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Hong I, Wolfe JM. Research on re-searching: interrupted foraging is not disrupted foraging. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2024; 9:30. [PMID: 38748189 PMCID: PMC11096138 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-024-00556-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In classic visual search, observers typically search for the presence of a target in a scene or display. In foraging tasks, there may be multiple targets in the same display (or "patch"). Observers typically search for and collect these target items in one patch until they decide to leave that patch and move to the next one. This is a highly rule-governed behavior. The current study investigated whether these rules are disrupted when the foraging is interrupted in various manners. In Experiment 1, the foraging was briefly interrupted and then resumed in the same patch. In Experiments 2 and 3, the foraging in each patch either ended voluntarily or compulsorily after a fixed amount of time. In these cases, foraging resumed in a patch only after all patches were visited. Overall, the rules of foraging remained largely intact, though Experiment 2 shows that foraging rules can be overridden by the demand characteristics of the task. The results show that participants tended to perform approximately consistently despite interruptions. The results suggest that foraging behavior in a relatively simple foraging environment is resilient and not easily disrupted by interruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Injae Hong
- Visual Attention Lab, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02135, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeremy M Wolfe
- Visual Attention Lab, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02135, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
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2
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Soares CS, Barnett AA, Scudeller VV, Borges SH. Searching for food in a concrete jungle: feeding ecology of a Psittacine assemblage (Aves, Psittacidae) in a major Amazonian city. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20220606. [PMID: 37909560 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220606] [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: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficient use of food resources is a precondition for wild species´ survival in urban environments. The feeding ecology of animals in tropical cities, however, remains poorly investigated. Here we study the feeding ecology of parrots in Manaus, a major Amazonian city, and compare the results with a parrot assemblage living in undisturbed habitats. We recorded 203 feeding bouts from eight parrot species, which consumed parts of 51 plant species. Parrot diets were dominated by native palm species (Arecaceae). Exotic plants, however, constituted an important portion of the diet of some parrots. Levin's indices, a measure of food niche width, varied from 0.40 to 0.83, indicating an overall tendency to generalist diets. Diet overlap between species was small, indicating broad resource partitioning between members of the assemblage. The diversity of plants consumed in the natural environment was greater than in the urban environment (71 species vs. 52). However, the diversity of plants consumed was similar for parrot species recorded both in natural and urban environments, indicating that occupation of the city does not imply an impoverishment in parrot diets. Creation of municipal protected areas and increasing the city afforestation would provide complementary strategies for Manaus parrot conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane S Soares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. General Rodrigo Octávio, 6200, Coroado I, 69080-900 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Ecologia de Vertebrados Terrestres, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Estrada do Bexiga, 2584, Fonte Boa, 69553225 Tefé, AM, Brazil
| | - Adrian A Barnett
- Middlesex University, Department Natural Sciences, Hendon, London NW4 4BT, England
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, 2936, 69067-375 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Departamento de Biologia, Av. Lourenço Vieira da Silva, s/n, Tirirical, 65055-310 São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Veridiana V Scudeller
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Departamento de Biologia, Av. General Rodrigo O. Jordão Ramos, 6200, 69080-900 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Sérgio H Borges
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Departamento de Biologia, Av. General Rodrigo O. Jordão Ramos, 6200, 69080-900 Manaus, AM, Brazil
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Sumasgutner P, Cunningham SJ, Hegemann A, Amar A, Watson H, Nilsson JF, Andersson MN, Isaksson C. Interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation on birds across different climate zones: A mechanistic perspective. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:2399-2420. [PMID: 36911976 PMCID: PMC10947105 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and urbanisation are among the most pervasive and rapidly growing threats to biodiversity worldwide. However, their impacts are usually considered in isolation, and interactions are rarely examined. Predicting species' responses to the combined effects of climate change and urbanisation, therefore, represents a pressing challenge in global change biology. Birds are important model taxa for exploring the impacts of both climate change and urbanisation, and their behaviour and physiology have been well studied in urban and non-urban systems. This understanding should allow interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation to be inferred, yet considerations of these interactions are almost entirely lacking from empirical research. Here, we synthesise our current understanding of the potential mechanisms that could affect how species respond to the combined effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation, with a focus on avian taxa. We discuss potential interactive effects to motivate future in-depth research on this critically important, yet overlooked, aspect of global change biology. Increased temperatures are a pronounced consequence of both urbanisation (through the urban heat island effect) and climate change. The biological impact of this warming in urban and non-urban systems will likely differ in magnitude and direction when interacting with other factors that typically vary between these habitats, such as resource availability (e.g. water, food and microsites) and pollution levels. Furthermore, the nature of such interactions may differ for cities situated in different climate types, for example, tropical, arid, temperate, continental and polar. Within this article, we highlight the potential for interactive effects of climate and urban drivers on the mechanistic responses of birds, identify knowledge gaps and propose promising future research avenues. A deeper understanding of the behavioural and physiological mechanisms mediating species' responses to urbanisation and rising temperatures will provide novel insights into ecology and evolution under global change and may help better predict future population responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Sumasgutner
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behavior and Cognition, Department of Behavioral & Cognitive BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI‐NRF Centre of ExcellenceUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Susan J. Cunningham
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI‐NRF Centre of ExcellenceUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | | | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI‐NRF Centre of ExcellenceUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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4
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Deviche P, Sweazea K, Angelier F. Past and future: Urbanization and the avian endocrine system. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 332:114159. [PMID: 36368439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Urban environments are evolutionarily novel and differ from natural environments in many respects including food and/or water availability, predation, noise, light, air quality, pathogens, biodiversity, and temperature. The success of organisms in urban environments requires physiological plasticity and adjustments that have been described extensively, including in birds residing in geographically and climatically diverse regions. These studies have revealed a few relatively consistent differences between urban and non-urban conspecifics. For example, seasonally breeding urban birds often develop their reproductive system earlier than non-urban birds, perhaps in response to more abundant trophic resources. In most instances, however, analyses of existing data indicate no general pattern distinguishing urban and non-urban birds. It is, for instance, often hypothesized that urban environments are stressful, yet the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis does not differ consistently between urban and non-urban birds. A similar conclusion is reached by comparing blood indices of metabolism. The origin of these disparities remains poorly understood, partly because many studies are correlative rather than aiming at establishing causality, which effectively limits our ability to formulate specific hypotheses regarding the impacts of urbanization on wildlife. We suggest that future research will benefit from prioritizing mechanistic approaches to identify environmental factors that shape the phenotypic responses of organisms to urbanization and the neuroendocrine and metabolic bases of these responses. Further, it will be critical to elucidate whether factors affect these responses (a) cumulatively or synergistically; and (b) differentially as a function of age, sex, reproductive status, season, and mobility within the urban environment. Research to date has used various taxa that differ greatly not only phylogenetically, but also with regard to ecological requirements, social systems, propensity to consume anthropogenic food, and behavioral responses to human presence. Researchers may instead benefit from standardizing approaches to examine a small number of representative models with wide geographic distribution and that occupy diverse urban ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Deviche
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Karen Sweazea
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Frederic Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372, CNRS - La Rochelle Universite, Villiers en Bois, France
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5
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Chiatante G. Habitat use of the mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus): the importance of urban areas and permanent crops. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.22041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gianpasquale Chiatante
- University of Pavia, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pavia, Italy; e-mail:
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6
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Sawyer SJ, Eubanks MD, Beasley JC, Barton BT, Puckett RT, Tomeček JM, Tomberlin JK. Vertebrate and invertebrate competition for carrion in human‐impacted environments depends on abiotic factors. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Micky D. Eubanks
- Department of Entomology Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | - Brandon T. Barton
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Robert T. Puckett
- Department of Entomology Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
| | - John M. Tomeček
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
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7
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von Merten S, Oliveira FG, Tapisso JT, Pustelnik A, Mathias MDL, Rychlik L. Urban populations of shrews show larger behavioural differences among individuals than rural populations. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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8
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Lato KA, Madigan DJ, Veit RR, Thorne LH. Closely related gull species show contrasting foraging strategies in an urban environment. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23619. [PMID: 34880306 PMCID: PMC8655058 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02821-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The expansion of urban landscapes has both negative and positive effects on wildlife. Understanding how different species respond to urbanization is key to assessing how urban landscapes influence regional wildlife behavior and ecosystem structure. Gulls are often described as strong urban adapters, but few studies have explored species-specific differences in habitat use. Here, we use GPS tracking in conjunction with stable isotope analysis (SIA) to quantify the habitat use and trophic ecology of great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) and herring gulls (L. argentatus) in an urbanized area. Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) of foraging locations revealed significant differences in the habitat use between species. Great black-backed gulls foraged primarily in marine habitats and herring gulls foraged primarily in specific urban habitats (e.g., landfills, dumpsters) and showed higher site fidelity in terms of the proportion of foraging sites revisited. Further, great black-backed gulls had significantly higher δ15N and δ13C than herring gulls, reflecting the use of marine, rather than urban, food sources. This study highlights the variability in urban habitat utilization among closely related species, assesses stable isotope signatures of urban diets in wild birds, and discusses ecological implications of the relative contribution of urban and marine foraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Lato
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
| | - D J Madigan
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - R R Veit
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island (CSI), CUNY, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - L H Thorne
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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9
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Zhang X, Wang X, Wang W, Xu R, Li C, Zhang F. Effects of Personality Traits on the Food-Scratching Behaviour and Food Intake of Japanese Quail ( Coturnix japonica). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123423. [PMID: 34944200 PMCID: PMC8697936 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123423] [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: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Scratching can help animals find more buried food and thus is an important food-searching behaviour for ground-feeding birds such as gamebirds. Due to the existence of animal personality, individuals within a population may exhibit different food-scratching patterns. This study tested the impacts of personality traits (i.e., boldness and exploration) on food-scratching behaviour and food intake of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). We found that boldness and exploration were repeatable, respectively, and were correlated. When entering a food patch, proactive (i.e., bolder and more explorative) quails scratched for food earlier and more frequently with a longer time. Frequent and longer food-scratching may motivate longer foraging time in proactive quails which can get more food intake. The correlation between personality and food intake was sex dependent. Proactive females had more food intake during the first half of the foraging process and the correlation became weak as time went on. The pattern was opposite in males. In conclusion, our study suggests that personality traits have significant effects on animals’ food-searching strategies which may be correlated with their foraging success and fitness. Abstract Overall foraging success and ultimate fitness of an individual animal is highly dependent on their food-searching strategies, which are the focus of foraging theory. Considering the consistent inter-individual behavioural differences, personality may have a fundamental impact on animal food-scratching behaviour, which remains largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate how personality traits (i.e., boldness and exploration) affect the food-scratching behaviour and food intake of the domestic Japanese quail Coturnix japonica during the foraging process. The quails exhibited significant repeatability in boldness and exploration, which also constituted a behavioural syndrome. More proactive, that is, bolder and more explorative, individuals scratched the ground more frequently for food and began scratching earlier in a patch. Individuals that scratched more frequently had a longer foraging time and a higher food intake. The correlation between personality traits and temporary food intake during every 2 min varied over time and was sex dependent, with females exhibiting a positive correlation during the first half of the foraging stage and males after the initial stage. These findings suggest that personality traits affect the food-scratching behaviour and, thus, the food intake of quails. Our study provides insights into the impact of personality traits on animal’s foraging behaviour by influencing their food-searching strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.X.); (F.Z.)
| | - Xue Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.X.); (F.Z.)
| | - Wei Wang
- Gangcha Forestry and Grassland Bureau, Qinghai 812300, China;
| | - Renxin Xu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.X.); (F.Z.)
| | - Chunlin Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.X.); (F.Z.)
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Feng Zhang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China; (X.Z.); (X.W.); (R.X.); (F.Z.)
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10
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Marques P, Zandonà E, Mazzoni R, El‐Sabaawi R. Individual variation in feeding morphology, not diet, can facilitate the success of generalist species in urban ecosystems. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:18342-18356. [PMID: 35003677 PMCID: PMC8717290 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Generalist species dominate urban ecosystems. The success of urban generalists is often related to a plastic diet and feeding traits that allow them to take advantage of a variety of food resources provided by humans in cities. The classification of a species as a generalist is commonly based on mean estimates of diet- and feeding-related traits. However, there is increasing evidence that a generalist population can consist of individual specialists. In such cases, estimates based on mean can hide important individual variation that can explain trophic ecology and the success of urban dwellers. Here, we focus on guppies, Poecilia reticulata, a widespread alien fish species which has invaded both urban and non-urban systems, to explore the effect of urbanization on individual diet and feeding morphology (cranium shape). Our results show that guppies in urban and non-urban populations are not individual specialists, having a similar generalist diet despite the high population density. However, there is important individual variation in cranium shape which allow urban guppies to feed more efficiently on highly nutritious food. Our data suggest that individual variation in feeding efficiency can be a critical overlooked trait that facilitates the success of urban generalists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piatã Marques
- Biology DepartmentUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Eugenia Zandonà
- Departamento de EcologiaUniversidade do Estado do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrasil
| | - Rosana Mazzoni
- Departamento de EcologiaUniversidade do Estado do Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrasil
| | - Rana El‐Sabaawi
- Biology DepartmentUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
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11
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Peneaux C, Grainger R, Lermite F, Machovsky-Capuska GE, Gaston T, Griffin AS. Detrimental effects of urbanization on the diet, health, and signal coloration of an ecologically successful alien bird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 796:148828. [PMID: 34271392 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Theory suggests that overcrowding and increased competition in urban environments might be detrimental to individual condition in avian populations. Unfavourable living conditions could be compounded by changes in dietary niche with additional consequences for individual quality of urban birds. We analysed the isotopic signatures, signal coloration, body condition, parasitic loads (feather mites and coccidia), and immune responsiveness of 191 adult common (Indian) mynas (Acridotheres tristis) captured in 19 localities with differing levels of urbanization. The isotopic signature of myna feathers differed across low and high urbanized habitats, with a reduced isotopic niche breadth found in highly urbanized birds. This suggests that birds in high urban environments may occupy a smaller foraging niche to the one of less urbanized birds. In addition, higher degrees of urbanization were associated with a decrease in carotenoid-based coloration, higher ectoparasite loads and higher immune responsiveness. This pattern of results suggests that the health status of mynas from more urbanized environments was poorer than mynas from less modified habitats. Our findings are consistent with the theory that large proportions of individual birds that would otherwise die under natural conditions survive due to prevailing top-down and bottom-up ecological processes in cities. Detrimental urban ecological conditions and search for more favourable, less crowded habitats offers the first reasonable explanation for why an ecological invader like the common myna continues to spread within its global invasive range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Peneaux
- School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
| | - Richard Grainger
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Françoise Lermite
- School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | | | - Troy Gaston
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Andrea S Griffin
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
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12
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Bhattacharya S, Roy K, Saha GK, Mazumdar S. Habitat-use patterns of common myna, Asian pied starling and jungle myna in an urban landscape, India. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00900-z] [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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13
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Grade AM, Lerman SB, Warren PS. Perilous choices: landscapes of fear for adult birds reduces nestling condition across an urban gradient. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Grade
- Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology University of Massachusetts 160 Holdsworth Way Amherst Massachusetts 01003 USA
| | - Susannah B. Lerman
- USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station 160 Holdsworth Way Amherst Massachusetts 01003 USA
| | - Paige S. Warren
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts 160 Holdsworth Way Amherst Massachusetts 01003 USA
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14
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Urban Pit-Building Insects Are Attracted to Walls for Multiple Reasons. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10070635. [PMID: 34356490 PMCID: PMC8301029 DOI: 10.3390/biology10070635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Wormlions are small fly larvae that dig pit-traps in loose soil to hunt ants and other prey. Their natural habitat is caves, but they are also abundant in Mediterranean cities below man-made shelters, even in thin layers of soil. They are especially common next to building walls. First, we show that wormlions are indeed closer to walls than expected by chance. Next, we tested several explanations for this observation: the possible effect of soil depth, soil particle size, shade, and prey abundance. We could not find a single explanation for the wormlion’s proximity to walls, and in each site, a different set of explanations held true. The final step was to conduct an experiment. We placed wormlions on clear sand either in the center or next to the wall and observed whether they moved after a day. Those placed in the center moved over longer distances, and we interpret this result to indicate that those adjacent to the wall are more satisfied with their location. Our study provides an example for how animals take advantage of human-made changes in the habitat and prosper in urban habitats. Abstract Whereas most animals find urban habitats to be inferior to natural habitats, some “urban specialist” species thrive there. Wormlions present such an example. Common in Mediterranean cities, they cluster in thin layers of loose soil below man-made shelters. Wormlions are fly larvae that dig pit-traps in loose soil and hunt small arthropods. Our first aim was to determine whether wormlion pits accumulate next to walls. Wormlion pits were indeed closer to walls than expected by chance at most of the study sites. We examined possible factors behind this apparent preference, combining field observations and experiments, laboratory work, and theoretical analysis. We examined the effect of soil depth, particle size, shade, and prey abundance. Each factor provided a partial explanation for the wormlions’ proximity to walls, but none provided an overall explanation. We developed a spatially explicit simulation model, demonstrating under which conditions wall-adjacent positions are favored. Finally, we created artificial microhabitats, and placed wormlions either in the center or next to the wall. The wormlions in the center moved over longer distances than those next to the wall and did so more in the wall’s direction. The abundance of walls may help to explain the success of wormlions in urban habitats.
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15
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Skarbek CJ, Ebeling A, Meyer ST, Schulze C, Sepperl A, Pufal G. Testing a highly replicable and standardized method to rapidly assess seed removal probabilities. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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16
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Silva-Alves VD, Sander NL, Nogueira OMA. First record of leucism in Megaceryle torquata (Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae) in Pantanal, Brazil. BRAZ J BIOL 2021; 82:e236178. [PMID: 33825756 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.236178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- V D Silva-Alves
- Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso - UNEMAT, Centro de Pesquisa de Limnologia, Biodiversidade, Etnobiologia do Pantanal - CELBE, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Cáceres, MT, Brasil
| | - N L Sander
- Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso - UNEMAT, Centro de Pesquisa de Limnologia, Biodiversidade, Etnobiologia do Pantanal - CELBE, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Cáceres, MT, Brasil
| | - O M A Nogueira
- Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso - UNEMAT, Centro de Pesquisa de Limnologia, Biodiversidade, Etnobiologia do Pantanal - CELBE, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Cáceres, MT, Brasil
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Abstract
Urbanization poses a major threat to biodiversity worldwide. We focused on birds as a well-studied taxon of interest, in order to review literature on traits that influence responses to urbanization. We review 226 papers that were published between 1979 and 2020, and aggregate information on five major groups of traits that have been widely studied: ecological traits, life history, physiology, behavior and genetic traits. Some robust findings on trait changes in individual species as well as bird communities emerge. A lack of specific food and shelter resources has led to the urban bird community being dominated by generalist species, while specialist species show decline. Urbanized birds differ in the behavioral traits, showing an increase in song frequency and amplitude, and bolder behavior, as compared to rural populations of the same species. Differential food resources and predatory pressure results in changes in life history traits, including prolonged breeding duration, and increases in clutch and brood size to compensate for lower survival. Other species-specific changes include changes in hormonal state, body state, and genetic differences from rural populations. We identify gaps in research, with a paucity of studies in tropical cities and a need for greater examination of traits that influence persistence and success in native vs. introduced populations.
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Corsini M, Schöll EM, Di Lecce I, Chatelain M, Dubiec A, Szulkin M. Growing in the city: Urban evolutionary ecology of avian growth rates. Evol Appl 2021; 14:69-84. [PMID: 33519957 PMCID: PMC7819560 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rapid environmental change driven by urbanization offers a unique insight into the adaptive potential of urban-dwelling organisms. Urban-driven phenotypic differentiation is increasingly often demonstrated, but the impact of urbanization (here modelled as the percentage of impervious surface (ISA) around each nestbox) on offspring developmental rates and subsequent survival remains poorly understood. Furthermore, the role of selection on urban-driven phenotypic divergence was rarely investigated to date. METHODS AND RESULTS Data on nestling development and body mass were analysed in a gradient of urbanization set in Warsaw, Poland, in two passerine species: great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Increasing levels of impervious surface area (ISA) delayed the age of fastest growth in blue tits. Nestling body mass was also negatively affected by increasing ISA 5 and 10 days after hatching in great tits, and 10 and 15 days in blue tits, respectively. High levels of ISA also increased nestling mortality 5 and 10 days after hatching in both species. An analysis of selection differentials performed for two levels of urbanization (low and high ISA) revealed a positive association between mass at day 2 and survival at fledging. DISCUSSION This study confirms the considerable negative impact of imperviousness-a proxy for urbanization level-on offspring development, body mass and survival, and highlights increased selection on avian mass at hatching in a high ISA environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eva Maria Schöll
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game ManagementUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Irene Di Lecce
- Centre of New TechnologiesUniversity of WarsawWarsawPoland
| | - Marion Chatelain
- Applied and Trophic EcologyDepartment of ZoologyUniversity of InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Anna Dubiec
- Museum and Institute of ZoologyPolish Academy of SciencesWarsawPoland
| | - Marta Szulkin
- Centre of New TechnologiesUniversity of WarsawWarsawPoland
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Haas AR, Kross SM, Kneitel JM. Avian community composition, but not richness, differs between urban and exurban parks. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juaa028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Urban development alters landscape structure and available resources, potentially threatening avian diversity worldwide. However, it is unclear how bird communities respond in areas currently undergoing urban development, particularly in the non-breeding season. We examined avian communities at 8 parks in urban (within established urban matrix; >50% built cover) and 9 parks in exurban (within adjacent grassland; 5–20% built cover) areas in Sacramento County, CA. We measured bird species and abundance, conducting five line-transect surveys per park (85 total). We investigated factors influencing avian assemblage, including local habitat features (land cover, number of trees, fruiting trees and tree species, tree height and diameter at breast height, park size, park age), and landscape features (land cover within 500 m and distance to riparian habitat). Fifty bird species, including 15 migrants, were observed. Total species richness and abundance at urban and exurban parks was not significantly different, but community assemblages differed significantly. Park area positively predicted species richness. Abundance was negatively associated with in-park percent built cover, average number of fruiting trees and landscape-scale percent water cover. Species composition changes were associated with distance to riparian habitat and landscape percent grass cover for all but one exurban park; and with tree height, DBH and park and landscape percent tree cover for urban parks. The expansion of exurban areas in many parts of the world poses a significant risk for natural habitat loss. Parks in such areas should be planned to harbor some of the displaced biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R Haas
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - Sara M Kross
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Jamie M Kneitel
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
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Santos EG, Paula WSD. First record of leucism for the Toco Toucan, Ramphastos toco (Piciformes: Ramphastidae). BRAZ J BIOL 2020; 80:680-681. [DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.218532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Huang P, St.Mary CM, Kimball RT. Habitat urbanization and stress response are primary predictors of personality variation in northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis). JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juaa015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Behavioral traits that vary consistently among individuals across different contexts are often termed as ‘personality traits,’ while the correlated suite formed by those traits is called a ‘behavioral syndrome’. Both personality trait and behavioral syndrome are potentially responsive to animal ‘states’, defined as strategically relevant individual features affecting the cost-and-benefit trade-offs of behavioral actions. Both extrinsic ‘states’ (e.g. urban versus rural habitats), and intrinsic ‘states’ (e.g. sex), may shape among-individual variation in personality traits, as well as behavioral syndromes. Here, we used northern cardinals sampled from four locations to examine the effect of habitat type (urban versus rural, an extrinsic state), stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) parameters, body weight and sex (intrinsic states) on personality traits and behavioral syndrome variation. We used behavioral trials to measure five personality traits. Using principal component analysis to quantify personality traits first, followed by general linear mixed models, we found that habitat type, CORT at capture and 2-day CORT response affected some personality traits, while body weight and sex did not. Cardinals inhabiting more urbanized areas had lower CORT metabolite levels at capture and were more neophilic, less neophobic and also less aggressive than their rural conspecifics. Using structural equation modeling to construct behavioral syndromes formed by our selected personality traits, we found that urban and rural cardinals varied in the models representing syndrome structure. When utilizing the shared syndrome structural model to examine the effects of states, habitat type and 2-day CORT response appear to affect syndrome variation in a coordinated, not hierarchical, manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Huang
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, P. O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525, USA
| | - Colette M St.Mary
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, P. O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525, USA
| | - Rebecca T Kimball
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, P. O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525, USA
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Disruption of energy homeostasis by food restriction or high ambient temperature exposure affects gonadal function in male house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus). J Comp Physiol B 2020; 190:611-628. [PMID: 32712710 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-020-01295-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive success requires that individuals acquire sufficient energy resources. Restricting food availability or increasing energy expenditure (e.g., thermoregulation) inhibits reproductive development in multiple avian species, but the nature of the energy-related signal mediating this effect is unclear. To investigate this question, we examined reproductive and metabolic physiology in male house finches that either underwent moderate food restriction (FR) or were exposed to high temperature (HT), in which birds were held at a high, but not locally atypical, ambient temperature cycle (37.8 °C day, 29.4 °C night) compared to a control group (CT; 29.4 °C day, 21.1 °C night). We hypothesized that FR and HT inhibit reproductive development by lowering available metabolic fuel, in particular plasma glucose (GLU) and free fatty acids (FFA). Following FR for 4 weeks, finches lost body mass, had marginally higher plasma FFA, and experienced a 90% reduction in testis mass compared to CT birds. Four weeks of HT exposure resulted in reduced voluntary food consumption and muscle mass, as well as an 80% reduction in testis mass relative to CT birds. Both FR and HT birds expressed less testicular 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) mRNA than controls but the expression of other testicular genes measured was unaffected by either treatment. Neither treatment significantly influenced plasma GLU. This study is among the first to demonstrate a negative effect of HT on reproductive development in a wild bird. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of metabolic mediators and their involvement under various conditions of energy availability and demand.
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Do pit-building predators prefer or avoid barriers? Wormlions' preference for walls depends on light conditions. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10928. [PMID: 32616857 PMCID: PMC7331747 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67979-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ambush site selection by sit-and-wait predators is a complex process, involving biotic and abiotic considerations, which greatly affect hunting success and costs. Wormlions are fly larvae that dig pit-traps in loose soil and hunt the arthropod prey falling into their pits. They are abundant in urban environments, found below buildings that provide cover, and many of their pits are dug adjacent to walls. We examined here under what conditions wormlions prefer to dig their pits next to walls. We analysed our dataset in two ways: frequency comparisons among the different treatment combinations and a simulation null model assuming random movement. While the frequency comparisons suggested that wormlions avoided the walls under some cases, the simulation null model suggested that a combination of shallow sand and strong light in the centre led to an attraction towards the walls, independent of the wormlions’ initial location. We suggest that wall attraction results from the certain amount of shade the walls provide. We also demonstrate that shallow sand and strong illumination are unfavourable microhabitats, either leading to more frequent movement or the digging of smaller pits. We locate our results within the broader context of sit-and-wait predators and of animals’ attraction to barriers.
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Liao J, Bearup D, Fagan WF. The role of omnivory in mediating metacommunity robustness to habitat destruction. Ecology 2020; 101:e03026. [PMID: 32083738 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Omnivores have long been known to play an important role in determining the stability of ecological communities. Recent theoretical studies have suggested that they may also increase the resilience of their communities to habitat destruction, one of the major drivers of species extinctions globally. However, these outcomes were obtained for minimal food webs consisting of only a single omnivore and its prey species, while much more complex communities can be anticipated in nature. In this study, we undertake a systematic comparative analysis of the robustness of metacommunities containing various omnivory structures to habitat loss and fragmentation using a mathematical model. We observe that, in general, omnivores are better able to survive facing habitat destruction than specialist predators of similar trophic level. However, the community as a whole does not always benefit from the presence of omnivores, as they may drive their intraguild prey to extinction. We also analyze the frequency with which these modules occur in a set of empirical food webs, and demonstrate that variation in their rate of occurrence is consistent with our model predictions. Our findings demonstrate the importance of considering the complete food web in which an omnivore is embedded, suggesting that future study should focus on more holistic community analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbao Liao
- Ministry of Education's Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Wetland and Watershed Research, School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Ziyang Road 99, Nanchang, 330022, China
| | - Daniel Bearup
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences, University of Kent, Parkwood Road, Canterbury, CT2 7FS, United Kingdom
| | - William F Fagan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA
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Haase CG, Fletcher RJ, Slone DH, Reid JP, Butler SM. Traveling to thermal refuges during stressful temperatures leads to foraging constraints in a central-place forager. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Central-place foragers can be constrained by the distance between habitats. When an organism relies on a central place for thermal refuge, the distance to food resources can potentially constrain foraging behavior. We investigated the effect of distance between thermal refuges and forage patches of the cold-intolerant marine mammal, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), on foraging duration. We tested the alternative hypotheses of time minimization and energy maximization as a response to distance between habitats. We also determined if manatees mitigate foraging constraints with increased visits to closer thermal refuges. We used hidden Markov models to assign discrete behaviors from movement parameters as a function of water temperature and assessed the influence of distance on foraging duration in water temperatures above (> 20°C) and below (≤ 20°C) the lower critical limit of the thermoneutral zone of manatees. We found that with increased distance, manatees decreased foraging duration in cold water temperature and increased foraging duration in warmer temperatures. We also found that manatees returned to closer thermal refuges more often. Our results suggest that the spatial relationship of thermal and forage habitats can impact behavioral decisions regarding foraging. Addressing foraging behavior questions while considering thermoregulatory behavior implicates the importance of understanding changing environments on animal behavior, particularly in the face of current global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine G Haase
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Austin Peay State University, Department of Biology, Clarksville, TN, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Robert J Fletcher
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Daniel H Slone
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James P Reid
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Susan M Butler
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
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27
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Leston L, Koper N. An urban wildlife habitat experiment: conservation implications of altering management regimes on animals and plants along urban and rural rights-of-way. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juz013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Biodiversity along rights-of-way (ROWs) can decline due to local-scale management, including frequent urban mowing and spraying, or with increasing amount of urban infrastructure surrounding those grassy spaces. Distinguishing effects of mowing regime from effects of surrounding urban land are necessary to determine what management strategies effectively conserve wildlife in different landscapes, and to justify changes in management that could increase populations of weeds. We used a manipulative Before/After-Control/Impact (BACI) experiment in 17 transmission line ROWs during 2007–2009, along an urbanization gradient, to disentangle effects of mowing frequency and the amount of urban land (buildings, hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt) surrounding ROWs. In the BACI study, we halted mowing and spraying for 1 year in five urban ROWs, introduced two rounds of mowing per year in three rural ROWs, and compared vegetation and arthropods found within these manipulated ROWs and within three urban and six rural control ROWs. European skipper butterflies Thymelicus lineola, lepidopteran biomass in herbaceous vegetation, milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and Canada thistle Cirsium arvense increased when mowing and spraying were halted for one year. Conversely, monarch butterflies Danaus plexippus, legume cover and dandelion Taraxacum officinale increased when mowing was introduced to rural ROWs. To increase taller butterfly resource plants while still controlling weeds within urban ROWs, we recommend reducing management frequency within the interior of ROWs while maintaining frequent management along ROW borders that are adjacent to infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Leston
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, 220 Sinnott Building, 70 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405, Biological Sciences Bldg, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicola Koper
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, 220 Sinnott Building, 70 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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De León LF, Sharpe DMT, Gotanda KM, Raeymaekers JAM, Chaves JA, Hendry AP, Podos J. Urbanization erodes niche segregation in Darwin's finches. Evol Appl 2019; 12:1329-1343. [PMID: 31417618 PMCID: PMC6691225 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is influencing patterns of biological evolution in ways that are only beginning to be explored. One potential effect of urbanization is in modifying ecological resource distributions that underlie niche differences and that thus promote and maintain species diversification. Few studies have assessed such modifications, or their potential evolutionary consequences, in the context of ongoing adaptive radiation. We study this effect in Darwin's finches on the Galápagos Islands, by quantifying feeding preferences and diet niche partitioning across sites with different degrees of urbanization. We found higher finch density in urban sites and that feeding preferences and diets at urban sites skew heavily toward human food items. Furthermore, we show that finches at urban sites appear to be accustomed to the presence of people, compared with birds at sites with few people. In addition, we found that human behavior via the tendency to feed birds at non-urban but tourist sites is likely an important driver of finch preferences for human foods. Site differences in diet and feeding behavior have resulted in larger niche breadth within finch species and wider niche overlap between species at the urban sites. Both factors effectively minimize niche differences that would otherwise facilitate interspecies coexistence. These findings suggest that both human behavior and ongoing urbanization in Galápagos are starting to erode ecological differences that promote and maintain adaptive radiation in Darwin's finches. Smoothing of adaptive landscapes underlying diversification represents a potentially important yet underappreciated consequence of urbanization. Overall, our findings accentuate the fragility of the initial stages of adaptive radiation in Darwin's finches and raise concerns about the fate of the Galápagos ecosystems in the face of increasing urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis F. De León
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Massachusetts BostonBostonMassachusetts
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de DrogasInstituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT‐AIP)Panamá CityPanamá
| | - Diana M. T. Sharpe
- Redpath Museum, Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontréalQuebecCanada
| | - Kiyoko M. Gotanda
- Redpath Museum, Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontréalQuebecCanada
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Joost A. M. Raeymaekers
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of BiologyNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary GenomicsUniversity of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Jaime A. Chaves
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y AmbientalesUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Diego de Robles y PampiteQuitoEcuador
- Galápagos Science CenterPuerto Baquerizo MorenoGalápagosEcuador
| | - Andrew P. Hendry
- Redpath Museum, Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontréalQuebecCanada
| | - Jeffrey Podos
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusetts
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Britton JR, Gutmann Roberts C, Amat Trigo F, Nolan ET, De Santis V. Predicting the ecological impacts of an alien invader: Experimental approaches reveal the trophic consequences of competition. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:1066-1078. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Robert Britton
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Bournemouth University Poole UK
| | | | - Fatima Amat Trigo
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Bournemouth University Poole UK
- Departmento de Zoología y Antropología Física Universidad de Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - Emma T. Nolan
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Bournemouth University Poole UK
| | - Vanessa De Santis
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Bournemouth University Poole UK
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences University of Insubria Varese Italy
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31
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Effects of park size, peri-urban forest spillover, and environmental filtering on diversity, structure, and morphology of ant assemblages in urban park. Urban Ecosyst 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-00851-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Samocha Y, Scharf I. Comparison of wormlion behavior under man-made and natural shelters: urban wormlions more strongly prefer shaded, fine-sand microhabitats, construct larger pits and respond faster to prey. Curr Zool 2019; 66:91-98. [PMID: 32467709 PMCID: PMC7245013 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban habitats differ from their natural surroundings in various aspects, such as a higher temperature and a distinct species composition. It is therefore not surprising that animal behavior too differs between these habitat types. We studied the foraging and habitat selection behavior of a pit-building predator, a wormlion, originating from either an urban or a more natural site. Wormlions occur in nature under structures that provide shelter from sunlight and rain, such as caves, and are also common in cities, occurring under artificial shelters. Wormlions construct pit-traps to hunt arthropods, and the pits constructed by urban wormlions were larger than those constructed by wormlions from caves. Urban wormlions responded faster to prey falling into their pit, probably leading to a higher capture success. We suggest that these 2 findings indicate the higher investment of urban wormlions in foraging, resulting from the higher abundance of potential prey in the city. Urban wormlions were choosier regarding their preferred microhabitat. While both fine sand and shaded microhabitats were preferred by wormlions, urban wormlions demonstrated a greater preference for such conditions. We suggest that relocation is more likely to lead wormlions in cities to find microhabitats of a higher quality compared with wormlions inhabiting caves. This is probably due to the larger areas in the city available for wormlions. Wormlions from the caves possessed more lipids, suggesting that they employ a conservative growth strategy, intended to contend with the uncertainty of prey arrival, in contrast to the city, where potential prey are more abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehonatan Samocha
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inon Scharf
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Callaghan CT, Major RE, Wilshire JH, Martin JM, Kingsford RT, Cornwell WK. Generalists are the most urban‐tolerant of birds: a phylogenetically controlled analysis of ecological and life history traits using a novel continuous measure of bird responses to urbanization. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Corey T. Callaghan
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Richard E. Major
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
- Australian Museum Res. Inst Sydney NSW Australia
| | - John H. Wilshire
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - John M. Martin
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
- Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Richard T. Kingsford
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - William K. Cornwell
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
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Giraudeau M, Toomey MB, Hutton P, McGraw KJ. Expression of and choice for condition-dependent carotenoid-based color in an urbanizing context. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Giraudeau
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, E. Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Matthew B Toomey
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Pierce Hutton
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, E. Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Kevin J McGraw
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, E. Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Existing ecological theory applies to urban environments. LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11355-018-0351-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Abstract
Foraging decisions tend to drive individuals toward maximising energetic gains within a patchy environment. This study aims to determine the extent to which rainfall, and associated changes in food availability, can explain foraging decisions within a patchy urbanised landscape, using the Australian white ibis as a model species. Ibis density, food consumption rates and food abundance (both natural and anthropogenic) were recorded during dry and wet weather within urban parks in Sydney, Australia. Rainfall influenced ibis density in these urban parks. Of the four parks assessed, the site with the highest level of anthropogenic food and the lowest abundance of natural food (earthworms), irrespective of weather, was observed to have three times the density of ibis. Rainfall significantly increased the rate of earthworm consumption as well as their relative availability in all sites. Overall, these density and consumption measures indicate that anthropogenic derived foods, mainly from direct feeding by people, explain the apparent distribution of ibis across urban parks. However, there was evidence of prey-switching when the availability of natural foods increased following rainfall, perhaps reflecting selection of particular nutrients.
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Coogan SCP, Raubenheimer D, Zantis SP, Machovsky‐Capuska GE. Multidimensional nutritional ecology and urban birds. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sean C. P. Coogan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - David Raubenheimer
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Simon P. Zantis
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Gabriel E. Machovsky‐Capuska
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
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Rozen-Rechels D, Dupoué A, Meylan S, Decencière B, Guingand S, Le Galliard JF. Water restriction in viviparous lizards causes transgenerational effects on behavioral anxiety and immediate effects on exploration behavior. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2443-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Galbraith JA, Jones DN, Beggs JR, Parry K, Stanley MC. Urban Bird Feeders Dominated by a Few Species and Individuals. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Griffin AS, Netto K, Peneaux C. Neophilia, innovation and learning in an urbanized world: a critical evaluation of mixed findings. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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An experimental evaluation of foraging decisions in urban and natural forest populations of Anolis lizards. Urban Ecosyst 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-017-0654-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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West EH, Henry WR, Goldenberg W, Peery MZ. Influence of food subsidies on the foraging ecology of a synanthropic species in protected areas. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elena H. West
- University of Wisconsin–Madison 1630 Linden Drive Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
| | - William R. Henry
- University of California, Santa Cruz 1156 High Street Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
| | | | - M. Zachariah Peery
- University of Wisconsin–Madison 1630 Linden Drive Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA
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Vall-llosera M, Llimona F, de Cáceres M, Sales S, Sol D. Competition, niche opportunities and the successful invasion of natural habitats. Biol Invasions 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-016-1246-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Salleh Hudin N, Strubbe D, Teyssier A, De Neve L, White J, Janssens GPJ, Lens L. Predictable food supplies induce plastic shifts in avian scaled body mass. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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Urbanization is not associated with increased abundance or decreased richness of terrestrial animals - dissecting the literature through meta-analysis. Urban Ecosyst 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-016-0549-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Shochat E, Lerman S, Fernández-Juricic E. Birds in Urban Ecosystems: Population Dynamics, Community Structure, Biodiversity, and Conservation. AGRONOMY MONOGRAPHS 2015. [DOI: 10.2134/agronmonogr55.c4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Shochat
- Global Inst. of Sustainability; Arizona State University; Box 875411 Tempe AZ 85287
| | - Susannah Lerman
- Dep. of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; University of Massachusetts; 319 Morrill Science Ctr.; South, 611 N. Pleasant St. Amherst MA 01003
| | - Esteban Fernández-Juricic
- Dep. of Biological Sciences; Purdue University; G-420 Lily Hall, 915 W. State St West Lafayette IN 47907
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Santana AFK, McClure M, Ethier J, Despland E. Exploration costs promote conservative collective foraging in the social caterpillar Malacosoma disstria. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Exnerová A, Ježová D, Štys P, Doktorovová L, Rojas B, Mappes J. Different reactions to aposematic prey in 2 geographically distant populations of great tits. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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Foraging and habitat use of eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) in an urban landscape. Urban Ecosyst 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-015-0463-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Nowak EM, Schuett GW, Theimer TC, Sisk TD, Nishikawa K. Does short-term provisioning of resources to prey result in behavioral shifts by rattlesnakes? J Wildl Manage 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erika M. Nowak
- Colorado Plateau Research Station; Northern Arizona University; Box 5614 Flagstaff AZ 86011 USA
| | - Gordon W. Schuett
- Department of Biology and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience; Georgia State University; 33 Gilmer Street, S.E., Unit 8 Atlanta GA 30303-3088 USA
| | - Tad C. Theimer
- Department of Biological Sciences; Northern Arizona University; Box 5640 Flagstaff AZ 86011 USA
| | - Thomas D. Sisk
- Department of Environmental Sciences; Northern Arizona University; Box 5694 Flagstaff AZ 86011 USA
| | - Kiisa Nishikawa
- Department of Biological Sciences; Northern Arizona University; Box 5640 Flagstaff AZ 86011 USA
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