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Jarma D, Sacristán-Soriano O, Borrego CM, Hortas F, Peralta-Sánchez JM, Balcázar JL, Green AJ, Alonso E, Sánchez-Melsió A, Sánchez MI. Variability of faecal microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes in flocks of migratory gulls and comparison with the surrounding environment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 359:124563. [PMID: 39019307 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124563] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Gulls commonly rely on human-generated waste as their primary food source, contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their resistance genes, both locally and globally. Our understanding of this process remains incomplete, particularly in relation to its potential interaction with surrounding soil and water. We studied the lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus, as a model to examine the spatial variation of faecal bacterial communities, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and its relationship with the surrounding water and soil. We conducted sampling campaigns within a connectivity network of different flocks of gulls moving across functional units (FUs), each of which represents a module of highly interconnected patches of habitats used for roosting and feeding. The FUs vary in habitat use, with some gulls using more polluted sites (notably landfills), while others prefer more natural environments (e.g., wetlands or beaches). Faecal bacterial communities in gulls from flocks that visit and spend more time in landfills exhibited higher richness and diversity. The faecal microbiota showed a high compositional overlap with bacterial communities in soil. The overlap was greater when compared to landfill (11%) than to wetland soils (6%), and much lower when compared to bacterial communities in surrounding water (2% and 1% for landfill and wetland water, respectively). The relative abundance of ARGs and MGEs were similar between FUs, with variations observed only for specific families of ARGs and MGEs. When exploring the faecal carriage of ARGs and MGEs in bird faeces relative to soil and water compartments, gull faeces were enriched in ARGs classified as High-Risk. Our results shed light on the complex dynamics of antibiotic resistance spread in wild bird populations, providing insights into the interactions among gull movement and feeding behavior, habitat characteristics, and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance determinants across environmental reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayana Jarma
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Avda. República Árabe Saharaui Democrática 6, 11519, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Oriol Sacristán-Soriano
- Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA-CERCA), Emili Grahit 101, E-17003, Girona, Spain; Universitat de Girona, E-1700, Girona, Spain
| | - Carles M Borrego
- Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA-CERCA), Emili Grahit 101, E-17003, Girona, Spain; Grup d'Ecologia Microbiana Molecular, Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, Campus de Montilivi, E-17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Francisco Hortas
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Avda. República Árabe Saharaui Democrática 6, 11519, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Juan M Peralta-Sánchez
- Departmento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - José L Balcázar
- Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA-CERCA), Emili Grahit 101, E-17003, Girona, Spain; Universitat de Girona, E-1700, Girona, Spain
| | - Andy J Green
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Esteban Alonso
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Virgen de África, 7, 41011, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alexandre Sánchez-Melsió
- Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA-CERCA), Emili Grahit 101, E-17003, Girona, Spain; Universitat de Girona, E-1700, Girona, Spain
| | - Marta I Sánchez
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Seville, Spain
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Sánchez-Cano A, López-Calderón C, Cardona-Cabrera T, Green AJ, Höfle U. Connectivity at the human-wildlife interface: starling movements relate to carriage of E. coli. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171899. [PMID: 38527537 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171899] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Synanthropic bird species in human, poultry or livestock environments can increase the spread of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria between wild and domestic animals. We present the first telemetry-based spatial networks for a small songbird. We quantified landscape connectivity exerted by spotless starling movements, and aimed to determine if connectivity patterns were related to carriage of potential pathogens. We captured 28 starlings on a partridge farm in 2020 and tested them for Avian influenza virus, West Nile virus WNV, Avian orthoavulavirus 1, Coronavirus, Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli. We did not detect any viruses or Salmonella, but one individual had antibodies against WNV or cross-reacting Flaviviruses. We found E. coli in 61 % (17 of 28) of starlings, 76 % (13 of 17) of which were resistant to gentamicin, 12 % (2 of 17) to cefotaxime/enrofloxacin and 6 % (1 of 17) were phenotypic extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) carriers. We GPS-tracked 17 starlings and constructed spatial networks showing how their movements (i.e. links) connect different farms with nearby urban and natural habitats (i.e. nodes with different attributes). Using E. coli carriage as a proxy for acquisition/dispersal of bacteria, we found differences across spatial networks constructed for E. coli positive (n = 7) and E. coli negative (n = 9) starlings. We used Exponential Random Graph Models to reveal significant differences between networks. In particular, an urban roost was more connected to other sites by movements of E. coli positive than by movements of E. coli negative starlings. Furthermore, an open pine forest used mainly for roosting was more connected to other sites by movements of E. coli negative than by movements of E. coli positive starlings. Using E. coli as a proxy for a potential pathogen carried by starlings, we reveal the pathways of spread that starlings could provide between farms, urban and natural habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Sánchez-Cano
- SaBio Research Group, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Cosme López-Calderón
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain; Grupo de Investigación en Conservación, Biodiversidad y Cambio Global, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Teresa Cardona-Cabrera
- SaBio Research Group, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Andy J Green
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Ursula Höfle
- SaBio Research Group, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain.
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Martín-Vélez V, Cano-Povedano J, Cañuelo-Jurado B, López-Calderón C, Céspedes V, Ros M, Sánchez MI, Shamoun-Baranes J, Müller W, Thaxter CB, Camphuysen CJ, Cózar A, Green AJ. Leakage of plastics and other debris from landfills to a highly protected lake by wintering gulls. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 177:13-23. [PMID: 38281470 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.01.034] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
GENERAL CONTEXT Gulls ingest plastic and other litter while foraging in open landfills, because organic matter is mixed with other debris. Therefore, gulls are potential biovectors of plastic pollution into natural habitats, especially when they concentrate in wetlands for roosting. NOVELTY We quantified, for the first time, the flow of plastic and other anthropogenic debris from open landfills to a natural lake via the movement of gulls. We focused on Fuente de Piedra, an inland closed-basin lake in Spain that is internationally important for biodiversity. METHODOLOGY In 2022, we sampled gull pellets regurgitated in the lake by lesser black-backed gulls Larus fuscus that feed on landfills, as well as their faeces, then characterized and quantified debris particles of ≥0.5 mm. By combining GPS and census data from 2010 to 2022, together with plastic quantification based on FTIR-ATR analysis, we estimated the average annual deposition of plastic and other debris by the wintering gull population into the lake. MAIN RESULTS 86 % of pellets contained plastics, and 94 % contained other debris such as glass and textiles. Polyethylene (54 %), polypropylene (11.5 %) and polystyrene (11.5 %) were the main plastic polymers. An estimated annual mean of 400 kg of plastics were moved by gulls into the lake. Only 1 % of plastic mass was imported in faeces. DISCUSSION Incorporating the biovectoring role of birds can provide a more holistic view of the plastic cycle and waste management. Biovectoring is predictable in sites worldwide where gulls and other waterbirds feed in landfills and roost in wetlands. We discuss bird deterrence and other ways of mitigating debris leakage into aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Martín-Vélez
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, Barcelona 37-49 08003, Spain; Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, Sevilla 41092, Spain.
| | - Julián Cano-Povedano
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, Sevilla 41092, Spain
| | - Belén Cañuelo-Jurado
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, Sevilla 41092, Spain
| | - Cosme López-Calderón
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, Sevilla 41092, Spain; Grupo de Investigación en Conservación. Biodiversidad y Cambio Global, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Vanessa Céspedes
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, Sevilla 41092, Spain
| | - Macarena Ros
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes 6, Sevilla 41012, Spain
| | - Marta I Sánchez
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, Sevilla 41092, Spain
| | - Judy Shamoun-Baranes
- Theoretical and Computational Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1090 GE, The Netherlands
| | - Wendt Müller
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Chris B Thaxter
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, UK
| | - Cornelis J Camphuysen
- COS Department, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Andrés Cózar
- Department of Biology, Institute of Marine Research (INMAR), University of Cadiz and European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Puerto Real 11510, Spain
| | - Andy J Green
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, Sevilla 41092, Spain
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Sacristán-Soriano O, Jarma D, Sánchez MI, Romero N, Alonso E, Green AJ, Sànchez-Melsió A, Hortas F, Balcázar JL, Peralta-Sánchez JM, Borrego CM. Winged resistance: Storks and gulls increase carriage of antibiotic resistance by shifting from paddy fields to landfills. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169946. [PMID: 38199372 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169946] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Waterbirds are vectors for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance across environments, with some species increasingly reliant on highly anthropized habitats for feeding. However, data on the impact of their feeding habits on the carriage of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are still scarce. To fill this gap, we examined the microbiota (16S rRNA amplicon gene sequencing) and the prevalence of ARG (high-throughput qPCR of 47 genes) in faeces from white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) feeding in highly (landfill) and less (paddy fields) polluted habitats. Faecal bacterial richness and diversity were higher in gulls feeding upon landfills and showed a greater abundance of potential pathogens, such as Staphylococcus. In contrast, faecal bacterial communities from storks were similar regardless of habitat preferences, maybe due to a less intense habitat use compared to gulls. In addition, birds feeding in the landfill carried a higher burden of ARGs compared to the surrounding soil and surface waters. Network analysis revealed strong correlations between ARGs and potential pathogens, particularly between tetM (resistance to tetracyclines), blaCMY (beta-lactam resistance), sul1 (sulfonamide resistance) and members of the genera Streptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, and Peptoclostridium. Our work demonstrates how transitioning from paddy fields to landfills fosters the carriage of ARGs and potential pathogens in the bird gut, shedding light on the ecological role of these avian vectors in antimicrobial resistance dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dayana Jarma
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain; Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui, s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Marta I Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Noelia Romero
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Esteban Alonso
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Virgen de África, 7, 41011 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Andy J Green
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Francisco Hortas
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui, s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - José Luis Balcázar
- Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, E-17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Peralta-Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012 Sevilla, Spain; Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carles M Borrego
- Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, E-17003 Girona, Spain; Grup d'Ecologia Microbiana Molecular, Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, Campus de Montilivi, E-17003 Girona, Spain
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Cano-Povedano J, López-Calderón C, Sánchez MI, Hortas F, Cañuelo-Jurado B, Martín-Vélez V, Ros M, Cózar A, Green AJ. Biovectoring of plastic by white storks from a landfill to a complex of salt ponds and marshes. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115773. [PMID: 37992543 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Research into plastic pollution has extensively focused on abiotic vectors, overlooking transport by animals. Opportunistic birds, such as white storks (Ciconia ciconia) often forage on landfills, where plastic abounds. We assess plastic loading by ingestion and regurgitation of landfill plastic in Cadiz Bay, a major stopover area for migratory white storks in south-west Spain. On average, we counted 599 storks per day moving between a landfill and a complex of salt ponds and marshes, where they regurgitated pellets that each contained a mean of 0.47 g of plastic debris, dominated by polyethylene. Modelling reliant on GPS tracking estimated that 99 kg and >2 million particles of plastic were biovectored into the wetland during 2022, with seasonal peaks that followed migration patterns. GPS data enabled the correction of field censuses and the identification of plastic deposition hotspots. This study highlights the important role that biovectoring plays in plastic transport into coastal wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Cano-Povedano
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Cosme López-Calderón
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Marta I Sánchez
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Hortas
- Department of Biology, Institute of Marine Research (INMAR), University of Cadiz and European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Belén Cañuelo-Jurado
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Víctor Martín-Vélez
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Macarena Ros
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Andrés Cózar
- Department of Biology, Institute of Marine Research (INMAR), University of Cadiz and European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Andy J Green
- Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
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López-Calderón C, Martín-Vélez V, Blas J, Höfle U, Sánchez MI, Flack A, Fiedler W, Wikelski M, Green AJ. White stork movements reveal the ecological connectivity between landfills and different habitats. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:18. [PMID: 36978169 PMCID: PMC10045253 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00380-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Connections between habitats are key to a full understanding of anthropic impacts on ecosystems. Freshwater habitats are especially biodiverse, yet depend on exchange with terrestrial habitats. White storks (Ciconia ciconia) are widespread opportunists that often forage in landfills and then visit wetlands, among other habitats. It is well known that white storks ingest contaminants at landfills (such as plastics and antibiotic resistant bacteria), which can be then deposited in other habitats through their faeces and regurgitated pellets. METHODS We characterized the role of white storks in habitat connectivity by analyzing GPS data from populations breeding in Germany and wintering from Spain to Morocco. We overlaid GPS tracks on a land-use surface to construct a spatially-explicit network in which nodes were sites, and links were direct flights. We then calculated centrality metrics, identified spatial modules, and quantified overall connections between habitat types. For regional networks in southern Spain and northern Morocco, we built Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs) to explain network topologies as a response to node habitat. RESULTS For Spain and Morocco combined, we built a directed spatial network with 114 nodes and 370 valued links. Landfills were the habitat type most connected to others, as measured by direct flights. The relevance of landfills was confirmed in both ERGMs, with significant positive effects of this habitat as a source of flights. In the ERGM for southern Spain, we found significant positive effects of rice fields and salines (solar saltworks) as sinks for flights. By contrast, in the ERGM for northern Morocco, we found a significant positive effect of marshes as a sink for flights. CONCLUSIONS These results illustrate how white storks connect landfills with terrestrial and aquatic habitats, some of which are managed for food production. We identified specific interconnected habitat patches across Spain and Morocco that could be used for further studies on biovectoring of pollutants, pathogens and other propagules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme López-Calderón
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Seville, Spain.
| | - Víctor Martín-Vélez
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Julio Blas
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Ursula Höfle
- SaBio Health and Biotechnology Research Group, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Marta I Sánchez
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Andrea Flack
- Collective Migration Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78468, Constance, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Fiedler
- Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78468, Constance, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78468, Constance, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Andy J Green
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Seville, Spain
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Peralta-Sánchez JM, Ansotegui A, Hortas F, Redón S, Martín-Vélez V, Green AJ, Navarro-Ramos MJ, Lovas-Kiss A, Sánchez MI. Seed Size, Not Dispersal Syndrome, Determines Potential for Spread of Ricefield Weeds by Gulls. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1470. [PMID: 37050096 PMCID: PMC10096937 DOI: 10.3390/plants12071470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Recent field data suggest that migratory gulls disperse many rice field weeds by gut passage (endozoochory), most of which are dry fruited and widely assumed to have no long-distance dispersal mechanisms, except via human activity. We investigated this mechanism with a feeding experiment, in which seeds of five common rice field weeds (in order of increasing seed size: Juncus bufonius, Cyperus difformis, Polypogon monspeliensis, Amaranthus retroflexus, and the fleshy-fruited Solanum nigrum) were fed to seven individuals of lesser black-backed gulls Larus fuscus held in captivity. We quantified seed survival after collecting faeces at intervals for 33 h after ingestion, then extracting intact seeds and running germination tests, which were also conducted for control seeds. All five species showed high seed survival after gut passage, of >70%. Gut retention times averaged 2-4 h, but maxima exceeded 23 h for all species. Germinability after gut passage was 16-54%, and gut passage accelerated germination in J. bufonius and S. nigrum, but slowed it down in the other species. All species had lower germinability after gut passage compared to control seeds (likely due to stratification prior to the experiment), but the loss of germinability was higher in smaller seeds. There was no evidence that the different dispersal syndromes assigned to the five species (endozoochory, epizoochory or barochory) had any influence on our results. In contrast, mean gut retention time was strongly and positively related to seed size, likely because small seeds pass more quickly from the gizzard into the intestines. Non-classical endozoochory of dry-fruited seeds by waterbirds is a major but overlooked mechanism for potential long-distance dispersal, and more research into this process is likely essential for effective weed management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Peralta-Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Seville, Spain; (J.M.P.-S.); (A.A.); (S.R.)
- Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Albán Ansotegui
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Seville, Spain; (J.M.P.-S.); (A.A.); (S.R.)
- Wetland Ecology Department, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (A.J.G.); (M.J.N.-R.)
| | - Francisco Hortas
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Avda. República Árabe Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain;
| | - Stella Redón
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Seville, Spain; (J.M.P.-S.); (A.A.); (S.R.)
- Wetland Ecology Department, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (A.J.G.); (M.J.N.-R.)
| | - Víctor Martín-Vélez
- Wetland Ecology Department, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (A.J.G.); (M.J.N.-R.)
| | - Andy J. Green
- Wetland Ecology Department, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (A.J.G.); (M.J.N.-R.)
| | - María J. Navarro-Ramos
- Wetland Ecology Department, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (A.J.G.); (M.J.N.-R.)
| | - Adam Lovas-Kiss
- Wetland Ecology Research Group, Department of Tisza Research, MTA Centre for Ecological Research-DRI, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Marta I. Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Seville, Spain; (J.M.P.-S.); (A.A.); (S.R.)
- Wetland Ecology Department, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain; (V.M.-V.); (A.J.G.); (M.J.N.-R.)
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8
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Abdullahi IN, Juárez-Fernández G, Höfle Ú, Cardona-Cabrera T, Mínguez D, Pineda-Pampliega J, Lozano C, Zarazaga M, Torres C. Nasotracheal Microbiota of Nestlings of Parent White storks with Different Foraging Habits in Spain. ECOHEALTH 2023; 20:105-121. [PMID: 37060390 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01626-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Migratory storks could be vectors of transmission of bacteria of public health concern mediated by the colonization, persistence and excretion of such bacteria. This study aims to determine genera/species diversity, prevalence, and co-colonization indices of bacteria obtained from tracheal (T) and nasal (N) samples from storks in relation to exposure to point sources through foraging. One-hundred and thirty-six samples from 87 nestlings of colonies of parent white storks with different foraging habits (natural habitat and landfills) were obtained (84 T-samples and 52 N-samples) and processed. Morphologically distinct colonies (up to 12/sample) were randomly selected and identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. About 87.2% of the total 806 isolates recovered were identified: 398 from T-samples (56.6%) and 305 from N-samples (43.4%). Among identified isolates, 17 genera and 46 species of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were detected, Staphylococcus (58.0%) and Enterococcus (20.5%) being the most prevalent genera. S. sciuri was the most prevalent species from T (36.7%) and N (34.4%) cavities of total isolates, followed by E. faecalis (11.1% each from T and N), and S. aureus [T (6.5%), N (13.4%)]. Of N-samples, E. faecium was significantly associated with nestlings of parent storks foraging in landfills (p = 0.018). S. sciuri (p = 0.0034) and M. caseolyticus (p = 0.032) from T-samples were significantly higher among nestlings of parent storks foraging in natural habitats. More than 80% of bacterial species in the T and N cavities showed 1-10% co-colonization indices with one another, but few had ≥ 40% indices. S. sciuri and E. faecalis were the most frequent species identified in the stork nestlings. Moreover, they were highly colonized by other diverse and potentially pathogenic bacteria. Thus, storks could be sentinels of point sources and vehicles of bacterial transmission across the "One Health" ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idris Nasir Abdullahi
- OneHealth-UR Research Group, Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Guillermo Juárez-Fernández
- OneHealth-UR Research Group, Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Úrsula Höfle
- SaBio (Health and Biotechnology) Research Group, Game and Wildlife Research Institute (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Teresa Cardona-Cabrera
- SaBio (Health and Biotechnology) Research Group, Game and Wildlife Research Institute (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - David Mínguez
- OneHealth-UR Research Group, Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Javier Pineda-Pampliega
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Lozano
- OneHealth-UR Research Group, Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Myriam Zarazaga
- OneHealth-UR Research Group, Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Carmen Torres
- OneHealth-UR Research Group, Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain.
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9
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Frixione MG, Lisnizer N, Yorio P. Year-round use of anthropogenic food sources in human modified landscapes by adult and young Kelp Gulls. FOOD WEBS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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10
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Gilg O, van Bemmelen RSA, Lee H, Park JY, Kim HJ, Kim DW, Lee WY, Sokolovskis K, Solovyeva DV. Flyways and migratory behaviour of the Vega gull (Larus vegae), a little-known Arctic endemic. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281827. [PMID: 36795774 PMCID: PMC9934386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Large gulls are generalist predators that play an important role in Arctic food webs. Describing the migratory patterns and phenology of these predators is essential to understanding how Arctic ecosystems function. However, from all six large Arctic gull taxa, including three long-distance migrants, to date seasonal movements have been studied only in three and with small sample sizes. To document the flyways and migratory behaviour of the Vega gull, a widespread but little-studied Siberian migrant, we monitored 28 individuals with GPS loggers over a mean period of 383 days. Birds used similar routes in spring and autumn, preferring coastal to inland or offshore routes, and travelled 4000-5500 km between their breeding (Siberia) and wintering grounds (mainly the Republic of Korea and Japan). Spring migration mainly occurred in May, and was twice as fast and more synchronized among individuals than autumn migration. Migration bouts mainly occurred during the day and twilight, but rates of travel were always higher during the few night flights. Flight altitudes were nearly always higher during migration bouts than during other bouts, and lower during twilight than during night or day. Altitudes above 2000m were recorded during migrations, when birds made non-stop inland flights over mountain ranges and vast stretches of the boreal forest. Individuals showed high inter-annual consistency in their movements in winter and summer, indicating strong site fidelity to their breeding and wintering sites. Within-individual variation was similar in spring and autumn, but between individual variation was higher in autumn than in spring. Compared to previous studies, our results suggest that the timing of spring migration in large Arctic gulls is likely constrained by snowmelt at breeding grounds, while the duration of migration windows could be related to the proportion of inland versus coastal habitats found along their flyways ('fly-and-forage' strategy). Ongoing environmental changes are hence likely in short term to alter the timing of their migration, and in long term possibly affect the duration if e.g. the resource availability along the route changes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 Chrono-Environnement, CNRS, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
- Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Arctique (GREA), Francheville, France
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Hansoo Lee
- Korea Institute of Environmental Ecology (KOECO), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Young Park
- National Migratory Bird Research Center, National Institute of Biological Resources, Ongjin-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa-Jung Kim
- National Migratory Bird Research Center, National Institute of Biological Resources, Ongjin-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Won Kim
- National Migratory Bird Research Center, National Institute of Biological Resources, Ongjin-gun, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Y. Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Diana V. Solovyeva
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Magadan, Russia
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11
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Brown JM, Bouten W, Camphuysen KCJ, Nolet BA, Shamoun-Baranes J. Energetic and behavioral consequences of migration: an empirical evaluation in the context of the full annual cycle. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1210. [PMID: 36681726 PMCID: PMC9867707 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28198-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Seasonal migrations are used by diverse animal taxa, yet the costs and benefits of migrating have rarely been empirically examined. The aim of this study was to determine how migration influences two ecological currencies, energy expenditure and time allocated towards different behaviors, in a full annual cycle context. We compare these currencies among lesser black-backed gulls that range from short- (< 250 km) to long-distance (> 4500 km) migrants. Daily time-activity budgets were reconstructed from tri-axial acceleration and GPS, which, in conjunction with a bioenergetics model to estimate thermoregulatory costs, enabled us to estimate daily energy expenditure throughout the year. We found that migration strategy had no effect on annual energy expenditure, however, energy expenditure through time deviated more from the annual average as migration distance increased. Patterns in time-activity budgets were similar across strategies, suggesting migration strategy does not limit behavioral adjustments required for other annual cycle stages (breeding, molt, wintering). Variation among individuals using the same strategy was high, suggesting that daily behavioral decisions (e.g. foraging strategy) contribute more towards energy expenditure than an individual's migration strategy. These findings provide unprecedented new understanding regarding the relative importance of fine versus broad-scale behavioral strategies towards annual energy expenditures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Morgan Brown
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Willem Bouten
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kees C J Camphuysen
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Institute for Sea Research, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Bart A Nolet
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Judy Shamoun-Baranes
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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12
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Morley NJ. Vertebrates as uninfected disseminators of helminth eggs and larvae. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2022; 115:45-170. [PMID: 35249663 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2021.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The passive dispersal of non-mobile organisms by vertebrates (zoochory) is a common mechanism used to explain their often widespread distribution. Transport occurs either internally via the vertebrate digestive tract (endozoochory), or externally be adhering to skin, feathers or fur (ectozoochory), and its success is due to both physiological and ecological factors associated with the disseminating 'hosting' animal. Helminth eggs and larvae are generally non-mobile stages that are largely dependent on the movement of another animal, typically a host, for geographical dissemination. Studies on the zoochory of helminths by vertebrates are extensive and particularly long-standing, stretching back to the 19th century, although this literature is often overlooked when considering the biogeography of parasites. This review assesses the potential of helminths to be dispersed passively by zoochory examining evidence from both laboratory and field studies. The physiological dynamics of the vertebrate intestines and skin surface as hostile environments, as well as the characteristics of eggs and larvae which may facilitate successful transport are evaluated. The various mechanisms of helminth endo- and ectozoochory are presented and the likelihood of long-distance dispersal determined. It is concluded that zoochory is a potentially important means of disseminating parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil J Morley
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom.
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13
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Baert JM, Stienen EWM, Verbruggen F, Van de Weghe N, Lens L, Müller W. Resource predictability drives interannual variation in migratory behavior in a long-lived bird. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab132] [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
There is a growing awareness that experience may play a major role in migratory decisions, especially in long-lived species. However, empirical support remains to date scarce. Here, we use multiyear GPS-tracking data on 28 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus), a long-lived species for which migratory strategies typically consist of a series of long stopovers, to assess how experience affects interannual variation in stopover selection. We expect that food source reliability should play a pivotal role, as it both reduces the uncertainty on food availability across years, and enables for more efficient foraging during stopovers by reducing searching efforts. We found that during stopovers gulls indeed developed high fidelity to particular foraging locations, which strongly reduced the daily distance travelled for foraging. When revisiting stopovers in consecutive years, birds used over 80% of foraging locations from the previous year. Although the average fidelity to stopovers across years was a high as 85%, stopovers where birds showed high foraging site fidelity were up to 60% more likely to be revisited compared to stopover with low foraging site fidelity. Accordingly, birds using more stopovers with reliable foraging opportunities showed significantly less interannual variation in their stopover use than birds using stopovers with less reliable foraging opportunities. Our results thus highlight the need to further deepen our understanding of the role of cognitive processes in individual variation in migratory behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan M Baert
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eric W M Stienen
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frederick Verbruggen
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nico Van de Weghe
- Department of Geography, CartoGIS Unit, Ghent University, Krijgslaan, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wendt Müller
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, Belgium
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14
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Jarma D, Sánchez MI, Green AJ, Peralta-Sánchez JM, Hortas F, Sánchez-Melsió A, Borrego CM. Faecal microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes in migratory waterbirds with contrasting habitat use. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 783:146872. [PMID: 33872913 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Migratory birds may have a vital role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance across habitats and regions, but empirical data remain scarce. We investigated differences in the gut microbiome composition and the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in faeces from four migratory waterbirds wintering in South-West Spain that differ in their habitat use. The white stork Ciconia ciconia and lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus are omnivorous and opportunistic birds that use highly anthropogenic habitats such as landfills and urban areas. The greylag goose Anser anser and common crane Grus grus are herbivores and use more natural habitats. Fresh faeces from 15 individuals of each species were analysed to assess the composition of bacterial communities using 16S rRNA amplicon-targeted sequencing, and to quantify the abundance of the Class I integron integrase gene (intI1) as well as genes encoding resistance to sulfonamides (sul1), beta-lactams (blaTEM, blaKPC and blaNDM), tetracyclines (tetW), fluoroquinolones (qnrS), and colistin (mcr-1) using qPCR. Bacterial communities in gull faeces were the richest and most diverse. Beta diversity analysis showed segregation in faecal communities between bird species, but those from storks and gulls were the most similar, these being the species that regularly feed in landfills. Potential bacterial pathogens identified in faeces differed significantly between bird species, with higher relative abundance in gulls. Faeces from birds that feed in landfills (stork and gull) contained a significantly higher abundance of ARGs (sul1, blaTEM, and tetW). Genes conferring resistance to last resort antibiotics such as carbapenems (blaKPC) and colistin (mcr-1) were only observed in faeces from gulls. These results show that these bird species are reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and suggest that waterbirds may disseminate antibiotic resistance across environments (e.g., from landfills to ricefields or water supplies), and thus constitute a risk for their further spread to wildlife and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayana Jarma
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui, s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Marta I Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. de Reina Mercedes, 41012 Sevilla, Spain; Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana EBD-CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Andy J Green
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana EBD-CSIC, Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Peralta-Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. de Reina Mercedes, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Hortas
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Universidad de Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui, s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Alexandre Sánchez-Melsió
- Water Quality, Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, E-17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Carles M Borrego
- Water Quality, Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, E-17003 Girona, Spain; Grup d'Ecologia Microbiana Molecular, Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, Campus de Montilivi, E-17003 Girona, Spain
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15
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Stewart LG, Lavers JL, Grant ML, Puskic PS, Bond AL. Seasonal ingestion of anthropogenic debris in an urban population of gulls. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 160:111549. [PMID: 32810669 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Gulls are generalist seabirds, increasingly drawn to urban environments where many species take advantage of abundant food sources, such as landfill sites. Despite this, data on items ingested at these locations, including human refuse, is limited. Here we investigate ingestion of prey and anthropogenic debris items in boluses (regurgitated pellets) from Pacific Gulls (Larus pacificus). A total of 374 boluses were collected between 2018 and 2020 in Tasmania. Debris was present in 92.51% of boluses (n = 346), with plastic (86.63%, n = 324) and glass (64.71%, n = 242) being the most prominent types. An abundance of intact, household items (e.g., dental floss, food wrappers) suggest the gulls regularly feed at landfill sites. In addition, the boluses are deposited at a roosting site located within an important wetland, thus we propose that the gulls may be functioning as a previously unrecognised vector of anthropogenic debris from urban centres to aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian G Stewart
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, School Road, Newnham, Tasmania 7250, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Lavers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia.
| | - Megan L Grant
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, School Road, Newnham, Tasmania 7250, Australia
| | - Peter S Puskic
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, School Road, Newnham, Tasmania 7250, Australia
| | - Alexander L Bond
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Tasmania 7004, Australia; Bird Group, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP, United Kingdom
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16
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Wang G, Wang C, Guo Z, Dai L, Wu Y, Liu H, Li Y, Chen H, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Cheng H, Ma T, Xue F. A multiscale approach to identifying spatiotemporal pattern of habitat selection for red-crowned cranes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 739:139980. [PMID: 32544690 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Effective conservation measures largely depend on knowledge of habitat selection of target species. Little is known about the scale characteristics and temporal rhythm of habitat selection of the endangered red-crowned crane, limiting the habitat conservation. Here, two red-crowned cranes were tracked with Global position system (GPS) for two years in Yancheng National Nature Reserve (YNNR). A multiscale approach was developed to identify the spatiotemporal pattern of habitat selection of red-crowned cranes. The results revealed that Red-crowned cranes preferred to select Scirpus mariqueter, ponds, Suaeda salsa, and Phragmites australis, and avoid Spartina alterniflora. In each season, habitat selection ratio for Scirpus mariqueter and ponds was the highest during the day and night, respectively. Further multiscale analysis showed that the percent coverage of Scirpus mariqueter at the 200-m to 500-m scale was the most important predictor for all habitat selection modeling, emphasizing the importance of restoring a large area of Scirpus mariqueter habitat for red-crowned crane population restoration. Additionally, other variables affect habitat selection at different scales, and their contributions vary with seasonal and circadian rhythm. Furthermore, habitat suitability was mapped to provide a direct basis for habitat management. The suitable area of daytime and nighttime habitat accounted for 5.4%-19.0% and 4.6%-10.2% of the study area, respectively, implying the urgency of restoration. The study highlighted the scale and temporal rhythms of habitat selection for various endangered species that depend on small habitats. The proposed multiscale approach applies to the restoration and management of habitats of various endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wang
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Urban and Plan, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224002, China; Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment (Nanjing Normal University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment (Nanjing Normal University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ziru Guo
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment (Nanjing Normal University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lingjun Dai
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment (Nanjing Normal University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuqin Wu
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment (Nanjing Normal University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hongyu Liu
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yufeng Li
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Hao Chen
- Yancheng National Rare Birds Nature Reserve, Yancheng 224002, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Yancheng National Rare Birds Nature Reserve, Yancheng 224002, China
| | - Yongxiang Zhao
- Yancheng National Rare Birds Nature Reserve, Yancheng 224002, China
| | - Hai Cheng
- Yancheng National Rare Birds Nature Reserve, Yancheng 224002, China
| | - Tianwu Ma
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment (Nanjing Normal University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fei Xue
- School of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224002, China
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