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Molina-Bernabeu S, López-Iborra GM. Density and Home Range of Cats in a Small Inhabited Mediterranean Island. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2288. [PMID: 39199822 PMCID: PMC11350886 DOI: 10.3390/ani14162288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
There is growing concern about effectively controlling cat populations due to their impact on biodiversity, especially on islands. To plan this management, it is essential to know the cat population size, sterilization rates, and space they use. Small inhabited islands can have very high cat densities; thus, this study aimed to evaluate cat density and home range on a small tourist island in the Spanish Mediterranean. Surveys in the urban area identified individual cats using a photographic catalog, and camera trapping was conducted in the scrubland area. GPS devices were fitted on three urban cats. The overall cat density was estimated to be 308 cats/km2, varying between the urban area (1084 cats/km2) and the uninhabited scrubland (27 cats/km2). Urban cats had smaller average home ranges (0.38 ha or 1.25 ha, depending on the estimation method) compared to scrubland cats (9.53 ha). Penetration of scrubland cats into the urban area was not detected. These results indicate that the urban area acts as a source of cats for the scrubland. Although the total sterilization rate was high (90.3%), the large cat population implies that the density would take over a decade to decrease to acceptable levels. Therefore, complementary measures for managing this cat population are recommended.
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Hasan MF, Harun AB, Hossain D, Bristi SZT, Uddin AHMM, Karim MR. Toxoplasmosis in animals and humans: a neglected zoonotic disease in Bangladesh. J Parasit Dis 2024; 48:189-200. [PMID: 38840887 PMCID: PMC11147975 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-024-01664-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a zoonotic disease that affects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The parasite undergoes both sexual and asexual reproduction in intermediate hosts (humans and animals) and definitive hosts (cats). Transmission in humans occurs through consuming oocyst-contaminated water, fruits, vegetables, and raw or undercooked meats. In Bangladesh, several factors contribute to an increased risk of contracting toxoplasmosis. The parasite is reported to cause diseases among livestock such as goats and sheep in this country, and it has also been associated with some human illnesses. Toxoplasmosis prevalence varies significantly worldwide, with developing countries like Bangladesh experiencing higher rates. Diagnostic methods include both conventional non-DNA-based tests and molecular detection techniques, while treatment options involve using antiparasitic drugs like sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine. To control toxoplasmosis, essential steps include improving sanitation, promoting safe food handling, and educating the public about risks related to cat ownership and undercooked meat consumption. Implementing prenatal screening and treatment is also important. With the growing popularity of pet ownership in urban areas, it becomes essential to emphasize the veterinary and public health significance of toxoplasmosis in Bangladesh. This article comprehensively reviews various aspects of toxoplasmosis, with a specific focus on the situation in Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Farhan Hasan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706 Bangladesh
| | - Anas Bin Harun
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706 Bangladesh
| | - Delower Hossain
- Department of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207 Bangladesh
| | - Sabiha Zarin Tasnim Bristi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, 4225 Bangladesh
| | - A. H. M. Musleh Uddin
- Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, 3100 Bangladesh
| | - Md Robiul Karim
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706 Bangladesh
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Smit M, Corner-Thomas RA, Draganova I, Andrews CJ, Thomas DG. How Lazy Are Pet Cats Really? Using Machine Learning and Accelerometry to Get a Glimpse into the Behaviour of Privately Owned Cats in Different Households. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:2623. [PMID: 38676239 PMCID: PMC11053832 DOI: 10.3390/s24082623] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Surprisingly little is known about how the home environment influences the behaviour of pet cats. This study aimed to determine how factors in the home environment (e.g., with or without outdoor access, urban vs. rural, presence of a child) and the season influences the daily behaviour of cats. Using accelerometer data and a validated machine learning model, behaviours including being active, eating, grooming, littering, lying, scratching, sitting, and standing were quantified for 28 pet cats. Generalized estimating equation models were used to determine the effects of different environmental conditions. Increasing cat age was negatively correlated with time spent active (p < 0.05). Cats with outdoor access (n = 18) were less active in winter than in summer (p < 0.05), but no differences were observed between seasons for indoor-only (n = 10) cats. Cats living in rural areas (n = 7) spent more time eating than cats in urban areas (n = 21; p < 0.05). Cats living in single-cat households (n = 12) spent more time lying but less time sitting than cats living in multi-cat households (n = 16; p < 0.05). Cats in households with at least one child (n = 20) spent more time standing in winter (p < 0.05), and more time lying but less time sitting in summer compared to cats in households with no children (n = 8; p < 0.05). This study clearly shows that the home environment has a major impact on cat behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rene A. Corner-Thomas
- School of Agriculture and Environmental, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand; (M.S.)
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Probst R, Probst R. Seasonal Changes in Nycthemeral Availability of Sympatric Temperate Mixed Forest Rodents: The Predators' Perspective. Life (Basel) 2023; 14:45. [PMID: 38255659 PMCID: PMC10817278 DOI: 10.3390/life14010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) and Apodemus mice are of exceptional importance as prey for predators in temperate mixed forests. We hypothesized that overall prey availability would increase linearly with prey frequency, and that the daylight hours, which are considered particularly dangerous, would be used only during seasonal rodent population peaks and only in the twilight hours. (2) Methods: We conducted a two-year camera-trapping study in an inner alpine mixed forest and collected 19,138 1 min videos in 215 camera-trap nights. Prey availability was defined as the pseudo-replication-limited maximum number of the respective rodent taxon per 30 min period, summed per season. (3) Results: Overall prey availability increased with frequency, i.e., the maximum number of rodent individuals per camera-trap night. Seasonally, Apodemus mice were particularly available to predators in the summer and bank voles in the autumn after a tree mast year. In both cases, this was accompanied by a significant increase in diurnal availability. During the population peak of Apodemus mice, the nocturnal availability of bank voles decreased without a concurrent increase in absolute diurnal availability, even though the significant relative shift to diurnal activity superficially suggested this. Bank voles were active throughout the day, while Apodemus mice were nocturnal and (rarely) crepuscular. (4) Conclusions: Availability of rodents to predators, especially during daylight hours, was mainly dependent on their tree mast-induced increased frequencies. Bank voles likewise responded strongly to interspecific competition with the larger and aggressive Apodemus mice, which negatively affected availability to predators. At our seasonal level of evaluation, we conclude that nycthemeral availability of forest-dwelling rodents to generalist predators of temperate mixed forests is predominantly driven by bottom-up mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remo Probst
- Ornis—Biology Engineering Office and Research Institute, Dr. G. H. Neckheimstr. 18/3, A-9560 Feldkirchen, Austria;
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Castañeda I, Forin-Wiart MA, Pisanu B, de Bouillane de Lacoste N. Spatiotemporal and Individual Patterns of Domestic Cat ( Felis catus) Hunting Behaviour in France. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3507. [PMID: 38003125 PMCID: PMC10668736 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Domestic cats (Felis catus), one of the most popular pets, are widespread worldwide. This medium-sized carnivore has well-known negative effects on biodiversity, but there is still a need to better understand the approximate causes of their predation. Based on a citizen science project, we assessed the role of spatiotemporal (i.e., latitude, longitude, and seasons), climatic (i.e., rainfall), anthropogenic (i.e., human footprint, HFI), and individual (i.e., sex and age) variables on the number of preys returned home by cats in metropolitan France. Over the 5048 cats monitored between 2015 and 2022, prey from 12 different classes (n = 36,568) were returned home: 68% mammals, 21% birds, and 8% squamates. Shrews brought home by cats peaked during summer, while rodents were recorded during summer-autumn. Birds brought home by cats peaked in spring-summer and in autumn, and lizards peaked in spring and in late summer. Lower HFI was associated with more voles and mice brought home, and the opposite trend was observed for lizards and birds. Younger cats were more prone to bring home shrews, birds, and reptiles. Although environmental factors play a minor role in prey brought home by cats, some geographical characteristics of prey species distribution partly explains the hunting behaviour of cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Castañeda
- Ecology and Genetics of Conservation and Restoration, UMR INRAE 1202 BIOGECO, Université de Bordeaux, 33615 Pessac, France
| | | | - Benoît Pisanu
- UAR Patrimoine Naturel (Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB/MNHN)), 36 rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, CP41, 75005 Paris, France
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Aguilera MA, Rojas A, Bulleri F, Thiel M. Breakwaters as habitats for synanthropes: Spatial associations of vertebrates and vegetation with anthropogenic litter. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160753. [PMID: 36513231 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160753] [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: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Urban infrastructures can provide 'novel' habitats for marine and terrestrial animals and plants, enhancing their ability to adapt to urban environments. In particular, coastal infrastructures characterized by a complex three-dimensional morphology, such as breakwaters, could provide species refuges and food. We investigated the role of breakwaters in providing habitat for vertebrates and plants, and the influence of anthropogenic litter in regulating the value of these structures as habitat. We sampled vertebrate and plant species and quantified the amount of anthropogenic litter on breakwaters and adjacent rocky habitats at several sites in three different countries (Italy, Spain and Chile). We found breakwaters to accumulate more litter items (e.g. especially plastics) than adjacent rocky habitats by means of their large-scale (i.e., 1 m) structural complexity. Birds, which used the artificial infrastructure as transitory habitat, reached similar abundances in breakwaters compared with adjacent rocky platforms. In contrast, synanthropic mammal species, such as Rattus norvegicus and feral cats, were slightly more frequent on breakwaters and appeared to use them as permanent habitat. Plants were frequent in the upper zone of breakwaters and, even though many macrophyte species can trap litter, their cover correlated negatively with anthropogenic litter density. Therefore, breakwaters provide either transitory or permanent habitats for different species, despite functioning as a sink for anthropogenic litter. Thus, new infrastructure should be designed with lower structural complexity in their supralittoral zone limiting the proliferation of synanthropic species. In addition, restricting public access to sensitive areas and enforcing littering fines could enhance the ecological value of these novel habitats by reducing the benefits to pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés A Aguilera
- Departamento de Ciencias, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Diagonal Las Torres, 2640 Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Ariel Rojas
- Departamento de Calidad y Laboratorio, Empresa AQUADEUS S.L. Crta. El ballestero, Km. 2, 02340 Robledo, Albacete, Spain
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martin Thiel
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo, 1281 Coquimbo, Chile; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
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Cordonnier M, Perrot A, Ferry N, Bonnaud E, Baudry E. Pet cat personality linked to owner-reported predation frequency. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9651. [PMID: 36713484 PMCID: PMC9873523 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9651] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The domestic cat, Felis catus, is one of the most popular and widespread domestic animals. Because domestic cats can reach high population densities and retain at least some tendency to hunt, their overall impact on wildlife can be severe. Domestic cats have highly variable predation rates depending on the availability of prey in their environment, their owners' practices, and individual cat characteristics. Among these characteristics, cat personality has recently been hypothesized to be an important factor contributing to variations in the hunting activity of cats. In this study, we surveyed 2508 cat owners living in France about their cats' personalities, using the Feline Five personality framework, and the frequency with which cats bring home prey. Personality traits were analyzed using factor analysis and related to predation frequency using cumulative logit models. For both birds and small mammals, cats with high levels of extraversion or low levels of neuroticism had significantly higher frequencies of prey return. Owners whose cats had low levels of agreeableness or high levels of dominance reported a significantly lower frequency of bird return. Personality differences therefore seem to contribute to the high variability in predation rates among domestic cats. We also found that the owner-reported prey return frequencies were significantly higher for cats spending more time outdoors, for non-pedigree cats, and for owners living in rural or suburban areas as opposed to urban areas. By contrast, we did not detect an effect of cat sex or age on their reported prey return rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Cordonnier
- CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris‐SaclayOrsayFrance
- Lehrstuhl für Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie, University of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Amira Perrot
- CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris‐SaclayOrsayFrance
| | | | - Elsa Bonnaud
- CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris‐SaclayOrsayFrance
| | - Emmanuelle Baudry
- CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris‐SaclayOrsayFrance
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Badenes‐Pérez FR. The impacts of free‐roaming cats cannot be generalized and their role in rodent management should not be overlooked. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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Home Range and Activity Patterns of Free-Ranging Cats: A Case Study from a Chinese University Campus. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091141. [PMID: 35565567 PMCID: PMC9103849 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study, we used collar-mounted sensors to determine the home range size of free-ranging cats on a Chinese university campus. Twenty-nine adult cats (fifteen males and fourteen females) were tracked via attached GPS units from October 2018 to June 2020. Throughout the study, home range sizes ranged from 0.56 to 19.83 ha at 95% KDE for all cats. The home range of free-ranging cats is affected by the breeding status and sex; for example, male cats tend to have a larger home range size in the breeding season than in the non-breeding season, and in the breeding season, male cats generally have a larger home range than females. In the study of activity patterns, we provided the activity steps of free-ranging cats at different times of the day, and the mean (±SE) number of steps a cat takes per day was 19,863.96 ± 1627.21. The results show that free-ranging cats have more intense activities at twilight and relatively lower activity intensity in the afternoon. Our study provided a case study of the home range and activity patterns of free-ranging cats living on a Chinese university campus, and provided theoretical support for the management and conservation implications of free-ranging cats in cities. Abstract Human activities and the available resources influence the home range and activity patterns of free-ranging cats. Our objective in this study was to determine sex and breeding season vs. non-breeding season home range size, as well as activity patterns for unowned free-ranging cats at a university campus in China. Twenty-nine adult cats (fifteen males and fourteen females) were tracked with attached GPS units from October 2018 to June 2020. We considered the effects of sex and breeding status on the home range size of free-ranging cats. Male cats had larger home ranges (95% KDE: 12.60 ± 2.61 ha) than female cats (95% KDE: 5.02 ± 1.34 ha) in the breeding season. There was a seasonal effect on the home range size of male cats; for example, during the non-breeding season, the home range (95% KDE: 6.68 ± 1.22 ha) was smaller than that during the breeding season (95% KDE: 12.60 ± 2.61 ha), while female cats tended to have larger home ranges in the non-breeding season (95% KDE: 7.73 ± 2.77 ha) than in the breeding season (95% KDE: 5.02 ± 1.34 ha). We used the number of activity steps to measure the activity intensity of cats to explore their activity patterns. The mean (±SE) number of steps a cat takes per day was 19,863.96 ± 1627.21. There were two peak periods of activity in a day, 6:00–10:00 and 17:00–21:00. Our study provided a case study of the home range and activity patterns of free-ranging cats living on a Chinese university campus, and the results show that the home range of free-ranging cats is affected by the breeding status and sex, and free-ranging cats have more intense activities at twilight and relatively lower activity intensity in the afternoon. The results provided theoretical support for the management and conservation implications of free-ranging cats in cities.
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Łopucki R, Mróz I, Nowak-Życzyńska Z, Perlińska-Teresiak M, Owadowska-Cornil E, Klich D. Genetic Structure of the Root Vole Microtus oeconomus: Resistance of the Habitat Specialist to the Natural Fragmentation of Preferred Moist Habitats. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030434. [PMID: 35327989 PMCID: PMC8954809 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate-related changes have a severe impact on wetland ecosystems and pose a serious challenge for wetland-dependent animals as their preferred habitats decline, lose spatial continuity, and appear as isolated islands in the landscape. In this paper, we studied the effects of long-term habitat changes (drying out and fragmentation of wet non-forest habitats) on the genetic structure of the population of the root vole Microtus oeconomus, a species preferring moist habitats. We intended to check what barriers and what distances affected its genetic isolation on a local scale. The study was conducted in the area of Kampinoski National Park in central Poland (Europe). DNA variability of 218 root vole individuals was assessed by genotyping nine microsatellite loci. Despite its spatial fragmentation, the studied population did not seem to be highly structured, and isolation through distance was the main differentiating factor. Even a distance of several kilometres of unfavourable natural habitats and unfavourable terrain did not exclude the exchange of genes between subpopulations. Our results suggest that the genetic effects of the fragmentation of wetlands have been considerably compensated (delayed) due to the migratory abilities of this species. Our study does not provide clear results on the impact of anthropogenic barriers but suggests that such barriers may have a much stronger effect than natural barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Łopucki
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland;
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (Z.N.-Ż.); (M.P.-T.)
| | - Iwona Mróz
- The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Zuzanna Nowak-Życzyńska
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (Z.N.-Ż.); (M.P.-T.)
| | - Magdalena Perlińska-Teresiak
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (Z.N.-Ż.); (M.P.-T.)
| | - Edyta Owadowska-Cornil
- Science and Nature Monitoring Department, Kampinoski National Park, Tetmajera 38, 05-080 Izabelin, Poland;
| | - Daniel Klich
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (Z.N.-Ż.); (M.P.-T.)
- Correspondence:
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Predation of wildlife by domestic cats in a Neotropical city: a multi-factor issue. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02734-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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12
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Kosicki JZ. The impact of feral domestic cats on native bird populations. Predictive modelling approach on a country scale. ECOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2021.100964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Shamaev ND, Shuralev EA, Nikitin OV, Mukminov MN, Davidyuk YN, Belyaev AN, Isaeva GS, Ziatdinov VB, Khammadov NI, Safina RF, Salmanova GR, Akhmedova GM, Khaertynov KS, Saito T, Kitoh K, Takashima Y. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among small mammals in Tatarstan, Russian Federation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22184. [PMID: 34772977 PMCID: PMC8589860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01582-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite with a wide host range that includes humans, domestic animals and wild animals. Small mammals serve as intermediate hosts for T. gondii and may contribute to the persistence of this parasite in the environment. Mass mortality in wild animals and deaths in rare endemic species make the study of this parasite of growing importance. In this study, T. gondii infection prevalence was evaluated in brain tissues from 474 small mammals captured at 26 trapping points in urban and rural areas of Tatarstan, Russian Federation. Nested PCR was used to detect the T. gondii B1 gene in the samples. Overall, 40/474 samples (8.44%) showed B1 gene positivity. T. gondii infection among the wild small mammals trapped in the rural area was significantly higher as a whole than that of the urban area as a whole. Multivariate logistical regression analysis also showed that the trapping area (rural or urban) significantly contributed to T. gondii positivity. Vegetation in the trapping points, small mammal species, sex, age or distance from the trapping points to the nearest human settlements did not significantly affect T. gondii positivity in the sampled small mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai D Shamaev
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Eduard A Shuralev
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
- Kazan State Medical Academy - Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 36 Butlerova St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
- Kazan State Academy of Veterinary Medicine by N.E. Bauman, 35 Sibirskiy Trakt St., Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420029
| | - Oleg V Nikitin
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
| | - Malik N Mukminov
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
- Kazan State Medical Academy - Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 36 Butlerova St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
| | - Yuriy N Davidyuk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
| | - Alexander N Belyaev
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420008
| | - Guzel Sh Isaeva
- Kazan Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor, 67 Bolshaya Krasnaya, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420015
- Department of Microbiology, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
| | - Vasil B Ziatdinov
- Kazan Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Rospotrebnadzor, 67 Bolshaya Krasnaya, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420015
| | - Nail I Khammadov
- Federal Center for Toxicological, Radiation and Biological Safety, Nauchniy Gorodok-2, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420075
- Kazan State Academy of Veterinary Medicine by N.E. Bauman, 35 Sibirskiy Trakt St., Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420029
| | - Regina F Safina
- Federal Center for Toxicological, Radiation and Biological Safety, Nauchniy Gorodok-2, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420075
| | - Gaysha R Salmanova
- Federal Center for Toxicological, Radiation and Biological Safety, Nauchniy Gorodok-2, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420075
| | - Guzel M Akhmedova
- Kazan State Medical Academy - Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 36 Butlerova St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
| | - Kamil S Khaertynov
- Kazan State Medical Academy - Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 36 Butlerova St, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420012
- Federal Center for Toxicological, Radiation and Biological Safety, Nauchniy Gorodok-2, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, 420075
| | - Taizo Saito
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Katsuya Kitoh
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Applied Biological Science, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takashima
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Applied Biological Science, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
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14
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Plimpton LD, Henger CS, Munshi-South J, Tufts D, Kross S, Diuk-Wasser M. Use of molecular scatology to assess the diet of feral cats living in urban colonies. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The overpopulation of domestic cats (Felis catus) presents a serious concern for wildlife conservationists, animal welfare advocates, public health officials, and community members alike. In cities, free-ranging, unowned cats often form high-density groups (commonly called ‘colonies’) around human provisioned food sources. While previous diet studies have primarily utilized morphology-based methods, molecular techniques offer a higher resolution alternative. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing techniques to examine the diet composition of feral cats living in five Trap-Neuter-Return colonies located in urban parks on Staten Island, a borough of New York City. We hypothesized that (1) cats living in urban colonies would still consume natural prey despite being regularly fed and (2) that the composition of taxa represented in the diet of each colony would vary, possibly due to differences in prey availability across sites. In total, 16 vertebrate prey taxa were identified in the diet, 13 at the genus level and 3 at the family level. Despite being regularly fed, 58.2% of cat scats contained DNA from natural prey. The diet composition of the cat colonies differed depending on the land cover composition surrounding the colony with the frequency of native prey positively correlated with the proportion of green space and that of non-native prey with developed land cover types. The use of molecular techniques combined with environmental DNA methods offers a promising, non-invasive approach to assessing the diet and consequently, impact of a highly abundant and non-native predator on the persistence of wildlife communities in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D Plimpton
- Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, 10th Floor Schermerhorn Extension, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Carol S Henger
- Louis Calder Center-Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Jason Munshi-South
- Louis Calder Center-Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Danielle Tufts
- Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, 10th Floor Schermerhorn Extension, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Sara Kross
- Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, 10th Floor Schermerhorn Extension, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Maria Diuk-Wasser
- Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, 10th Floor Schermerhorn Extension, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027, USA
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15
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Target Species and Other Residents—An Experiment with Nest Boxes for Red Squirrels in Central Poland. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13060277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The red squirrel typically nests in dreys and tree hollows, but also (when given an opportunity) in large nest boxes. We assessed the occupancy rate of nest boxes by red squirrel and non-target species (120 boxes in the continuous forest, habitat mosaic and urban park, checked annually for eight years). Habitat type explained the variability in the occupancy of nest boxes by different species/taxa. Red squirrels used nest boxes in all habitats but occupancy rates were highest in the urban park (>50% of the boxes at maximum) and lowest in the forest. This could be explained by high population density, competition for shelters and willingness to explore alternative sheltering opportunities by urban squirrels. The yellow-necked mouse inhabited nest boxes infrequently and mostly in habitat mosaic. Tits mostly occurred in the forest and least often in the park, which suggests limited availability of natural cavities in managed forest. Nest box occupancy by starlings increased with an anthropopression level, which reflects high densities of urban and rural populations of the species. Hymenoptera (mainly wasps) were present only in rural areas, which may be due to their persecution by humans or use of anti-mosquito pesticides in urban parks. Additionally, 24 insect species were found to inhabit squirrel dreys.
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16
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Cecchetti M, Crowley SL, McDonald RA. Drivers and facilitators of hunting behaviour in domestic cats and options for management. Mamm Rev 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Cecchetti
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn TR10 9FE UK
| | - Sarah L. Crowley
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn TR10 9FE UK
| | - Robbie A. McDonald
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn TR10 9FE UK
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17
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Travnik IDC, Machado DDS, Gonçalves LDS, Ceballos MC, Sant’Anna AC. Temperament in Domestic Cats: A Review of Proximate Mechanisms, Methods of Assessment, Its Effects on Human-Cat Relationships, and One Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1516. [PMID: 32867072 PMCID: PMC7552130 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperament can be defined as interindividual differences in behavior that are stable over time and in different contexts. The terms 'personality', 'coping styles', and 'behavioral syndromes' have also been used to describe these interindividual differences. In this review, the main aspects of cat temperament research are summarized and discussed, based on 43 original research papers published between 1986 and 2020. We aimed to present current advances in cat temperament research and identify potential gaps in knowledge, as well as opportunities for future research. Proximate mechanisms, such as genetic bases of temperament, ontogenesis and developmental factors, physiological mechanisms, and relationships with morphology, were reviewed. Methods traditionally used to assess the temperament of cats might be classified based on the duration of procedures (short- vs. long-term measures) and the nature of data recordings (coding vs. rating methods). The structure of cat temperament is frequently described using a set of behavioral dimensions, primarily based on interindividual variations in cats' responses toward humans and conspecifics (e.g., friendliness, sociability, boldness, and aggressiveness). Finally, cats' temperaments have implications for human-animal interactions and the one welfare concept. Temperament assessment can also contribute to practical aspects, for example, the adoption of shelter cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora de Castro Travnik
- Núcleo de Estudos em Etologia e Bem-estar Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-900, Brazil; (I.d.C.T.); (D.d.S.M.); (L.d.S.G.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Daiana de Souza Machado
- Núcleo de Estudos em Etologia e Bem-estar Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-900, Brazil; (I.d.C.T.); (D.d.S.M.); (L.d.S.G.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Luana da Silva Gonçalves
- Núcleo de Estudos em Etologia e Bem-estar Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-900, Brazil; (I.d.C.T.); (D.d.S.M.); (L.d.S.G.)
| | - Maria Camila Ceballos
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3R 1J3, Canada;
| | - Aline Cristina Sant’Anna
- Núcleo de Estudos em Etologia e Bem-estar Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-900, Brazil; (I.d.C.T.); (D.d.S.M.); (L.d.S.G.)
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18
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Piontek AM, Wojtylak-Jurkiewicz E, Schmidt K, Gajda A, Lesiak M, Wierzbowska IA. Analysis of cat diet across an urbanisation gradient. Urban Ecosyst 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01017-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe domestic cat is a widespread and abundant predator that negatively impacts a wide range of species. However, the predation activity and prey type of free-ranging cats may vary between areas with different levels urbanisation. Previous analyses of cat diet have used differing techniques to measure predation that often differ with one another. Given the variability in these methods we hypothesised that cats in rural areas will have a more diverse diet than in urban areas and their predation rate may be higher than those in the urban sites. Moreover, we hypothesized that the diet of urban cats should be highly influenced by anthropogenic food. We selected sites across a rural-to-urban gradient and used three methods of analysis to determine prey in the diet (cat stomachs, cat scats, and prey brought home). We collected 81 stomachs, 409 scats, and 337 prey items of free-roaming cats from six study sites located in southern and eastern Poland. We found seasonal and habitat related differences in prey composition. The proportion of scats and stomachs containing vertebrate varied from 17% in urban areas to 79% in one of the rural areas. Small rodents were the dominant prey category, followed by birds and soricomorphs. Anthropogenic food was found to be an important part of urban cats’ diet, but its significance decreased with a decrease in urbanisation level. Both predation rate and prey diversity were highest in rural areas. While diet analysis provided a better estimation of cat predation rate, the detailed prey examination provided better insight into less common taxa killed by the cats, such as reptiles and small mustelids. Our results contribute to the discussion about the risks associated with the activity of free ranging cats especially in areas with high conservation values.
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19
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Trouwborst A, McCormack PC, Martínez Camacho E. Domestic cats and their impacts on biodiversity: A blind spot in the application of nature conservation law. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arie Trouwborst
- Tilburg Law School Tilburg University Tilburg The Netherlands
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20
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Activity of free-roaming domestic cats in an urban reserve and public perception of pet-related threats to wildlife in New Zealand. Urban Ecosyst 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-00886-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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21
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Simon JA, Chancel E, Hubert P, Aubert D, Villena I, Gilot-Fromont E, Poulle ML. Pattern of latrine use by domestic cats on dairy farms and the implications for Toxoplasma gondii transmission. Vet Parasitol 2019; 273:112-121. [PMID: 31476666 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis, a highly prevalent zoonosis that affects humans and warm-blooded animals. Faeces of infected cats can contain millions of T. gondii oocysts, which remain infectious in the environment for months. Sites repeatedly used by cats for defecation ('latrines') are recognised as hotspots of T. gondii soil contamination, but this contamination varies from one latrine to another. To understand this spatial heterogeneity, camera traps were deployed in 39 cat latrines on three dairy farms with high-density cat populations and programmed to record visits during sixteen 10-day sessions, rotating between three farms over a period of a year. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were used to test the effects of cat sexual maturity, latrine location and season on the number of cat faeces deposited and on the number of cats defecating per latrine, as determined from the analysis of 41,282 video recordings. Sexually immature cats defecated 6.60-fold (95% CI = [2.87-15.25]) more often in latrines located close to a feeding site than in other latrines. This pattern was also observed for mature males (odds ratio [OR] = 9.42, 95% CI = [3.29-26.91]), especially during winter, but not for mature females (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = [0.80-3.94]). The number of defecating cats was also 2.67-fold (95% CI = [1.66-4.30], P < 0.001) higher in latrines located close to a feeding point than in those located far from it, regardless of cat category and season. Visits by intermediate T. gondii hosts (micromammals, birds and others) were also recorded. Out of the 39 latrines, 30 (76.92%) were visited by at least one intermediate host during the study period, and some latrines were highly frequented (up to 8.74 visits/day on average). These results provide evidence that the location of food resources in dairy farms influences the latrine use pattern by cats. Highly frequented latrines can be of high risk of T. gondii infection for definitive and intermediate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Alice Simon
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Médecine, SFR Cap Santé, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie EA 7510 ESCAPE, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay 51095, Reims cedex, France; Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, CERFE, 5 rue de La Héronnière, 08240, Boult-aux-Bois, France.
| | - Eva Chancel
- VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
| | - Pauline Hubert
- Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, CERFE, 5 rue de La Héronnière, 08240, Boult-aux-Bois, France; Faune Action, 6 rue du jardin gascon, 08240, Boult aux Bois, France.
| | - Dominique Aubert
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Médecine, SFR Cap Santé, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie EA 7510 ESCAPE, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay 51095, Reims cedex, France.
| | - Isabelle Villena
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Médecine, SFR Cap Santé, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie EA 7510 ESCAPE, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay 51095, Reims cedex, France.
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France; UMR CNRS 5558 Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne cedex, France.
| | - Marie-Lazarine Poulle
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Médecine, SFR Cap Santé, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie EA 7510 ESCAPE, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay 51095, Reims cedex, France; Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, CERFE, 5 rue de La Héronnière, 08240, Boult-aux-Bois, France.
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22
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French SS, Webb AC, Hudson SB, Virgin EE. Town and Country Reptiles: A Review of Reptilian Responses to Urbanization. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:948-966. [PMID: 29873730 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of the world population is now inhabiting urban areas, and with staggering population growth, urbanization is also increasing. While the work studying the effects of changing landscapes and specific urban pressures on wildlife is beginning to amass, the majority of this work focuses on avian or mammalian species. However, the effects of urbanization likely vary substantially across taxonomic groups due to differences in habitat requirements and life history. The current article aims first to broaden the review of urban effects across reptilian species; second, to summarize the responses of reptilian fauna to specific urban features; and third, to assess the directionality of individual and population level responses to urbanization in reptile species. Based on our findings, urban research in reptilian taxa is lacking in the following areas: (1) investigating interactive or additive urban factors, (2) measuring multiple morphological, behavioral, and physiological endpoints within an animal, (3) linking individual to population-level responses, and (4) testing genetic/genomic differences across an urban environment as evidence for selective pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah S French
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Alison C Webb
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Spencer B Hudson
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Emily E Virgin
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
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23
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Łopucki R, Klich D, Ścibior A, Gołębiowska D. Hormonal adjustments to urban conditions: stress hormone levels in urban and rural populations of Apodemus agrarius. Urban Ecosyst 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-0832-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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24
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Krauze-Gryz D, Gryz J, Żmihorski M. Cats kill millions of vertebrates in Polish farmland annually. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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25
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Leveau LM. Urbanization, environmental stabilization and temporal persistence of bird species: a view from Latin America. PeerJ 2018; 6:e6056. [PMID: 30564519 PMCID: PMC6286803 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A scarcely studied consequence of urbanization is the effect of temporal stabilization of the environment on bird communities. This alteration is thought to dampen environmental variations between day and night, seasons and years, promoting a temporal persistence of bird composition in urban areas. The aim of this study was to review current evidence of temporal stabilization of biotic and abiotic factors in urban environments and the potential effects of such stabilization on temporal variation of bird species presence at different temporal scales. Methods I selected the literature by searching published articles and book chapters using Scopus and Google scholar. I only included articles that compared the temporal variation of bird composition or resources between different levels of urbanization. Results In general, there is evidence of temporal stabilization of abiotic and biotic factors at the three time scales considered. At the diurnal scale, the main factor considered was artificial light in the context of light pollution. At the seasonal and interannual scales, several case studies found a smaller temporal variation of primary productivity in urban than in natural and rural areas. Bird species composition showed more stabilization in urban environments at the three temporal scales: (1) several case studies reported bird activity at night, associated with artificial light; (2) studies in urban parks and along urbanization gradients showed smaller seasonal variation of bird composition in the more urbanized areas; and (3) in general, case studies along urbanization gradients showed smaller interannual variation of bird composition in the more urbanized areas, although some studies showed no relationships or opposite trends than expected. Discussion The published evidence suggests that urban areas dampen the natural cycles at several temporal scales. The stabilization of biotic and abiotic factors, such as light, temperature, food and habitat structure, is desynchronized from natural diurnal, seasonal and interannual cycles. However, there is a dearth of long-term comparisons of bird composition and studies that simultaneously analyze the relationship between resources and bird composition stabilization at the seasonal and interannual scales. More research is needed in the Southern hemisphere, where there is a lack of studies dealing with the seasonal and interannual variations of primary productivity along urbanization gradients and nocturnal activity of bird species. A future research agenda should include differentiation of spatial and temporal homogenization of avifaunas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Matías Leveau
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires-IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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26
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Forin-Wiart MA, Poulle ML, Piry S, Cosson JF, Larose C, Galan M. Evaluating metabarcoding to analyse diet composition of species foraging in anthropogenic landscapes using Ion Torrent and Illumina sequencing. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17091. [PMID: 30459313 PMCID: PMC6244006 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34430-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples is being successfully used to study the foraging niche of species. We assessed the ability of two benchtop high-throughput sequencing (HTS) platforms, to identify a large taxonomic array of food items from domestic cats Felis silvestris catus, including prey and human-related food taxa (pet food and leftovers leaving undetectable solid remains in faeces). Scats from a captive feeding trial (n = 41) and from free-ranging individuals (n = 326) were collected and analysed using a cytb mini-barcode in independent PCR replicates on the Ion PGM and the MiSeq platforms. Outputs from MiSeq were more sensitive and reproducible than those from Ion PGM due to a higher sequencing depth and sequence quality on MiSeq. DNA from intact prey taxa was detected more often (82% of the expected occurrences) than DNA from pet food (54%) and raw fish and meat (31%). We assumed that this variability was linked to different degree of DNA degradation: The Ion PGM detected significantly less human-linked food, birds, field voles, murids and shrews in the field-collected samples than the MiSeq platform. Pooling the replicates from both platforms and filtering the data allowed identification of at least one food item in 87.4% of the field-collected samples. Our DNA metabarcoding approach identified 29 prey taxa, of which 25 to species level (90% of items) including 9 rodents, 3 insectivores, 12 birds and 1 reptile and 33 human-related food taxa of which 23 were identified to genus level (75% of items). Our results demonstrate that using HTS platforms such as MiSeq, which provide reads of sufficiently high quantity and quality, with sufficient numbers of technical replicates, is a robust and non-invasive approach for further dietary studies on animals foraging on a wide range of food items in anthropogenic landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Amélie Forin-Wiart
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, EA 7510 ESCAPE, UFR de Médecine, 51 rue Cognacq Jay, 51095, Reims Cedex, France.
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Centre d'Etude et de Formation en Eco-Ethologie (CERFE), 5 rue de la Héronnière, 08240, Boult-aux-Bois, France.
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, UMR 7178, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE), 67087, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Marie-Lazarine Poulle
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, EA 7510 ESCAPE, UFR de Médecine, 51 rue Cognacq Jay, 51095, Reims Cedex, France
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Centre d'Etude et de Formation en Eco-Ethologie (CERFE), 5 rue de la Héronnière, 08240, Boult-aux-Bois, France
| | - Sylvain Piry
- CBGP, INRA, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Université de Montpellier, 755 avenue du Campus Agropolis, CS 300 16, 34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, France
| | - Jean-François Cosson
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Claire Larose
- DIANA PetFood Division, Z.A. du Gohélis, 56250, Elven, France
| | - Maxime Galan
- CBGP, INRA, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Université de Montpellier, 755 avenue du Campus Agropolis, CS 300 16, 34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, France
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27
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Castañeda I, Bellard C, Jarić I, Pisanu B, Chapuis J, Bonnaud E. Trophic patterns and home‐range size of two generalist urban carnivores: a review. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I. Castañeda
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR 7204) Sorbonne Universités MNHN CNRS UPMC Paris France
- Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution (UMR CNRS 8079) Université Paris‐Sud XI Orsay Cedex France
| | - C. Bellard
- Unité Biologie des Organismes et Écosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA UMR 7208) Sorbonne Universités Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Université Pierre et Marie Curie Université de Caen Normandie CNRS, IRD Université des Antilles Paris France
| | - I. Jarić
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Hydrobiology České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Leibniz‐Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin Germany
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - B. Pisanu
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR 7204) Sorbonne Universités MNHN CNRS UPMC Paris France
- UMS 2006 Patrimoine Naturel AFB, MNHN CNRS Paris France
| | - J.‐L. Chapuis
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR 7204) Sorbonne Universités MNHN CNRS UPMC Paris France
| | - E. Bonnaud
- Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution (UMR CNRS 8079) Université Paris‐Sud XI Orsay Cedex France
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28
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Hansen CM, Paterson AM, Ross JG, Ogilvie SC. Estimating feral cat (Felis catus) density in a rural to urban gradient using camera trapping. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2018.1494609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cara M. Hansen
- Department of Pest-management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Adrian M. Paterson
- Department of Pest-management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - James G. Ross
- Department of Pest-management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Zbyryt A, Jakubas D, Tobolka M. Factors determining presence of passerines breeding within White Stork Ciconia ciconia nests. Naturwissenschaften 2017; 104:71. [PMID: 28821917 PMCID: PMC5562770 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-017-1492-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nests of White Stork Ciconia ciconia are commonly used by various passerines as nesting sites. In this study, we investigated factors determining presence and number of pairs of species breeding within White Stork nests in an extensive farmland in NE Poland. In 133 (57%) out of 233 White Stork nests, we found at least one breeding pair of passerine bird. These were from three species: House Sparrows Passer domesticus (68% of 133 nests with co-breeding), Tree Sparrows Passer montanus (65%), and Starlings Sturnus vulgaris (30%). The probability of breeding passerines within White Stork nests increased with increasing nest thickness, and was significantly higher in currently occupied nests. Sparrows were more likely to breed in White Stork nests located on electricity poles, situated closer to settlements and surrounded mainly by arable fields where meadows were not prevalent. In this paper, we show that White Stork nests are favorable nesting sites for passerines, as they are well insulated and provide an anti-predatory shield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Zbyryt
- The Polish Society for Birds Protection (PTOP), Ciepła 17, 15-471, Białystok, Poland
| | - Dariusz Jakubas
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marcin Tobolka
- Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznań, Poland.
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