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Oro D, Bécares J, Bartumeus F, Arcos JM. High frequency of prospecting for informed dispersal and colonisation in a social species at large spatial scale. Oecologia 2021; 197:395-409. [PMID: 34550445 PMCID: PMC8505276 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05040-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Animals explore and prospect space searching for resources and individuals may disperse, targeting suitable patches to increase fitness. Nevertheless, dispersal is costly because it implies leaving the patch where the individual has gathered information and reduced uncertainty. In social species, information gathered during the prospection process for deciding whether and where to disperse is not only personal but also public, i.e. conspecific density and breeding performance. In empty patches, public information is not available and dispersal for colonisation would be more challenging. Here we study the prospecting in a metapopulation of colonial Audouin's gulls using PTT platform terminal transmitters tagging for up to 4 years and GPS tagging during the incubation period. A large percentage of birds (65%) prospected occupied patches; strikingly, 62% of prospectors also visited empty patches that were colonised in later years. Frequency and intensity of prospecting were higher for failed breeders, who dispersed more than successful breeders. Prospecting and dispersal also occurred mostly to neighbouring patches where population density was higher. GPSs revealed that many breeders (59%) prospected while actively incubating, which suggests that they gathered information before knowing the fate of their reproduction. Prospecting may be enhanced in species adapted to breed in ephemeral habitats, such as Audouin's gulls. Interestingly, none of the tracked individuals colonised an empty patch despite having prospected over a period of up to three consecutive years. Lack of public information in empty patches may drive extended prospecting, long time delays in colonisation and non-linear transient phenomena in metapopulation dynamics and species range expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Oro
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CEAB (CSIC), Acces Cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain.
| | - Juan Bécares
- SEO/BirdLife-Marine Programe, Delegació de Catalunya, 08026, Barcelona, Spain.,CORY'S-Investigación y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, 08016, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Frederic Bartumeus
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CEAB (CSIC), Acces Cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - José Manuel Arcos
- SEO/BirdLife-Marine Programe, Delegació de Catalunya, 08026, Barcelona, Spain
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Tizard J, Patel S, Waugh J, Tavares E, Bergmann T, Gill B, Norman J, Christidis L, Scofield P, Haddrath O, Baker A, Lambert D, Millar C. DNA barcoding a unique avifauna: an important tool for evolution, systematics and conservation. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:52. [PMID: 30744573 PMCID: PMC6369544 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1346-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA barcoding utilises a standardised region of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene to identify specimens to the species level. It has proven to be an effective tool for identification of avian samples. The unique island avifauna of New Zealand is taxonomically and evolutionarily distinct. We analysed COI sequence data in order to determine if DNA barcoding could accurately identify New Zealand birds. RESULTS We sequenced 928 specimens from 180 species. Additional Genbank sequences expanded the dataset to 1416 sequences from 211 of the estimated 236 New Zealand species. Furthermore, to improve the assessment of genetic variation in non-endemic species, and to assess the overall accuracy of our approach, sequences from 404 specimens collected outside of New Zealand were also included in our analyses. Of the 191 species represented by multiple sequences, 88.5% could be successfully identified by their DNA barcodes. This is likely a conservative estimate of the power of DNA barcoding in New Zealand, given our extensive geographic sampling. The majority of the 13 groups that could not be distinguished contain recently diverged taxa, indicating incomplete lineage sorting and in some cases hybridisation. In contrast, 16 species showed evidence of distinct intra-species lineages, some of these corresponding to recognised subspecies. For species identification purposes a character-based method was more successful than distance and phylogenetic tree-based methods. CONCLUSIONS DNA barcodes accurately identify most New Zealand bird species. However, low levels of COI sequence divergence in some recently diverged taxa limit the identification power of DNA barcoding. A small number of currently recognised species would benefit from further systematic investigations. The reference database and analysis presented will provide valuable insights into the evolution, systematics and conservation of New Zealand birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Tizard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Selina Patel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - John Waugh
- Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Erika Tavares
- Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcox Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
- Present address: Laboratory Research Project Manager, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tjard Bergmann
- Institute for Animal Ecology and Cell Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Bünteweg 17d, D-30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Brian Gill
- Associate Emeritus, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Private Bag 92018, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Janette Norman
- Molecular Biology Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia
- Present address: Graduate School, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Les Christidis
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Scofield
- Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Ave, Christchurch, 8001, New Zealand
| | - Oliver Haddrath
- Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcox Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Allan Baker
- Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcox Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - David Lambert
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Craig Millar
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
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Schippers P, Hemerik L, Baveco JM, Verboom J. Rapid Diversity Loss of Competing Animal Species in Well-Connected Landscapes. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26218682 PMCID: PMC4517897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Population viability of a single species, when evaluated with metapopulation based landscape evaluation tools, always increases when the connectivity of the landscape increases. However, when interactions between species are taken into account, results can differ. We explore this issue using a stochastic spatially explicit meta-community model with 21 competing species in five different competitive settings: (1) weak, coexisting competition, (2) neutral competition, (3) strong, excluding competition, (4) hierarchical competition and (5) random species competition. The species compete in randomly generated landscapes with various fragmentation levels. With this model we study species loss over time. Simulation results show that overall diversity, the species richness in the entire landscape, decreases slowly in fragmented landscapes whereas in well-connected landscapes rapid species losses occur. These results are robust with respect to changing competitive settings, species parameters and spatial configurations. They indicate that optimal landscape configuration for species conservation differs between metapopulation approaches, modelling species separately and meta-community approaches allowing species interactions. The mechanism behind this is that species in well-connected landscapes rapidly outcompete each other. Species that become abundant, by chance or by their completive strength, send out large amounts of dispersers that colonize and take over other patches that are occupied by species that are less abundant. This mechanism causes rapid species loss. In fragmented landscapes the colonization rate is lower, and it is difficult for a new species to establish in an already occupied patch. So, here dominant species cannot easily take over patches occupied by other species and higher diversity is maintained for a longer time. These results suggest that fragmented landscapes have benefits for species conservation previously unrecognized by the landscape ecology and policy community. When species interactions are important, landscapes with a low fragmentation level can be better for species conservation than well-connected landscapes. Moreover, our results indicate that metapopulation based landscape evaluation tools may overestimate the value of connectivity and should be replaced by more realistic meta-community based tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schippers
- Dep. Alterra-Biodiversity and Policy, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 47, NL-6700AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Dep. Forest ecology and forest management, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, NL-6700AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lia Hemerik
- Biometris, Department of Mathemical and Statistical methods, Wageningen University, PO Box 16, NL-6700AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes M Baveco
- Dep. Alterra-Environmental risk assessment, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 47, NL-6700AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jana Verboom
- Dep. Alterra-Biodiversity and Policy, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 47, NL-6700AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Pakanen VM, Hongell H, Aikio S, Koivula K. Little tern breeding success in artificial and natural habitats: modelling population growth under uncertain vital rates. POPUL ECOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10144-014-0446-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Buxton RT, Jones C, Moller H, Towns DR. Drivers of seabird population recovery on New Zealand islands after predator eradication. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2014; 28:333-344. [PMID: 24527858 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 08/25/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Eradication of introduced mammalian predators from islands has become increasingly common, with over 800 successful projects around the world. Historically, introduced predators extirpated or reduced the size of many seabird populations, changing the dynamics of entire island ecosystems. Although the primary outcome of many eradication projects is the restoration of affected seabird populations, natural population responses are rarely documented and mechanisms are poorly understood. We used a generic model of seabird colony growth to identify key predictor variables relevant to recovery or recolonization. We used generalized linear mixed models to test the importance of these variables in driving seabird population responses after predator eradication on islands around New Zealand. The most influential variable affecting recolonization of seabirds around New Zealand was the distance to a source population, with few cases of recolonization without a source population ≤25 km away. Colony growth was most affected by metapopulation status; there was little colony growth in species with a declining status. These characteristics may facilitate the prioritization of newly predator-free islands for active management. Although we found some evidence documenting natural recovery, generally this topic was understudied. Our results suggest that in order to guide management strategies, more effort should be allocated to monitoring wildlife response after eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel T Buxton
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Centre for Sustainability: Agriculture, Food, Energy, and Environment, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
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The impact of large herbivores on woodland–grassland dynamics in fragmented landscapes: The role of spatial configuration and disturbance. ECOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Pascoe S, Wilcox C, Donlan CJ. Biodiversity offsets: a cost-effective interim solution to seabird bycatch in fisheries? PLoS One 2011; 6:e25762. [PMID: 22039422 PMCID: PMC3198446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2011] [Accepted: 09/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of biodiversity offsets is well established as an approach to environmental management. The concept has been suggested for environmental management in fisheries, particularly in relation to the substantial numbers of non-target species—seabirds in particular—caught and killed as incidental bycatch during fishing activities. Substantial areas of fisheries are being closed to protect these species at great cost to the fishing industry. However, other actions may be taken to offset the impact of fishing on these populations at lower cost to the fishing industry. This idea, however, has attracted severe criticism largely as it does not address the underlying externality problems created by the fishing sector, namely seabird fishing mortality. In this paper, we re-examine the potential role of compensatory mitigation as a fisheries management tool, although from the perspective of being an interim management measure while more long-lasting solutions to the problem are found. We re-model an example previously examined by both proponents and opponents of the approach, namely the cost effectiveness of rodent control relative to fishery area closures for the conservation of a seabird population adversely affected by an Australian tuna fishery. We find that, in the example being examined, invasive rodent eradication is at least 10 times more cost effective than area closures. We conclude that, while this does not solve the actual bycatch problem, it may provide breathing space for both the seabird species and the industry to find longer term means of reducing bycatch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Pascoe
- CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Schippers P, Stienen EW, Schotman AG, Snep RP, Slim PA. The consequences of being colonial: Allee effects in metapopulations of seabirds. Ecol Modell 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Johst K, Drechsler M, van Teeffelen AJA, Hartig F, Vos CC, Wissel S, Wätzold F, Opdam P. Biodiversity conservation in dynamic landscapes: trade-offs between number, connectivity and turnover of habitat patches. J Appl Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.02015.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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