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Lamberson AM, Smith JA. Supplementary feeding of birds during the winter influences measures of avian community structure in yards in a subtropical city. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302007. [PMID: 38776305 PMCID: PMC11111068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Supplementary feeding, the intentional provision of food to wild birds is a common activity in developed nations during the winter. The energy inputs represented by supplementary feeding are vast, and thus it is likely an important mechanism shaping bird communities in urban areas. However, research in this regard has mainly occurred in temperate and non-urban settings. Moreover, few studies have been informed by supplementary feeding habits of local community members limiting their inference. We evaluated the effects of two commonly provided wild bird foods on the abundance and species diversity of birds in yards over two winters in San Antonio, Texas, United States, a city located in a subtropical region. We used a reversed Before-After-Control-Impact experimental design in which yards were randomly allocated either mixed seed, Nyjer, or no food (control) between November 2019 and March 2020 (Year One). Between November 2020 and March 2021 (Year Two) supplementary food was not provided in any yards. Point counts conducted during both years of the study revealed that overall bird abundance was consistent between years in control yards and yards provided with Nyjer. In contrast, overall bird abundance was statistically significantly higher when supplementary food was present in mixed seed yards, driven by an increase in granivorous and omnivorous species. In contrast, supplementary feeding had no statistically significant effect on the abundance of insectivorous species or on species diversity, although species diversity tended to be higher in the presence of mixed seed. Our study demonstrates that wild bird food commonly provided by community members influences measures of avian community structure during the winter in urban yards in a subtropical city. However, these results depend on the type of bird food provided. Our results provide insight into the processes underlying the effects of urbanization on bird communities, and thus have implications for the management of urban birds more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. Lamberson
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jennifer A. Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
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2
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Faull J, Conteddu K, Griffin LL, Amin B, Smith AF, Haigh A, Ciuti S. Do human-wildlife interactions predict offspring hiding strategies in peri-urban fallow deer? ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231470. [PMID: 38511083 PMCID: PMC10951722 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Human activities can induce significant behavioural changes in wildlife. Often explored through extractive interactions (e.g. hunting) that can favour certain behavioural traits, the implications of non-extractive ones, such as wildlife feeding, remain understudied. Research shows that people tend to favour bolder individuals within populations despite their dynamics and consequences being unclear. Using fallow deer in a peri-urban environment, we studied whether mothers that show reduced fear of humans and consistently approach them for food adopt weaker anti-predator strategies by selecting less concealed fawning bedsites closer to human hotspots. This would provide the advantage of additional feeding opportunities in comparison with shyer mothers while keeping their fawns close. Our dataset encompassed 281 capture events of 172 fawns from 110 mothers across 4 years. Surprisingly, mothers that regularly accepted food from humans selected more concealed bedsites farther from human hotspots, giving their offspring better protection while also benefitting from additional food during lactation. Our results show behavioural adaptations by a subset of females and, for the first time, link the tendency to approach humans and strategies to protect offspring. Given previous findings that these begging females also deliver heavier fawns at birth, our research further investigates human-wildlife feeding interactions and their behavioural implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Faull
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
| | - Kimberly Conteddu
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
| | - Laura L. Griffin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main, Mall, VancouverV6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Bawan Amin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
| | - Adam F. Smith
- The Frankfurt Zoological Society, Frankfurt, Germany
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Amy Haigh
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
| | - Simone Ciuti
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
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3
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Tassin de Montaigu C, Goulson D. Factors influencing butterfly and bumblebee richness and abundance in gardens. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:167995. [PMID: 37939959 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167995] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Gardens are often depicted as green sanctuaries, providing refuges for wildlife displaced from the countryside due to intensive farming. While gardens have been recognized for their positive impact on biodiversity conservation, few studies have investigated the impact of pesticide usage in domestic gardens. In this study, we explored how butterfly and bumblebee populations in gardens across the UK are influenced by habitat quality, urbanisation level and pesticide use. To achieve this, we engaged with participants in Garden BirdWatch, a weekly garden wildlife recording scheme operated by the British Trust for Ornithology. Participants in the study provided data on the attributes of their garden and surrounding area and were asked to complete a questionnaire about their pesticide practices. Of the 417 gardens from which we obtained useful data, we found that 32.6 % had pesticides applied to. Urbanisation and garden quality were the main factors influencing insect populations. Butterfly richness was lower in suburban and urban gardens and butterfly abundance lower only in suburban gardens when compared to rural gardens, but this relationship did not hold for bumblebees. Abundance of butterflies and bumblebees, but not their species richness, increased with the habitat quality of gardens. Butterflies were lower in abundance and richness in more northerly gardens, which was not the case for bumblebees. Effects of pesticides were relatively weak, but butterfly richness was 7 % lower in gardens applying any pesticide. Overall, our study shows that garden butterfly and bumblebee abundance and richness are strongly influenced by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors, and that garden management can have an important positive effect on insect population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Evolution, Behaviour & Environment, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, United Kingdom.
| | - Dave Goulson
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Evolution, Behaviour & Environment, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, United Kingdom
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4
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Doremus J, Li L, Jones D. Covid-related surge in global wild bird feeding: Implications for biodiversity and human-nature interaction. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287116. [PMID: 37531331 PMCID: PMC10395953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The global extent of supplementary bird feeding is unknown but has consequences for bird conservation and human well-being. Using a measure of search intensity for words related to bird feeding from Google, we document a surge of interest in bird feeding that occurred around the world after Covid-19 led to lockdowns where people stayed home: 115 countries saw an increase in bird feeding search interest. We test whether the existence of interest in bird feeding is associated with greater species richness of bird species, our proxy for biodiversity, and find the relationship is highly significant. Covid-19 lockdowns may have persistent influences on global bird populations and humans' connection to nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Doremus
- Economics Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, United States of America
| | - Liqing Li
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University College Station, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Darryl Jones
- Centre for Planetary Health & Food Security and School of Environment & Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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5
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Maziarz M, Broughton RK, Beck KB, Robinson RA, Sheldon BC. Temporal avoidance as a means of reducing competition between sympatric species. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230521. [PMID: 37234500 PMCID: PMC10206457 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Human activity has modified the availability of natural resources and the abundance of species that rely on them, potentially changing interspecific competition dynamics. Here, we use large-scale automated data collection to quantify spatio-temporal competition among species with contrasting population trends. We focus on the spatial and temporal foraging behaviour of subordinate marsh tits Poecile palustris among groups of socially and numerically dominant blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus and great tits Parus major. The three species exploit similar food resources in mixed groups during autumn-winter. Using 421 077 winter recordings of individually marked birds at 65 automated feeding stations in Wytham Woods (Oxfordshire, UK), we found that marsh tits were less likely to join larger groups of heterospecifics, and they accessed food less frequently in larger groups than in smaller ones. Marsh tit numbers within groups declined throughout the diurnal and winter periods, while the number of blue and great tits increased. However, sites that attracted larger groups of these heterospecifics also attracted more marsh tits. The results suggest that subordinate species exhibit temporal avoidance of socially and numerically dominant heterospecifics, but have limited ability for spatial avoidance, indicating that behavioural plasticity enables only a partial reduction of interspecific competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Maziarz
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Biology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Wilcza 64, Warsaw 00-679, Poland
| | - Richard K. Broughton
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Biology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Kristina B. Beck
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Biology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | | | - Ben C. Sheldon
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Biology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
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Tassin de Montaigu C, Goulson D. Habitat quality, urbanisation & pesticides influence bird abundance and richness in gardens. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161916. [PMID: 36736389 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161916] [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: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Gardens are regularly portrayed as green oases, refuges for wildlife that has been displaced from the countryside by intensive farming practices which have reduced habitat availability. Pesticides are also commonly used in urban areas, but few studies have investigated their impacts. In this study, we explored how bird richness and abundance in gardens across the UK are influenced by habitat quality, urbanisation level and pesticide practices. To achieve this, we collaborated with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) which runs Garden Birdwatch, a citizen-science-based garden bird recording scheme. Participants in the study were asked to complete a questionnaire about their pesticide practice. From the 615 gardens that provided useful data, we found that 32.2 % applied pesticides in their gardens and that glyphosate comprised 53.3 % of these applications. We found that bird abundance and species richness was lower in suburban compared to rural gardens but positively influenced by measures of garden quality and by surrounding habitat quality. We show that there was an interaction between the habitat quality of the surrounding area and pesticide use: negative effects of pesticides on species richness were more pronounced in gardens in areas of high habitat quality compared to those surrounded by poor habitat. We found that pesticide use, and particularly glyphosate and metaldehyde, negatively predicted the abundance of house sparrows, a fast-declining bird species. The average house sparrow abundance was 12.1 % lower in gardens applying any pesticide, 24.9 % lower with glyphosate, and 38.6 % lower with metaldehyde. Overall, our study shows that garden bird abundance and richness is strongly influenced by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors, and suggests that garden management, particularly regarding pesticide use, has a significant effect on bird life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Evolution, Behaviour & Environment, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, United Kingdom.
| | - Dave Goulson
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Evolution, Behaviour & Environment, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, United Kingdom
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7
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When humans play evolutionary games with animal species. Ecol Modell 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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8
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Brown JA, Lerman SB, Basile AJ, Bateman HL, Deviche P, Warren PS, Sweazea KL. No fry zones: How restaurant distribution and abundance influence avian communities in the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan area. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269334. [PMID: 36260638 PMCID: PMC9581420 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is one of the most widespread and extreme examples of habitat alteration. As humans dominate landscapes, they introduce novel elements into environments, including artificial light, noise pollution, and anthropogenic food sources. One understudied form of anthropogenic food is refuse from restaurants, which can alter wildlife populations and, in turn, entire wildlife communities by providing a novel and stable food source. Using data from the Maricopa Association of Governments and the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) project, we investigated whether and how the distribution of restaurants influences avian communities. The research aimed to identify restaurants, and thus the associated food they may provide, as the driver of potential patterns by controlling for other influences of urbanization, including land cover and the total number of businesses. Using generalized linear mixed models, we tested whether the number of restaurants within 1 km of bird monitoring locations predict avian community richness and abundance and individual species abundance and occurrence patterns. Results indicate that restaurants may decrease avian species diversity and increase overall abundance. Additionally, restaurants may be a significant predictor of the overall abundance of urban-exploiting species, including rock pigeon (Columba livia), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), and Inca dove (Columbina Inca). Understanding how birds utilize anthropogenic food sources can inform possible conservation or wildlife management practices. As this study highlights only correlations, we suggest further experimental work to address the physiological ramifications of consuming anthropogenic foods provided by restaurants and studies to quantify how frequently anthropogenic food sources are used compared to naturally occurring sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A. Brown
- Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America
- * E-mail: (KLS); (JAB)
| | - Susannah B. Lerman
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anthony J. Basile
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America
| | - Heather L. Bateman
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, United States of America
| | - Pierre Deviche
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America
| | - Paige S. Warren
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Karen L. Sweazea
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America
- College of Health Solution, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America
- * E-mail: (KLS); (JAB)
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9
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Murphy MT, Bailey DC, Lichti NI, Roberts LA. Differential response of migratory guilds of birds to park area and urbanization. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01285-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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10
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Warrington MH, Schrimpf MB, Des Brisay P, Taylor ME, Koper N. Avian behaviour changes in response to human activity during the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212740. [PMID: 36126685 PMCID: PMC9489286 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human activities may impact animal habitat and resource use, potentially influencing contemporary evolution in animals. In the United Kingdom, COVID-19 lockdown restrictions resulted in sudden, drastic alterations to human activity. We hypothesized that short-term daily and long-term seasonal changes in human mobility might result in changes in bird habitat use, depending on the mobility type (home, parks and grocery) and extent of change. Using Google human mobility data and 872 850 bird observations, we determined that during lockdown, human mobility changes resulted in altered habitat use in 80% (20/25) of our focal bird species. When humans spent more time at home, over half of affected species had lower counts, perhaps resulting from the disturbance of birds in garden habitats. Bird counts of some species (e.g. rooks and gulls) increased over the short term as humans spent more time at parks, possibly due to human-sourced food resources (e.g. picnic refuse), while counts of other species (e.g. tits and sparrows) decreased. All affected species increased counts when humans spent less time at grocery services. Avian species rapidly adjusted to the novel environmental conditions and demonstrated behavioural plasticity, but with diverse responses, reflecting the different interactions and pressures caused by human activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyako H. Warrington
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | | | | | - Michelle E. Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, AB24 3FX Scotland, UK
| | - Nicola Koper
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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11
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Hanmer HJ, Cunningham AA, John SK, Magregor SK, Robinson RA, Seilern-Moy K, Siriwardena GM, Lawson B. Hinfluences severe disease-mediated population declines in two of the most common garden bird species in Great Britain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15055. [PMID: 36064956 PMCID: PMC9445085 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18880-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of supplementary feeding of wildlife on disease transmission and its consequent impacts on population dynamics are underappreciated. In Great Britain, supplementary feeding is hypothesised to have enabled the spread of the protozoan parasite, Trichomonas gallinae, from columbids to finches, leading to epidemic finch trichomonosis and a rapid population decline of greenfinch (Chloris chloris). More recently, chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), has also declined markedly from the second to fifth commonest bird in Britain. Using citizen science data, we show that both declines were driven primarily by reduced adult survival, with the greatest reductions occurring in peri-domestic habitats, where supplementary food provision is common. Post-mortem examinations showed a proportional increase in chaffinch trichomonosis cases, near-contemporaneous with its population decline. Like greenfinches, chaffinches often use supplementary food, but are less associated with human habitation. Our results support the hypothesis that supplementary feeding can increase parasite transmission frequency within and between common species. However, the dynamics behind resultant population change can vary markedly, highlighting the need for integrating disease surveillance with demographic monitoring. Other species susceptible to T. gallinae infection may also be at risk. Supplementary feeding guidelines for wildlife should include disease mitigation strategies to ensure that benefits to target species outweigh risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh J Hanmer
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, UK.
| | - Andrew A Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Shinto K John
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Shaheed K Magregor
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Robert A Robinson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, UK
| | - Katharina Seilern-Moy
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | | | - Becki Lawson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.
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12
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Sanderfoot OV, Kaufman JD, Gardner B. Drivers of avian habitat use and detection of backyard birds in the Pacific Northwest during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12655. [PMID: 35953699 PMCID: PMC9372093 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16406-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Birds living in developed areas contend with numerous stressors, including human disturbance and light, noise, and air pollution. COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns presented a unique opportunity to disentangle these effects during a period of reduced human activity. We launched a community science project in spring 2020 to explore drivers of site use by and detection of common birds in cities under lockdown in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Our goals were twofold: (1) consider how intensity of urbanization, canopy cover, and availability of bird feeders and bird baths influenced avian habitat use; and (2) quantify how daily changes in weather, air pollution, and human mobility influenced detection of birds. We analyzed 6,640 surveys from 367 volunteers at 429 monitoring sites using occupancy models for 46 study species. Neither land cover nor canopy cover influenced site use by 50% of study species, suggesting that backyard birds may have used a wider range of habitats during lockdowns. Human mobility affected detection of 76% of study species, suggesting that birds exhibited species-specific behavioral responses to day-to-day changes in human activity beginning shortly after initial lockdown restrictions were implemented. Our study also showcases how existing community science platforms can be leveraged to support local monitoring efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. V. Sanderfoot
- grid.34477.330000000122986657School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - J. D. Kaufman
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - B. Gardner
- grid.34477.330000000122986657School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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13
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Jokimäki J, Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki ML, Suhonen J. Long-Term Winter Population Trends of Corvids in Relation to Urbanization and Climate at Northern Latitudes. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12141820. [PMID: 35883367 PMCID: PMC9311560 DOI: 10.3390/ani12141820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Corvids (e.g., crows, magpies and jays) are an important part of urban settlements, especially during winter. To understand the factors affecting the long-term population trends of corvids, we counted wintering corvids in 31 human settlements along a 920 km latitudinal gradient in Finland during four winters between 1991 and 2020. We detected a total of five corvid species, from which the Hooded Crow, the Eurasian Magpie and the Eurasian Jackdaw were found to be common. During the study period, the number of Eurasian Jackdaws increased, and their distribution range moved northwards. No corresponding changes were observed for the Hooded Crow or the Eurasian Magpie. Neither the local-level urban-, climate- nor food-related factors correlated with the changes in the numbers and growth rates of the corvids. No interspecific interactions were observed. We assume that the Eurasian Jackdaw has benefitted from the decreased persecution, and probably also from the large-scale climate warming. Our results suggest that urban settlements are quite stable wintering environments for generalist and omnivorous corvids. Abstract Corvids (crows, magpies, jays) live in a close association with humans, and therefore knowledge about their population status and changes will be an essential part of monitoring the quality of urban environments. Wintering bird populations can track habitat and climate changes more rapidly than breeding populations. We conducted a long-term (1991–2020) winter census of corvid species in 31 human settlements along a 920 km latitudinal gradient in Finland. We observed a total of five corvid species: the Eurasian Magpie (occurring in 114 surveys out of 122; total abundance 990 ind.), the Hooded Crow (in 96 surveys; 666 ind.), the Eurasian Jackdaw (in 51 surveys; 808 ind.), the Eurasian Jay (in 5 surveys; 6 ind.) and the Rook (in 1 survey; 1 ind.). Only the numbers of the Eurasian Jackdaw differed between the study winters, being greater at the end of the study period (2019/2020) than during the earlier winters (1991/1992 and 1999/2000). The average growth rate (λ) of the Eurasian Jackdaw increased during the study period, whereas no changes were observed in the cases of the Hooded Crow or the Eurasian Magpie. The growth rate of the Eurasian Jackdaw was greater than that observed in the Finnish bird-monitoring work, probably because our data came only from the core area of each human settlement. Even though the number of buildings and their cover increased in the study plots, and the winter temperature differed between winters, the average growth rate (λ) of corvid species did not significantly correlate with these variables. These results suggest that urban settlements are stable wintering environments for the generalist corvids. The between-species interactions were all positive, but non-significant. Despite the total number of winter-feeding sites being greater during the winter of 1991/1992 than during the winter of 2019/2020, the changes in the numbers of feeding stations did not correlate with the growth rates of any corvid species. We assume that the Eurasian Jackdaw has benefitted from the decreased persecution, and probably also from large-scale climate warming that our study design was unable to take in to account. Our results indicated that wintering corvid populations succeed well in the human settlements in Finland. We recommend conducting long-term corvid research, also during breeding season, to understand more detailed causes of the population changes of corvids along an urban gradient. Without year-round long-term monitoring data, the conservation and management recommendations related to the corvid species in urban habitats may be misleading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Jokimäki
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland;
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Jukka Suhonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland;
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14
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Lakatos T, Chamberlain DE, Garamszegi LZ, Batáry P. No place for ground-dwellers in cities: a meta-analysis on bird functional traits. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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15
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Which birds are Brazilians seeing on urban and non-urban feeders? An analysis based on a collective online birding. ORNITHOLOGY RESEARCH 2022. [PMCID: PMC9116275 DOI: 10.1007/s43388-022-00094-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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16
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Hamlin I, Richardson M. Visible Garden Biodiversity Is Associated with Noticing Nature and Nature Connectedness. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2021.0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Iain Hamlin
- School of Psychology, Human Sciences Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Miles Richardson
- School of Psychology, Human Sciences Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
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17
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Catto S, Sumasgutner P, Amar A, Thomson RL, Cunningham SJ. Pulses of anthropogenic food availability appear to benefit parents, but compromise nestling growth in urban red-winged starlings. Oecologia 2021; 197:565-576. [PMID: 34536140 PMCID: PMC8585795 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05033-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The provision of anthropogenic food undoubtedly influences urban bird fitness. However, the nature of the impact is unclear, with both benefits and costs of urban diets documented. Moreover, the influence of short-term fluctuations in food availability, linked to urban weekday/weekend cycles of human presence, is largely unknown. We explored whether breeding red-winged starlings Onychognathus morio in Cape Town, South Africa, altered foraging and provisioning behaviour between days with high human presence (HHP) and days with low human presence (LHP)—i.e. weekdays versus weekends and vacation days. We investigated the relationship between starling diet, adult body mass and nestling development. Breeding adults consumed and provisioned the same quantity of food, but a significantly greater proportion of anthropogenic food on HHP compared to LHP days. Adults apparently benefited from the anthropogenic diet, experiencing significantly greater mass gain on HHP days. However, nestlings experienced a cost, with the number of HHP days during the nestling period associated negatively with nestling size. Adults may, therefore, benefit from the high calorie content of anthropogenic food, while nestlings may be negatively affected by nutrient limitation. The quantity of food available in urban environments may, therefore, benefit adult survival, while its quality imposes a cost to nestling growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Catto
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa. .,Konrad Lorenz Research Center, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Grünau/Almtal, 4645, Austria.
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Robert L Thomson
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Susan J Cunningham
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
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18
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Wemer L, Hegemann A, Isaksson C, Nebel C, Kleindorfer S, Gamauf A, Adrion M, Sumasgutner P. Reduced ectoparasite load, body mass and blood haemolysis in Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) along an urban-rural gradient. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:42. [PMID: 34491450 PMCID: PMC8423637 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01745-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Urbanisation is proceeding at an alarming rate which forces wildlife to either retreat from urban areas or cope with novel stressors linked to human presence and activities. For example, urban stressors like anthropogenic noise, artificial light at night and chemical pollution can have severe impacts on the physiology of wildlife (and humans), in particular the immune system and antioxidant defences. These physiological systems are important to combat and reduce the severity of parasitic infections, which are common among wild animals. One question that then arises is whether urban-dwelling animals, whose immune and antioxidant system are already challenged by the urban stressors, are more susceptible to parasitic infections. To assess this, we studied nestlings of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) in Vienna, Austria, during 2015 and 2017. We measured biomarkers of innate immune function, oxidative stress and body mass index and ectoparasite infection intensity in 143 nestlings (from 56 nests) along an urban gradient. Nestlings in more urbanised areas had overall fewer ectoparasites, lower haemolysis (complement activity) and lower body mass index compared to nestlings in less urbanised areas. None of the other immune or oxidative stress markers were associated with the urban gradient. Despite some non-significant results, our data still suggest that kestrel nestlings experience some level of reduced physiological health, perhaps as a consequence of exposure to more urban stressors or altered prey availability in inner-city districts even though they had an overall lower ectoparasite burden in these heavily urbanised areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Wemer
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5001, Australia
| | | | - Marius Adrion
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,NABU E.V, Head office, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. .,Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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19
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Differential Long-Term Population Responses of Two Closely Related Human-Associated Sparrow Species with Respect to Urbanization. BIRDS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/birds2030017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban planning and management need long-term population level studies for evaluating how urbanization influences biodiversity. Firstly, we reviewed the current population trends of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) in Europe, and evaluated the usefulness of citizens’ science projects to monitor these species in Finland. Secondly, we conducted a long-term (1991–2020) winter field study in 31 urban settlements along a 950 km north–south extent in Finland to study how latitude, weather and urbanization influence on sparrow’s growth rates. The House Sparrow is declining in 15 countries, and increasing in 5, whereas the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is declining in 12 and increasing in 9 European countries. The trend of the House Sparrow was significantly negative in continental Europe. However, the trend of the Eurasian Tree Sparrow was not significant. Both species have declined simultaneously in six countries, whereas in four countries, their trends are opposite. Citizen-based, long-term (2006–2020) winter season project data indicated that House Sparrow has decreased, whereas Eurasian Tree Sparrow has increased in Finland. However, the short-term (2013–2020) breeding season citizen-based project data did not indicate significant changes in the occupation rate of sparrows. Our long-term (1991–2020) field study indicated that wintering populations of the House Sparrow have decreased, whereas the Eurasian Tree Sparrows have both expanded their wintering range and increased their population size. Based on our winter count data, latitude and weather did not significantly influence the growth rates of sparrows. When the human population increased within the study plot, House Sparrow populations decreased, and vice versa. There was also a trend that a decreasing number of feeding sites has decreased the House Sparrow numbers. Urban-related factors did not influence the growth rate of the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Our results indicate that the colonization of a new, even closely related species does not influence negatively on earlier urbanized species. It is probable that the niches of these sparrow species are different enough for allowing them to co-occur. The House Sparrow mainly nests on buildings, whereas the Eurasian Tree Sparrow can easily accept, e.g., nest boxes. Urban planning should take care of both the food availability and nest sites availability for both sparrow species.
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20
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Shutt JD, Trivedi UH, Nicholls JA. Faecal metabarcoding reveals pervasive long-distance impacts of garden bird feeding. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210480. [PMID: 34034514 PMCID: PMC8150026 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Supplementary feeding of wildlife is widespread, being undertaken by more than half of households in many countries. However, the impact that these supplemental resources have is unclear, with impacts largely considered to be restricted to urban ecosystems. We reveal the pervasiveness of supplementary foodstuffs in the diet of a wild bird using metabarcoding of blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) faeces collected in early spring from a 220 km transect in Scotland with a large urbanization gradient. Supplementary foodstuffs were present in the majority of samples, with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) the single commonest (either natural or supplementary) dietary item. Consumption rates exhibited a distance decay from human habitation but remained high at several hundred metres from the nearest household and continued to our study limit of 1.4 km distant. Supplementary food consumption was associated with a near quadrupling of blue tit breeding density and a 5-day advancement of breeding phenology. We show that woodland bird species using supplementary food have increasing UK population trends, while species that do not, and/or are outcompeted by blue tits, are likely to be declining. We suggest that the impacts of supplementary feeding are larger and more spatially extensive than currently appreciated and could be disrupting population and ecosystem dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack D. Shutt
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Urmi H. Trivedi
- Edinburgh Genomics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - James A. Nicholls
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
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21
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Sengupta A, McConkey KR, Kwit C. The influence of provisioning on animal‐mediated seed dispersal. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Asmita Sengupta
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Bangalore Karnataka India
- National Inst. of Advanced Studies Bangalore Karnataka India
| | - Kim R. McConkey
- School of Geography, Univ. of Nottingham Malaysia Campus Semenyih Selangor Malaysia
| | - Charles Kwit
- Dept of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Univ. of Tennessee Knoxville TN USA
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22
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Mady RP, Hochachka WM, Bonter DN. Consistency in supplemental food availability affects the space use of wintering birds. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Across the globe, millions of people feed wild birds and this practice has profound implications for many bird species. To better understand the effects of this supplemental feeding, many researchers have compared birds with access to inexhaustible supplemental food to those without access. However, the consistency of supplemental food availability varies with peoples’ provisioning habits because some people fill their feeders daily, while others do so sporadically. As the consistency of food availability changes, a bird’s foraging strategy, including its use of space, should change. To determine how space use varies with the consistency of supplemental food availability, we surveyed three species with access to experimental feeders that provided constant, pulsed, or no access to food. We conducted these surveys at two locations—near and far from the feeder—within nine sites to determine differences in space use among and within sites. Access to supplemental food, regardless of feeding regime, anchored the movements of each species near the feeders. However, the different feeding regimes had different effects on space use. Birds with constant access to supplemental food were continually anchored near the feeders, while the birds with pulsed access were temporarily anchored near the feeders. In one of three species (black-capped chickadee), birds concentrated in larger numbers near feeders with pulsed access when food was available compared to near feeders with constant access. Supplemental feeders act as spatial anchors but do so in different ways across species and feeding regimes with potentially varying implications for survival and population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael P Mady
- Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - David N Bonter
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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23
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Spotswood EN, Beller EE, Grossinger R, Grenier JL, Heller NE, Aronson MFJ. The Biological Deserts Fallacy: Cities in Their Landscapes Contribute More than We Think to Regional Biodiversity. Bioscience 2021; 71:148-160. [PMID: 33613128 PMCID: PMC7882369 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cities are both embedded within and ecologically linked to their surrounding landscapes. Although urbanization poses a substantial threat to biodiversity, cities also support many species, some of which have larger populations, faster growth rates, and higher productivity in cities than outside of them. Despite this fact, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the potentially beneficial links between cities and their surroundings. We identify five pathways by which cities can benefit regional ecosystems by releasing species from threats in the larger landscape, increasing regional habitat heterogeneity and genetic diversity, acting as migratory stopovers, preadapting species to climate change, and enhancing public engagement and environmental stewardship. Increasing recognition of these pathways could help cities identify effective strategies for supporting regional biodiversity conservation and could provide a science-based platform for incorporating biodiversity alongside other urban greening goals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erin E Beller
- San Francisco Estuary Institute San Francisco, California in the United States. Erin E. Beller is the Urban Ecology Program manager for the Real Estate and Workplace Services Sustainability Team at Google, Mountain View, California, in the United States
| | - Robin Grossinger
- San Francisco Estuary Institute San Francisco, California in the United States. Erin E. Beller is the Urban Ecology Program manager for the Real Estate and Workplace Services Sustainability Team at Google, Mountain View, California, in the United States
| | - J Letitia Grenier
- San Francisco Estuary Institute San Francisco, California in the United States. Erin E. Beller is the Urban Ecology Program manager for the Real Estate and Workplace Services Sustainability Team at Google, Mountain View, California, in the United States
| | - Nicole E Heller
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Myla F J Aronson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
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24
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Knapp S, Aronson MFJ, Carpenter E, Herrera-Montes A, Jung K, Kotze DJ, La Sorte FA, Lepczyk CA, MacGregor-Fors I, MacIvor JS, Moretti M, Nilon CH, Piana MR, Rega-Brodsky CC, Salisbury A, Threlfall CG, Trisos C, Williams NSG, Hahs AK. A Research Agenda for Urban Biodiversity in the Global Extinction Crisis. Bioscience 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Rapid urbanization and the global loss of biodiversity necessitate the development of a research agenda that addresses knowledge gaps in urban ecology that will inform policy, management, and conservation. To advance this goal, we present six topics to pursue in urban biodiversity research: the socioeconomic and social–ecological drivers of biodiversity loss versus gain of biodiversity; the response of biodiversity to technological change; biodiversity–ecosystem service relationships; urban areas as refugia for biodiversity; spatiotemporal dynamics of species, community changes, and underlying processes; and ecological networks. We discuss overarching considerations and offer a set of questions to inspire and support urban biodiversity research. In parallel, we advocate for communication and collaboration across many fields and disciplines in order to build capacity for urban biodiversity research, education, and practice. Taken together we note that urban areas will play an important role in addressing the global extinction crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Knapp
- Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ and formerly with the Institute of Ecology, Technische Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Myla F J Aronson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, Brunswick, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ian MacGregor-Fors
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme in Lahti, Finland
| | - J Scott MacIvor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marco Moretti
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Max R Piana
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts—Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts and the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at Rutgers University, in Brunswick, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Amy K Hahs
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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25
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Planillo A, Kramer‐Schadt S, Buchholz S, Gras P, von der Lippe M, Radchuk V. Arthropod abundance modulates bird community responses to urbanization. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aimara Planillo
- Department of Ecological Dynamics Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
| | - Stephanie Kramer‐Schadt
- Department of Ecological Dynamics Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
- Department of Ecology Technische Universität Berlin (TU) Berlin Germany
| | - Sascha Buchholz
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
- Department of Ecology Technische Universität Berlin (TU) Berlin Germany
| | - Pierre Gras
- Department of Ecological Dynamics Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
| | - Moritz von der Lippe
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
- Department of Ecology Technische Universität Berlin (TU) Berlin Germany
| | - Viktoriia Radchuk
- Department of Ecological Dynamics Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) Berlin Germany
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26
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Burt SA, Vos CJ, Buijs JA, Corbee RJ. Nutritional implications of feeding free-living birds in public urban areas. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2020; 105:385-393. [PMID: 32949068 PMCID: PMC7984256 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Supplementary feeding can affect populations of birds. It reduces energy spent on foraging and reduces the risk of starvation, but it also increases the risk of disease transmission and predation. Supplementary feeding may reduce species richness if some species are better able to exploit supplementary food resources than others. Feeding may also artificially inflate the carrying capacity of the ecosystem, leading to bird nuisance in the form of droppings and noise. The aim of this study was to characterise and quantify the risk factors and consequences of feeding free‐living birds in public areas in the western part of the city of Amsterdam. In seven study areas, the following data were collected: bird population size and species composition, feeding events, and the type and amount of supplementary food offered. Estimations were made of the nutritional energy provided and the number of birds that could be supported by the food offered. Members of the public who fed the birds were invited to complete a questionnaire on various aspects of feeding. Results showed that supplementary feeding attracts juvenile gulls and feral pigeons, which could in the long‐term affect biodiversity. Bread was the main category of supplementary food being offered (estimated to be 67% of the total amount of food). The majority of respondents fed birds so as not to waste bread and meal leftovers. In six of the seven areas studied, an overabundance of nutritional energy was calculated. We conclude that the current type and extent of supplementary feeding in the city of Amsterdam is nutritionally unbalanced and affects species diversity at a local level. The overabundance is undesirable for reasons of both animal health, because it can lead to malnutrition, and public health, because surplus food attracts rats and may also have a negative effect on water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Burt
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis J Vos
- Department of Companion Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A Buijs
- Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald J Corbee
- Department of Companion Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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27
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Deguines N, Lorrilliere R, Dozières A, Bessa-Gomes C, Chiron F. Any despot at my table? Competition among native and introduced bird species at garden birdfeeders in winter. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 734:139263. [PMID: 32475721 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139263] [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: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Garden bird feeding constitutes a massive provision of food that can support bird communities, but there is a growing concern it might favour the establishment of exotic species that could be detrimental to others. How bird species compete with novel species for this anthropogenic food resources needs to be assessed. Here, we investigated competition in wintering bird communities at garden birdfeeders. We evaluated whether - and how much - bird access to resources is hampered by the presence of putative superior competing species, among which the Rose-ringed parakeet, the most abundant introduced species across Europe. Using the nation-wide citizen science scheme BirdLab, in which volunteers record in real-time bird attendance on a pair of birdfeeders during 5-minute sessions, we tested whether i) cumulative bird presence time and richness at birdfeeders, and ii) species probability of presence at birdfeeders, were influenced by three large species (the Eurasian magpie, the Eurasian collared-dove, and the Rose-ringed parakeet). Additionally, we assessed whether the Rose-ringed parakeet occupied resources significantly more than others. Presence of the Rose-ringed parakeet or the Eurasian collared-dove similarly reduced community cumulative presence time at birdfeeders, but only the dove reduced community richness. Each of the three large species influenced the presence of at least one of the six smaller species that could be separately modelled, but effects varied in strength and direction. The Rose-ringed parakeet and the Eurasian collared-dove were among the three species monopolising birdfeeders the longest, substantially more than the Eurasian magpie. Our findings confirm the competitive abilities of the large species studied, but do not suggest that garden bird feeding may alarmingly favour introduced species with detrimental effects on native species. Given the variability of large species' effects on small passerines, direct and indirect interactions among all species must be examined to fully understand the ecological net effects at stake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Deguines
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405 Orsay, France; Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 57 rue Cuvier 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Romain Lorrilliere
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405 Orsay, France; Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 57 rue Cuvier 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Anne Dozières
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 57 rue Cuvier 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Carmen Bessa-Gomes
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405 Orsay, France.
| | - François Chiron
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405 Orsay, France.
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28
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Aberle M, Langwig K, Adelman J, Hawley D. Effects of bird feeder density on the foraging behaviors of a backyard songbird (the House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus) subject to seasonal disease outbreaks. CAN J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Provisioning of wildlife, such as backyard bird feeding, can alter animal behavior and ecology in diverse ways. For species that are highly dependent on supplemental resources, it is critical to understand how variation in the degree of provisioning, as occurs naturally across backyards, alters wildlife behavior and ecology in ways potentially relevant to disease spread. We experimentally manipulated feeder density at suburban sites and tracked local abundance, foraging behaviors, body mass, and movement in House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L. Statius Müller, 1776)), the primary host of a pathogen commonly spread at feeders. Sites with high feeder density harbored higher local House Finch abundance, and birds at these sites had longer feeding bouts and total time on feeders relative to sites with low feeder density. House Finches at high-density feeder sites had lower residual body mass despite greater apparent feeder access. Finally, birds first recorded at low-density feeder sites were more likely to move to neighboring high-density feeder sites than vice versa. Because local abundance and time spent on feeders have both been linked with disease risk in this species, the effects of heterogeneity in bird feeder density on these traits may have important consequences for disease dynamics in this system and more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.A. Aberle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - K.E. Langwig
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - J.S. Adelman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - D.M. Hawley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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29
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Lawson B, Robinson RA, Parmar M, Killick R, Cunningham AA, MacDonald SJ. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A residues in supplementary foods used for wild birds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 731:138851. [PMID: 32408204 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138851] [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: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Provision of supplementary food for garden birds is practiced on a large scale in multiple countries. While this resource has benefits for wild bird populations, concern has been expressed regarding the potential for contamination of foodstuffs by mycotoxins, and the implications this might have for wildlife health. We investigated whether aflatoxin (AF) and ochratoxin A (OA) residues are present in foodstuffs sold for wild bird consumption at point of sale in Great Britain using high pressure liquid chromatography analyses. The hypothesis that production of these mycotoxins occurs in British climatic conditions, or under storage conditions after the point of sale, was tested under experimental conditions but was not proved by our study. While the majority of peanut samples were negative for AF residues, 10% (10/98) of samples at point of sale and 11% (13/119) of those across the storage and climate exposure treatment replicates contained AFB1 that exceeded the maximum permitted limit of 20 μg/kg. No significant difference was found in the detection of either mycotoxin between branded and non-branded products. The clinical significance, if any, of exposure of wild birds to mycotoxins requires further investigation. Nevertheless, the precautionary principle should be adopted and best practice steps to reduce the likelihood of wild bird exposure to mycotoxins are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Lawson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
| | - R A Robinson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU, UK
| | - M Parmar
- Fera Science Ltd, National Agri-Food Innovation Campus, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
| | - R Killick
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - A A Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - S J MacDonald
- Fera Science Ltd, National Agri-Food Innovation Campus, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
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Urbanization and Human Population Favor Species Richness of Alien Birds. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12020072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Human activities like urbanization and agriculture affect spatial biodiversity patterns. The presence and activities of humans richly benefit alien species, but native species usually decline in human-impacted areas. Considering that the richness of alien and native species are inter-related, we explored the effect of human population density, human-related land uses (agricultural and urban), and natural land area on avian (alien and native) species richness of Massachusetts for two time periods using Generalized Additive Models. Avian alien species richness increased with native species richness in both time periods. Despite the predominant role of native species richness as a major driver of alien species richness, human activities play an important additional role in shaping species richness patterns of established aliens. Human-related land uses (urban and agricultural) and human population favored alien species richness in both time periods. Counter to expectations, human activities were also positively associated to native avian species richness. Possible explanations of these patterns may include habitat heterogeneity, increased availability of resources, and reduced predation risk.
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31
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Goumas M, Boogert NJ, Kelley LA. Urban herring gulls use human behavioural cues to locate food. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191959. [PMID: 32257348 PMCID: PMC7062050 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
While many animals are negatively affected by urbanization, some species appear to thrive in urban environments. Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) are commonly found in urban areas and often scavenge food discarded by humans. Despite increasing interactions between humans and gulls, little is known about the cognitive underpinnings of urban gull behaviour and to what extent they use human behavioural cues when making foraging decisions. We investigated whether gulls are more attracted to anthropogenic items when they have been handled by a human. We first presented free-living gulls with two identical food objects, one of which was handled, and found that gulls preferentially pecked at the handled food object. We then tested whether gulls' attraction to human-handled objects generalizes to non-food items by presenting a new sample of gulls with two non-food objects, where, again, only one was handled. While similar numbers of gulls approached food and non-food objects in both experiments, they did not peck at handled non-food objects above chance levels. These results suggest that urban gulls generally show low levels of neophobia, but that they use human handling as a cue specifically in the context of food. These behaviours may contribute to gulls' successful exploitation of urban environments.
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Austin CM, Ramp D. Flight responses of eastern gray kangaroos to benign or harmful human behavior. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:13824-13834. [PMID: 31938484 PMCID: PMC6953569 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, wilderness is being converted for rural and agricultural land use. In countryside landscapes, many habitat structures remain intact, providing suitable habitat for wildlife species that can accurately assess novel risks and develop tolerance to benign disturbances. Associative learning that promotes avoidance and also facilitates desensitization to benign disturbance is key to persisting in these landscapes. Conversely, learning to distinguish and avoid negative interactions with humans, like hunting, is vital. To determine if eastern gray kangaroos are capable of learning from previous interactions with humans, we tested the flight responses of wild kangaroos which have previously experienced either low or high frequencies of harmful and benign encounters with humans. We found that eastern gray kangaroos rapidly habituated to benign disturbance as there was no significant difference in assessment distance between groups that previously experienced low or high frequencies of disturbance. The threat of harmful disturbances was not as quickly learnt, as groups that experienced low frequencies of harmful disturbance delayed flight longer than those experiencing frequent harm. We found that the influence of environmental and group parameters on a kangaroo's decision to flee depended on the intent and frequency of previous interactions with humans. Our study indicates that kangaroos are learning from previous encounters with humans, correctly assessing novel risks which may be contributing to their persistence in countryside landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. Austin
- Centre for Compassionate ConservationFaculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneyUltimoNSWAustralia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate ConservationFaculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneyUltimoNSWAustralia
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33
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Cooper JE, Cooper ME, King S. Feeding garden birds. Vet Rec 2019; 185:56. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.l4593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Simon King
- John E Haith Ltd; Genesis Way, Grimsby Lincolnshire DN37 9TU
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