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Inzani E, Kelley L, Thomas R, Boogert NJ. Early-life diet does not affect preference for fish in herring gulls ( Larus argentatus). PeerJ 2024; 12:e17565. [PMID: 39006022 PMCID: PMC11246621 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Urban populations of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) are increasing and causing human-wildlife conflict by exploiting anthropogenic resources. Gulls that breed in urban areas rely on varying amounts of terrestrial anthropogenic foods (e.g., domestic refuse, agricultural and commercial waste) to feed themselves. However, with the onset of hatching, many parent gulls switch to sourcing more marine than anthropogenic or terrestrial foods to provision their chicks. Although anthropogenic foods may meet chick calorific requirements for growth and development, some such foods (e.g., bread) may have lower levels of protein and other key nutrients compared to marine foods. However, whether this parental switch in chick diet is driven by chicks' preference for marine foods, or whether chicks' food preferences are shaped by the food types provisioned by their parents, remains untested. This study tests whether chick food preferences can be influenced by their provisioned diet by experimentally manipulating the ratio of time for which anthropogenic and marine foods were available (80:20 and vice versa) in the rearing diets of two treatment groups of rescued herring gull chicks. Each diet was randomly assigned to each of the 27 captive-reared chicks for the duration of the study. We tested chicks' individual food preferences throughout their development in captivity using food arrays with four food choices (fish, cat food, mussels and brown bread). Regardless of the dietary treatment group, we found that all chicks preferred fish and almost all refused to eat most of the bread offered. Our findings suggest that early-life diet, manipulated by the ratio of time the different foods were available, did not influence gull chicks' food preferences. Instead, chicks developed a strong and persistent preference for marine foods, which appears to match adult gulls' dietary switch to marine foods upon chick hatching and may reinforce the provisioning of marine foods during chick development. However, whether chicks in the wild would refuse provisioned foods, and to a sufficient extent to influence parental provisioning, requires further study. Longitudinal studies of urban animal populations that track wild individuals' food preferences and foraging specialisations throughout life are required to shed light on the development and use of anthropogenic resource exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Inzani
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Kelley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Thomas
- Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Neeltje J. Boogert
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
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Lenzi J, Bresesti F, Lozoya JP, De Feo B, Krojmal E, Lacerot G, Braun C, Teixeira de Mello F. Diet and debris ingestion of skuas on Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114211. [PMID: 36252441 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114211] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Using pellet analysis, we characterized the diet and plastic and non-plastic debris ingestion of skuas (Catharacta spp.) during 2017-2020 summer seasons along the coastal sector of Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, Antarctica). In addition, we conducted the same analysis during the 2020 breeding season on reproductive territories of south polar (Catharacta maccormicki) and brown (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) skua. Our results confirm the generalist and opportunistic habits of both skua species. Additionally, it has been proposed that brown skua displaces south polar skua from penguin breeding colonies given its higher competitive abilities, and our results suggest this might not have happened during the study period. Along with evidence from other studies, this work underlines the idea that potential local anthropogenic sources of plastic and non-plastic debris at Fildes Peninsula need to be further addressed to improve current mitigation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Lenzi
- Centro de Investigación y Conservación Marina -CICMAR, Avenida Giannattasio Km 30.5, Canelones 15008, Uruguay; Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell St. Stop 9019, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9019, United States of America.
| | - Fiorella Bresesti
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental CURE, Universidad de la República, Tacuarembó s/n, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Juan Pablo Lozoya
- Departamento Interdisciplinario de Sistemas Costeros y Marinos, Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República, Tacuarembó s/n, CP 20000 Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Barbara De Feo
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental CURE, Universidad de la República, Tacuarembó s/n, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Evelyn Krojmal
- Departamento Interdisciplinario de Sistemas Costeros y Marinos, Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República, Tacuarembó s/n, CP 20000 Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Gissell Lacerot
- Departamento Interdisciplinario de Sistemas Costeros y Marinos, Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República, Tacuarembó s/n, CP 20000 Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Christina Braun
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Franco Teixeira de Mello
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental CURE, Universidad de la República, Tacuarembó s/n, Maldonado, Uruguay.
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Lamarre J, Cheema SK, Robertson GJ, Wilson DR. Foraging on anthropogenic food predicts problem-solving skills in a seabird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 850:157732. [PMID: 35931163 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Species and populations with greater cognitive performance are more successful at adapting to changing habitats. Accordingly, urban species and populations often outperform their rural counterparts on problem-solving tests. Paradoxically, urban foraging also might be detrimental to the development and integrity of animals' brains because anthropogenic foods often lack essential nutrients such as the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are important for cognitive performance in mammals and possibly birds. We tested whether urbanization or consumption of EPA and DHA are associated with problem-solving abilities in ring-billed gulls, a seabird that historically exploited marine environments rich in omega-3 fatty acids but now also thrives in urban centres. Using incubating adults nesting across a range of rural to urban colonies with equal access to the ocean, we tested whether urban gulls preferentially consumed anthropogenic food while rural nesters relied on marine organisms. As we expected individual variation in foraging habits within nesting location, we characterized each captured gulls' diet using stable isotope and fatty acid analyses of their red blood cells. To test their problem-solving abilities, we presented the sampled birds with a horizontal rendition of the string-pull test, a foraging puzzle often used in animal cognitive studies. The isotopic and fatty acid profiles of urban nesters indicated a diet comprising primarily anthropogenic food, whereas the profiles of rural nesters indicated a high reliance on marine organisms. Despite the gulls' degree of access to urban foraging habitat not predicting solving success, birds with biochemical profiles reflecting anthropogenic food (less DHA and a higher carbon-13 ratio in their red blood cells) had a greater probability of solving the string-pull test. These results suggest that experience foraging on anthropogenic food is the main explanatory factor leading to successful problem-solving, while regular consumption of omega-3s during incubation appears inconsequential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessika Lamarre
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Canada.
| | - Sukhinder Kaur Cheema
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Canada
| | - Gregory J Robertson
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, Canada
| | - David R Wilson
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Canada
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Leaving more than footprints: Anthropogenic nutrient subsidies to a protected area. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
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Gray squirrels consume anthropogenic food waste most often during winter. Mamm Biol 2022; 103:69-81. [PMID: 36373055 PMCID: PMC9638426 DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00326-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Urban habitats provide wildlife with predictable, easily accessible and abundant food sources in the form of human food waste. Urban eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are commonly observed feeding in trash bins, but we lack data regarding the type, quantity and seasonal changes in food waste usage. We observed five trash bins on an urban university campus during four different observation periods. We recorded the time squirrels spent on and inside trash bins and type of retrieved food items. We also recorded ambient temperature, human presence and trash bin filling. Moreover, we determined changes in squirrel population density in a natural and three anthropogenic habitats during the same periods. Trash bins were fuller when human presence was higher. The higher human presence, the more squirrels went on and inside the bin, but there was no effect on number of retrieved food items. Trash bin usage by squirrels decreased when ambient temperature and bin filling increased. Most food items were retrieved during the coldest observation period, a period of high human presence, and the majority of retrieved food items were starchy foods (e.g., bread, French fries). The relationship between the number of squirrels observed along transects and a measure of urbanization, the normalized difference built-up index, was negative in periods with high ambient temperatures and positive in periods with low ambient temperatures, indicating winter may be less challenging in urban areas, likely facilitated by the availability of anthropogenic food sources, allowing a higher level of activity throughout winter. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42991-022-00326-3.
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Lenzi J, González-Bergonzoni I, Flaherty E, Hernández D, Machín E, Pijanowski B. The relationship between urban refuse with fecundity and nestlings' success of a generalist seabird in the Río de la Plata Estuary - Uruguay. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113000. [PMID: 34634630 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Resource acquisition and allocation impacts individual fitness. Using pellet analysis of breeding adults and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen of down feathers of Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) nestlings, we evaluated the relationship between urban refuse (beef and chicken) and natural food (fish) consumption of individual females during the pre-incubation period, with fecundity and young nesting's success in the Río de la Plata Estuary in Uruguay. Assimilated urban refuse positively correlated with egg weight and negatively with young nestling's success. This suggests a possible impact of urban refuse foraged by females during the pre-incubation period on their immediate fecundity (positively) and young nestling's survival (negatively). Differences between studies at the individual and colony levels are also discussed in light of an "ecological fallacy" of interpretation and we thus argue for the need of additional research to evaluate this relationship further, considering potential confounding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Lenzi
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States; Ecological Sciences and Engineering Program, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States; Centro de Investigación y Conservación Marina - CICMAR, Avenida Giannattasio Km 30.5, Canelones 15008, Uruguay.
| | - Iván González-Bergonzoni
- Polo de Ecología Fluvial, Departamento del Agua, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 Km 363, Paysandú 60000, Uruguay
| | - Elizabeth Flaherty
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
| | - Daniel Hernández
- Laboratorio de Control Ambiental PET Arrayanes (UTU/CETP), Cno de los Arrayanes Km 7, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Emanuel Machín
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Bryan Pijanowski
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States
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Mayer JJ, Edwards TB, Garabedian JE, Kilgo JC. Sanitary Waste Landfill Effects on an Invasive Wild Pig Population. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John J. Mayer
- Savannah River National Laboratory Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, Savannah River Site Bldg. 999‐W Aiken SC 29808 USA
| | - Thomas B. Edwards
- Savannah River National Laboratory Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, Savannah River Site Bldg. 999‐W Aiken SC 29808 USA
| | - James E. Garabedian
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O. Box 700 New Ellenton SC 29809 USA
| | - John C. Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O. Box 700 New Ellenton SC 29809 USA
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Lamarre J, Cheema SK, Robertson GJ, Wilson DR. Omega-3 fatty acids accelerate fledging in an avian marine predator: a potential role of cognition. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.235929. [PMID: 33462136 PMCID: PMC7929930 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.235929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Consuming omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) during development improves cognition in mammals, but the effect remains untested in other taxa. In aquatic ecosystems, n-3 LCPUFAs are produced by phytoplankton and bioaccumulate in the food web. Alarmingly, the warming and acidification of aquatic systems caused by climate change impair n-3 LCPUFA production, with an anticipated decrease of 80% by the year 2100. We tested whether n-3 LCPUFA consumption affects the physiology, morphology, behaviour and cognition of the chicks of a top marine predator, the ring-billed gull. Using a colony with little access to n-3 LCPUFAs, we supplemented siblings from 22 fenced nests with contrasting treatments from hatching until fledging; one sibling received n-3 LCPUFA-rich fish oil and the other, a control sucrose solution without n-3 LCPUFAs. Halfway through the nestling period, half the chicks receiving fish oil were switched to the sucrose solution to test whether n-3 LCPUFA intake remains crucial past the main growth phase (chronic versus transient treatments). Upon fledging, n-3 LCPUFAs were elevated in the blood and brains of chicks receiving the chronic treatment, but were comparable to control levels among those receiving the transient treatment. Across the entire sample, chicks with elevated n-3 LCPUFAs in their tissues fledged earlier despite their morphology and activity levels being unrelated to fledging age. Fledging required chicks to escape fences encircling their nest. We therefore interpret fledging age as a possible indicator of cognition, with chicks with improved cognition fledging earlier. These results provide insight into whether declining dietary n-3 LCPUFAs will compromise top predators' problem-solving skills, and thus their ability to survive in a rapidly changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessika Lamarre
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada, A1B 3X9
| | - Sukhinder Kaur Cheema
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada, A1B 3X9
| | - Gregory J Robertson
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Mount Pearl, NL, Canada, A1N 4T3
| | - David R Wilson
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada, A1B 3X9
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