1
|
Nota A, Bertolino S, Tiralongo F, Santovito A. Adaptation to bioinvasions: When does it occur? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17362. [PMID: 38822565 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
The presence of alien species represents a major cause of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss worldwide, constituting a critical environmental challenge of our time. Despite sometimes experiencing reduced propagule pressure, leading to a reduced genetic diversity and an increased chance of inbreeding depression, alien invaders are often able to thrive in the habitats of introduction, giving rise to the so-called "genetic paradox" of biological invasions. The adaptation of alien species to the new habitats is therefore a complex aspect of biological invasions, encompassing genetic, epigenetic, and ecological processes. Albeit numerous studies and reviews investigated the mechanistic foundation of the invaders' success, and aimed to solve the genetic paradox, still remains a crucial oversight regarding the temporal context in which adaptation takes place. Given the profound knowledge and management implications, this neglected aspect of invasion biology should receive more attention when examining invaders' ability to thrive in the habitats of introduction. Here, we discuss the adaptation mechanisms exhibited by alien species with the purpose of highlighting the timing of their occurrence during the invasion process. We analyze each stage of the invasion separately, providing evidence that adaptation mechanisms play a role in all of them. However, these mechanisms vary across the different stages of invasion, and are also influenced by other factors, such as the transport speed, the reproduction type of the invader, and the presence of human interventions. Finally, we provide insights into the implications for management, and identify knowledge gaps, suggesting avenues for future research that can shed light on species adaptability. This, in turn, will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of biological invasions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nota
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Ente Fauna Marina Mediterranea, Scientific Organization for Research and Conservation of Marine Biodiversity, Avola, Italy
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Tiralongo
- Ente Fauna Marina Mediterranea, Scientific Organization for Research and Conservation of Marine Biodiversity, Avola, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- National Research Council, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alfredo Santovito
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Grundei LL, Schöttes FM, Gethöffer F, Tost D, Kluge L, Siebert U, Pees M. Human-Wildlife Interaction-A Social Survey. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:808. [PMID: 38473194 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
With the results of a survey presented in this paper, we provide insight into public attitudes towards dealing with wildlife. Based on 1569 data sets derived from participating stakeholders, we inquired about the individual experience the participants had made with wild animals, and asked about their personal engagement, attitude towards management, and emotions involved and tried to evaluate basic contextual knowledge. As a result, we discovered a positive effect showing that a strong opinion about dealing with wildlife is associated with increasing contextual knowledge. People that are experienced in and engaged in wildlife conservation expressed significantly stronger positive emotions in this context. We conclude that education is essential in dealing with wildlife responsibly and that positive emotions are a main trigger for such engagement. The results of the survey underline that a combination of contextual knowledge and a positive attitude towards wildlife leads to a higher awareness of possible conflicts between humans and wildlife. Furthermore, these criteria are crucial when developing strategies that strive for a sustainable coexistence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lara-Luisa Grundei
- Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Franziska M Schöttes
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Gethöffer
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Tost
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Laurin Kluge
- Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Pees
- Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bandyopadhyay M, Burton AC, Gupta SK, Krishnamurthy R. Understanding the distribution and fine-scale habitat selection of mesocarnivores along a habitat quality gradient in western Himalaya. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13993. [PMID: 36132214 PMCID: PMC9484455 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13993] [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: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Human activities have resulted in a rapid increase of modified habitats in proximity to wildlife habitats in the Himalaya. However, it is crucial to understand the extent to which human habitat modification affects wildlife. Mesocarnivores generally possess broader niches than large carnivores and adapt quickly to human activities. Here, we use a case study in the western Himalaya to test the hypothesis that human disturbance influenced mesocarnivore habitat use. Methods: We used camera trapping and mitochondrial DNA-based species identification from faecal samples to obtain mesocarnivore detections. We then compared the responses of mesocarnivores between an anthropogenic site and a less disturbed park along a contiguous gradient in habitat quality. The non-linear pattern in species-specific habitat selection and factors responsible for space usage around villages was captured using hierarchical generalized additive modelling (HGAM) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination. Results: Wildlife occurrences along the gradient varied by species. Leopard cat and red fox were the only terrestrial mesocarnivores that occurred in both anthropogenic site and park. We found a shift in habitat selection from less disturbed habitat in the park to disturbed habitat in anthropogenic site for the species detected in both the habitat types. For instance, red fox showed habitat selection towards high terrain ruggedness (0.5 to 0.7 TRI) and low NDVI (-0.05 to 0.2) in the park but no such specific selection in anthropogenic site. Further, leopard cat showed habitat selection towards moderate slope (20°) and medium NDVI (0.5) in park but no prominent habitat selections in anthropogenic site. The results revealed their constrained behaviour which was further supported by the intensive site usage close to houses, agricultural fields and human trails in villages. Conclusions: Our results indicate shifts in habitat selection and intensive site usage by mesocarnivores in the human-modified habitat. In future, this suggests the possibility of conflict and disease spread affecting both the people and wildlife. Therefore, this study highlights the requisite to test the wildlife responses to rapidly growing human expansions in modified habitats to understand the extent of impact. The management strategies need to have an integrated focus for further expansions of modified habitat and garbage disposal strategies, especially in the human-wildlife interface area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - A. Cole Burton
- Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Ramesh Krishnamurthy
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India,Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Animal-vehicle collisions during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020 in the Krakow metropolitan region, Poland. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7572. [PMID: 35534651 PMCID: PMC9082987 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11526-9] [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: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The interrelations between human activity and animal populations are of increasing interest due to the emergence of the novel COVID-19 and the consequent pandemic across the world. Anthropogenic impacts of the pandemic on animals in urban-suburban environments are largely unknown. In this study, the temporal and spatial patterns of urban animal response to the COVID-19 lockdown were assessed using animal-vehicle collisions (AVC) data. We collected AVC data over two 6-month periods in 2019 and 2020 (January to June) from the largest metropolis in southern Poland, which included lockdown months. Furthermore, we used traffic data to understand the impact of lockdown on AVC in the urban area. Our analysis of 1063 AVC incidents revealed that COVID-19 related lockdown decreased AVC rates in suburban areas. However, in the urban area, even though traffic volume had significantly reduced, AVC did not decrease significantly, suggesting that lockdown did not influence the collision rates in the urban area. Our results suggest that there is a need to focus on understanding the effects of changes in traffic volume on both human behaviour and wildlife space use on the resulting impacts on AVC in the urban area.
Collapse
|
5
|
Lovell C, Li S, Turner J, Carbone C. The effect of habitat and human disturbance on the spatiotemporal activity of two urban carnivores: The results of an intensive camera trap study. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8746. [PMID: 35342605 PMCID: PMC8933609 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Connor Lovell
- Department of Geography University College London London UK
| | - Shiya Li
- Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Berkshire UK
| | - Jessica Turner
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
- School of Biological and Chemical Science Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Chris Carbone
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Osugi S, Trentin BE, Koike S. Effects of Human Activity on the Fallen-Fruit Foraging Behavior of Carnivoran Species in an Urban Forest. MAMMAL STUDY 2022. [DOI: 10.3106/ms2021-0041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Osugi
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 35-8 Saiwai, Fuchu 183-8509, Japan
| | - Bruna Elisa Trentin
- Department of Ecology, UNESP São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo 18610-034, Brazil
| | - Shinsuke Koike
- Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu 183-8509, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
McDonald PG, Doohan SJ, Eveleigh KJ. Using referential alarm signals to remotely quantify ‘landscapes of fear’ in fragmented woodland. BIOACOUSTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2021.2013319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul G. McDonald
- Animal Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Zoology, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, Australia
| | - Samantha J. Doohan
- Animal Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Zoology, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, Australia
| | - Kyia J. Eveleigh
- Animal Behaviour and Ecology Lab, Zoology, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hisano M, Evans MJ, Soga M, Tsunoda H. Red foxes in Japan show adaptability in prey resource according to geography and season: A meta‐analysis. Ecol Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Hisano
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Maldwyn J. Evans
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Masashi Soga
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wooster EIF, Ramp D, Lundgren EJ, O’Neill AJ, Wallach AD. Red foxes avoid apex predation without increasing fear. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Apex predators structure ecosystems by hunting mesopredators and herbivores. These trophic cascades are driven not only by the number of animals they kill, but also by how prey alter their behaviors to reduce risk. The different levels of risk navigated by prey has been likened to a “landscape of fear.” In Australia, dingoes are known to suppress red fox populations, driving a trophic cascade. However, most of what we know of this relationship comes from circumstances where predators are persecuted, which can affect their social and trophic interactions. Utilizing camera traps, we monitored fox behavior when accessing key resource points used by territorial dingoes, in a region where both predators are protected. We predicted that foxes would avoid and be more cautious in areas of high dingo activity. Indeed, foxes avoided directly encountering dingoes. However, contrary to our expectations, foxes were not more cautious or vigilant where dingo activity was high. In fact, fox activity and scent-marking rates increased where dingo scent-marking was concentrated. Further, foxes were increasingly confident with increasing levels of conspecific activity. Our results suggest that responses to the threat of predation are more complex than fear alone. In socially stable conditions, it is possible that prey may develop knowledge of their predators, facilitating avoidance, and reducing fear.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eamonn I F Wooster
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Adam J O’Neill
- Dingo for Biodiversity Project, Mount Perry, Queensland, Australia
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Silva-Rodríguez EA, Gálvez N, Swan GJF, Cusack JJ, Moreira-Arce D. Urban wildlife in times of COVID-19: What can we infer from novel carnivore records in urban areas? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 765:142713. [PMID: 33077221 PMCID: PMC9757141 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unusual decrease in human activity associated with partial and total lockdowns. Simultaneously, a series of wildlife sightings-mainly in urban areas-have been brought to public attention and often attributed to lockdown measures. Here we report on a series of wild carnivore records, including threatened species, obtained through camera traps set in urban forests, campuses, suburbs, and peri-urban areas of two cities in Chile, during partial lockdown measures. Our records are novel for Chile, a country where urban carnivore ecology is mostly unknown, and include the detection of four native carnivores, including the vulnerable güiña (Leopardus guigna) and the endangered southern river otter (Lontra provocax). These records also constitute a valuable baseline collected during partial lockdown measures in two cities of the Global South. We emphasize, however, that these findings cannot be used to argue for or against an effect of lockdown measures on wildlife. More generally, we call for caution in the interpretation of seemingly novel carnivore records during periods of lockdown and stress the value of international collaboration in evaluating the effects of the Anthropause on wildlife.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo A Silva-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Conservación, Biodiversidad y Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
| | - Nicolás Gálvez
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Wildlife Ecology and Coexistence Laboratory, Villarrica Campus, Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo Local (CEDEL), Villarrica, La Araucanía, Chile
| | - George J F Swan
- Instituto de Conservación, Biodiversidad y Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Jeremy J Cusack
- Centro de Modelación y Monitoreo de Ecosistemas, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Darío Moreira-Arce
- Departamento de Gestión Agraria, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Laboratorio de Estudios del Antropoceno, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| |
Collapse
|