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Fuentes E, Moreau J, Millet M, Bretagnolle V, Monceau K. Organic farming reduces pesticide load in a bird of prey. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172778. [PMID: 38670354 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172778] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Human activities have led to the contamination of all environmental compartments worldwide, including bird species. In birds, both the environment and maternal transfer lead to high inter-brood variability in contamination levels of pollutants, whereas intra-brood variability is generally low. However, most existing studies focused on heavy metals or persistent compounds and none, to our knowledge, addressed the variability in contamination levels of multiple pesticides and the factors influencing it. In this study, the number of pesticides detected (of 104 compounds searched) and the sum of their concentrations in the blood of 55 Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) nestlings from 22 nests sampled in 2021 were used as metrics of contamination levels. We investigated the effect of organic farming at the size of male's home range (i.e., 14 km2) and chicks' sex and hatching order on contamination levels. We did not find a difference between inter-brood and intra-brood variability in pesticide contamination levels, suggesting a different exposure of siblings through food items. While chicks' sex or rank did not affect their contamination level, we found that the percentage of organic farming around the nests significantly decreased the number of pesticides detected, although it did not decrease the total concentrations. This finding highlights the potential role of organic farming in reducing the exposure of birds to a pesticide cocktail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elva Fuentes
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France.
| | - Jérôme Moreau
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France; UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Université de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Maurice Millet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS-UMR 7515, ICPEES, 67087 Strasbourg cedex 2, France
| | - Vincent Bretagnolle
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France; LTSER "Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre", CNRS, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Karine Monceau
- UMR 7372, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université & CNRS, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
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Santoro S, Green AJ, Speakman JR, Figuerola J. Facultative and non-facultative sex ratio adjustments in a dimorphic bird species. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.01889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Santoro
- Dept of Wetland Ecology; Doñana Biological Station-CSIC; Américo Vespucio s/n ES-41092 Seville Spain
| | - Andy J. Green
- Dept of Wetland Ecology; Doñana Biological Station-CSIC; Américo Vespucio s/n ES-41092 Seville Spain
| | - John R. Speakman
- Inst. of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Univ. of Aberdeen; Aberdeen UK
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Dept of Wetland Ecology; Doñana Biological Station-CSIC; Américo Vespucio s/n ES-41092 Seville Spain
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Sumasgutner P, Nemeth E, Tebb G, Krenn HW, Gamauf A. Hard times in the city - attractive nest sites but insufficient food supply lead to low reproduction rates in a bird of prey. Front Zool 2014; 11:48. [PMID: 24872836 PMCID: PMC4035672 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-11-48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Urbanization is a global phenomenon that is encroaching on natural habitats and decreasing biodiversity, although it is creating new habitats for some species. The Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is frequently associated with urbanized landscapes but it is unclear what lies behind the high densities of kestrels in the urban environment. RESULTS Occupied nest sites in the city of Vienna, Austria were investigated along a gradient of urbanization (percentage of land covered by buildings or used by traffic). Field surveys determined the abundance of potential prey (birds and rodents) and the results were compared to the birds' diets. A number of breeding parameters were recorded over the course of three years. The majority of kestrels breed in semi-natural cavities in historic buildings. Nearest neighbour distances (NND) were smallest and reproductive success lowest in the city centre. Abundance of potential prey was not found to relate to the degree of urbanization but there was a significant shift in the birds' diets from a heavy reliance on rodents in the outskirts of the city to feeding more on small birds in the centre. The use of urban habitats was associated with higher nest failure, partly associated with predation and nest desertion, and with significantly lower hatching rates and smaller fledged broods. CONCLUSIONS High breeding densities in urban habitats do not necessarily correlate with high habitat quality. The high density of kestrel nests in the city centre is probably due to the ready availability of breeding cavities. Highly urbanized areas in Vienna are associated with unexpected costs for the city dwelling-raptor, in terms both of prey availability and of reproductive success. The kestrel appears to be exploiting the urban environment but given the poor reproductive performance of urban kestrels it is likely that the species is falling into an ecological trap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Sumasgutner
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, Vienna A-1090, Austria
- 1st Zoological Department, Museum of Natural History Vienna, Burgring 7, Vienna A-1010, Austria
| | - Erwin Nemeth
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Communication and Social Behaviour Group, Eberhard Gwinner-Straße, Seewiesen D-82319, Germany
- BirdLife Austria, Museumsplatz 1/10/8, Vienna A-1070, Austria
| | - Graham Tebb
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, Vienna A-1210, Austria
| | - Harald W Krenn
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, Vienna A-1090, Austria
| | - Anita Gamauf
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, Vienna A-1090, Austria
- 1st Zoological Department, Museum of Natural History Vienna, Burgring 7, Vienna A-1010, Austria
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STERNALSKI AUDREY, MOUGEOT FRANÇOIS, BRETAGNOLLE VINCENT. Carotenoid limitation and allocation priorities in asynchronous raptor nestlings. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01773.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Carotenoids in nestling Montagu’s harriers: variations according to age, sex, body condition and evidence for diet-related limitations. J Comp Physiol B 2009; 180:33-43. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-009-0384-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2009] [Revised: 06/14/2009] [Accepted: 06/15/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Millon A, Arroyo BE, Bretagnolle V. Variable but predictable prey availability affects predator breeding success: natural versus experimental evidence. J Zool (1987) 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00447.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Millon A, Bretagnolle V. Predator population dynamics under a cyclic prey regime: numerical responses, demographic parameters and growth rates. OIKOS 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2008.16458.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Walguarnery JW. Do Anoles (Sauria: Polychrotidae: Genus Anolis) Alternate the Sex of Successive Offspring. COPEIA 2007. [DOI: 10.1643/0045-8511(2007)7[829:daspga]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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H. Becker P, H.G. Ezard T, Ludwigs JD, Sauer-Gürth H, Wink M. Population sex ratio shift from fledging to recruitment: consequences for demography in a philopatric seabird. OIKOS 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.16287.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Rubenstein DR. Temporal but Not Spatial Environmental Variation Drives Adaptive Offspring Sex Allocation in a Plural Cooperative Breeder. Am Nat 2007; 170:155-65. [PMID: 17853999 DOI: 10.1086/518671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2006] [Accepted: 02/27/2007] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Cooperatively breeding birds have been used frequently to study sex allocation because the adaptive value of the sexes partly depends upon the costs and benefits for parents of receiving help. I examined patterns of directional sex allocation in relation to maternal condition (Trivers-Willard hypothesis), territory quality (helper competition hypothesis), and the number of available helpers (helper repayment hypothesis) in the superb starling, Lamprotornis superbus, a plural cooperative breeder with helpers of both sexes. Superb starlings biased their offspring sex ratio in relation to prebreeding rainfall, which was correlated with maternal condition. Mothers produced relatively more female offspring in wetter years, when they were in better condition, and more male offspring in drier years, when they were in poorer condition. There was no relationship between offspring sex ratio and territory quality or the number of available helpers. Although helping was male biased, females had a greater variance in reproductive success than males. These results are consistent with the Trivers-Willard hypothesis and suggest that although females in most cooperatively breeding species make sex allocation decisions to increase their future direct reproductive success, female superb starlings appear to base this decision on their current body condition to increase their own inclusive fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin R Rubenstein
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
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Lambin X, Bretagnolle V, Yoccoz NG. Vole population cycles in northern and southern Europe: Is there a need for different explanations for single pattern? J Anim Ecol 2006; 75:340-9. [PMID: 16637987 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01051.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
1. Students of population cycles in small rodents in Fennoscandia have accumulated support for the predation hypothesis, which states that the gradient in cycle length and amplitude running from southern to northern Fennoscandia reflects the relative influence of specialist and generalist predators on vole dynamics, itself modulated by the presence of snow cover. The hypothesized role of snow cover is to isolate linked specialist predators, primarily the least weasel, Mustela n. nivalis L. and their prey, primarily field voles Microtus agrestis L., from the stabilizing influence of generalist predators. 2. The predation hypothesis does not readily account for the high amplitude and regular 3-year cycles of common voles documented in agricultural areas of western, central and eastern Europe. Such cycles are rarely mentioned in the literature pertaining to Fennoscandian cycles. 3. We consider new data on population cycles and demographic patterns of common voles Microtus arvalis Pallas in south-west France. We show that the patterns are wholly consistent with five of six patterns that characterize rodent cycles in Fennoscandia and that are satisfactorily explained by the predation hypothesis. They include the: (a) existence of cycle; (b) the occurrence of long-term changes in relative abundance and type of dynamics; (c) geographical synchrony over large areas; (d) interspecific synchrony; and (e) voles are large in the increase and peak phase and small in decline and low phase, namely. There is a striking similarity between the patterns shown by common vole populations in south-west France and those from Fennoscandian cyclic rodent populations, although the former are not consistent with a geographical extension of the latitudinal gradient south of Fennoscandia. 4. It is possible that the dominant interaction leading to multiannual rodent oscillations is different in different regions. We argue, however, that advocates of the predation hypothesis should embrace the challenge of developing a widely applicable explanation to population cycles, including justifying any limits to its applicability on ecological and not geographical grounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Lambin
- Aberdeen Population Ecology Unit (APERU), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
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