1
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Karkarey R, Boström Einarsson L, Graham NAJ, Mukrikkakudi I, Bilutheth MN, Chekkillam AR, KK IB, Keith SA. Do risk-prone behaviours compromise reproduction and increase vulnerability of fish aggregations exposed to fishing? Biol Lett 2024; 20:20240292. [PMID: 39106945 PMCID: PMC11303021 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0292] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Human disturbances can prompt natural anti-predator behaviours in animals, affecting how energy is traded off between immediate survival and reproduction. In our study of male squaretail groupers (Plectropomus areolatus) in India's Lakshadweep archipelago, we investigated the impact of fishing pressure on anti-predatory responses and reproductive behaviours by comparing a fished and unfished spawning aggregation site and tracking responses over time at the fished site. Using observational sampling and predator exposure experiments, we analysed fear responses (flight initiation distance, return time), as well as time spent in vigilance, courtship and territorial defence. Unpaired males at fished sites were twice as likely to flee from simulated predators and took longer to return to mating territories. In contrast, paired males at both sites took greater risks during courtship, fleeing later than unpaired males, but returned earlier at the unfished site compared with the fished site. Our findings suggest that high fishing pressure reduces reproductive opportunities by increasing vigilance and compromising territorial defence, potentially affecting mate selection cues. Altered behavioural trade-offs may mitigate short-term capture risk but endanger long-term population survival through altered reproductive investment. Human extractive practices targeting animal reproductive aggregations can have disruptive effects beyond direct removal, influencing animal behaviours crucial for population survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rucha Karkarey
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LancasterLA1 4YQ, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Idrees Babu KK
- Department of Science and Technology, Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, India
| | - Sally A. Keith
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LancasterLA1 4YQ, UK
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2
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Golawska S, Charalambidou I, Surmacki A, Golawski A. Tourism influences escape behavior of lizards in relationship with human clothing color. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16869. [PMID: 39043804 PMCID: PMC11266688 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68092-5] [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: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Increased tourism pressure modifies animal behavior, including alterations in anti-predator responses and foraging activity. In areas with high tourist presence, animals may become accustomed to increased human activity and adjust the intensity of some defensive responses. An animal's anti-predation ability is usually estimated by measuring its Alert Initiation Distance (AID) and Flight Initiation Distance (FID). Both indexes are affected by multiple factors including the color of the observer's clothing. Animal behavior is also influenced by human presence, and individuals may become accustomed to increased human presence, e.g. in tourist areas. In this study, we analysed the escape behavior of the endemic Cyprus rock agama (Laudakia cypriaca) in relation to the observers clothing color. Our results showed that AIDs and FIDs of agamas in tourist areas were significantly shorter than those in non-tourist areas. Moreover, in non-tourist areas, AIDs and FIDs of agamas were significantly longer when the observer wore red clothes, compared to green and grey clothes. Our results may be helpful in planning research taking into account various colored clothing based on expected reptilian reactions. Furthermore, our results may determine the proximity at which humans interact with animals, considering clothing color, to prevent negative impacts especially on rare and protected lizard species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Golawska
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Siedlce, Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Iris Charalambidou
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Adrian Surmacki
- Department of Avian Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Artur Golawski
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Siedlce, Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland.
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3
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Marion S, Curveira Santos G, Herdman E, Hubbs A, Kearney SP, Burton AC. Mammal responses to human recreation depend on landscape context. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300870. [PMID: 39024232 PMCID: PMC11257333 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Rapid growth in outdoor recreation may have important and varied effects on terrestrial mammal communities. Few studies have investigated factors influencing variation in observed responses of multiple mammal species to recreation. We used data from 155 camera traps, in western Alberta (Canada), and a hierarchical Bayesian community modelling framework to document 15 mammal species responses to recreation, test for differential responses between predators and prey, and evaluate the influence of local context. Factors characterizing context were trail designation (i.e., use by motorized vs non-motorized), management type, forest cover, landscape disturbance, and season. We used three measures to characterize variation in recreation pressure: distance to trail, trail density, and an index of recreation intensity derived from the platform Strava. We found limited evidence for strong or consistent effects of recreation on mammal space use. However, mammal space use was better explained by an interaction between recreation and the influencing factors than by either on their own. The strongest interaction was between trail density and management type; mammals were more likely to avoid sites near a higher density of trails in areas with more restrictive management. We found that responses to recreation varied with the trail designation, although there were not clear or consistent differences between responses to trails designated for motorized vs. non-motorized use. Overall, we found that responses were species- and context-dependent. Limiting the density of trails may be important for reducing negative impacts to mammals within conservation areas. We show that using multiple measures of recreation yields more insight into the varied effects of human disturbances on wildlife. We recommend investigating how different characteristics of recreation (noise, speed, and visibility) influence animal behaviors. Multispecies monitoring and modelling across multiple landscapes that vary in recreation pressure can lead to an adaptive management approach to ensuring outdoor recreation coexistence with wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solène Marion
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- JNCC, Inverdee House, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Gonçalo Curveira Santos
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- CIBIO—Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associated Laboratory, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | | | - Anne Hubbs
- Resource Stewardship, Environment and Protected Areas, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sean Patrick Kearney
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - A. Cole Burton
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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4
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Llonch P. Pigs in heaven: Enhancing the lives of breeding boars. Anim Reprod Sci 2024:107549. [PMID: 39019682 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
The recognition of animals as sentient beings has raised societal awareness of the welfare of farmed animals. This has been instrumental in increasing the legislative pressure towards welfare-conscious farming practices and, more lately, greater consumer demand for ethically sourced products. Besides, improved animal welfare is a key driver for enhanced performance, particularly in breeding boars, as welfare conditions strongly influence reproductive outcomes. The stressors associated with confinement impact testicular physiology and semen quality and the efforts to improve the welfare of breeding boars have so far focused on mitigating the negative consequences associated with stressors. The Five Freedoms framework and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)'s 'welfare consequences' approach prioritise the alleviation of suffering. In breeding boars, key welfare negative consequences include movement restriction, isolation stress, inability to engage in exploratory behaviours, locomotory disorders, and prolonged hunger. The negative consequences, which can be mitigated by improved housing and management practices, should be tackled in any commitment to improve the welfare of breeding boars. Animal welfare science, however, has recently shifted towards cultivating positive welfare experiences and a life worth living, beyond just alleviating suffering. The Five Domain Model systematically evaluates animal welfare, considering both negative and positive aspects. Encouraging positive welfare states involves facilitating species-specific behaviours, such as exploration and play, and fostering positive human-animal interactions. In breeding boars, strategies promoting positive welfare include providing enriching environments, encouraging exploration, and cultivating positive interactions with caretakers. Thus, for an overall welfare improvement of breeding boars, not only should the absence of suffering be guaranteed, but also the promotion of positive experiences that make their lifes worth living.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pol Llonch
- Department of Animal and Food Science, School of Veterinary Science, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès ES-08193, Spain.
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5
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Brown L, Zedrosser A, Kindberg J, Pelletier F. Behavioural responses of brown bears to roads and hunting disturbance. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11532. [PMID: 38882533 PMCID: PMC11176727 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Harvest regulations commonly attenuate the consequences of hunting on specific segments of a population. However, regulations may not protect individuals from non-lethal effects of hunting and their consequences remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared the movement rates of Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos, n = 47) across spatiotemporal variations in risk in relation to the onset of bear hunting. We tested two alternative hypotheses based on whether behavioural responses to hunting involve hiding or escaping. If bears try to reduce risk exposure by avoiding being detected by hunters, we expect individuals from all demographic groups to reduce their movement rate during the hunting season. On the other hand, if bears avoid hunters by escaping, we expect them to increase their movement rate in order to leave high-risk areas faster. We found an increased movement rate in females accompanied by dependent offspring during the morning hours of the bear hunting season, a general decrease in movement rate in adult lone females, and no changes in males and subadult females. The increased movement rate that we observed in females with dependant offspring during the hunting season was likely an antipredator response because it only occurred in areas located closer to roads, whereas the decreased movement rate in lone females could be either part of seasonal activity patterns or be associated with an increased selection for better concealment. Our study suggests that female brown bears accompanied by offspring likely move faster in high-risk areas to minimize risk exposure as well as the costly trade-offs (i.e. time spent foraging vs. time spent hiding) typically associated with anti-predator tactics that involve changes in resource selection. Our study also highlights the importance of modelling fine-scale spatiotemporal variations in risk to adequately capture the complexity in behavioural responses caused by human activities in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovick Brown
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Canada
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health University of South-Eastern Norway Bø in Telemark Norway
- Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Management University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna Austria
| | - Jonas Kindberg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Trondheim Norway
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Canada
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6
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Matyjasiak P, Chacińska P, Książka P. Anthropogenic noise interacts with the predation risk assessment in a free-ranging bird. Curr Zool 2024; 70:277-283. [PMID: 39035757 PMCID: PMC11255998 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoad019] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise can affect a number of behavioral, physiological, and ecological aspects of animals from major taxonomic groups, raising serious conservation concerns. For example, noise pollution impacts communicative behavior and perception of signals, movements and distribution, as well as predator-prey interactions, such as hunting success or predator detection and predation risk assessment. We have carried out an experimental playback study, in which we investigated whether exposure to anthropogenic noise (sound of a tractor) distracts free-ranging barn swallows Hirundo rustica from paying attention to an approaching human "predator" (the "cognitive distraction" hypothesis), or whether noise leads to increased responsiveness to this "predator" (the "increased threat" hypothesis). The subjects were male barn swallows attending their breeding territories during the time when the females were incubating. We found that barn swallow males initiated flight at significantly greater distances to the approaching human "predator" in the noise treatment than during the quiet control trials. These results suggest that anthropogenic noise causes increased vigilance and reactivity rather than a distraction, enabling birds to avoid the "predator" more quickly. We further discuss the mechanism behind the increased alertness in response to noise and contrast the "increased threat" mechanism, usually tested in previous studies, with an alternative "cognitive sensitization" mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Matyjasiak
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Wóycickiego 1/3, PL-01-815 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Patrycja Chacińska
- Department of Environmental Acoustics, Institute of Environmental Protection—National Research Institute, Kolektorska 4, PL-01-692 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Książka
- Department of Environmental Acoustics, Institute of Environmental Protection—National Research Institute, Kolektorska 4, PL-01-692 Warsaw, Poland
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7
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Novčić I, Mikula P. Nearest neighbour distance does not affect escape behaviour in urban hooded crows. Behav Processes 2024; 219:105057. [PMID: 38788911 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2024.105057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The nearest-neighbour distance is an important property of a group, as individuals can obtain environmental information more quickly and easily from nearby individuals. We examined whether distance to the nearest neighbour affected two components of escape behaviour - alert distance (AD) and flight initiation distance (FID) - in an urban population of hooded crows Corvus cornix, while controlling for confounding variables. We did not find evidence that AD and FID were influenced by the nearest neighbour distance. However, both AD and FID were negatively affected by feeding activity of individuals - focal crows alerted later and escaped at shorter distance if they were feeding during our approach. In addition, AD and FID were positively related to starting distance and grass coverage. The lack of evidence for the nearest neighbour effect on escape behaviour of crows may be due to: (1) disturbance by close neighbours that may impede antipredator behaviour of focal birds, (2) variable distribution of familiar, dominant or experienced individuals within a flock, and (3) dynamic change in position of the nearest neighbour during the potential predator approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Novčić
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, Belgrade 11000, Serbia.
| | - Peter Mikula
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Ecoclimatology, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising 85354, Germany; Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 2, Garching 85748, Germany; Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 16500, Czech Republic
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8
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Golawski A, Charalambidou I, Golawska S. Impact of tourism on the vigilance behavior of the Cyprus rock agama (Laudakia cypriaca). Integr Zool 2024; 19:577-583. [PMID: 37515506 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12757] [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] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Escape behavior is a common antipredator strategy among wild animals. Here, we investigated the effect of four factors on the vigilance behavior of the endemic Cyprus rock agama (Laudakia cypriaca). Flight initiation distance (FID, the minimum distance to which an observer can approach a lizard before it flees) was measured in relation to the type of location (tourist vs. nontourist area), the observer's starting distance, air temperature, and substrate temperature. We collected data for 39 agamas in tourist areas and 34 of these lizards in nontourist areas. As a whole, the mean starting distance was 10.5 m and the FID was 3.6 m. The average substrate temperature was 34.0°C and the average air temperature 29.6°C. Only the type of area affected the agamas' escape decisions with FID being 1.8 m shorter in tourist areas than in nontourist areas (2.7 m vs. 4.5 m). This is probably due to the habituation of lizards to the presence of humans in the former areas. This study shows that tourism strongly affects the behavior of lizards, which may have consequences for the functioning of the population. Tourists can increase the safety of lizards by creating a human shield to deter predators. Once the tourist season is over, lizards may become more vulnerable to predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Golawski
- Faculty of Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Iris Charalambidou
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Sylwia Golawska
- Faculty of Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland
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9
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Entezami M, Mustaqqim F, Morris E, Lim ESH, Prada JM, Paramasivam SJ. Effect of Human Activity and Presence on the Behavior of Long-Tailed Macaques ( Macaca fascicularis) in an Urban Tourism Site in Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1173. [PMID: 38672321 PMCID: PMC11047574 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081173] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing overlap of resources between human and long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) (LTM) populations have escalated human-primate conflict. In Malaysia, LTMs are labeled as a 'pest' species due to the macaques' opportunistic nature. This study investigates the activity budget of LTMs in an urban tourism site and how human activities influence it. Observational data were collected from LTMs daily for a period of four months. The observed behaviors were compared across differing levels of human interaction, between different times of day, and between high, medium, and low human traffic zones. LTMs exhibited varying ecological behavior patterns when observed across zones of differing human traffic, e.g., higher inactivity when human presence is high. More concerning is the impact on these animals' welfare and group dynamics as the increase in interactions with humans takes place; we noted increased inactivity and reduced intra-group interaction. This study highlights the connection that LTMs make between human activity and sources of anthropogenic food. Only through understanding LTM interaction can the cause for human-primate conflict be better understood, and thus, more sustainable mitigation strategies can be generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahbod Entezami
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK; (M.E.); (E.M.); (J.M.P.)
| | - Fiqri Mustaqqim
- School of Postgraduate Studies, Perdana University, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Elizabeth Morris
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK; (M.E.); (E.M.); (J.M.P.)
| | - Erin Swee Hua Lim
- Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates;
- Centre for Research Excellence, Perdana University, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Joaquín M. Prada
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK; (M.E.); (E.M.); (J.M.P.)
| | - Sharmini Julita Paramasivam
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK; (M.E.); (E.M.); (J.M.P.)
- Animal Neighbours Project, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK
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10
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Weterings MJA, Ebbinge EYC, Strijker BN, Spek G, Kuipers HJ. Insights from a 31-year study demonstrate an inverse correlation between recreational activities and red deer fecundity, with bodyweight as a mediator. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11257. [PMID: 38654717 PMCID: PMC11035974 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Human activity is omnipresent in our landscapes. Animals can perceive risk from humans similar to predation risk, which could affect their fitness. We assessed the influence of the relative intensity of recreational activities on the bodyweight and pregnancy rates of red deer (Cervus elaphus) between 1985 and 2015. We hypothesized that stress, as a result of recreational activities, affects the pregnancy rates of red deer directly and indirectly via a reduction in bodyweight. Furthermore, we expected non-motorized recreational activities to have a larger negative effect on both bodyweight and fecundity, compared to motorized recreational activities. The intensity of recreational activities was recorded through visual observations. We obtained pregnancy data from female red deer that were shot during the regular hunting season. Additionally, age and bodyweight were determined through a post-mortem examination. We used two Generalized-Linear-Mixed Models (GLMM) to test the effect of different types of recreation on (1) pregnancy rates and (2) bodyweight of red deer. Recreation had a direct negative correlation with the fecundity of red deer, with bodyweight, as a mediator as expected. Besides, we found a negative effect of non-motorized recreation on fecundity and bodyweight and no significant effect of motorized recreation. Our results support the concept of humans as an important stressor affecting wild animal populations at a population level and plead to regulate recreational activities in protected areas that are sensitive. The fear humans induce in large-bodied herbivores and its consequences for fitness may have strong implications for animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J. A. Weterings
- Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied SciencesLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Beau N. Strijker
- Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied SciencesLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
| | - Gerrit‐Jan Spek
- Vereniging Wildbeheer Veluwe/FBE Gelderland/Natuurlijk Fauna Advies MtsVaassenThe Netherlands
| | - Henry J. Kuipers
- Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied SciencesLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
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11
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Rentsch AK, Harlander A, Niel L, Siegford JM, Widowski TM. Raising laying hens: housing complexity and genetic strain affect startle reflex amplitude and behavioural response to fear-inducing stimuli. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231075. [PMID: 38511084 PMCID: PMC10951723 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Individual variation in fearfulness can be modified during ontogeny, and high levels of fear can affect animal welfare. We asked whether early-life environmental complexity and genetic strain affect fear behaviour in young laying hens (pullets). Four replicates of brown (B) and white (W) genetic strains (breeds) of layers were each raised in four environmental treatments (housing): conventional cages (Conv) and different rearing aviaries with increasing space and complexity (Low < Mid < High). We used a startle reflex test (weeks 4 and 14) to measure startle amplitude and autonomic response (i.e. comb temperature). A combination of novel arena (NA) and novel object (NO) tests was used (week 14) to assess NA exploration and alertness, latency to approach the centre and initial NO avoidance and investigation. Housing × strain affected startle amplitude (B-Conv, B-High < B-Low, B-Mid; B > W; no housing effect in W) but not autonomic response. Fear behaviour was affected by housing (NA exploration, investigation: Conv < Low, Mid, High; NO avoidance: Conv, High < Low, Mid), strain (NA alertness: B > W, NO avoidance: W > B) and their interaction (NA centre approach: B-Conv < all other groups). We present evidence for strain-specific fear responses depending on early experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana K. Rentsch
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Alexandra Harlander
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Lee Niel
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Janice M. Siegford
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 South Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI48824-1225, USA
| | - Tina M. Widowski
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1, Canada
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12
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Crane AL, Feyten LEA, Preagola AA, Ferrari MCO, Brown GE. Uncertainty about predation risk: a conceptual review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:238-252. [PMID: 37839808 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13019] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Uncertainty has long been of interest to economists and psychologists and has more recently gained attention among ecologists. In the ecological world, animals must regularly make decisions related to finding resources and avoiding threats. Here, we describe uncertainty as a perceptual phenomenon of decision-makers, and we focus specifically on the functional ecology of such uncertainty regarding predation risk. Like all uncertainty, uncertainty about predation risk reflects informational limitations. When cues are available, they may be novel (i.e. unknown information), incomplete, unreliable, overly abundant and complex, or conflicting. We review recent studies that have used these informational limitations to induce uncertainty of predation risk. These studies have typically used either over-responses to novelty (i.e. neophobia) or memory attenuation as proxies for measuring uncertainty. Because changes in the environment, particularly unpredictable changes, drive informational limitations, we describe studies assessing unpredictable variance in spatio-temporal predation risk, intensity of predation risk, predator encounter rate, and predator diversity. We also highlight anthropogenic changes within habitats that are likely to have dramatic impacts on information availability and thus uncertainty in antipredator decisions in the modern world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L Crane
- WCVM, Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Laurence E A Feyten
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Alexyz A Preagola
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Pl., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Maud C O Ferrari
- WCVM, Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Grant E Brown
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, Canada
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13
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Homstol L, Raymond S, Edwards C, Hamilton AN, St. Clair CC. Aversive conditioning increases short-term wariness but does not change habitat use in black bears associated with conflict. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295989. [PMID: 38166059 PMCID: PMC10760891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Conflict between humans and black bears (Ursus americanus) occurs throughout North America with increasing public demand to replace lethal management with non-lethal methods, such as aversive conditioning (AC). AC aims to teach animals to associate negative stimuli with humans or their infrastructure. We sought to test the efficacy of AC using radio-collared black bears in Whistler, British Columbia, by monitoring individuals and assigning those in conflict with people to control or treatment groups. We measured wariness using overt reaction distance, displacement distance, and reaction to researchers before, during and after executing 3-5-day AC programs that consisted of launching projectiles at bears in the treatment group. We also assessed predictors of successful AC events (i.e., leaving at a run), changes in bear use of human-dominated habitat during the day and at night, and the effects of including a sound stimulus to signal the beginning and end of AC events. Among treated bears, overt reaction distance increased by 46.5% and displacement distance increased by 69.0% following AC programs, whereas both overt reaction distance and displacement distance decreased over time among control group bears. Each additional AC event during the previous 30 days increased likelihood of bear departure in response to researcher presence by 4.5%. The success of AC events varied among individuals, declined with distance to cover, and increased with exposure to previous AC events. Projectiles launched from guns were slightly more effective at causing bears to displace compared to those launched from slingshots, and sound stimuli decreased the likelihood of a successful AC event. AC did not alter diurnal use by bears of human-dominated habitat. Our results suggest that AC effectively increases short-term wariness in black bears but does not alter bear use of human-dominated spaces, highlighting the importance of proactive attractant management and prevention of food conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori Homstol
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Provincial Government of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sage Raymond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Claire Edwards
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Jasper National Park, Jasper, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anthony N. Hamilton
- Provincial Government of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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14
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Jolles JW, Böhm A, Brinker A, Behrmann-Godel J. Unravelling the origins of boldness behaviour: a common garden experiment with cavefish ( Barbatula barbatula). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231517. [PMID: 38204784 PMCID: PMC10776215 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Many animals show an aversion to bright, open spaces, with significant variability seen across species, populations and individuals within populations. Although there is much interest in the underlying causes of this behaviour, few studies have been able to systematically isolate the role of heritable and environmental effects. Here, we addressed this gap using a common garden experiment with cavefish. Specifically, we bred and cross-bred cave loaches (Barbatula barbatula), Europe's only known cavefish, in the laboratory, raised the offspring in complete darkness or normal light conditions, and studied their light avoidance behaviour. Cavefish spent much more time in a light area and ventured further out, while surface fish spent considerable time in risk-assessment behaviour between the light and dark areas. Hybrids behaved most similarly to cavefish. Light treatment and eye quality and lens size only had a modest effect. Our results suggest light avoidance behaviour of cavefish has a heritable basis and is fundamentally linked to increased boldness rather than reduced vision, which is likely adaptive given the complete lack of macropredators in the cave environment. Our study provides novel experimental insights into the behavioural divergence of cavefish and contributes to our broader understanding of the evolution of boldness and behavioural adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolle W. Jolles
- Limnological Institute, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Studies Blanes (CEAB), CSIC, Blanes, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Alexander Böhm
- Limnological Institute, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Brinker
- Limnological Institute, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Fisheries Research Station Baden-Württemberg, Langenargen, Germany
| | - Jasminca Behrmann-Godel
- Limnological Institute, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Ministry for Nutrition, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg (MLR), Stuttgart, Germany
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15
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Lunn R, Baumhardt PE, Blackwell BF, Freyssinier JP, Fernández-Juricic E. Light wavelength and pulsing frequency affect avoidance responses of Canada geese. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16379. [PMID: 38025716 PMCID: PMC10668863 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Collisions between birds and aircraft cause bird mortality, economic damage, and aviation safety hazards. One proposed solution to increasing the distance at which birds detect and move away from an approaching aircraft, ultimately mitigating the probability of collision, is through onboard lighting systems. Lights in vehicles have been shown to lead to earlier reactions in some bird species but they could also generate attraction, potentially increasing the probability of collision. Using information on the visual system of the Canada goose (Branta canadensis), we developed light stimuli of high chromatic contrast to their eyes. We then conducted a controlled behavioral experiment (i.e., single-choice test) to assess the avoidance or attraction responses of Canada geese to LED lights of different wavelengths (blue, 483 nm; red, 631 nm) and pulsing frequencies (steady, pulsing at 2 Hz). Overall, Canada geese tended to avoid the blue light and move towards the red light; however, these responses depended heavily on light exposure order. At the beginning of the experiment, geese tended to avoid the red light. After further exposure the birds developed an attraction to the red light, consistent with the mere exposure effect. The response to the blue light generally followed a U-shape relationship (avoidance, attraction, avoidance) with increasing number of exposures, again consistent with the mere exposure effect, but followed by the satiation effect. Lights pulsing at 2 Hz enhanced avoidance responses under high ambient light conditions; whereas steady lights enhanced avoidance responses under dim ambient light conditions. Our results have implications for the design of lighting systems aimed at mitigating collisions between birds and human objects. LED lights in the blue portion of the spectrum are good candidates for deterrents and lights in the red portion of the spectrum may be counterproductive given the attraction effects with increasing exposure. Additionally, consideration should be given to systems that automatically modify pulsing of the light depending on ambient light intensity to enhance avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Lunn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Patrice E. Baumhardt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Bradley F. Blackwell
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Sandusky, OH, United States of America
| | - Jean Paul Freyssinier
- Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States of America
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16
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Suarez-Rubio M, Bates PJ, Aung T, Hlaing NM, Oo SSL, Htun YKZ, Ohn Mar SM, Myint A, Wai TLL, Mo PM, Fehrmann L, Nölke N, Kleinn C, Renner SC. Bird diversity along an urban to rural gradient in large tropical cities peaks in mid-level urbanization. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16098. [PMID: 37842049 PMCID: PMC10569181 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The gradient from natural to urban areas strongly associates with the structure of avian communities over that gradient. Most research on urban birds is from temperate areas and knowledge from tropical Southeast Asia is lacking. We examined bird species diversity, relative abundance, and species composition along an urban to rural gradient in three Myanmar cities, and assessed potential environmental factors responsible for the changes. We counted birds within 40 point-count sites with 50-m fixed-radius in three large cities of Myanmar, namely Mandalay, Mawlamyine, and Myeik. We distinguished four urban habitat types (Downtown-urban, University Campus-suburban, Paddy Field-agriculture, Hill-forest). We classified all species into migrant or resident and into major feeding groups and related with several environmental parameters such as 'impervious surface'. We counted 5,423 individuals of 103 species with roughly equal species diversity between the three cities. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) was the most frequent species. The species composition differed significantly between the four major habitat types. Omnivores were more abundant in the city center than all other functional groups. Interestingly, insectivores were also predominant in the city center. In addition, more generalist' species occurred towards the city center compared to the periphery, indicating that the periphery has increased relevance for specialized birds. We found some marked differences in species composition between the three cities of Mandalay, Mawlamyine, and Myeik. Additionally to species composition, species diversity and relative abundance differed significantly between each of the four major habitat types in all three cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Suarez-Rubio
- Institute of Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Science, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Thein Aung
- Myanmar Bird and Nature Society, Yangon, Myanmar
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lutz Fehrmann
- Forest Inventory and Remote Sensing, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Nölke
- Forest Inventory and Remote Sensing, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Kleinn
- Forest Inventory and Remote Sensing, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Swen C. Renner
- Ornithology, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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17
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Fletcher RJ, O'Brien A, Hall TF, Jones M, Potash AD, Kruger L, Simelane P, Roques K, Monadjem A, McCleery RA. Frightened of giants: fear responses to elephants approach that of predators. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230202. [PMID: 37817576 PMCID: PMC10565413 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals are faced with a variety of dangers or threats, which are increasing in frequency with ongoing environmental change. While our understanding of fearfulness of such dangers is growing in the context of predation and parasitism risk, the extent to which non-trophic, interspecific dangers elicit fear in animals remains less appreciated. We provide an experimental test for fear responses of savannah ungulates to a dominant and aggressive megaherbivore, the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), and contrast responses to an apex predator known to elicit fear in this system. Using an automated behavioural response system, we contrast vigilance and run responses of ungulates to elephant, leopard (Panthera pardus), and control (red-chested cuckoo Cuculus solitarius) vocalizations. Overall, we find that ungulates responded to elephant calls, both in terms of an increase in run and vigilance responses relative to controls. The magnitude of most behavioural responses (four of six considered) to elephant vocalizations were not significantly different than responses to leopards. These results suggest that megaherbivores can elicit strong non-trophic fear responses by ungulates and call to broaden frameworks on fear to consider dominant species, such as megaherbivores, as key modifiers of fear-induced interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Fletcher
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Amanda O'Brien
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Timothy F. Hall
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Maggie Jones
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Alex D. Potash
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Phumlile Simelane
- All Out Africa, Savannah Research Centre, Mbuluzi Game Reserve, Lubombo, Eswatini
| | - Kim Roques
- All Out Africa, Savannah Research Centre, Mbuluzi Game Reserve, Lubombo, Eswatini
| | - Ara Monadjem
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Robert A. McCleery
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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18
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Geldart EA, Love OP, Barnas AF, Harris CM, Gilchrist HG, Semeniuk CAD. A colonial-nesting seabird shows limited heart rate responses to natural variation in threats of polar bears. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221108. [PMID: 37800157 PMCID: PMC10548096 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Several predator-prey systems are in flux as an indirect result of climate change. In the Arctic, earlier sea-ice loss is driving polar bears (Ursus maritimus) onto land when many colonial nesting seabirds are breeding. The result is a higher threat of nest predation for birds with potential limited ability to respond. We quantified heart rate change in a large common eider (Somateria mollissima) breeding colony in the Canadian Arctic to explore their adaptive capacity to keep pace with the increasing risk of egg predation by polar bears. Eiders displayed on average higher heart rates from baseline when polar bears were within their field of view. Moreover, eiders were insensitive to variation in the distance bears were to their nests, but exhibited mild bradycardia (lowered heart rate) the longer the eider was exposed to the bear given the hen's visibility. Results indicate that a limited ability to assess the risks posed by polar bears may result in long-term fitness consequences for eiders from the increasing frequency in interactions with this predator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica A Geldart
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew F Barnas
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christopher M Harris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | - H Grant Gilchrist
- National Wildlife Research Center, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christina A D Semeniuk
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
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19
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Merkel FR, Labansen AL, Autzen TF, Simon M, Hermannsen L. Quantifying marine traffic intensity in Northwest Greenland and the potential disturbance of two seabird colonies. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115398. [PMID: 37657192 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115398] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Marine traffic poses a growing threat to wildlife in the marine environment, including Arctic seabirds, which are exposed to high vessel densities when breeding in coastal areas. However, little is known about the magnitude of the problem. Here, we utilized underwater acoustic monitoring to quantify marine traffic and above-water disturbances at two thick-billed murre colonies in Greenland in 2016. We detected a total of 307 vessels, and only 4 % was known from automatic monitoring systems. Based on proximity, noise emission, and boating behavior, we classified 11 vessels as disturbing and an additional 12 as potentially disturbing for the seabirds. One colony facing population decline was located closest to the main boating route and experienced 2-5 times more disturbances than the other (increasing) colony, suggesting a negative impact of marine traffic. Our study shows that underwater acoustics can be a useful method to quantify above-water disturbances of seabird colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flemming Ravn Merkel
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland; Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Aili Lage Labansen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Thyge Feldskou Autzen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Line Hermannsen
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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20
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Hammer TL, Bize P, Gineste B, Robin JP, Groscolas R, Viblanc VA. Disentangling the "many-eyes", "dilution effect", "selfish herd", and "distracted prey" hypotheses in shaping alert and flight initiation distance in a colonial seabird. Behav Processes 2023:104919. [PMID: 37481004 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Group living is thought to have important antipredator benefits for animals, owing to the mechanisms of shared vigilance ("many-eyes" hypothesis), risk dilution ("dilution effect" hypothesis), and relative safety in the center of the group ("selfish herd" hypothesis). However, it can also incur costs since social stimuli, such as conspecific aggression, may distract individuals from anti-predator behavior ("distracted prey" hypothesis). We simultaneously evaluated how these four different hypotheses shape anti-predator behaviors of breeding king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus), which aggregate into large colonies, experience frequent aggressive social interactions, and are regularly exposed to predation by giant petrels (Macronectes sp.) and brown skuas (Catharacta loonbergi) when breeding on land. We approached 200 incubating penguins at four different periods of the breeding season across a range of overall increasing colony densities. We measured the distance at which focal birds detected the approaching threat (alert distance: AD), whether birds decided to flee or not, and the distance of flight initiation (flight initiation distance: FID, viz. the bird attempting to walk away with its egg on its feet). We quantified relative local neighbor density, centrality within the colony (rank), and the number of aggressions the focal bird emitted towards neighbors during the approach. We found that birds engaged in aggressive conflicts with neighbors were less likely to flee, and that increasing relative local neighbor density at low and medium overall colony density resulted in a decrease in bird AD, both supporting the "distracted prey" hypothesis. However, at maximal overall colony density, increasing relative local neighbor density resulted in longer AD, supporting the "many-eyes" hypothesis. We found no support for the "dilution effect" and "selfish herd" hypotheses, and no effects of any hypothesis on FID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey L Hammer
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Bize
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Benoit Gineste
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France; IPEV - Institut Polaire Français Paul Émile Victor, 29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Jean-Patrice Robin
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - René Groscolas
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Vincent A Viblanc
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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21
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Yu F, Wang X, Zhao Y, Li Z. Influence of age, breeding state and approach direction on sensitivity to human gaze: a field study on Azure-winged magpies. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:1369-1379. [PMID: 37191910 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01786-x] [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: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In predator-prey interactions, various factors affect the prey's perception of risk and decision to flee. Gaze sensitivity, the ability to react to the presence, direction, or movement of the head and eyes, has been reported in many birds. However, few studies have focussed on variation in sensitivity to human gaze in relation to other risks and potential breeding costs. Here, we studied the influence of human gaze on the escape behaviour of Azure-winged magpies (Cyanopica cyanus) and investigated the effects of breeding state (breeding season and nonbreeding season) and approach direction on gaze sensitivity. In Experiment 1, we tested whether magpies showed different sensitivities to human gaze according to age class and breeding state when approached directly. The results showed that the breeding state could affect the flight initiation distance (FID), with adults in the breeding season having a shorter FID compared to those in the nonbreeding season. Meanwhile, only adults were found to be averse to direct human gaze and juveniles showed no sensitivity. In Experiment 2, we conducted three different gaze treatments on adult magpies in the breeding season under three bypass distances (0 m, 2.5 m, 5 m). The results showed that approach direction had no effect on FID, while the sensitivity to human gaze differed under three bypass distances. Adults could clearly recognise human head and eye direction at a certain bypass distance (2.5 m). Our study reveals the cognitive ability of Azure-winged magpies to human head and eye direction and the effects of age, breeding state and approach direction, which may provide further insights into human-wildlife interactions, especially for birds in urban habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yu
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yumeng Zhao
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhongqiu Li
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, China.
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22
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Michel A, Johnson JR, Szeligowski R, Ritchie EG, Sih A. Integrating sensory ecology and predator-prey theory to understand animal responses to fire. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:1050-1070. [PMID: 37349260 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Fire regimes are changing dramatically worldwide due to climate change, habitat conversion, and the suppression of Indigenous landscape management. Although there has been extensive work on plant responses to fire, including their adaptations to withstand fire and long-term effects of fire on plant communities, less is known about animal responses to fire. Ecologists lack a conceptual framework for understanding behavioural responses to fire, which can hinder wildlife conservation and management. Here, we integrate cue-response sensory ecology and predator-prey theory to predict and explain variation in if, when and how animals react to approaching fire. Inspired by the literature on prey responses to predation risk, this framework considers both fire-naïve and fire-adapted animals and follows three key steps: vigilance, cue detection and response. We draw from theory on vigilance tradeoffs, signal detection, speed-accuracy tradeoffs, fear generalization, neophobia and adaptive dispersal. We discuss how evolutionary history with fire, but also other selective pressures, such as predation risk, should influence animal behavioural responses to fire. We conclude by providing guidance for empiricists and outlining potential conservation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Michel
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jacob R Johnson
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Richard Szeligowski
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Euan G Ritchie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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23
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Kelly M, Wehi PM, Johnson SL. Behavioural differences in predator aware and predator naïve Wellington tree wētā, Hemideina crassidens. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 3:100058. [PMID: 37215934 PMCID: PMC10199174 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2023.100058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Insects have evolved a wide range of behavioural traits to avoid predation, with anti-predator behaviours emerging as important adaptive responses to the specific strategies employed by predators. These responses may become ineffective, however, when a species is introduced to a novel predator type. When individuals cannot recognise an introduced predator for instance, they may respond in ways that mean they fail to avoid, escape, or neutralize a predator encounter. New Zealand's endemic insect fauna evolved in the absence of terrestrial mammalian predators for millions of years, resulting in the evolution of unique fauna like the large, flightless Orthopteran, the wētā. Here we investigate how experience with introduced mammalian predators might influence anti-predator behaviours by comparing behaviours in a group of Wellington tree wētā (Hemideina crassidens) living in an ecosanctuary, Zealandia, protected from non-native mammalian predators, and a group living in adjacent sites without mammalian predator control. We used behavioural phenotyping assays with both groups to examine rates of activity and defensive aggression shortly after capture, and again after a period of acclimation. We found that wētā living in protected areas were more active shortly after capture than wētā in non-protected habitats where mammalian predators were present. Male wētā living in non-protected areas tended to be less aggressive than any other group. These results suggest that lifetime experience with differing predator arrays may influence the expression of antipredator behaviour in tree wētā. Disentangling innate and experiential drivers of these behavioural responses further will have important implications for insect populations in rapidly changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meg Kelly
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Priscilla M Wehi
- Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sheri L Johnson
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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24
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Asunsolo-Rivera A, Lester E, Langlois T, Vaughan B, McCormick MI, Simpson SD, Meekan MG. Behaviour of mesopredatory coral reef fishes in response to threats from sharks and humans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6714. [PMID: 37185796 PMCID: PMC10130163 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33415-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Both sharks and humans present a potentially lethal threat to mesopredatory fishes in coral reef systems, with implications for both population dynamics and the role of mesopredatory fishes in reef ecosystems. This study quantifies the antipredator behaviours mesopredatory fishes exhibit towards the presence of large coral reef carnivores and compares these behavioural responses to those elicited by the presence of snorkelers. Here, we used snorkelers and animated life-size models of the blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) to simulate potential predatory threats to mesopredatory reef fishes (lethrinids, lutjanids, haemulids and serranids). The responses of these reef fishes to the models and the snorkelers were compared to those generated by three non-threatening controls (life-size models of a green turtle [Chelonia mydas], a PVC-pipe [an object control] and a Perspex shape [a second object control]). A Remote Underwater Stereo-Video System (Stereo-RUV) recorded the approach of the different treatments and controls and allowed accurate measurement of Flight Initiation Distance (FID) and categorization of the type of flight response by fishes. We found that mesopredatory reef fishes had greater FIDs in response to the approach of threatening models (1402 ± 402-1533 ± 171 mm; mean ± SE) compared to the controls (706 ± 151-896 ± 8963 mm). There was no significant difference in FID of mesopredatory fishes between the shark model and the snorkeler, suggesting that these treatments provoked similar levels of predator avoidance behaviour. This has implications for researchers monitoring behaviour in situ or using underwater census as a technique to estimate the abundance of reef fishes. Our study suggests that, irrespective of the degree to which sharks actually consume these mesopredatory reef fishes, they still elicit a predictable and consistent antipredator response that has the potential to create risk effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Asunsolo-Rivera
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
| | - E Lester
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - T Langlois
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - B Vaughan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - M I McCormick
- Coastal Marine Field Station, School of Science, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - S D Simpson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - M G Meekan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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25
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Fear generalization and behavioral responses to multiple dangers. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:369-380. [PMID: 36428124 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Animals often exhibit consistent-individual differences (CIDs) in boldness/fearfulness, typically studied in the context of predation risk. We focus here on fear generalization, where fear of one danger (e.g., predators) is correlated with fear of other dangers (e.g., humans, pathogens, moving vehicles, or fire). We discuss why fear generalization should be ecologically important, and why we expect fear to correlate across disparate dangers. CIDs in fear are well studied for some dangers in some taxa (e.g., human fear of pathogens), but not well studied for most dangers. Fear of some dangers has been found to correlate with general fearfulness, but some cases where we might expect correlated fears (e.g., between fear of humans, familiar predators, and exotic predators) are surprisingly understudied.
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Morelli F, Leveau LM, Mikula P, MacGregor-Fors I, Bocelli ML, Quesada-Acuña SG, González-Lagos C, Gutiérrez-Tapia P, Dri GF, Delgado-V CA, Zavala AG, Campos J, Ortega-Álvarez R, Contreras-Rodríguez AI, López DS, Toledo MCB, Sarquis A, Giraudo A, Echevarria AL, Fanjul ME, Martínez MV, Haedo J, Sanz LGC, Dominguez YAP, Fernandez V, Marinero V, Abilhoa V, Amorin R, Fontana CS, da Silva TW, Vargas SSZ, Escobar Ibañez JF, Juri MD, Camín SR, Marone L, Piratelli AJ, Franchin AG, Crispim L, Benitez J, Benedetti Y. Are birds more afraid in urban parks or cemeteries? A Latin American study contrasts with results from Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160534. [PMID: 36574545 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The escape behaviour, measured as flight initiation distance (FID; the distance at which individuals take flight when approached by a potential predator, usually a human in the study systems), is a measure widely used to study fearfulness and risk-taking in animals. Previous studies have shown significant differences in the escape behaviour of birds inhabiting cemeteries and urban parks in European cities, where birds seem to be shyer in the latter. We collected a regional dataset of the FID of birds inhabiting cemeteries and parks across Latin America in peri-urban, suburban and urban parks and cemeteries. FIDs were recorded for eighty-one bird species. Mean species-specific FIDs ranged from 1.9 to 19.7 m for species with at least two observations (fifty-seven species). Using Bayesian regression modelling and controlling for the phylogenetic relatedness of the FID among bird species and city and country, we found that, in contrast to a recent publication from Europe, birds escape earlier in cemeteries than parks in the studied Latin American cities. FIDs were also significantly shorter in urban areas than in peri-urban areas and in areas with higher human density. Our results indicate that some idiosyncratic patterns in animal fearfulness towards humans may emerge among different geographic regions, highlighting difficulties with scaling up and application of regional findings to other ecosystems and world regions. Such differences could be associated with intrinsic differences between the pool of bird species from temperate European and mostly tropical Latin American cities, characterized by different evolutionary histories, but also with differences in the historical process of urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Morelli
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana St. 1, PL-65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland.
| | - Lucas M Leveau
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires - IEGEBA (CONICET - UBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Pab 2, Piso 4, Buenos Aires 1426, Argentina
| | - Peter Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kvetna 8, Brno 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Ian MacGregor-Fors
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Niemenkatu 73, 15140 Lahti, Finland
| | - M Lucia Bocelli
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires - IEGEBA (CONICET - UBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Pab 2, Piso 4, Buenos Aires 1426, Argentina
| | - Sergio Gabriel Quesada-Acuña
- Universidad Estatal a Distancia, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Laboratorio de Ecología Urbana, 2050 Sabanilla, San José, Costa Rica
| | - César González-Lagos
- Departamento de Ciencias, Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile; Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Gabriela Franzoi Dri
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine, 5755 Nutting Hall, Room 244, 04469-5755, USA
| | - Carlos A Delgado-V
- Programa de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias y Biotecnología, Universidad CES, Calle 10A 22-04, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Alvaro Garitano Zavala
- Instituto de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Naturales, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Casilla 10077, La Paz, Bolivia
| | | | - Rubén Ortega-Álvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES) - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus Morelia, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8711, Col. San José de la Huerta, Morelia, Michoacán 58190, Mexico
| | | | - Daniela Souza López
- North American Birds Conservation Initiative, CONABIO, Liga Periférico-Insurgentes Sur No. 4903, Parques del Pedregal, 14010 Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Maria Cecília B Toledo
- Laboratório de Ecologia, Instituto Básico de Biociências, Universidade de Taubaté Curso de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Brazil
| | - Andres Sarquis
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional del Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Giraudo
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional del Litoral), Ciudad Universitaria, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Ada Lilian Echevarria
- Instituto de Vertebrados - Zoología - Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251 San Miguel de Tucumán, CP 4000 Tucumán, Argentina
| | - María Elisa Fanjul
- Instituto de Vertebrados - Zoología - Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251 San Miguel de Tucumán, CP 4000 Tucumán, Argentina
| | - María Valeria Martínez
- Instituto de Vertebrados - Zoología - Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251 San Miguel de Tucumán, CP 4000 Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Josefina Haedo
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (CONICET - UNT), Tucumán, Argentina
| | | | | | - Viviana Fernandez
- Centro de Investigaciones de la Geósfera y la Biósfera-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Av. Ignacio de la Roza 590 (O), Complejo Universitario "Islas Malvinas", Rivadavia, San Juan, Argentina
| | - Veronica Marinero
- Centro de Investigaciones de la Geósfera y la Biósfera-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Av. Ignacio de la Roza 590 (O), Complejo Universitario "Islas Malvinas", Rivadavia, San Juan, Argentina
| | - Vinícius Abilhoa
- Museu de História Natural Capão da Imbuia, PMC Rua Prof. Benedito Conceição, 407, 82810-080 Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Rafael Amorin
- Museu de História Natural Capão da Imbuia, PMC Rua Prof. Benedito Conceição, 407, 82810-080 Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Carla Suertegaray Fontana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 6681, prédio 40 sala 110 B, 90619-900, Brazil; Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Thaiane Weinert da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 6681, prédio 40 sala 110 B, 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Sarah Sandri Zalewski Vargas
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Juan F Escobar Ibañez
- Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa, Mexico
| | | | - Sergio R Camín
- ECODES, Grupo de investigación en ecología de comunidades de desierto, IADIZA-CONICET, Mendoza y Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, UNCuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Luis Marone
- ECODES, Grupo de investigación en ecología de comunidades de desierto, IADIZA-CONICET, Mendoza y Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, UNCuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Augusto João Piratelli
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Depto. Ciências Ambientais/CCTS, Rodovia João Leme dos Santos, Km 110 - Itinga, CEP 18052-780 Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Larissa Crispim
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Depto. Ciências Ambientais/CCTS, Rodovia João Leme dos Santos, Km 110 - Itinga, CEP 18052-780 Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Julieta Benitez
- Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Houssay 200, 9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
| | - Yanina Benedetti
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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García-Arroyo M, MacGregor-Fors I, Quesada J, Borràs A, Colomé-Menoyo L, Senar JC. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) escape behavior is triggered faster in smaller settlements. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2545. [PMID: 36781888 PMCID: PMC9925442 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26988-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A recurrent behavioral trait model to study adaptation to urban environments is the flight initiation distance (FID), measured as the distance at which animals flee from an approaching threat. It has previously been shown that urban birds display shorter FID than their non-urban (rural) counterparts. However, discerning whether this is the result of habituation to human presence and frequentation, or of ecological factors related to the size of the city (considered as "systemic habituation"), has not yet been addressed. In this study, we analyzed House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) FIDs in a network of 26 small towns and villages within the same region in northeastern Spain. Our aim was to relate FID to human population density and settlement size. If the habituation to human presence hypothesis was supported, we should expect FIDs to decrease with the density of the human population across the human settlements, since this type of habituation is related to the rate of human exposure and this is proportional to human density. However, if the systemic habituation hypothesis was supported, FIDs should instead relate to the size of the human settlements, as the abundance of predators, similarly to other ecological variables, is often proportional to the size of towns. Results showed House Sparrows to be bolder in larger human settlements, but not necessarily the ones with a higher density of human population. This supports the idea that the fact that urban birds display shorter FIDs than their rural counterparts is the result of systemic ecological factors rather than the results of a simple habituation to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle García-Arroyo
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu 73, 15140, Lahti, Finland
| | - Ian MacGregor-Fors
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu 73, 15140, Lahti, Finland.
| | - Javier Quesada
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Antoni Borràs
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Juan Carlos Senar
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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28
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Bar-Ziv M, Sofer A, Gorovoy A, Spiegel O. Beyond simple habituation: Anthropogenic habitats influence the escape behaviour of spur-winged lapwings in response to both human and non-human threats. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:417-429. [PMID: 36477653 PMCID: PMC10107496 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Habitat development may affect wildlife behaviour, favouring individuals or behaviours that cope better with perceived threats (predators). Bolder behaviours in human-dominated habitats (HDH; e.g. urban and rural settlements) may represent habituation specifically to humans, or a general reduction in predator-avoidance response. However, such carry-over effects across threat types (i.e. beyond humans) and phases of the escape sequence have not been well studied to date. Here we investigated escape behaviours of a locally common wader species, the spur-winged lapwing Vanellus spinosus. We assayed their flight initiation distance (FID) and subsequent escape behaviours in agricultural areas and in HDH. We found that lapwings in HDH were bolder, and that the difference was manifested in several phases of the predator-avoidance sequence (shorter FIDs, shorter distances fled, and a higher probability of escape by running vs. flying). When re-approached (by an observer) after landing, lapwings in HDH were also more repetitive in their FID than those in other habitats. To determine whether this apparent bolder behaviour in HDH areas is merely a consequence of habituation to humans or represents a broader behavioural change, we introduced an additional threat type-a remotely-operated taxidermic jackal ('Jack-Truck'). Finding bolder responses in the HDH to the human threat alone (and not to the Jack-Truck) could have supported the habituation hypothesis. In contrast, however, we found a bolder response in the HDH to both threat types, as well as a correlation between their FIDs across different sites. These bolder behaviours suggest that HDH impose a broader behavioural change on lapwings, rather than just simple habituation. Overall, our findings demonstrate how FID trials can reveal strong behavioural carry-over effects of HDH following human and non-human threats, including effects on the subsequent phases of escaping the predator. Further, FID assays may reveal consistent behavioural types when assessed under field conditions, and offer a direct way to differentiate among the various poorly understood and non-mutually exclusive mechanisms that lead to behavioural differences among organisms in HDH. The mechanistic perspective is essential for understanding how rapid urbanization impacts wildlife behaviour, populations, and the range of behaviours within them, even in species apparently resilient to such environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bar-Ziv
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aran Sofer
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adel Gorovoy
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Orr Spiegel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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29
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Lizards' response to the sound of fire is modified by fire history. Anim Behav 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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30
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I love to hate my neighbour: how recognition of dear enemies affects male antipredator behaviours in a lizard species. Anim Behav 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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31
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Coelho CM, Araújo AS, Suttiwan P, Zsido AN. An ethologically based view into human fear. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 145:105017. [PMID: 36566802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.105017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The quality of the defensive response to a threat depends on the elements that trigger the fear response. The current classification system of phobias does not account for this. Here, we analyze the fear-eliciting elements and discern the different types of fears that originate from them. We propose Pain, Disgust, Vasovagal response, Visual-vestibular and postural interactions, Movement and Speed, Distance and Size, Low and mid-level visual features, Smell, and Territory and social status. We subdivide phobias according to the fear-eliciting elements most frequently triggered by them and their impact on behavior. We discuss the implications of a clinical conceptualization of phobias in humans by reconsidering the current nosology. This conceptualization will facilitate finding etiological factors in defensive behavior expression, fine-tuning exposure techniques, and challenging preconceived notions of preparedness. This approach to phobias leads to surprising discoveries and shows how specific responses bear little relation to the interpretation we might later give to them. Dividing fears into their potentially fear-eliciting elements can also help in applying the research principles formulated by the Research Domain Criteria initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M Coelho
- University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal; Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Center for Psychology at University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana S Araújo
- Center for Psychology at University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; University of Maia, Maia, Portugal
| | - Panrapee Suttiwan
- Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Life Di Center, Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Andras N Zsido
- Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs 7624, Hungary; Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary
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32
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Jolkkonen J, Gaston KJ, Troscianko J. Artificial lighting affects the landscape of fear in a widely distributed shorebird. Commun Biol 2023; 6:131. [PMID: 36721045 PMCID: PMC9889372 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04486-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fear influences almost all aspects of a prey species' behaviour, such as its foraging and movement, and has the potential to cause trophic cascades. The superior low-light vision of many predators means that perceived predation risk in prey is likely to be affected by light levels. The widespread and increasing intensity of artificial light at night is therefore likely to interfere with this nocturnal visual arms race with unknown behavioural and ecological consequences. Here we test how the fear of predation perceived by wintering Eurasian curlew foraging on tidal flats is influenced by lighting. We quantified flight initiation distance (FID) of individuals under varying levels of natural and artificial illumination. Our results demonstrate that FID is significantly and substantially reduced at low light levels and increases under higher intensity illumination, with artificial light sources having a greater influence than natural sources. Contrary to the sensory-limitation hypothesis, the curlews' unwillingness to take flight in low-light appears to reflect the risks posed by low-light flight, and a desire to remain on valuable foraging grounds. These findings demonstrate how artificial light can shape the landscape of fear, and how this interacts with optimal foraging decisions, and the costs of taking flight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juho Jolkkonen
- grid.9681.60000 0001 1013 7965Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Kevin J. Gaston
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall UK
| | - Jolyon Troscianko
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.
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Labra A, Zapata A. Response of the weeping lizard to distress calls: the effect of witnessing predation. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:953-961. [PMID: 36681753 PMCID: PMC10066144 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01743-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Escaping from predation saves life, but costs energy and time. The "threat-sensitive predator-avoidance" hypothesis proposes that prey may modulate their antipredator responses, and thus the associated costs, in accordance with the magnitude of predation risk. This process requires that prey accurately assess this risk by decoding available information from various sources. For example, distress calls are uttered by prey when a predator traps them and can serve as public information on predation risk. Such is the case for the weeping lizard whose distress calls trigger immobility in conspecifics. Here, we tested whether this antipredator response of the weeping lizard is modulated by witnessing predation. We exposed lizards to distress calls alone or paired with models of a prey (conspecific), a predator (snake), or a predatory event (a snake subjugating the conspecific). Data show that the sole presence of the predator or prey paired with distress calls seems not to modulate the antipredator responses. Contrarily, witnessing a predatory event associated with calls intensified antipredator responses; lizards reduced their activity for longer and avoided proximity to the stimuli, which may decrease predation risk by reducing the likelihood of being detected by the predator. We conclude that the weeping lizard can use multisensorial public information to assess predation risk and modulate its antipredator responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonieta Labra
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. .,NGO Vida Nativa, Santiago, Chile.
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Siegfried TR, Reimer J, Roberto E, Noren C, Vidal A, Dixon K, DuBois M, Piacenza SE. Size-Mediated Sea Turtle Behavioral Responses at Artificial Habitats in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010114. [PMID: 36611724 PMCID: PMC9817786 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of size-specific sea turtle behavior has lagged due to methodological limitations. However, stereo-video cameras (SVC) are an in-water approach that can link body-size and allow for relatively undisturbed behavioral observations. In this study, we conducted SVC dive surveys at local artificial reefs, piers, and jetties in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) from May 2019 to August 2021. Using SVCs, we measured sea turtle straight carapace length, documented behaviors, and quantified wariness by assessing minimum approach distance (MAD). In green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), the observed MAD ranged from 0.72 to 5.99 m (mean 2.10 m ± 1.10 standard deviation (SD), n = 73). For loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), the MAD ranged between 0.93 and 3.80 m (mean 2.12 m ± 0.99 SD, n = 16). Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) were similar to loggerheads, and MAD ranged from 0.78 to 3.63 m (mean 2.35 m ± 0.99 SD, n = 8). We then evaluated what biological factors could impact the MAD observed by species, but we excluded Kemp's ridleys as the sample size was small. Using a linear mixed model and model selection based on AICc, the top ranked model for both green and loggerhead sea turtles included SCL as the most important factor influencing MAD. MAD did not vary with habitat type for either species. Our results showed that larger individuals, regardless of species, have a greater wariness response, becoming startled at greater distances than smaller individuals. The findings of our study support the use of SVC as an accessible, non-invasive tool to conduct ecologically relevant in-water surveys of sea turtles to link behavioral observations to body size.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jackson Reimer
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Emma Roberto
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Christopher Noren
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
- Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, Walpole, ME 04573, USA
| | - Alex Vidal
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Maryland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA
| | - Kristi Dixon
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Morgan DuBois
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
| | - Susan E. Piacenza
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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Surveying cliff-nesting seabirds with unoccupied aircraft systems in the Gulf of Alaska. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03101-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractDrones, or unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS), can transform the way scientific information on wildlife populations is collected. UAS surveys produce accurate estimates of ground-nesting seabirds and a variety of waterbirds, but few studies have examined the trade-offs of this methodology for counting cliff-nesting seabirds. In this study, we examined how different UAS survey parameters might influence seabird counts for population monitoring and assessed behavioral responses to aerial surveys for three sub-Arctic seabird taxa in the Gulf of Alaska: common murres (Uria aalge), black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), and pelagic and double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax pelagicus and Phalacrocorax auritus). We flew two commercially available models of UAS in planned approaches at different speeds and distances from colonies during incubation and chick-rearing periods. We compared counts from UAS-derived images with those from vessel-based photography and assessed video recordings of individual birds’ behaviors for evidence of disturbance during UAS operations and control phases. Count estimates from UAS images were similar to or higher than those from conventional vessel-based images, and UAS were particularly effective at photographing birds at sites with high cliff walls or complex topography. We observed no significant behavioral responses to the UAS by murres or cormorants, but we did observe flushing by black-legged kittiwakes during UAS flights; most of these birds were not incubating or brooding. At both the colony and individual level, we observed slightly greater responses to the smaller UAS platform and closer approaches. These results inform both species specific and general best practices for research and recreational usage of UAS near cliff-nesting seabird colonies.
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Ardila-Villamizar M, Alarcón-Nieto G, Maldonado-Chaparro AA. Fear in urban landscapes: conspecific flock size drives escape decisions in tropical birds. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:221344. [PMID: 36465683 PMCID: PMC9709570 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced disturbances affect animal behaviours such as anti-predatory responses. Animals in urban environments tend to exhibit a reduced escape response, measured as a shorter flight initiation distance (FID), compared to their rural counterparts. While FID has been evaluated in animals dwelling in contrasting habitats (e.g. urban versus rural), little is known about how this response varies within urban environments, especially in tropical cities. Here, we studied the FID of 15 resident bird species in Bogota, Colombia, at 22 sites grouped into four categories (natural sites, metropolitan parks, zonal parks and residential areas) that differed in landscape features and evaluated which factors affected the escape responses of birds. We showed that birds foraging in larger flocks are more tolerant when being approached but they do not seem to be influenced by other factors such as heterospecific flock size, noise levels, pedestrian density, predator density, natural cover or body length. Also, birds inhabiting residential areas and parks showed a shorter FID compared to birds in natural areas suggesting that they are more tolerant of human-related disturbances compared to their conspecifics that live in natural areas within the city. Our study shows important differences in bird anti-predatory responses within the city and suggests that social strategies (i.e. flocking patterns) may be a mechanism for adapting to human-induced disturbances in urban tropical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gustavo Alarcón-Nieto
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Adriana A. Maldonado-Chaparro
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota D.C., Colombia
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
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Bhardwaj M, Lodnert D, Olsson M, Winsvold A, Eilertsen SM, Kjellander P, Seiler A. Inducing fear using acoustic stimuli—A behavioral experiment on moose (
Alces alces
) in Sweden. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9492. [PMCID: PMC9667297 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Bhardwaj
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Riddarhyttan Sweden
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Denice Lodnert
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Riddarhyttan Sweden
| | | | - Aina Winsvold
- Ruralis – Institute for Rural and Regional Research University Centre Dragvoll Trondheim Norway
| | | | - Petter Kjellander
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Riddarhyttan Sweden
| | - Andreas Seiler
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Riddarhyttan Sweden
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Morelli F, Mikula P, Blumstein DT, Díaz M, Markó G, Jokimäki J, Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki ML, Floigl K, Zeid FA, Siretckaia A, Benedetti Y. Flight initiation distance and refuge in urban birds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 842:156939. [PMID: 35753455 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Risk-taking in birds is often measured as the flight initiation distance (FID), the distance at which individuals take flight when approached by a potential predator (typically a human). The ecological factors that affect avian FID have received great attention over the past decades and meta-analyses and comparative analyses have shown that FID is correlated with body mass, flock size, starting distance of the approaching human, density of potential predators, as well as varying along rural to urban gradients. However, surprisingly, only few studies (mainly on reptiles and mammals) have explored effects of different types of refugia and their availability on animal escape decisions. We used Bayesian regression models (controlling for the phylogenetic relatedness of bird species) to explore changes in escape behaviour recorded in European cities in relationship to the birds' distance to the nearest refuge and distance fled to the refuge. In our analyses, we also included information on the type of refuge, built-up and vegetation cover, starting distance, flock size, urbanization level, and type of urban habitat. We found that birds preferred tree refuges over artificial and bush refuges. Birds escaped earlier if the distance to the nearest refuge of any type was longer and if birds fled longer distances to the refuge. FID was shorter when birds used bushes as refugia or landed on the ground after flushing compared to using artificial refugia. Similarly, the distance fled to a refuge was shortest when using bushes, and increased when escaping to artificial substrates and trees. Birds were more timid in suburban than core areas of cities, cemeteries than parks, and in areas with higher bush cover but lower cover of built-up areas and trees. Our findings provide novel information regarding the importance of refuge proximity and type as factors affecting the escape behaviour of urban birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Morelli
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Peter Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel T Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mario Díaz
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (BGC-MNCN-CSIC), E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gábor Markó
- Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ménesi út 44, Budapest 1118, Hungary
| | - Jukka Jokimäki
- Nature Inventory and EIA-services, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, P. O. Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland
| | | | - Kristina Floigl
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Farah Abou Zeid
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Anastasiia Siretckaia
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Yanina Benedetti
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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Word KR, Austin SH, Wingfield JC. Allostasis revisited: A perception, variation, and risk framework. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.954708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The framework of allostasis, allostatic load and overload (i.e., stability through change) attempts to combine homeostasis processes in day-to-day responses of physiology and behavior. These include predictive changes in environment such as seasons, and facultative responses to perturbations. The latter can be severe, occur at any time, and may present considerable additional challenges to homeostasis. Hormonal cascades, such as the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) axis, play a key role in responses to perturbations across vertebrate taxa. Glucocorticoids have been implicated in these processes in relation to energy balance that plays a role in determining responses to energetic demand (allostatic load) and influencing subsequent physiology and behavior associated with coping. Circulating glucocorticoid levels are likely regulated in part based on an individual’s proximity to energetic crisis, identified as the perturbation resistance potential (PRP). In the model of allostatic load, PRP is quantified as the difference between available resources and all energetic costs of allostatic load such as daily routines, life history stages (breeding, migration, molt and so on), and the impact of environmental perturbations. PRP can change gradually or abruptly and may be reflected by spikes in blood hormone levels. The pattern of individual responsiveness to PRP may vary and has specific implications for the activation of mineralocorticoid vs glucocorticoid-type receptors, hormone metabolizing enzymes and other downstream factors in target tissues. However, PRP is a difficult metric to measure. Here, we examine the variety of cues that animals may use to inform them about the status of their PRP and probability of energetic crisis. We consider (1) elevation in glucocorticoids as an endocrine “decision,” and (2) error management strategies in evaluating responsiveness to cues that may reflect or predict an impending energetic crisis. The potential for differential receptor activation as well as further integrative “decisions” to determine the diverse and sometimes contradictory effects of receptor activation and its downstream actions are important to the consideration of error management. This perspective offers insight into the basis of intra- and inter-individual variability in responsiveness and opens an avenue toward improving compatibility of the allostasis model with more classical views on “stress”.
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40
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Mohring B, Angelier F, Jaatinen K, Steele B, Lönnberg E, Öst M. Drivers of within- and among-individual variation in risk-taking behaviour during reproduction in a long-lived bird. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221338. [PMID: 36126681 PMCID: PMC9489283 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic and selective mechanisms govern parental investment adjustments to predation threat. We investigated the relative importance of plasticity and selection in risk-taking propensity of incubating female common eiders Somateria mollissima facing unprecedented predation in SW Finland, Baltic Sea. Using a 12-year individual-based dataset, we examined within- and among-individual variation in flight initiation distance (FID), in relation to predation risk, nest detectability, individual traits and reproductive investment (NFID = 1009; Nindividual = 559). We expected females nesting in riskier environments (higher predation risk, lower nest concealment) to mitigate environmentally imposed risk by exhibiting longer FIDs, and females investing more in current reproduction (older, in better condition or laying larger clutches) to display shorter FIDs. The target of predation-adult or offspring-affected the mechanisms adapting risk-taking propensity; females plastically increased their FID under higher adult predation risk, while risk-avoiding breeders were predominant on islands with higher nest predation risk. Risk-taking females selected thicker nest cover, consistent with personality-matching habitat choice. Females plastically attenuated their anti-predator response (shorter FIDs) with advancing age, and females in better body condition were more risk-taking, a result explained by selection processes. Future research should consider predator type when investigating the fitness consequences of risk-taking strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertille Mohring
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20500 Turku, Finland
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS – La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS – La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Kim Jaatinen
- Nature and Game Management Trust Finland, 10160 Degerby, Finland
| | - Ben Steele
- School of Arts and Sciences, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH 03257, USA
| | | | - Markus Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20500 Turku, Finland
- Novia University of Applied Sciences, 10600 Ekenäs, Finland
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41
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Kelleher SR, Silla AJ, Hunter DA, McFadden MS, Byrne PG. Captive diet does not influence exploration behavior upon reintroduction to the wild in a critically endangered amphibian. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.985545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploration behavior can have profound effects on individual fitness. Consequently, knowledge of the proximate mechanisms underpinning exploration behavior may inform conservation breeding programs (CBPs) for threatened species. However, the environmental factors that influence exploration behavior in captivity and during the reintroduction process remain poorly understood. Dietary micronutrients, such as carotenoids, are known to affect the expression of energetically costly behavioral traits, and theoretically may also influence the degree of exploration behavior in various contexts. Here, we investigate whether dietary β-carotene supplementation in captivity influences exploration behavior upon reintroduction to the wild in the critically endangered southern corroboree frog, Pseudophryne corroboree. We conducted a manipulative dietary experiment where captive bred P. corroboree were supplemented with different doses of β-carotene for 40 weeks prior to release. Frogs (n = 115) were reintroduced to the wild using a soft-release approach, where they were released into field enclosures specifically designed for this species. Upon reintroduction, the frogs’ initial exploration behavior was measured using a standardized behavioral assay. There was no effect of diet treatment on any measure of exploration behavior (mean latency to leave the initial refuge, time spent mobile within the release apparatus and latency to disperse into the field enclosure). However, there was a significant relationship between individual body size and latency to leave the refuge, whereby smaller individuals left the refuge more rapidly. While these findings provide no evidence that β-carotene at the dosages tested influences P. corroboree exploration behavior in a reintroduction context, the effect of body size draws attention to the potential for bodily state to influence exploration behavior. We discuss the need for ongoing research investigating the influence of captive diet on post release behavior, and highlight how knowledge concerning state-dependent behavior might help to inform and direct reintroduction programs.
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42
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Hawkins E, Papworth S. Little Evidence to Support the Risk–Disturbance Hypothesis as an Explanation for Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Pygmy Marmosets (Cebuella niveiventris) at a Tourism site in the Peruvian Amazon. INT J PRIMATOL 2022; 43:1110-1132. [PMID: 36068879 PMCID: PMC9438364 DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00297-9] [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: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The risk–disturbance hypothesis states that animals react to human stressors in the same way as they do to natural predators. Given increasing human–wildlife contact, understanding whether animals perceive anthropogenic sounds as a threat is important for assessing the long-term sustainability of wildlife tourism and proposing appropriate mitigation strategies. A study of pygmy marmoset (Cebuella niveiventris) responses to human speech found marmosets fled, decreased feeding and resting, and increased alert behaviors in response to human speech. Following this study, we investigated pygmy marmoset reactions to playbacks of different acoustic stimuli: controls (no playback, white noise and cicadas), anthropogenic noise (human speech and motorboats), and avian predators. For each playback condition, we recorded the behavior of a marmoset and looked at how the behaviors changed during and after the playback relative to behaviors before. We repeated this on ten different marmoset groups, playing each condition once to each group. The results did not replicate a previous study on the same species, at the same site, demonstrating the importance of replication in primate research, particularly when results are used to inform conservation policy. The results showed increased scanning during playbacks of the cicadas and predators compared with before the playback, and an increase in resting after playbacks of avian predators, but no evidence of behavior change in response to playbacks of human speech. There was no effect of ambient sound levels or distance between the playback source and focal animals on their behavior for all playback conditions. Although we find that noise can change the behavior of pygmy marmosets, we did not find evidence to support the risk–disturbance hypothesis.
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43
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Mikula P, Kwieciński Z, Kaługa I, Tryjanowski P. The Crimean population of the lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) has low behavioural flexibility in its response to approaching humans. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.22038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | | | | | - Piotr Tryjanowski
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland; e-mail:
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Matich P, Bigelow CL, Chambers B, Dodds JJ, Hebert JA, Lemieux A, Pittman CM, Trapp J, Bianco B, Cadena CP, Castillo EI, Castillo GI, Dawdy A, Dominguez AI, Dominique N, French DR, Glenn CF, Jackson ECH, Johnson B, Kohl G, Manka C, Martin JK, Pappas M, Reedholm AJ, Snead KM, Tyree MK, Fisher M. Delineation of blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) nursery habitats in the north-western Gulf of Mexico. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:236-248. [PMID: 35591772 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Coevolution with predators leads to the use of low-risk habitats by many prey species, which promotes survival during early developmental phases. These nurseries are valued by conservation and management agencies because of their contributions to adult populations. However, the physical and geographic characteristics, like shallow depths and isolation from other marine habitats, that restrict access to predators and thereby reduce risk to juvenile animals can also limit scientific research. Consequently, many nursery habitats are still unidentified and understudied. Here we used gillnet monitoring from 1982 to 2018 to delineate blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) nurseries in the north-western Gulf of Mexico and elucidated their physical, environmental and biological characteristics. Nursery habitats within estuaries (<2% of spatial area) were proximate to the Gulf of Mexico and exhibited significantly lower variability in salinity than non-nurseries. However, relative abundances of predators and prey were not significant delineators of nursery habitats. As such, food and risk may not influence juvenile blacktip habitat use as expected. Alternatively, reduced osmoregulatory stress attributed to predictable environments likely provides advantageous conditions for blacktips to develop foraging and antipredator tactics, which is vital prior to the winter migration of juvenile sharks into the Gulf of Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Camryn L Bigelow
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Barrett Chambers
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jillian J Dodds
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jessica A Hebert
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Alexis Lemieux
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Christy M Pittman
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Julianna Trapp
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Brooke Bianco
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Carolina P Cadena
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Emily I Castillo
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Gabriela I Castillo
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Alexandra Dawdy
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Alina I Dominguez
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Nicholas Dominique
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Donavon R French
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Callie F Glenn
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Elena C H Jackson
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Breidon Johnson
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Gunnar Kohl
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Cameron Manka
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jared K Martin
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew Pappas
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Audrey J Reedholm
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Kailey M Snead
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew K Tyree
- Marine Biology Department, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Mark Fisher
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Coastal Fisheries Division, Rockport Marine Science Laboratory, Rockport, Texas, USA
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45
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Kong AY, Man L, Suan KA, Blumstein DT. Blue‐tailed skinks have predation‐dependent threat discrimination. Ethology 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Y. Kong
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Lauren Man
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Kaylie A. Suan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Daniel T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles California USA
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46
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Feitosa ML, Dionisio-da-Silva W, Lira AF, Teles-Pontes WJ. Fear as an enemy? Behavioral changes of Ananteris mauryi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) triggered by chemical cues from an intraguild predator. CAN J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2022-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fear level and intraguild predation are factors that act together to directly influence animal behavior, population dynamics, and community structure. These factors trigger stress, which promotes behavioral, morphological, physiological, and demographic changes, especially in the prey. Some invertebrates, such as scorpions, are known to have a refined chemoreception system to perceive both prey and predators. Therefore, we investigated the ability of an intraguild prey, the scorpion Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982, to detect chemical traces of its predator, the scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893. Our goal was to verify whether A. mauryi exhibits antipredator behavior induced exclusively by chemical cues from its predator. Ananteris mauryi specimens were subjected to two experimental treatments: one with and one without traces of T. pusillus. The results showed that A. mauryi tended to avoid substrates with chemical traces of T. pusillus, confirming its capacity for chemical detection. As a result of this perception, changes in behavioral frequencies were triggered, generating an antipredator behavioral repertoire. These findings were supported by behavioral changes, such as tail wagging, which is performed exclusively by scorpions in the presence of a predator and at imminent risk of predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus L.B. Feitosa
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Welton Dionisio-da-Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa 58050-585, Brazil
| | - André F.A. Lira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociência Animal, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
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Lunn RB, Blackwell BF, DeVault TL, Fernández-Juricic E. Can we use antipredator behavior theory to predict wildlife responses to high-speed vehicles? PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267774. [PMID: 35551549 PMCID: PMC9098083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals seem to rely on antipredator behavior to avoid vehicle collisions. There is an extensive body of antipredator behavior theory that have been used to predict the distance/time animals should escape from predators. These models have also been used to guide empirical research on escape behavior from vehicles. However, little is known as to whether antipredator behavior models are appropriate to apply to an approaching high-speed vehicle scenario. We addressed this gap by (a) providing an overview of the main hypotheses and predictions of different antipredator behavior models via a literature review, (b) exploring whether these models can generate quantitative predictions on escape distance when parameterized with empirical data from the literature, and (c) evaluating their sensitivity to vehicle approach speed using a simulation approach wherein we assessed model performance based on changes in effect size with variations in the slope of the flight initiation distance (FID) vs. approach speed relationship. The slope of the FID vs. approach speed relationship was then related back to three different behavioral rules animals may rely on to avoid approaching threats: the spatial, temporal, or delayed margin of safety. We used literature on birds for goals (b) and (c). Our review considered the following eight models: the economic escape model, Blumstein's economic escape model, the optimal escape model, the perceptual limit hypothesis, the visual cue model, the flush early and avoid the rush (FEAR) hypothesis, the looming stimulus hypothesis, and the Bayesian model of escape behavior. We were able to generate quantitative predictions about escape distance with the last five models. However, we were only able to assess sensitivity to vehicle approach speed for the last three models. The FEAR hypothesis is most sensitive to high-speed vehicles when the species follows the spatial (FID remains constant as speed increases) and the temporal margin of safety (FID increases with an increase in speed) rules of escape. The looming stimulus effect hypothesis reached small to intermediate levels of sensitivity to high-speed vehicles when a species follows the delayed margin of safety (FID decreases with an increase in speed). The Bayesian optimal escape model reached intermediate levels of sensitivity to approach speed across all escape rules (spatial, temporal, delayed margins of safety) but only for larger (> 1 kg) species, but was not sensitive to speed for smaller species. Overall, no single antipredator behavior model could characterize all different types of escape responses relative to vehicle approach speed but some models showed some levels of sensitivity for certain rules of escape behavior. We derive some applied applications of our findings by suggesting the estimation of critical vehicle approach speeds for managing populations that are especially susceptible to road mortality. Overall, we recommend that new escape behavior models specifically tailored to high-speeds vehicles should be developed to better predict quantitatively the responses of animals to an increase in the frequency of cars, airplanes, drones, etc. they will face in the next decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan B. Lunn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Bradley F. Blackwell
- USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Sandusky, OH, United States of America
| | - Travis L. DeVault
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Jackson, SC, United States of America
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Ontogeny and caudal autotomy fracture planes in a large scincid lizard, Egernia kingii. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7051. [PMID: 35488011 PMCID: PMC9054770 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10962-x] [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: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Many lizard species use caudal autotomy, the ability to self-amputate a portion of the tail, as an effective but costly survival strategy. However, as a lizard grows, its increased size may reduce predation risk allowing for less costly strategies (e.g., biting and clawing) to be used as the primary defence. The King's skink (Egernia kingii) is a large scincid up to approximately 244 mm snout to vent length (SVL) in size when adult. Adults rely less on caudal autotomy than do juveniles due to their size and strength increase during maturation. It has been hypothesised that lower behavioural reliance on autotomy in adults is reflected in loss or restriction of caudal vertebrae fracture planes through ossification as caudal intra-vertebral fracture planes in some species ossify during ontogenetic growth. To test this, we used micro-CT to image the tails of a growth series of seven individuals of E. kingii. We show that fracture planes are not lost or restricted ontogenetically within E. kingii, with adults retaining between 39-44 autotomisable vertebrae following 5-6 non-autotomisable vertebrae. Even though mature E. kingii rely less on caudal autotomy than do juveniles, this research shows that they retain the maximum ability to autotomise their tails, providing a last resort option to avoid threats. The potential costs associated with retaining caudal autotomy are most likely mitigated through neurological control of autotomy and E. kingii's longevity.
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Cyriac VP, Srinivasa KB, Kumar L, Martin G. Should I stay or should I go: escape behaviour of Russell’s vipers, Daboia russelii (Shaw & Nodder, 1797) in India’s agricultural landscapes. ANIM BIOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Predation exerts a strong selective force on prey, and hence prey species have evolved a multitude of ways to escape predation. One strategy by which many mobile species escape predation is by fleeing when approached by predators. However, fleeing too early can have fitness costs. Thus, optimal escape theory suggests that escape behaviour in prey depends on the risk of being eaten and the fleeing costs. Several studies on mammals, birds and lizards lend support to this hypothesis. However, few studies have explored escape behaviour in snakes. Here, using radio telemetry to track snakes in the field, we study the escape behaviour in Russell’s vipers, a highly venomous and cryptic snake, responsible for the highest number of snakebite deaths in India. We show that escape response, i.e., the decision to stay or flee, was influenced by intrinsic factors such as the snake’s behaviour and body temperature. We also show that the flight initiation distance, the distance at which the snake flees, was mostly determined by habitat selection, i.e., the visibility of the snake and the distance to the nearest cover. Overall, we show that different factors could determine the decision to flee and when to flee. We also highlight how understanding escape response in such highly venomous, medically important yet secretive snakes could potentially help reduce human-snake encounters and mitigate the snakebite crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek P. Cyriac
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, CV Raman Rd, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560012, India
- The Liana Trust, Sy. No. 1418/1419, Rathnapuri, Hunsur, Karnataka – 1571189, India
| | - Kiran B. Srinivasa
- Humane Society International (India), Hunsur, Karnataka – 1571189, India
| | - Lohith Kumar
- The Liana Trust, Sy. No. 1418/1419, Rathnapuri, Hunsur, Karnataka – 1571189, India
| | - Gerard Martin
- The Liana Trust, Sy. No. 1418/1419, Rathnapuri, Hunsur, Karnataka – 1571189, India
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Marion S, Demšar U, Davies AL, Stephens PA, Irvine RJ, Long JA. Red deer behavioural response to hiking activity: A study using camera traps. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Solène Marion
- School of Geography & Sustainable Development, Irvine Building University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler Aberdeen UK
| | - Urška Demšar
- School of Geography & Sustainable Development, Irvine Building University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Althea L. Davies
- School of Geography & Sustainable Development, Irvine Building University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Philip A. Stephens
- Conservation Ecology Group Department of Biosciences Durham University Durham UK
| | - R. Justin Irvine
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler Aberdeen UK
- Frankfurt Zoological Society Addis Ababa Ethiopia
| | - Jed A. Long
- School of Geography & Sustainable Development, Irvine Building University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- Department of Geography & Environment Western University London Ontario Canada
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