureNorth America OfficeWashington DCMarylandUSA
| | - Michael J. Kinney
- NOAA FisheriesPacific Island Fisheries Science CenterHonoluluHawaiiUSA
| | - Benjamin Marcy‐Quay
- Rubenstein Ecosystem Science LaboratoryUniversity of VermontBurlingtonVermontUSA
| | - Anthony Sévêque
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forest and Wildlife Research CenterMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMississippiUSA
| | - Kevin A. Feldheim
- Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and EvolutionThe Field MuseumChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Lisa M. Komoroske
- Department of Environmental ConservationThe University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
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Mohring B, Angelier F, Jaatinen K, Steele B, Lönnberg E, Öst M. Drivers of within- and among-individual variation in risk-taking behaviour during reproduction in a long-lived bird. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221338. [PMID: 36126681 PMCID: PMC9489283 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic and selective mechanisms govern parental investment adjustments to predation threat. We investigated the relative importance of plasticity and selection in risk-taking propensity of incubating female common eiders Somateria mollissima facing unprecedented predation in SW Finland, Baltic Sea. Using a 12-year individual-based dataset, we examined within- and among-individual variation in flight initiation distance (FID), in relation to predation risk, nest detectability, individual traits and reproductive investment (NFID = 1009; Nindividual = 559). We expected females nesting in riskier environments (higher predation risk, lower nest concealment) to mitigate environmentally imposed risk by exhibiting longer FIDs, and females investing more in current reproduction (older, in better condition or laying larger clutches) to display shorter FIDs. The target of predation-adult or offspring-affected the mechanisms adapting risk-taking propensity; females plastically increased their FID under higher adult predation risk, while risk-avoiding breeders were predominant on islands with higher nest predation risk. Risk-taking females selected thicker nest cover, consistent with personality-matching habitat choice. Females plastically attenuated their anti-predator response (shorter FIDs) with advancing age, and females in better body condition were more risk-taking, a result explained by selection processes. Future research should consider predator type when investigating the fitness consequences of risk-taking strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertille Mohring
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20500 Turku, Finland
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS – La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS – La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Kim Jaatinen
- Nature and Game Management Trust Finland, 10160 Degerby, Finland
| | - Ben Steele
- School of Arts and Sciences, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH 03257, USA
| | | | - Markus Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20500 Turku, Finland
- Novia University of Applied Sciences, 10600 Ekenäs, Finland
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4
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Schick LA, Wohlsein P, Rautenschlein S, Jung A, Boyi JO, Glemarec G, Kroner AM, Barth SA, Siebert U. Health Status of Bycaught Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Western Baltic Sea. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12152002. [PMID: 35953991 PMCID: PMC9367620 DOI: 10.3390/ani12152002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We performed post-mortem investigations of 121 Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima), which were incidentally caught in fishing gear from 2017 to 2019 in Denmark. The aim of the study was to obtain an overview of health issues and pathogens occurring in the population of these birds. The European population of the Common Eider is endangered, but the reasons for the decline of the population have not yet been determined. In times of accelerating species loss, it is important to determine factors that impact population numbers of declining species. The post-mortem investigations included biometric measurements and determination of age, sex and nutritional status, as well as parasitological, bacteriological and virological investigations. The majority of Common Eiders had a good or moderate nutritional status. Most animals were infected with intestinal parasites, and we commonly found inflammation in organs like the liver, kidneys, intestine and the oesophagus. In three animals, a pathogenic bacterium caused inflammatory lesions in several organs. We did not find signs for epizootic diseases or pathologies, which would explain the declining species numbers. Abstract The Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) inhabits the entire northern hemisphere. In northern Europe, the flyway population reaches from the southern Wadden Sea to the northern Baltic coast. The European population is classified as endangered due to declines in Common Eider numbers across Europe since 1990. In this study, we assessed 121 carcasses of Common Eiders, captured incidentally in gillnets in the Western Baltic between 2017 and 2019. The most common findings were parasitic infections of the intestine by acanthocephalans in 95 animals, which correlated with enteritis in 50% of the cases. Parasites were identified as Profilicollis botulus in 25 selected animals. Additionally, oesophageal pustules, erosions, and ulcerations, presumably of traumatic origin, were frequently observed. Nephritis and hepatitis were frequent, but could not be attributed to specific causes. Lung oedema, fractures and subcutaneous haemorrhages likely resulted from entangling and drowning. Two Common Eiders had mycobacterial infections and in one of these, Mycobacterium avium subspecies (ssp.) avium was identified. This study gives an overview of morphological changes and infectious diseases from one location of the European flyway population. It contributes to future health studies on Common Eiders in the Baltic and Wadden Seas by providing baseline information to compare with other areas or circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca A. Schick
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstraße 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Peter Wohlsein
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Silke Rautenschlein
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Arne Jung
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Joy Ometere Boyi
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstraße 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Gildas Glemarec
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Kroner
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Stefanie A. Barth
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstraße 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-856-8158
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5
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Implications of Non-ideal Occupancy for the Measurement of Territory Quality. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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6
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Steenweg RJ, Crossin GT, Hennin HL, Gilchrist HG, Love OP. Favorable spring conditions can buffer the impact of winter carryover effects on a key breeding decision in an Arctic-breeding seabird. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8588. [PMID: 35154656 PMCID: PMC8826066 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability and investment of energy among successive life-history stages is a key feature of carryover effects. In migratory organisms, examining how both winter and spring experiences carryover to affect breeding activity is difficult due to the challenges in tracking individuals through these periods without impacting their behavior, thereby biasing results.Using common eiders Somateria mollissima, we examined whether spring conditions at an Arctic breeding colony (East Bay Island, Nunavut, Canada) can buffer the impacts of winter temperatures on body mass and breeding decisions in birds that winter at different locations (Nuuk and Disko Bay, Greenland, and Newfoundland, Canada; assessed by analyzing stable isotopes of 13-carbon in winter-grown claw samples). Specifically, we used path analysis to examine how wintering and spring environmental conditions interact to affect breeding propensity (a key reproductive decision influencing lifetime fitness in female eiders) within the contexts of the timing of colony arrival, pre-breeding body mass (body condition), and a physiological proxy for foraging effort (baseline corticosterone).We demonstrate that warmer winter temperatures predicted lower body mass at arrival to the nesting colony, whereas warmer spring temperatures predicted earlier arrival dates and higher arrival body mass. Both higher body mass and earlier arrival dates of eider hens increased the probability that birds would initiate laying (i.e., higher breeding propensity). However, variation in baseline corticosterone was not linked to either winter or spring temperatures, and it had no additional downstream effects on breeding propensity.Overall, we demonstrate that favorable pre-breeding conditions in Arctic-breeding common eiders can compensate for the impact that unfavorable wintering conditions can have on breeding investment, perhaps due to greater access to foraging areas prior to laying.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Glenn T. Crossin
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Holly L. Hennin
- Environment and Climate Change CanadaNational Wildlife Research CentreCarleton UniversityOttawaOntarioCanada
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of WindsorWindsorOntarioCanada
| | - H. Grant Gilchrist
- Environment and Climate Change CanadaNational Wildlife Research CentreCarleton UniversityOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Oliver P. Love
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of WindsorWindsorOntarioCanada
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7
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Mitigating impacts of invasive alien predators on an endangered sea duck amidst high native predation pressure. Oecologia 2022; 198:543-552. [PMID: 35028754 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05101-8] [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] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenically introduced invasive species represent a major threat to global biodiversity by causing population declines and extinctions of native species. The negative impacts of introduced predators are well documented, yet a fundamental knowledge gap exists regarding the efficiency of potential mitigation methods to restore the ecosystem. Other understudied aspects concern prey behavioural antipredator responses and the historical context of native predator-prey interactions, which may moderate invasion impacts on native prey. Invasion impacts of American mink (Neovison vison) and raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) into the Baltic Sea archipelago are poorly understood, and the efficiency of removal efforts as a means to alleviate depredation pressure on native prey is debated. Here, we examine the effectiveness of invasive predator removal on ground-nesting female common eider (Somateria mollissima) mortality, breeding success and breeding propensity over a 9-year period, while controlling for predation risk imposed by the main native predator, the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). Our results clearly show that intensified removal of American minks and raccoon dogs decreased the number of female eiders killed during nesting, while improving both nesting success and breeding propensity. Such obvious positive effects of invasive predator removal are particularly noteworthy against the backdrop of a soaring eagle population, indicating that the impacts of invasives may become accentuated when native predators differ taxonomically and by hunting mode. This study shows that invasive alien predator removal is an effective conservation measure clearly aiding native fauna even under severe native predation pressure. Such cost-effective conservation actions call for governmental deployment across large areas.
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8
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Öst M, Lehikoinen A, Jaatinen K. Top–down effects override climate forcing on reproductive success in a declining sea duck. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08762] [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)
- Markus Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Biocity, Åbo Akademi Univ. Turku Finland
- Novia Univ. of Applied Sciences Ekenäs Finland
| | - Aleksi Lehikoinen
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, Univ. of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Kim Jaatinen
- Nature and Game Management Trust Finland Degerby Finland
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9
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Mohring B, Angelier F, Jaatinen K, Parenteau C, Öst M. Parental Investment Under Predation Threat in Incubating Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima): A Hormonal Perspective. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.637561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Predation risk affects the costs and benefits of prey life-history decisions. Predation threat is often higher during reproduction, especially in conspicuous colonial breeders. Therefore, predation risk may increase the survival cost of breeding, and reduce parental investment. The impact of predation risk on avian parental investment decisions may be hormonally mediated by prolactin and corticosterone, making them ideal tools for studying the trade-offs involved. Prolactin is thought to promote parental care and commitment in birds. Corticosterone is involved in allostasis and may either mediate reduced parental investment (corticosterone-fitness hypothesis), or promote parental investment through a reallocation of resources (corticosterone-adaptation hypothesis). Here, we used these hormonal proxies of incubation commitment to examine the impact of predation risk on reproduction in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) breeding in the Baltic Sea. This eider population is subject to high but spatially and temporally variable predation pressure on adults (mainly by the white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and introduced mammalian predators) and nests (by the adult predators and exclusive egg predators such as hooded crows Corvus cornix). We investigated baseline hormonal levels and hatching success as a function of individual quality attributes (breeding experience, female and duckling body condition), reproductive investment (clutch weight), and predation risk. We expected individuals nesting in riskier environments (i.e., on islands where predation on adults or nests is higher, or in less concealed nests) to reduce their parental investment in incubation, reflected in lower baseline prolactin levels and either higher (corticosterone-fitness hypothesis) or lower (corticosterone-adaptation hypothesis) baseline corticosterone levels. Contrary to our predictions, prolactin levels showed a positive correlation with nest predation risk. The unexpected positive relationship could result from the selective disappearance of low-quality females (presumably having low prolactin levels) from risky sites. Supporting this notion, female body condition and hatching success were positively correlated with predation risk on females, and baseline prolactin concentrations were positively correlated with duckling body condition, a proxy of maternal quality. In line with the corticosterone-adaptation hypothesis, baseline corticosterone levels increased with reproductive investment, and were negatively associated with nest predation risk. Hatching success was lower on islands where nest predation risk was higher, consistent with the idea of reduced reproductive investment under increased threat. Long-term individual-based studies are now needed to distinguish selection processes occurring at the population scale from individually plastic parental investment in relation to individual quality and variable predation risk.
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10
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Jagielski PM, Dey CJ, Gilchrist HG, Richardson ES, Semeniuk CA. Polar bear foraging on common eider eggs: estimating the energetic consequences of a climate-mediated behavioural shift. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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11
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Tong WH, Abdulai-Saiku S, Vyas A. Medial Amygdala Arginine Vasopressin Neurons Regulate Innate Aversion to Cat Odors in Male Mice. Neuroendocrinology 2021; 111:505-520. [PMID: 32447337 DOI: 10.1159/000508862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Aversion to environmental cues of predators is an integral part of defensive behaviors in many prey animals. It enhances their survival and probability of future reproduction. At the same time, animals cannot be maximally defended because imperatives of defense usually trade-off with behaviors required for sexual reproduction like display of dominance and production of sexual pheromones. Here, we approach this trade-off through the lens of arginine vasopressin (AVP) neurons within the posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) of mice. This neuronal population is known to be involved in sexual behaviors like approach to sexually salient cues. We show that chemogenetic partial ablation of this neuronal population increases aversion to predator odors. Moreover, overexpression of AVP within this population is sufficient to reduce aversion to predator odors. The loss of fear of the predator odor occurs in parallel with increased recruitment of AVP neurons within the MePD. These observations suggest that AVP neurons in the medial aspect of the extended amygdala are a proximate locus for the reduction in innate fear during life stages dominated by reproductive efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Han Tong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Samira Abdulai-Saiku
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ajai Vyas
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore,
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12
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Ekblad C, Tikkanen H, Sulkava S, Laaksonen T. Diet and breeding habitat preferences of White-tailed Eagles in a northern inland environment. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02769-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMany apex predator populations are recolonizing old areas and dispersing to new ones, with potential consequences for their prey species and for livestock. An increasing population of the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) has settled north of the Arctic Circle in northern Finland, mainly at two big water reservoirs but also in areas with mainly terrestrial habitat. We examined nesting habitat preferences and prey use of White-tailed Eagles in this environment, where reindeer husbandry is a traditional livelihood and concerns are rising that the growing White-tailed Eagle population poses a threat to reindeer calves. Lakes, peat bogs, and marshlands were preferred habitats in the nesting territories. Fish constituted 64.3% of the identified prey items, with birds accounting for 28.5% and mammals 7.2%. The nesting territory habitat within a 10 km radius and the latitude influenced the prey composition at both the group and species level. The occurrence of reindeer calves as prey increased with latitude but was not associated with any habitat. Knowledge of the diet and territory preferences can be used to predict future dispersal and local prey use of this species. Nesting White-tailed Eagles do not seem to pose a threat to traditional reindeer herding, but further research is needed regarding non-breeding sub-adults and whether the White-tailed Eagles actually kill reindeer calves or simply exploit their carcasses.
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13
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Tjørnløv RS, Ens BJ, Öst M, Jaatinen K, Karell P, Larsson R, Christensen TK, Frederiksen M. Drivers of Spatiotemporal Variation in Survival in a Flyway Population: A Multi-Colony Study. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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14
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Ma NL, Hansen M, Roland Therkildsen O, Kjær Christensen T, Skjold Tjørnløv R, Garbus SE, Lyngs P, Peng W, Lam SS, Kirstine Havnsøe Krogh A, Andersen-Ranberg E, Søndergaard J, Rigét FF, Dietz R, Sonne C. Body mass, mercury exposure, biochemistry and untargeted metabolomics of incubating common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in three Baltic colonies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 142:105866. [PMID: 32590281 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Baltic/Wadden Sea Flyway of common eiders has declined over the past three decades. Multiple factors such as contaminant exposure, global warming, hunting, white-tailed eagle predation, decreased agricultural eutrophication and infectious diseases have been suggested to explain the decline. We collected information on body mass, mercury (Hg) concentration, biochemistry and untargeted metabolomics of incubating birds in two colonies in the Danish Straits (Hov Røn, n = 100; Agersø, n = 29) and in one colony in the Baltic proper (Christiansø, n = 23) to look into their metabolisms and energy balance. Body mass was available from early and late incubation for Hov Røn and Christiansø, showing a significant decline (25-30%) in both colonies with late body mass at Christiansø being the lowest. Whole blood concentrations of total mercury Hg were significantly higher in birds at Christiansø in the east compared to Hov Røn in the west. All birds in the three colonies had Hg concentrations in the range of ≤1.0 μg/g ww, which indicates that the risk of effects on reproduction is in the no to low risk category for wild birds. Among the biochemical measures, glucose, fructosamine, amylase, albumin and protein decreased significantly from early to late incubation at Hov Røn and Christiansø, reflecting long-term fastening as supported by the decline in body mass. Untargeted metabolomics performed on Christiansø eiders revealed presence of 8,433 plasma metabolites. Of these, 3,179 metabolites changed significantly (log2-fold change ≥1, p ≤ 0.05) from the early to late incubation. For example, smaller peptides and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) were significantly down-regulated while 11-deoxycorticosterone and palmitoylcarnitine were significantly upregulated. These results show that cumulative stress including fasting during incubation affect the eiders' biochemical profile and energy metabolism and that this may be most pronounced for the Christiansø colony in the Baltic proper. This amplify the events of temperature increases and food web changes caused by global warming that eventually accelerate the loss in body weight. Future studies should examine the relationship between body condition, temperature and reproductive outcomes and include mapping of food web contaminant, energy and nutrient content to better understand, manage and conserve the populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyuk Ling Ma
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Martin Hansen
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | | | | | - Rune Skjold Tjørnløv
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Svend-Erik Garbus
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Peter Lyngs
- Christiansø Scientific Field Station, Christiansø 97, DK-3760 Gudhjem, Denmark
| | - Wanxi Peng
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP) & Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (Bio-D Tropika), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Anne Kirstine Havnsøe Krogh
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Dyrlægevej 16, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Emilie Andersen-Ranberg
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Dyrlægevej 16, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Jens Søndergaard
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Frank F Rigét
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Rune Dietz
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
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15
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Smith MG, Riehl C. Intermittent breeding is associated with breeding group turnover in a cooperatively breeding bird. Oecologia 2020; 192:953-963. [PMID: 32285196 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04635-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Intermittent breeding, in which an adult skips a breeding opportunity, can represent a non-adaptive constraint or an adaptive response to the tradeoff between current and future reproduction. In group-living animals, the social group may also affect the frequency of reproduction, but this possibility has received little attention. Here we use an 11-year data set to investigate intermittent breeding in the greater ani (Crotophaga major), a tropical bird that nests in stable breeding groups containing several unrelated co-breeding females. Population-wide, an average of 62% of females laid eggs in a given year (range 35-84%), and the average female failed to lay eggs once every 3.2 years. We found little support for the hypothesis that intermittent breeding reflects a tradeoff between current and future reproduction: breeding in year t did not affect a female's likelihood of breeding in year t + 1, and clutch size in year t did not affect clutch size in year t + 1. Increases in clutch size were associated with decreases in egg mass for eggs laid at the end of that clutch, but this did not affect subsequent nesting attempts. However, reproductive skipping was associated with changes in group membership. Females whose groups changed in composition after year t were significantly less likely to breed in year t + 1 than females whose groups remained stable. These results indicate that breeding group stability influences the frequency of reproduction, suggesting that transitions between groups may be costly to females and their mates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Smith
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Christina Riehl
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
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16
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Donelan SC, Trussell GC. Sex‐specific differences in the response of prey to predation risk. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C. Donelan
- Marine Science Center and the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences Northeastern University Nahant MA USA
| | - Geoffrey C. Trussell
- Marine Science Center and the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences Northeastern University Nahant MA USA
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17
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Gownaris NJ, García Borboroglu P, Boersma PD. Sex ratio is variable and increasingly male biased at two colonies of Magellanic Penguins. Ecology 2020; 101:e02939. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natasha J. Gownaris
- Environmental Studies Department Gettysburg College Gettysburg Pennsylvania 17325 USA
| | - Pablo García Borboroglu
- Department of Biology and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels University of Washington Seattle Washington 98103 USA
- Global Penguin Society Puerto Madryn Argentina
| | - P. Dee Boersma
- Department of Biology and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels University of Washington Seattle Washington 98103 USA
- Global Penguin Society Puerto Madryn Argentina
- CESIMAR CCT Cenpat‐CONICET 9120Puerto Madryn Chubut Argentina
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18
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Jaatinen K, Møller AP, Öst M. Annual variation in predation risk is related to the direction of selection for brain size in the wild. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11847. [PMID: 31413345 PMCID: PMC6694153 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48153-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The direction of predator-mediated selection on brain size is debated. However, the speed and the accuracy of performing a task cannot be simultaneously maximized. Large-brained individuals may be predisposed to accurate but slow decision-making, beneficial under high predation risk, but costly under low risk. This creates the possibility of temporally fluctuating selection on brain size depending on overall predation risk. We test this idea in nesting wild eider females (Somateria mollissima), in which head volume is tightly linked to brain mass (r2 = 0.73). We determined how female relative head volume relates to survival, and characterized the seasonal timing of predation. Previous work suggests that relatively large-brained and small-brained females make slow versus fast nest-site decisions, respectively, and that predation events occur seasonally earlier when predation is severe. Large-brained, late-breeding females may therefore have higher survival during high-predation years, but lower survival during safe years, assuming that predation disproportionately affects late breeders in such years. Relatively large-headed females outsurvived smaller-headed females during dangerous years, whereas the opposite was true in safer years. Predation events occurred relatively later during safe years. Fluctuations in the direction of survival selection on relative brain size may therefore arise due to brain-size dependent breeding phenology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Jaatinen
- Nature and Game Management Trust Finland, Degerbyvägen 176, FI-10160, Degerby, Finland.
| | - Anders P Møller
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay Cedex, France
| | - Markus Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, FI-20520, Turku, Finland
- Novia University of Applied Sciences, Raseborgsvägen 9, FI-10600, Ekenäs, Finland
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