1
|
Nafstad ÅM, Rønning B, Aase K, Ringsby TH, Hagen IJ, Ranke PS, Kvalnes T, Stawski C, Räsänen K, Saether BE, Muff S, Jensen H. Spatial variation in the evolutionary potential and constraints of basal metabolic rate and body mass in a wild bird. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:650-662. [PMID: 36811205 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14164] [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: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
An organism's energy budget is strongly related to resource consumption, performance, and fitness. Hence, understanding the evolution of key energetic traits, such as basal metabolic rate (BMR), in natural populations is central for understanding life-history evolution and ecological processes. Here we used quantitative genetic analyses to study evolutionary potential of BMR in two insular populations of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). We obtained measurements of BMR and body mass (Mb ) from 911 house sparrows on the islands of Leka and Vega along the coast of Norway. These two populations were the source populations for translocations to create an additional third, admixed 'common garden' population in 2012. With the use of a novel genetic group animal model concomitant with a genetically determined pedigree, we differentiate genetic and environmental sources of variation, thereby providing insight into the effects of spatial population structure on evolutionary potential. We found that the evolutionary potential of BMR was similar in the two source populations, whereas the Vega population had a somewhat higher evolutionary potential of Mb than the Leka population. BMR was genetically correlated with Mb in both populations, and the conditional evolutionary potential of BMR (independent of body mass) was 41% (Leka) and 53% (Vega) lower than unconditional estimates. Overall, our results show that there is potential for BMR to evolve independently of Mb , but that selection on BMR and/or Mb may have different evolutionary consequences in different populations of the same species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ådne M Nafstad
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bernt Rønning
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Teacher Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kenneth Aase
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Mathematical Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ingerid J Hagen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Peter S Ranke
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Clare Stawski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Katja Räsänen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylän, Finland
| | - Bernt-Erik Saether
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stefanie Muff
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Mathematical Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Palejowski H, Bylemans J, Ammann V, Marques da Cunha L, Nusbaumer D, Castro I, Uppal A, Mobley KB, Knörr S, Wedekind C. Sex-Specific Life History Affected by Stocking in Juvenile Brown Trout. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.869925] [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
Salmonids are a socioeconomically and ecologically important group of fish that are often managed by stocking. Little is known about potential sex-specific effects of stocking, but recent studies found that the sexes differ in their stress tolerances already at late embryonic stage, i.e., before hatchery-born larvae are released into the wild and long before morphological gonad formation. It has also been speculated that sex-specific life histories can affect juvenile growth and mortality, and that a resulting sex-biassed demography can reduce population growth. Here we test whether juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta) show sex-specific life histories and whether such sex effects differ in hatchery- and wild-born fish. We modified a genetic sexing protocol to reduce false assignment rates and used it to study the timing of sex differentiation in a laboratory setting, and in a large-scale field experiment to study growth and mortality of hatchery- and wild-born fish in different environments. We found no sex-specific mortality in any of the environments we studied. However, females started sex differentiation earlier than males, and while growth rates were similar in the laboratory, they differed significantly in the field depending on location and origin of fish. Overall, hatchery-born males grew larger than hatchery-born females while wild-born fish showed the reverse pattern. Whether males or females grew larger was location-specific. We conclude that juvenile brown trout show sex-specific growth that is affected by stocking and by other environmental factors that remain to be identified.
Collapse
|
3
|
Ranke PS, Araya-Ajoy YG, Ringsby TH, Pärn H, Rønning B, Jensen H, Wright J, Saether BE. Spatial structure and dispersal dynamics in a house sparrow metapopulation. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2767-2781. [PMID: 34455579 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The effects of spatial structure on metapopulation dynamics depend upon the interaction between local population dynamics and dispersal, and how this relationship is affected by the geographical isolation and spatial heterogeneity in habitat characteristics. Our aim is to examine how emigration and immigration of house sparrows Passer domesticus in a Norwegian archipelagic metapopulation are affected by key factors predicted by classic metapopulation models to affect dispersal-spatial and temporal variation in population size, inter-island distance, local demography and habitat characteristics. This metapopulation can be divided into two major habitat types: (a) islands closer to the mainland where sparrows breed in colonies on farms, and (b) islands without farms, situated farther away from the mainland where sparrows are exposed to harsher environmental conditions. Dispersal was spatially structured within the metapopulation; there was proportionally and numerically less emigration and immigration involving farm islands, as compared to non-farm islands. Furthermore, emigration and immigration occurred mostly between nearby islands. Moreover, emigration in response to spatial differences in mean population size differed between the habitat types, but populations with large mean received more immigrants in both habitat types. The number of emigrants and immigrants was negatively related to long-term recruit production, which was not the case in non-farm islands. The proportion and number of emigrants was positively related to temporal increases in recruit production on farm islands, however not on non-farm islands. Our results demonstrate that spatial heterogeneity in environmental conditions influences how spatial variation in long-term mean population size, and temporal and spatial variation in recruit production, affects dispersal dynamics. The spatial structure of this metapopulation is therefore best described by a spatially explicit model in which the exchange of individuals within each habitat type is strongly affected by the degree of geographical isolation, population size and recruit production. However, these relationships differed between the two habitat types; non-farm islands showing similarities to a mainland-island model type of structure, whereas farm islands showed features more associated with source-sink or balanced dispersal models. Such differential dispersal dynamics between habitat types are expected to have important consequences for the ecological and evolutionary dynamics within this metapopulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Ranke
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Yimen G Araya-Ajoy
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Henrik Pärn
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bernt Rønning
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jonathan Wright
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bernt-Erik Saether
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Andrzejczak R, Dylewski Ł, Jerzak L, Peťko B, Myczko Ł. Does Traditional Feeding of Outdoor Guard Dogs Provide a Food Resource for Wild Mammals and Birds? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11051198. [PMID: 33921922 PMCID: PMC8143549 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Access to food is crucial in the life of birds, and affects reproduction, survival and, consequently, population size. We investigated how traditional care of dogs affected rural birds and other animal populations. Using camera traps, it was found that the food fed to dogs was also taken by seven species of birds and at least three species of mammals. The most numerous species taking dog food was the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, which is declining in Europe. In the case of this species, females were more likely than males to use food provided for dogs, with a clear preference for food prepared in the human kitchen. We conclude that the food provided to domestic pets can be an important component of the diet of wild birds and mammals living close to humans. Abstract Access to food is crucial in the life of birds and affects reproduction, survival and, consequently, population size. In the case of bird species inhabiting villages, poorer food conditions now exist, mainly because of changes in the lifestyle of rural residents and a reduction in the number of farm animals traditionally housed in backyards. Recent changes have also affected dog populations in villages, and the majority of them are no longer kept outside as guard dogs, but rather inside houses as pets. We investigated how traditional care of dogs impacted rural birds and other animal populations. The study was carried out at the end of winter and early spring in 29 farmsteads in western Poland. Using camera traps, it was found that the food fed to dogs was also taken by seven species of birds and at least three species of mammals. The most numerous species taking dog food was the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, which is declining in Europe. In the case of this species, females were more likely than males to use food given to dogs, with a clear preference for food prepared in the human kitchen. We conclude that the food provided to domestic pets can be an important component of the diet of wild birds and mammals living close to humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Róża Andrzejczak
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland; (R.A.); (B.P.)
- Institute of Biological Scienes, University of Zielona Góra, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Dylewski
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland;
| | - Leszek Jerzak
- Institute of Biological Scienes, University of Zielona Góra, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland;
| | - Branislav Peťko
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland; (R.A.); (B.P.)
- University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice, Komenského 68/73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Łukasz Myczko
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland; (R.A.); (B.P.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cholewa M, Jankowiak Ł, Szenejko M, Dybus A, Śmietana P, Wysocki D. The effects of parental age difference on the offspring sex and fitness of European blackbirds. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10858. [PMID: 33828905 PMCID: PMC7996069 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many studies of birds have indicated that offspring sex ratios can vary with environmental and parental traits. On the basis of long-term research, we first evaluated the possible influence of parental age difference and brood characteristics on offspring sex and fitness in multi-brooded Blackbirds Turdus merula. Methodology The study was conducted in the city-centre Stefan Żeromski Park in Szczecin, NW Poland, where the local population of Blackbirds has been studied since 1996. Data on the offspring sex and fitness were collected in five years, 2005-2007 and 2016-2017. During the breeding season we inspected the study area to locate the pairs' territories and to track their nests and clutches. Results We found that the overall sex ratio did not differ statistically from 50:50, but that younger females bonded with older mates did tend to produce more sons, probably because of the greater fitness of male descendants. Accordingly, the sons' breeding success increased with the father's age, but this relationship was close to non-linear, which may indicate that the transgenerational effect of paternal senescence could negatively affect progeny fitness despite the high-quality of older fathers. Older females mated with younger males produced more daughters, which could have been due to the lesser attractiveness of the males and the mothers' poorer condition caused by accelerated senescence. We found that neither offspring hatching sequence nor hatching date or clutch sequence were significant for sex determination. Conclusions We consider that in our Blackbird population, parental age could make a more significant contribution to shaping offspring sex and reproductive success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cholewa
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Szenejko
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.,Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Centre, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Dybus
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biotechnology and Animal Husbandry, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Przemysław Śmietana
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Dariusz Wysocki
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
BARTLOW ANDREWW, JANKOWSKI MARKD, HATHCOCK CHARLESD, RYTI RANDALLT, RENEAU STEVENL, FAIR JEANNEM. Sex ratio of Western Bluebirds Sialia mexicana is mediated by phenology and clutch size. THE IBIS 2021; 163:977-989. [PMID: 35801167 PMCID: PMC9257600 DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mothers may produce more of one sex to maximize their fitness if there are differences in the cost of producing each sex or there are differences in their relative reproductive value. Breeding date and clutch size are known to influence offspring sex ratios in birds through sex differences in dispersal, social behaviours, differential mortality, and available food resources. We tested if breeding date, clutch size and drought conditions influenced offspring sex ratios in a sexually size-monomorphic species, the Western Bluebird, by interrogating a 21-year dataset. After controlling for differential mortality, we found that hatch dates late in the breeding season were associated with the production of more females, suggesting that the value of producing males declines as the breeding season progresses. When clutch size was taken into account, small clutches yielded significantly more females late in the breeding season compared to the early and middle parts of the breeding season that produced significantly more males. Large clutches early in the season tended to produce more females, although this was not significant. Drought severity was not correlated with sex ratio adjustment. We propose and discuss several explanations for these patterns, including male offspring, but not female offspring, acting as helpers, increased female nestling provisioning late in the breeding season, differences in food abundance, and egg-laying order. Future work will help to uncover the mechanisms leading to these patterns. Identifying patterns and mechanisms of sex ratio skew from long-term datasets is important for informing predictions regarding life-history trade-offs in wildlife populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- ANDREW W. BARTLOW
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Biosecurity and Public Health, Mailstop M888, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - MARK D. JANKOWSKI
- Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 6 Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - CHARLES D. HATHCOCK
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Environmental Stewardship, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - RANDALL T. RYTI
- Neptune and Company, Inc., 1505 15th St #B, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
| | - STEVEN L. RENEAU
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, PO Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545
| | - JEANNE M. FAIR
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Biosecurity and Public Health, Mailstop M888, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lundregan SL, Niskanen AK, Muff S, Holand H, Kvalnes T, Ringsby T, Husby A, Jensen H. Resistance to gapeworm parasite has both additive and dominant genetic components in house sparrows, with evolutionary consequences for ability to respond to parasite challenge. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3812-3829. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L. Lundregan
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Alina K. Niskanen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Stefanie Muff
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Mathematical Sciences Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Håkon Holand
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Thor‐Harald Ringsby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Arild Husby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
- Evolutionary Biology Department of Ecology and Genetics Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Department of Biology Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Grace JK, Parenteau C, Angelier F. Post-natal glucocorticoid elevation affects GnRH-induced luteinizing hormone concentration in female house sparrows. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 283:113238. [PMID: 31376365 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Most non-mammalian studies investigating the long-term effects of early-life stressor exposure on endocrine regulation have focused on the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis. However, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis may more directly affect fitness by regulating reproduction. Changes in HPG axis regulation could allow vertebrates to adaptively mitigate negative effects of early-life stressor exposure. However, only a few studies have examined long-term effects of early-life stressor experience on the HPG axis, and these have found mixed results. Here, we evaluate long-term effects of post-natal corticosterone exposure on the HPG axis in adult female house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We elevated circulating corticosterone non-invasively in wild nestling house sparrows between 8 and 11 days post-hatching, and then brought birds into captivity at fledging. Early in their first breeding season (ages 285-353d post-hatching), females were given a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) challenge. We found that early-life corticosterone exposure interacted with current condition such that females exposed to elevated post-natal corticosterone had higher baseline and GnRH-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration than control females, but only if they had a high mass. Our results suggest that female house sparrows may mitigate negative impacts of early-life corticosterone exposure by investing in early reproduction, but only when current energetic condition allows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn K Grace
- Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Charline Parenteau
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Université de la Rochelle, UMR 7372, F-79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Université de la Rochelle, UMR 7372, F-79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Smith AN, Belk MC. Does body size affect fitness the same way in males and females? A test of multiple fitness components. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashlee N Smith
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Mark C Belk
- Biology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Stubberud MW, Myhre AM, Holand H, Kvalnes T, Ringsby TH, Saether BE, Jensen H. Sensitivity analysis of effective population size to demographic parameters in house sparrow populations. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:2449-2465. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Waege Stubberud
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Ane Marlene Myhre
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Håkon Holand
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Bernt-Erik Saether
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Booksmythe I, Mautz B, Davis J, Nakagawa S, Jennions MD. Facultative adjustment of the offspring sex ratio and male attractiveness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 92:108-134. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 08/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Isobel Booksmythe
- Division of Evolution, Ecology & Genetics; Research School of Biology, The Australian National University; Daley road Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
- Department of Animal Ecology; Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University; Norbyvägen 18D SE-75236 Uppsala Sweden
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; University of Zürich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Brian Mautz
- Division of Evolution, Ecology & Genetics; Research School of Biology, The Australian National University; Daley road Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
- Department of Animal Ecology; Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University; Norbyvägen 18D SE-75236 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Jacqueline Davis
- Division of Evolution, Ecology & Genetics; Research School of Biology, The Australian National University; Daley road Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
- Department of Psychology; University of Cambridge; Downing Street CB2 3EB Cambridge U.K
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Michael D. Jennions
- Division of Evolution, Ecology & Genetics; Research School of Biology, The Australian National University; Daley road Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Holand H, Jensen H, Tufto J, Pärn H, Sæther BE, Ringsby TH. Endoparasite infection has both short- and long-term negative effects on reproductive success of female house sparrows, as revealed by faecal parasitic egg counts. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125773. [PMID: 25933371 PMCID: PMC4416917 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites have the potential to severely reduce host reproductive success. However, the effects of endoparasites on reproductive success have not received the same amount of attention as the effects of parasites on host survival. We investigated the relationship between an avian endoparasite (gapeworm, Syngamus trachea) and both current and future reproductive success of female house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in a population on the coast of Helgeland, northern Norway. We found that the proportion of eggs in a nest that failed to develop into fledglings increased as the faecal parasitic egg count of the mothers increased. We also found that juvenile females with high numbers of parasitic eggs in their faeces had lower lifetime reproductive success as adults. However, we did not find a relationship between maternal parasite infection and clutch size or recruitment rate of offspring. To our knowledge this is the first study to find a relationship between reproductive success of an avian host and faecal egg count of an endoparasite. The present study indicates that infection by an endoparasite may be associated with lower individual reproductive success in both the short-term and long-term in a wild population of hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Håkon Holand
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jarle Tufto
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Mathematics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Henrik Pärn
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bernt-Erik Sæther
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Baalsrud HT, Saether BE, Hagen IJ, Myhre AM, Ringsby TH, Pärn H, Jensen H. Effects of population characteristics and structure on estimates of effective population size in a house sparrow metapopulation. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:2653-68. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Helle Tessand Baalsrud
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Department of Biology; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Bernt-Erik Saether
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Department of Biology; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Ingerid Julie Hagen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Department of Biology; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Ane Marlene Myhre
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Department of Biology; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Department of Biology; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Henrik Pärn
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Department of Biology; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Department of Biology; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Westneat DF, Bókony V, Burke T, Chastel O, Jensen H, Kvalnes T, Lendvai ÁZ, Liker A, Mock D, Schroeder J, Schwagmeyer PL, Sorci G, Stewart IRK. Multiple aspects of plasticity in clutch size vary among populations of a globally distributed songbird. J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:876-87. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David F. Westneat
- Department of Biology and Center for Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; University of Kentucky; 101 Morgan Building Lexington KY 40506-0225 USA
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Department of Limnology; University of Pannonia; Pf. 158 Veszprém H-8201 Hungary
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Genetics; University of Nottingham; NG7 2RD UK
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences; University of Sheffield; Sheffield S10 2TN UK
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique; Villiers-en-Bois Beauvoir sur Niort F-79360 France
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; Trondheim NO-7491 Norway
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; Trondheim NO-7491 Norway
| | - Ádám Z. Lendvai
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique; Villiers-en-Bois Beauvoir sur Niort F-79360 France
- Department of Biology; Virginia Tech; 4102 Derring Hall Blacksburg VA 24060 USA
| | - András Liker
- Department of Limnology; University of Pannonia; Pf. 158 Veszprém H-8201 Hungary
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences; University of Sheffield; Sheffield S10 2TN UK
| | - Douglas Mock
- Department of Biology; 730 Van Vleet Oval Norman OK 73019 USA
| | - Julia Schroeder
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences; University of Sheffield; Sheffield S10 2TN UK
| | | | - Gabriele Sorci
- Biogéosciences; CNRS UMR 6282; Université de Bourgogne; 6 Boulevard Gabriel Dijon F-21000 France
| | - Ian R. K. Stewart
- Department of Biology and Center for Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; University of Kentucky; 101 Morgan Building Lexington KY 40506-0225 USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Jensen H, Moe R, Hagen IJ, Holand AM, Kekkonen J, Tufto J, Saether BE. Genetic variation and structure of house sparrow populations: is there an island effect? Mol Ecol 2013; 22:1792-805. [PMID: 23379682 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Revised: 12/04/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Population genetic structure and intrapopulation levels of genetic variation have important implications for population dynamics and evolutionary processes. Habitat fragmentation is one of the major threats to biodiversity. It leads to smaller population sizes and reduced gene flow between populations and will thus also affect genetic structure. We use a natural system of island and mainland populations of house sparrows along the coast of Norway to characterize the different population genetic properties of fragmented populations. We genotyped 636 individuals distributed across 14 populations at 15 microsatellite loci. The level of genetic differentiation was estimated using F-statistics and specially designed Mantel tests were conducted to study the influence of population type (i.e. mainland or island) and geographic distance on the genetic population structure. Furthermore, the effects of population type, population size and latitude on the level of genetic variation within populations were examined. Our results suggest that genetic processes on islands and mainland differed in two important ways. First, the intrapopulation level of genetic variation tended to be lower and the occurrence of population bottlenecks more frequent on islands than the mainland. Second, although the general level of genetic differentiation was low to moderate, it was higher between island populations than between mainland populations. However, differentiation increased in mainland populations somewhat faster with geographical distance. These results suggest that population bottleneck events and genetic drift have been more important in shaping the genetic composition of island populations compared with populations on the mainland. Such knowledge is relevant for a better understanding of evolutionary processes and conservation of threatened populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Jensen
- Department of Biology, Centre for Conservation Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kvalnes T, Ringsby TH, Jensen H, Sæther BE. Correlates of egg size variation in a population of house sparrow Passer domesticus. Oecologia 2012; 171:391-402. [PMID: 22955631 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2437-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/02/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Propagule size represents an important life-history trait under maternal control. Despite a positive relationship between propagule size and components of fitness, propagule size displays tremendous amounts of variation which causes are poorly understood within natural populations. With a study of a house sparrows Passer domesticus, we investigate maternal and environmental correlates of egg size, quantify variation in egg size within and between females and broods, and estimate heritability. Egg size had a curvilinear relationship with clutch size and decreased significantly in subsequent broods within seasons. Furthermore, egg size increased with maternal body mass, was positively affected by spring temperatures and curvilinearly related to temperature during the 2 weeks prior to egg laying. Some 46.4 % of variation in egg size was due to differences between females, and 21.9 % was explained by variation between broods by the same female. The heritability of egg size was low (h (2) = 0.26) compared to estimates from other studies (h (2) > 0.6). The present study challenges the recent idea that egg size is an inflexible maternal characteristic with very high additive genetic variance, and suggests that females are subject to both intrinsic and extrinsic constraints prior to and during egg formation, leading to the observed plasticity in egg size. In a general sense, propagule size could be expected to be both limited by and adaptively adjusted in accordance to prevailing environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kvalnes
- Centre for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Borg ÅA, Pedersen SA, Jensen H, Westerdahl H. Variation in MHC genotypes in two populations of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) with different population histories. Ecol Evol 2012; 1:145-59. [PMID: 22393491 PMCID: PMC3287304 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Revised: 06/29/2011] [Accepted: 06/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Small populations are likely to have a low genetic ability for disease resistance due to loss of genetic variation through inbreeding and genetic drift. In vertebrates, the highest genetic diversity of the immune system is located at genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Interestingly, parasite-mediated selection is thought to potentially maintain variation at MHC loci even in populations that are monomorphic at other loci. Therefore, general loss of genetic variation in the genome may not necessarily be associated with low variation at MHC loci. We evaluated inter- and intrapopulation variation in MHC genotypes between an inbred (Aldra) and a relatively outbred population (Hestmannøy) of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in a metapopulation at Helgeland, Norway. Genomic (gDNA) and transcribed (cDNA) alleles of functional MHC class I and IIB loci, along with neutral noncoding microsatellite markers, were analyzed to obtain relevant estimates of genetic variation. We found lower allelic richness in microsatellites in the inbred population, but high genetic variation in MHC class I and IIB loci in both populations. This suggests that also the inbred population could be under balancing selection to maintain genetic variation for pathogen resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Åsa Alexandra Borg
- Centre for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheim, Norway
| | - Sindre Andre Pedersen
- Centre for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheim, Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheim, Norway
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Trnka A, Prokop P, Kašová M, Sobeková K, Kocian L. Hatchling sex ratio and female mating status in the great reed warbler,Acrocephalus arundinaceus(Aves, Passeriformes): further evidence for offspring sex ratio manipulation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2011.631945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
|
19
|
Progeny sex ratios in a short-lived lizard: seasonal invariance despite sex-specific effects of hatching date on fitness. Evol Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-012-9575-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
|
20
|
Abstract
In cooperatively breeding species, the fitness consequences of producing sons or daughters depend upon the fitness impacts of positive (repayment hypothesis) and negative (local competition hypothesis) social interactions among relatives. In this study, we examine brood sex allocation in relation to the predictions of both the repayment and the local competition hypotheses in the cooperatively breeding long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus. At the population level, we found that annual brood sex ratio was negatively related to the number of male survivors across years, as predicted by the local competition hypothesis. At an individual level, in contrast to predictions of the repayment hypothesis, there was no evidence for facultative control of brood sex ratio. However, immigrant females produced a greater proportion of sons than resident females, a result consistent with both hypotheses. We conclude that female long-tailed tits make adaptive decisions about brood sex allocation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K-B Nam
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
CLEASBY IANR, NAKAGAWA SHINICHI, GILLESPIE DUNCANOS, BURKE TERRY. The influence of sex and body size on nestling survival and recruitment in the house sparrow. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01515.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
22
|
Dijkstra C, Riedstra B, Dekker A, Goerlich VC, Daan S, Groothuis TGG. An adaptive annual rhythm in the sex of first pigeon eggs. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2010; 64:1393-1402. [PMID: 20730075 PMCID: PMC2920424 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-010-0954-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2009] [Revised: 03/29/2010] [Accepted: 04/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
When the reproductive value of male and female offspring varies differentially, parents are predicted to adjust the sex ratio of their offspring to maximize their fitness (Trivers and Willard, Science 179:90-92, 1973). Two factors have been repeatedly linked to skews in avian offspring sex ratio. First, laying date can affect offspring sex ratio when the sexes differ in age of first reproduction, such that the more slowly maturing sex is overproduced early in the season. Second, position of the egg in the laying sequence of a clutch may affect sex ratio bias since manipulating the sex of the first eggs may be least costly to the mother. We studied both factors in two non-domesticated pigeon species. Both the Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) and the Rock pigeon (Columba livia) have long breeding seasons and lay two-egg clutches. In the field, we determined the sex of Wood pigeon nestlings. In Rock pigeons, housed in captivity outdoors, we determined embryo sex after 3 days of incubation. On the basis of their sex-specific age of first reproduction, we predicted that males, maturing at older age than females, should be produced in majority early and females later in the year. This was confirmed for both species. The bias was restricted to first eggs. Rock pigeons produced clutches throughout the year and show that the sex of the first egg followed an annual cycle. To our knowledge, this study presents the first evidence of a full annual rhythm in adaptive sex allocation in birds. We suggest that this reflects an endogenous seasonal program in primary sex ratio controlled by a preovulatory mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cor Dijkstra
- Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
| | - Bernd Riedstra
- Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Dekker
- Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
| | - Vivian C. Goerlich
- Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
| | - Serge Daan
- Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
| | - Ton G. G. Groothuis
- Behavioural Biology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Engen S, Lande R, Saether BE, Gienapp P. Estimating the ratio of effective to actual size of an age-structured population from individual demographic data. J Evol Biol 2010; 23:1148-58. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.01979.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
24
|
Pärn H, Jensen H, Ringsby TH, Saether BE. Sex-specific fitness correlates of dispersal in a house sparrow metapopulation. J Anim Ecol 2009; 78:1216-25. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01597.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
25
|
Chelgren ND, Pearl CA, Adams MJ, Bowerman J. Demography and Movement in a Relocated Population of Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa): Influence of Season and Gender. COPEIA 2008. [DOI: 10.1643/ch-07-142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
26
|
Price T, Yeh P, Harr B. Phenotypic Plasticity and the Evolution of a Socially Selected Trait Following Colonization of a Novel Environment. Am Nat 2008; 172 Suppl 1:S49-62. [DOI: 10.1086/588257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
27
|
Jensen H, Steinsland I, Ringsby TH, Sæther BE. EVOLUTIONARY DYNAMICS OF A SEXUAL ORNAMENT IN THE HOUSE SPARROW (PASSER DOMESTICUS): THE ROLE OF INDIRECT SELECTION WITHIN AND BETWEEN SEXES. Evolution 2008; 62:1275-93. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2008.00395.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
28
|
Jensen H, Bremset EM, Ringsby TH, Saether BE. Multilocus heterozygosity and inbreeding depression in an insular house sparrow metapopulation. Mol Ecol 2007; 16:4066-78. [PMID: 17894759 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2007.03452.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Inbreeding causes reduction of genetic variability that may have severe fitness consequences. In spite of its potentially huge impact on viability and evolutionary processes especially in small populations, quantitative demonstrations of genetic and demographic effects of inbreeding in natural populations are few. Here, we examine the relationship between individual inbreeding coefficients (F) and individual standardized multilocus heterozygosity (H) in an insular metapopulation of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in northern Norway in order to evaluate whether H is a good predictor for F. We then relate variation in fitness (i.e. the probability of surviving from fledging to recruitment) to F and H, which enables us to examine whether inbreeding depression is associated with a reduction in genetic variability. The average level of inbreeding in the house sparrow metapopulation was high, and there was large inter-individual variation in F. As expected, standardized multilocus heterozygosity decreased with the level of inbreeding. The probability of recruitment was significantly negatively related to F, and, accordingly, increased with H. However, H explained no significant additional variation in recruitment rate than was explained by F. This suggests that H is a good predictor for F in this metapopulation, and that an increase in F is likely to be associated with a general increase in the level of homozygosity on loci across the genome, which has severe fitness consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, Realfagbygget, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ringsby TH, Saether BE, Jensen H, Engen S. Demographic characteristics of extinction in a small, insular population of house sparrows in northern Norway. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2006; 20:1761-7. [PMID: 17181811 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00568.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
In conservation ecology there is an urgent need for indicators that can be used to predict the risk of extinction of populations. Identifying extinction-prone populations has been difficult because few data sets on the demographic characteristics of the final stage to extinction are available and because of problems in separating out stochastic effects from changes in the expected dynamics. We documented the demographic changes that occurred during the period prior to extinction of a small island population of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) after the end of permanent human settlement. A mark-recapture analysis revealed that this decline to extinction was mainly due to increased mortality after closure of the last farm that resulted in a negative long-term-specific growth rate. No change occurred in either the structural composition (breeding sex ratio and age distribution) of the population or in female recruitment. No male, however, recruits were produced on the island after the farm closure. Based on a simple, stochastic, density-dependent model we constructed a population prediction interval (PPI) to estimate the time to extinction. The 95% PPI slightly overestimated the time to extinction with large uncertainty in predictions, especially due to the influence of demographic stochasticity and parameter drift. Our results strongly emphasize the importance of access to data on temporal variation that can be used to parameterize simple population models that allow estimation of critical parameters for credible prediction of time to extinction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thor Harald Ringsby
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|