1
|
Torres-Blas I, Migura-García L, Cerdà-Cuéllar M, Carbajal A, Lopez-Bejar M, Mateo R, Herrero-Villar M, Llopis A, Marco I. HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF CAPTIVE BEARDED VULTURES ( GYPAETUS BARBATUS) IN CATALONIA (SPAIN). J Zoo Wildl Med 2023; 54:464-472. [PMID: 37817612 DOI: 10.1638/2022-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) populations are declining worldwide primarily due to anthropogenic factors. A captive breeding program has been established in Spain, a country with one of the largest free-living populations in Europe, to further enhance the conservation efforts of this emblematic species. However, captive vulture populations can be exposed to different risks through food, such as drug residues and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria. Health surveillance of species involved in captive breeding programs is important to face introduction of healthy animals in situ and to obtain baseline clinical data. The objective of this study was to assess the general health status of bearded vultures held in captivity in Catalonia (northeastern Spain) by carrying out hematologic, biochemical, toxicologic, and bacteriologic analyses. A total of 16 bearded vultures were sampled; the data obtained from one vulture, with a chronic tibiotarsal fracture, were excluded from the statistical analysis. Hematologic and biochemical parameters of the bearded vultures were mostly within the range of standard values as stated in previous studies. Basal feather and serum corticosterone levels were analyzed and described for the first time in this species. A total of 15 Escherichia coli isolates were obtained that were resistant to fluoroquinolones (80%), tetracycline (60%), trimethoprim and ampicillin (40%), sulfamethoxazole (33%), and colistin (20%), with 40% of them being multidrug resistant. Three of 15 isolates were carriers of the mcr-1 gene. Only the injured bird previously treated with enrofloxacin was positive for fluoroquinolone residues. Periodic monitoring for the presence of AMR bacteria would be recommended in captive breeding programs as a preventive action to establish future therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Torres-Blas
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Travessera dels Turons s/n, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lourdes Migura-García
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marta Cerdà-Cuéllar
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anaïs Carbajal
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Lopez-Bejar
- Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Marta Herrero-Villar
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Alex Llopis
- VCF Vultures Captive Breeding Manager, Bearded Vulture EEP Coordinator, Centre de Fauna Vallcalent 63, 25199 Lleida, Spain
| | - Ignasi Marco
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Travessera dels Turons s/n, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cerecedo-Iglesias C, Pretus JL, Hernández-Matías A, Cortés-Avizanda A, Real J. Key Factors behind the Dynamic Stability of Pairs of Egyptian Vultures in Continental Spain. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2775. [PMID: 37685040 PMCID: PMC10486963 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172775] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation science aims to identify the factors influencing the distribution of threatened species, thereby permitting the implementation of effective management strategies. This is key for long-lived species that require long-term monitoring such as the worldwide endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). We studied temporal and spatial variations in the distribution of breeding pairs and examined the intrinsic and anthropic factors that may be influencing the abundance of breeding territories in continental Spain. Based on the census data of breeding pairs from 2000, 2008, and 2018, we used Rank Occupancy-Abundance Profiles to assess the temporal stability of the population and identified the spatial heterogeneity through a Local Index of Spatial Autocorrelation analysis. The GLMs showed that the abundance distribution was mainly influenced by the abundance of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) and cattle at a regional scale. Nonparametric comparisons showed that the presence of wind farms had a significant negative effect on local breeding pairs abundance, but that supplementary feeding stations and food resource-related variables had a positive impact. In light of these findings, we recommend a hierarchical approach in future conservation programs involving actions promoting regional-scale food resource availability and highlight the need to address the negative impact of wind farms at local levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catuxa Cerecedo-Iglesias
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat i (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.P.); (A.H.-M.); (J.R.)
| | - Joan Lluís Pretus
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat i (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.P.); (A.H.-M.); (J.R.)
| | - Antonio Hernández-Matías
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat i (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.P.); (A.H.-M.); (J.R.)
| | - Ainara Cortés-Avizanda
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Avenida Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Seville, Spain;
- Estacion Biologica Doñana, CSIC, Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, Isla de la Cartuja, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Joan Real
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat i (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.P.); (A.H.-M.); (J.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gómez‐López G, Sanz‐Aguilar A, Carrete M, Arrondo E, Benítez JR, Ceballos O, Cortés‐Avizanda A, de Pablo F, Donázar JA, Frías Ó, Gangoso L, García‐Alfonso M, González JL, Grande JM, Serrano D, Tella JL, Blanco G. Insularity determines nestling sex ratio variation in Egyptian vulture populations. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10371. [PMID: 37529590 PMCID: PMC10385291 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10371] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Variation in offspring sex ratio, particularly in birds, has been frequently studied over the last century, although seldom using long-term monitoring data. In raptors, the cost of raising males and females is not equal, and several variables have been found to have significant effects on sex ratio, including food availability, parental age, and hatching order. Sex ratio differences between island populations and their mainland counterparts have been poorly documented, despite broad scientific literature on the island syndrome reporting substantial differences in population demography and ecology. Here, we assessed individual and environmental factors potentially affecting the secondary sex ratio of the long-lived Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus. We used data collected from Spanish mainland and island populations over a ca. 30-year period (1995-2021) to assess the effects of insularity, parental age, breeding phenology, brood size, hatching order, type of breeding unit (pairs vs. trios), and spatial and temporal variability on offspring sex ratio. No sex bias was found at the population level, but two opposite trends were observed between mainland and island populations consistent with the island syndrome. Offspring sex ratio was nonsignificantly female-biased in mainland Spain (0.47, n = 1112) but significantly male-biased in the Canary Islands (0.55, n = 499), where a male-biased mortality among immatures could be compensating for offspring biases and maintaining a paired adult sex ratio. Temporal and spatial variation in food availability might also have some influence on sex ratio, although the difficulties in quantifying them preclude us from determining the magnitude of such influence. This study shows that insularity influences the offspring sex ratio of the Egyptian vulture through several processes that can affect island and mainland populations differentially. Our research contributes to improving our understanding of sex allocation theory by investigating whether sex ratio deviations from parity are possible as a response to changing environments comprised by multiple and complexly interrelated factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Gómez‐López
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural SciencesSpanish National Research CouncilMadridSpain
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of BiologyComplutense University of MadridMadridSpain
| | - Ana Sanz‐Aguilar
- Animal Demography and Ecology GroupInstitut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Spanish National Research CouncilMallorcaSpain
- Applied Zoology and Conservation GroupUniversitat de les Illes BalearsPalmaSpain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural SystemsPablo de Olavide UniversitySevillaSpain
| | - Eneko Arrondo
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of GranadaGranadaSpain
- Department of Applied BiologyMiguel Hernández UniversityElcheSpain
| | - José Ramón Benítez
- Department of BiodiversityAgencia de Medioambiente y Agua, Junta de AndalucíaSevillaSpain
| | | | - Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda
- Department of Plant Biology and EcologyUniversity of SevilleSevillaSpain
- Department of Conservation BiologyDoñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research CouncilSevillaSpain
| | - Félix de Pablo
- Department of Environment and Biosphere ReserveConsell Insular de Menorca, PlazaMaóSpain
| | - José Antonio Donázar
- Department of Conservation BiologyDoñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research CouncilSevillaSpain
| | - Óscar Frías
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural SystemsPablo de Olavide UniversitySevillaSpain
| | - Laura Gangoso
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of BiologyComplutense University of MadridMadridSpain
| | - Marina García‐Alfonso
- Department of Conservation BiologyDoñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research CouncilSevillaSpain
| | - José Luis González
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural SciencesSpanish National Research CouncilMadridSpain
| | | | - David Serrano
- Department of Conservation BiologyDoñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research CouncilSevillaSpain
| | - José Luis Tella
- Department of Conservation BiologyDoñana Biological Station, Spanish National Research CouncilSevillaSpain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural SciencesSpanish National Research CouncilMadridSpain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Marshall AF, Balloux F, Hemmings N, Brekke P. Systematic review of avian hatching failure and implications for conservation. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:807-832. [PMID: 36635252 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Avian hatching failure is a widespread phenomenon, affecting around 10% of all eggs that are laid and not lost to predation, damage, or desertion. Our understanding of hatching failure is limited in terms of both its underpinning mechanisms and its occurrence across different populations. It is widely acknowledged that rates of hatching failure are higher in threatened species and in populations maintained in captivity compared to wild, non-threatened species, but these differences have rarely been quantified and any broader patterns remain unexplored. To examine the associations between threat status, management interventions, and hatching failure across populations we conducted a phylogenetically controlled multilevel meta-analysis across 231 studies and 241 species of birds. Our data set included both threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable) and non-threatened (Near Threatened and Least Concern) species across wild and captive populations, as well as 'wild managed' ('free-living') populations. We found the mean overall rate of hatching failure across all populations to be 16.79%, with the hatching failure rate of wild, non-threatened species being 12.40%. We found that populations of threatened species experienced significantly higher mean hatching failure than populations of non-threatened species. Different levels of management were also associated with different rates of hatching failure, with wild populations experiencing the lowest rate of hatching failure, followed by wild managed populations, and populations in captivity experiencing the highest rate. Similarly, populations that were subject to the specific management interventions of artificial incubation, supplementary feeding, and artificial nest provision displayed significantly higher rates of hatching failure than populations without these interventions. The driver of this correlation between hatching failure and management remains unclear, but could be an indirect result of threatened species being more likely to have lower hatching success and also being more likely to be subject to management, indicating that conservation efforts are fittingly being focused towards the species potentially most at risk from extinction. This is the most comprehensive comparative analysis of avian hatching failure that has been conducted to date, and the first to quantify explicitly how threat status and management are associated with the rate of hatching failure in a population. We discuss the implications of our results, focusing on their potential applications to conservation. Although we identified several factors clearly associated with variation in hatching failure, a significant amount of heterogeneity was not explained by our meta-analytical model, indicating that other factors influencing hatching failure were not included here. We discuss what these factors might be and suggest avenues for further research. Finally, we discuss the inconsistency in how hatching failure is defined and reported within the literature, and propose a standardised definition to be used in future studies which will enable better comparison across populations and ensure that the most accurate information is used to support management decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh F Marshall
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - François Balloux
- UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nicola Hemmings
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Patricia Brekke
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cerecedo-Iglesias C, Bartumeus F, Cortés-Avizanda A, Pretus JL, Hernández-Matías A, Real J. Resource predictability modulates spatial-use networks in an endangered scavenger species. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:22. [PMID: 37081522 PMCID: PMC10120099 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00383-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changes in human-induced resource availability can alter the behaviour of free-living species and affect their foraging strategies. The future European Landfill Waste Directive and Circular Economy Action Plan will reduce the number of predictable anthropogenic food subsidies (PAFS), above all, by closing landfills to preclude negative effects on human health. Obligate avian scavengers, the most threatened group of birds worldwide, are the most likely group of species that will be forced to change their behaviour and use of space in response to landfill site closures. Here, we examine the possible consequences of these management decisions on the foraging patterns of Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) in an expanding population in the Iberian Peninsula. METHODS We tracked 16 individuals in 2018-2021, including breeders and non-breeders, and, using a combination of spatial-use and spatial-network modelling, assessed landscape connectivity between key resources based on movement patterns. We then carried out simulations of future scenarios based on the loss of PAFS to predict likely changes in the movement patterns of both non-breeders and breeders. RESULTS Our results show that foraging strategies in non-breeders and breeders differ significantly: non-breeders performed more dispersal movements than breeding birds across a spatial-use network. Non-breeding and breeding networks were found to be vulnerable to the removal of central foraging areas containing landfill sites, a highly predictable resource, while perturbation analysis showed dissimilar foraging responses to the gradual reduction of other predictable resources. Under a context of the non-availability of landfills for breeders and non-breeders, vultures will increase their use of extensive livestock as a trophic resource. CONCLUSIONS Future environmental policies should thus extend the areas used by scavengers in which livestock carcasses are allowed to remain in the wild, a strategy that will also mitigate the lack of food caused by any reduction in available waste if landfills close. In general, our results emphasize the capabilities of a spatial network approaches to address questions on movement ecology. They can be used to infer the behavioural response of animal species and, also demonstrate the importance of applying such approaches to endangered species conservation within a context of changing humanized scenarios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catuxa Cerecedo-Iglesias
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia and Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Frederic Bartumeus
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB), CSIC, Accés a la Cala Sant Francesc, 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals, CREAF, Campus Bellaterra, 17300 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ainara Cortés-Avizanda
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Joan Ll. Pretus
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia and Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Antonio Hernández-Matías
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia and Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Joan Real
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia and Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lewis AC, Hughes C, Rogers TL. Living in human-modified landscapes narrows the dietary niche of a specialised mammalian scavenger. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3582. [PMID: 36869089 PMCID: PMC9984462 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30490-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic impacts on carnivores can be complex, posing numerous threats to many species, yet also benefits to those able to exploit certain resources. This balancing act is particularly precarious for those adapters that exploit dietary resources provided by humans, but still require other resources only available in native habitat. Here we measure the dietary niche of one such species, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), a specialised mammalian scavenger, across an anthropogenic habitat gradient stretching from cleared pasture to undisturbed rainforest. Populations inhabiting areas of greater disturbance showed restricted dietary niches, suggesting that all individuals fed on similar food items, even within regenerated native forest. Populations in undisturbed rainforest habitats had comparatively broad diets and showed evidence of niche partitioning by body size, which may reduce intraspecific competition. Despite the potential benefits of reliable access to high-quality food items in anthropogenically-modified habitats, the constrained niches we observed may be harmful, indicating altered behaviours and potentially increasing the rate of fights between individuals over food. This is of particular concern for a species at risk of extinction due to a deadly cancer primarily transmitted through aggressive interactions. The lack of diversity in devil diets within regenerated native forest compared to those in old-growth rainforest also indicates the conservation value of the latter for both the devil and the species which they consume.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Lewis
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- The Carnivore Conservancy, Ulverstone, TAS, Australia.
| | - Channing Hughes
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Carnivore Conservancy, Ulverstone, TAS, Australia
| | - Tracey L Rogers
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Arizaga J, Alzaga V, Villanúa D, Barbarin JM, Alonso D, Resano-Mayor J. Distance to landfill and habitat cover predict colony size in a Western Mediterranean white stork population. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01626-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
8
|
Fernández‐Gil A, Lamas JA, Ansola LM, Román J, de Gabriel Hernando M, Revilla E. Population dynamics of recovering apex predators: Golden eagles in a Mediterranean landscape. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Fernández‐Gil
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana‐CSIC Sevilla Spain
| | | | | | - J. Román
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana‐CSIC Sevilla Spain
| | - M. de Gabriel Hernando
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana‐CSIC Sevilla Spain
- Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences Universidad de León León Spain
| | - E. Revilla
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana‐CSIC Sevilla Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Almaraz P, Martínez F, Morales-Reyes Z, Sánchez-Zapata JA, Blanco G. Long-term demographic dynamics of a keystone scavenger disrupted by human-induced shifts in food availability. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2579. [PMID: 35279905 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Scavenging is a key ecological process controlling energy flow in ecosystems and providing valuable ecosystem services worldwide. As long-lived species, the demographic dynamics of vultures can be disrupted by spatiotemporal fluctuations in food availability, with dramatic impacts on their population viability and the ecosystem services provided. In Europe, the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2001 prompted a restrictive sanitary regulation banning the presence of livestock carcasses in the wild on a continental scale. In long-lived vertebrate species, the buffering hypothesis predicts that the demographic traits with the largest contribution to population growth rate should be less temporally variable. The BSE outbreak provides a unique opportunity to test for the impact of demographic buffering in a keystone scavenger suffering abrupt but transient food shortages. We studied the 42-year dynamics (1979-2020) of one of the world's largest breeding colonies of Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). We fitted an inverse Bayesian state-space model with density-dependent demographic rates to the time series of stage-structured abundances to investigate shifts in vital rates and population dynamics before, during, and after the implementation of a restrictive sanitary regulation. Prior to the BSE outbreak the dynamics was mainly driven by adult survival: 83% of temporal variance in abundance was explained by variability in this rate. Moreover, during this period the regulation of population size operated through density-dependent fecundity and subadult survival. However, after the onset of the European ban, a 1-month delay in average laying date, a drop in fecundity, and a reduction in the number of fledglings induced a transient increase in the impact of fledgling and subadult recruitment on dynamics. Although adult survival rate remained constantly high, as predicted by the buffering hypothesis, its relative impact on the temporal variance in abundance dropped to 71% during the sanitary regulation and to 54% after the ban was lifted. A significant increase in the relative impact of environmental stochasticity on dynamics was modeled after the BSE outbreak. These results provide empirical evidence on how abrupt environmental deterioration may induce dramatic demographic and dynamic changes in the populations of keystone scavengers, with far-reaching impacts on ecosystem functioning worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Almaraz
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía, ICMAN-CSIC, Campus Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Félix Martínez
- Escuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Móstoles, Spain
| | - Zebensui Morales-Reyes
- Department of Applied Biology, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
| | - José A Sánchez-Zapata
- Department of Applied Biology, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Clements SJ, Zhao Q, Silk MJ, Hodgson DJ, Weegman MD. Modelling associations between animal social structure and demography. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
|
11
|
Eisaguirre JM, Booms TL, Barger CP, Lewis SB, Breed GA. Demographic partitioning of dynamic energy subsidies revealed with an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck space use model. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2542. [PMID: 35137484 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2542] [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: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In populations across many taxa, a large fraction of sexually mature individuals do not breed but are attempting to enter the breeding population. Such individuals, often referred to as "floaters," can play critical roles in the dynamics and stability of these populations and buffer them through periods of high adult mortality. Floaters are difficult to study, however, so we lack data needed to understand their roles in the population ecology and conservation status of many species. Here, we analyzed satellite telemetry data with a newly developed mechanistic space use model based on an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process to help overcome the paucity of data in studying the differential habitat selection and space use of floater and territorial golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos. Our sample consisted of 49 individuals tracked over complete breeding seasons across 4 years, totaling 104 eagle breeding seasons. Modeling these data mechanistically was required to disentangle key differences in movement and particularly to separate aspects of movement driven by resource selection from those driven by use of a central place. We found that floaters generally had more expansive space use patterns and larger home ranges, as well as evidence that they partition space with territorial individuals seemingly on fine scales through differential habitat and resource selection. Floater and territorial eagle home ranges overlapped markedly, suggesting that floaters use the interstices between territories. Furthermore, floater and territorial eagles differed in how they selected for uplift variables, key components of soaring birds' energy landscape, with territorial eagles apparently better able to find and use thermal uplift. We also found relatively low individual heterogeneity in resource selection, especially among territorial individuals, suggesting a narrow realized niche for breeding individuals, which varied from the level of among-individual variation present during migration. This work furthers our understanding of floaters' potential roles in the population ecology of territorial species and suggests that conserving landscapes occupied by territorial eagles also protects floaters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Eisaguirre
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - Travis L Booms
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | | | - Stephen B Lewis
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Juneau, Alaska, USA
| | - Greg A Breed
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
García-Jiménez R, Pérez-García JM, Margalida A, Morales-Reyes Z. Avian scavengers' contributions to people: The cultural dimension of wildlife-based tourism. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150419. [PMID: 34560450 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150419] [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: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Scavengers provide significant nature's contributions to people (NCP), including disease control through carcass removal, but their non-material NCP are rarely considered. For the first time, we assess the extent and value of the NCP provided by European avian scavengers through a scavenger-based tourism at Pyrenean supplementary feeding sites (SFS). Using a two-step cluster analysis, two different types of visitor were identified (specialist avian scavenger-watchers and generalist nature-lovers) at those SFS offering recreational experiences (n = 20, i.e. birdwatching, educational, or photographic activities). Most visitors (85%) perceived avian scavengers as beneficial NCP providers, associating this guild with non-material NCP (mostly supporting identities), followed by regulating and maintenance of options NCP (<1%). Our findings help to characterize the type of people who participate in scavenger related recreation and to identify and value their perceptions of avian scavengers. There has not been much previous research on positive human-wildlife interactions, even though ignoring people emotional bonds with nature can be perilous for biodiversity conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth García-Jiménez
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
| | - Juan M Pérez-García
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain; Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, 03312 Orihuela, Spain.
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Zebensui Morales-Reyes
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain; Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, 03312 Orihuela, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Oppel S, Saravia V, Bounas A, Arkumarev V, Kret E, Dobrev V, Dobrev D, Kordopatis P, Skartsi T, Velevski M, Petrovski N, Bino T, Topi M, Klisurov I, Stoychev S, Nikolov SC. Population reinforcement and demographic changes needed to stabilise the population of a migratory vulture. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Cambridge UK
| | | | | | - Volen Arkumarev
- Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/BirdLife Bulgaria Sofia Bulgaria
| | | | - Vladimir Dobrev
- Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/BirdLife Bulgaria Sofia Bulgaria
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/BirdLife Bulgaria Sofia Bulgaria
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mirjan Topi
- Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania Tirana Albania
| | | | - Stoycho Stoychev
- Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/BirdLife Bulgaria Sofia Bulgaria
| | - Stoyan C. Nikolov
- Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/BirdLife Bulgaria Sofia Bulgaria
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Berlinguer F, Ahmed F, Tamponi C, Carta S, Scala A, Cappai MG, Varcasia A. Help from the sky: Can vultures contribute to Cystic Echinococcosis control in endemic areas? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009615. [PMID: 34264952 PMCID: PMC8345826 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is endemic in Sardinia and constitutes a serious public health concern due to high prevalence in livestock and humans. Despite sustained efforts, control of the disease had been unsuccessful in the region. Problematic carcass disposal due to soaring incineration costs and free access of dogs to infected carrion are dominant factors, fueling endemicity among other. As sole obligate scavenger, griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) are uniquely specialized to eliminate carcasses swiftly and efficiently, saving on unnecessary environmental and economic costs for carrion disposal. However, following drastic population declines across Europe, griffon vultures practically went extinct in Italy. A conservation expansion program in Sardinia successfully reinforced the last remaining Italian vulture population by mitigating the main threats to its survival; food shortage. Through the establishment of supplementary feeding stations, permanent supply of livestock cadavers was provided. In this research, the management and conservation implications on the controlled disposal of carcass disposal through vulture feeding stations on the control of CE in Sardinia were assessed. During the course of the project, vultures scavenged a total of 81,361 kg of biomass, saving €90,041 in incineration costs and € 1,054 in CO2 emission. Through extrapolation of these results, a total of 5,304 kg of suspected CE infected sheep carcasses (65.3%) was calculated to have been disposed by griffons, considerably reducing the CE risk and burden in Sardinia. A quantification of the amount of biomass that could be eliminated by griffon in a succeeding conservation project was also made. These calculations implied that 162,722 kg of biomass, including 10,608 kg of infected biomass from sheep, would be consumed over a period of 5 years, further lowering the CE burden in Sardinia. Our results, driven under one health approach, emphasize the crucial and direct role of griffons in breaking the lifecycle of CE as well as their indirect role in rendering multiple ecosystem and economic services through the elimination of carcasses. Please view a video Abstract here: https://youtu.be/Tm820nPq5KE. Cystic echinococcosis (CE), is a major parasitic disease of animal and public health significance due to high morbidity and mortality. The infection is caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, frequently reported in rural pastoral regions. In Sardinia, CE is very abundant in livestock, especially in sheep (65.3%). Several control strategies were attempted to limit the spread of CE, however, it turns out that the elimination of disease requires long lasting efforts. High prevalence of CE in Sardinia is due to multiple factors, but the cost of carcass incineration and free access of dogs to unattended carcasses are major points in the persistency of the infection. Griffon vultures as sole obligate scavengers, are highly specialized in removing the animal carcasses swiftly and efficiently, but have suffered severe population declines in the last decade. A wildlife conservation project in Sardinia envisioned to expand the griffon population by utilizing animal carcasses of animals as feed for vultures. We aimed to investigate these natural scavenging habits of vultures and the use of such “vulture restaurants” in relation to the control of CE. Our results show that the vultures remove a significant quantity of infected biomass, simultaneously saving high cost for incineration and carbon emission. The study is one of the pioneer investigations in the biological control of CE along with its estimation of ecosystem and economic services provided by the griffons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiammetta Berlinguer
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Fahad Ahmed
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Claudia Tamponi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Silvia Carta
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Scala
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cappai
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Varcasia
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Katzenberger J, Gottschalk E, Balkenhol N, Waltert M. Density‐dependent age of first reproduction as a key factor for population dynamics: stable breeding populations mask strong floater declines in a long‐lived raptor. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Katzenberger
- Dachverband Deutscher Avifaunisten (DDA) e.V. Münster Germany
- Workgroup on Endangered Species J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Eckhard Gottschalk
- Workgroup on Endangered Species J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Niko Balkenhol
- Wildlife Sciences University of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Matthias Waltert
- Workgroup on Endangered Species J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology University of Goettingen Göttingen Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Dimitriou KG, Kotsonas EG, Bakaloudis DE, Vlachos CG, Holloway GJ, Yosef R. Population Viability and Conservation Strategies for the Eurasian Black Vulture ( Aegypius monachus) in Southeast Europe. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010124. [PMID: 33430010 PMCID: PMC7827624 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010124] [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: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Vultures have suffered dramatic declines worldwide. Using population viability models for the Eurasians Black Vulture population in Southeast Europe, we found that the current population is viable for a period of 100 years. However, high levels of poisoning, food reduction, and increase of wind farms make the population prone to extinction. With no supplementary feeding, the population showed an increased but low extinction risk. Our results suggest that removing and translocating juveniles from the extant population to a historic breeding area would not negatively affect the existing population. We suggest the establishment of more supplementary feeding sites and the reintroduction of the species to former breeding areas, along with the elimination of threats posed by poisoning and wind farms in order to increase the population and enhance the dispersal of the species across its historic range in Southeast Europe. Abstract The Eurasian Black Vulture is a globally threatened raptor that in Southeast Europe only occurs in an isolated population in Greece. We examined the population viability for the species under demographic fluctuations and conservation scenarios. The current population showed no possibility of extinction for the next 100 years. However, simulated scenarios showed that the most important factor affecting the viability of the species was medium and high poisoning, leading to 94.8% and 100% probability of extinction, respectively. Furthermore, high reduction of supplementary feeding highlighted an 18.6% extinction possibility. Also, a high increase of wind farms in the area may result in 17.4% extinction possibility. Additionally, the non-establishment of the feeding station in 1987 in the study area would have resulted in an extinction risk of 7%. The species can be translocated to the Olympus National Park by releasing 80 juveniles over 10 years. The implementation of the conservation scenarios concerning the establishment of a supplementary feeding site network, and the reintroduction of the Eurasian Black Vulture in its historic range, along with the elimination of threats posed by poisoning, low food availability, and wind farms would increase the probability of the species persistence and allow the population to become a source for dispersal across Southeast Europe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyriakos G. Dimitriou
- Lab. of Wildlife and Freshwater Fish, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.G.D.); (E.G.K.); (C.G.V.)
| | - Evangelos G. Kotsonas
- Lab. of Wildlife and Freshwater Fish, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.G.D.); (E.G.K.); (C.G.V.)
| | - Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis
- Lab. of Wildlife and Freshwater Fish, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.G.D.); (E.G.K.); (C.G.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2310-992684
| | - Christos G. Vlachos
- Lab. of Wildlife and Freshwater Fish, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (K.G.D.); (E.G.K.); (C.G.V.)
| | - Graham J. Holloway
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 2AS, UK;
| | - Reuven Yosef
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev—Eilat Campus, P.O. Box 272, Eilat 88000, Israel;
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Marinković S, Hribšek I, Tatalović N, Skorić S. A long-term population study of the Eurasian griffon (Gyps fulvus) in Serbia before and following the establishment of a supplementary feeding program. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2020.1844302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Saša Marinković
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- The Birds of Prey Protection Foundation, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Irena Hribšek
- The Birds of Prey Protection Foundation, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Stefan Skorić
- The Birds of Prey Protection Foundation, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Biology and Inland Waters Protection, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Donázar JA, Barbosa JM, García-Alfonso M, van Overveld T, Gangoso L, de la Riva M. Too much is bad: increasing numbers of livestock and conspecifics reduce body mass in an avian scavenger. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02125. [PMID: 32167643 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Individual traits such as body mass can serve as early warning signals of changes in the fitness prospects of animal populations facing environmental impacts. Here, taking advantage of a 19-yr monitoring, we assessed how individual, population, and environmental factors modulate long-term changes in the body mass of Canarian Egyptian vultures. Individual vulture body mass increased when primary productivity was highly variable, but decreased in years with a high abundance of livestock. We hypothesized that carcasses of wild animals, a natural food resource that can be essential for avian scavengers, could be more abundant in periods of weather instability but depleted when high livestock numbers lead to overgrazing. In addition, increasing vulture population numbers also negatively affect body mass suggesting density-dependent competition for food. Interestingly, the relative strength of individual, population and resource availability factors on body mass changed with age and territorial status, a pattern presumably shaped by differences in competitive abilities and/or age-dependent environmental knowledge and foraging skills. Our study supports that individual plastic traits may be extremely reliable tools to better understand the response of secondary consumers to current and future natural and human-induced environmental changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José A Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jomar M Barbosa
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Applied Biology, University Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
| | - Marina García-Alfonso
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Thijs van Overveld
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Laura Gangoso
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Manuel de la Riva
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Fenn SR, Bignal EM, Trask AE, McCracken DI, Monaghan P, Reid JM. Collateral benefits of targeted supplementary feeding on demography and growth rate of a threatened population. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Fenn
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - Eric M. Bignal
- Scottish Chough Study Group Kindrochaid, Bridgend, Isle of Islay Argyll UK
| | | | - Davy I. McCracken
- Department of Integrated Land Management Scotland's Rural College Ayr UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health & Comparative MedicineUniversity of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Jane M. Reid
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Institutt for Biologi Realfagbygget, NTNU Trondheim Norway
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Brink CW, Santangeli A, Amar A, Wolter K, Tate G, Krüger S, Tucker AS, Thomson RL. Perceptions of vulture supplementary feeding site managers and potential hidden risks to avian scavengers. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan W. Brink
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence, Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - Andrea Santangeli
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence, Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
- The Helsinki Lab of Ornithology, Finnish Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence, Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | | | - Gareth Tate
- Birds of Prey ProgrammeEndangered Wildlife Trust Modderfontein South Africa
| | - Sonja Krüger
- Ezemvelo KwaZulu‐Natal Wildlife Cascades South Africa
| | | | - Robert L. Thomson
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence, Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
La Porte AM, Mannan RW, Brewer S. Riparian Conservation Facilitated Expansion of Gray Hawks. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samantha Brewer
- Northern Arizona University 1899 S San Francisco Street Flagstaff AZ 86011 USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Margalida A, Jiménez J, Martínez JM, Sesé JA, García‐Ferré D, Llamas A, Razin M, Colomer M, Arroyo B. An assessment of population size and demographic drivers of the Bearded Vulture using integrated population models. ECOL MONOGR 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Margalida
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM) E‐13005 Ciudad Real Spain
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Baltzerstrasse 6 CH‐3012 Bern Switzerland
| | - José Jiménez
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM) E‐13005 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - José M. Martínez
- Gobierno de Aragón Subdirección General de Desarrollo Rural y Sostenibilidad Departamento Medio Ambiente C/ General Lasheras 8 E‐22003 Huesca Spain
| | - José A. Sesé
- Gobierno de Aragón Subdirección General de Desarrollo Rural y Sostenibilidad Departamento Medio Ambiente C/ General Lasheras 8 E‐22003 Huesca Spain
| | - Diego García‐Ferré
- Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Territori i Sostenibilitat Servei de Fauna i Flora. C/Provença 204 08036 Barcelona Spain
| | - Alfonso Llamas
- Gestión Ambiental de Navarra C/ Padre Adoain 219 E‐31015 Pamplona Spain
| | - Martine Razin
- Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO/BirdLife) Fonderies Royales 8/10 rue du Dr Pujos F‐17305 Rochefort Cedex France
| | - MªÀngels Colomer
- Department of Mathematics Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering University of Lleida E‐25198 Lleida Spain
| | - Beatriz Arroyo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM) E‐13005 Ciudad Real Spain
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Larger size and older age confer competitive advantage: dominance hierarchy within European vulture guild. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2430. [PMID: 32051486 PMCID: PMC7015885 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59387-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Competition for limiting natural resources generates complex networks of relationships between individuals, both at the intra- and interspecific levels, establishing hierarchical scenarios among different population groups. Within obligate scavengers, and especially in vultures, the coevolutionary mechanisms operating during carrion exploitation are highly specialized and determined in part by agonistic behavior resulting in intra-guild hierarchies. This paper revisits the behavioral and hierarchical organization within the guild of European vultures, on the basis of their agonistic activities during carrion exploitation. We used a dataset distilled from high-quality videorecordings of competitive interactions among the four European vulture species during feeding events. We found a despotic dominance gradient from the larger species to smaller ones, and from the adults to subadults and juveniles, following an age and body size-based linear pattern. The four studied species, and to some extent age classes, show despotic dominance and organization of their guild exerting differential selection to different parts of the carrion. The abundance of these parts could ultimately condition the level of agonistic interactions. We discuss the behavioral organization and the relationship of hierarchies according to the feeding behavior and prey selection, by comparing with other scavenger guilds.
Collapse
|
24
|
Zorrozua N, Egunez A, Aldalur A, Galarza A, Diaz B, Hidalgo J, Jover L, Sanpera C, Castège I, Arizaga J. Evaluating the effect of distance to different food subsidies on the trophic ecology of an opportunistic seabird species. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Zorrozua
- Department of Ornithology Aranzadi Sciences Society Donostia Spain
| | - A. Egunez
- Department of Ornithology Aranzadi Sciences Society Donostia Spain
| | - A. Aldalur
- Department of Ornithology Aranzadi Sciences Society Donostia Spain
| | - A. Galarza
- Sustainable Development and Natural Environment Department County Council of Biscay Bilbao Spain
| | - B. Diaz
- Department of Ornithology Aranzadi Sciences Society Donostia Spain
| | - J. Hidalgo
- Sociedad Ornitológica Lanius Bilbao Spain
| | - L. Jover
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio) Universitat de Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - C. Sanpera
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio) Universitat de Barcelona Barcelona Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals Facultat de Biologia Universitat de Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - I. Castège
- Centre de la mer de Biarritz Plateau de l'Atalaye Biarritz France
| | - J. Arizaga
- Department of Ornithology Aranzadi Sciences Society Donostia Spain
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Brink CW, Santangeli A, Amar A, Wolter K, Tate G, Krüger S, Tucker AS, Thomson RL. Quantifying the spatial distribution and trends of supplementary feeding sites in South Africa and their potential contribution to vulture energetic requirements. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. W. Brink
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - A. Santangeli
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
- The Helsinki Lab of Ornithology Finnish Museum of Natural History University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - A. Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | | | - G. Tate
- Birds of Prey Programme Endangered Wildlife Trust Modderfontein South Africa
| | - S. Krüger
- Ezemvelo KwaZulu‐Natal Wildlife Cascades South Africa
| | | | - R. L. Thomson
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DST‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Colomer MÀ, Oliva‐Vidal P, Jiménez J, Martínez JM, Margalida A. Prioritizing among removal scenarios for the reintroduction of endangered species: insights from bearded vulture simulation modeling. Anim Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. À. Colomer
- Department of Mathematics Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering University of Lleida Lleida Spain
| | - P. Oliva‐Vidal
- Department of Animal Science (Division of Wildlife) Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering University of Lleida Lleida Spain
| | - J. Jiménez
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research IREC (CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM) Ciudad Real Spain
| | - J. M. Martínez
- Subdirección General de Desarrollo Rural y Sostenibilidad Departamento Medio Ambiente Gobierno de Aragón Huesca Spain
| | - A. Margalida
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research IREC (CSIC‐UCLM‐JCCM) Ciudad Real Spain
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Krone O, Bailey LD, Jähnig S, Lauth T, Dehnhard M. Monitoring corticoid metabolites in urine of white-tailed sea eagles: Negative effects of road proximity on breeding pairs. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 283:113223. [PMID: 31323229 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is known to be sensitive to disturbance. To better understand potential stressors, we measured corticosterone metabolite levels in H. albicilla excreta and recorded the nest success of breeding pairs. We tested the ability of four enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to measure urinary glucocorticoid metabolites (uGM) in the excreta of one adult female eagle subjected to a controlled physiological stress treatment. We identified corticosterone-21-HS to be the most sensitive EIA to changes in uGM concentration. To exclude a sex bias, we confirmed the assay's applicability with samples collected from similar stress treatments in two juvenile males. We used the identified EIA to measure uGM in wild breeding pairs and tested effects of disturbance. Breeding pairs nesting closer to roads and paths had higher uGM concentrations (p = 0.02), which is likely an effect of human recreational activity and disturbance. There was no difference in uGM concentrations between failed and successful nests. Our results highlight the potential impact of road and path proximity on white-tailed sea eagles, with potential importance for species management and conservation, particularly with respect to nest protection zone legislation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Krone
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Liam D Bailey
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Jähnig
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Martin Dehnhard
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
The Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Population in a Changing Environment, Central Poland as a Case Study. DIVERSITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11030035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Common buzzard is the most abundant bird of prey in Europe, and its population has undergone serious changes. In this study, we focused on a population in Central Poland (study area 105 km2, forests around 24 km2, seven forest complexes) to analyze how certain environmental factors influenced population abundance, breeding parameters, and diet composition. The study was undertaken from 2011 to 2018, and the results were compared with data from two study periods (1982–1992; 2001–2003). Current population density was 3.5 pairs/10 km2 of total area and 14.3 pairs/10 km2 of forested area, it was negatively correlated to the abundance of northern goshawk, and it grew in the last few decades. Mammals were dominant prey (72.6% prey items, 38.6% of biomass), but their share in diet changed following rodent availability. A decrease in the share of voles was recorded, reflecting drop in their abundance and dampening of abundance cycles. Breeding parameters were similar to those in the past, and the number of offspring depended on small rodent availability. Buzzards adapted to changes in the stand structure, i.e., when share of Scots pine decreased, they chose it as their nesting tree less frequently. All this showed that buzzard is a very adaptable species.
Collapse
|
29
|
van Overveld T, García-Alfonso M, Dingemanse NJ, Bouten W, Gangoso L, de la Riva M, Serrano D, Donázar JA. Food predictability and social status drive individual resource specializations in a territorial vulture. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15155. [PMID: 30310140 PMCID: PMC6181911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33564-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite increasing work detailing the presence of foraging specializations across a range of taxa, limited attention so far has been given to the role of spatiotemporal variation in food predictability in shaping individual resource selection. Here, we studied the exploitation of human-provided carrion resources differing in predictability by Canarian Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus majorensis). We focussed specifically on the role of individual characteristics and spatial constraints in shaping patterns of resource use. Using high-resolution GPS data obtained from 45 vultures tracked for 1 year, we show that individual vultures were repeatable in both their monthly use of predictable and semi-predicable resources (feeding station vs. farms) and monthly levels of mobility (home range size and flight activity). However, individual foraging activities were simultaneously characterized by a high degree of (temporal) plasticity in the use of the feeding station in specific months. Individual rank within dominance hierarchy revealed sex-dependent effects of social status on resource preference in breeding adults, illustrating the potential complex social mechanisms underpinning status-dependent resource use patterns. Our results show that predictable food at feeding stations may lead to broad-scale patterns of resource partitioning and affect both the foraging and social dynamics within local vulture populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thijs van Overveld
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Marina García-Alfonso
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Niels J Dingemanse
- Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Großhaderner Strasse 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Willem Bouten
- Theoretical and Computational Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Gangoso
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain.,Theoretical and Computational Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Manuel de la Riva
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - David Serrano
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José A Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
García-Jiménez R, Pérez-García JM, Margalida A. Drivers of daily movement patterns affecting an endangered vulture flight activity. BMC Ecol 2018; 18:39. [PMID: 30268111 PMCID: PMC6162909 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-018-0195-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development of satellite tracking technology enables the gathering of huge amounts of accurate data on animal movements over measured time intervals, to reveal essential information about species’ patterns of spatial use. This information is especially important in optimizing the design of conservation and management strategies for endangered species. In this study, we analysed the main drivers of daily patterns in the flight activity of the threatened Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus. We studied 19 Bearded Vultures tagged with solar-powered GPS transmitters from 2006 to 2016 in the Pyrenees (Spain). We assessed the relative influence of external factors (season and daylight time) and internal factors (sex, breeding season and territorial status) on their daily activity behaviour by computing mean hourly distance travelled, maximum displacement and cumulative distance travelled per hour. Results Our findings showed a clear difference in all the estimators between territorial and non-territorial (floating) members of the population, showing that non-territorial individuals spent much longer in flight and travelled larger distances per day. We detected an important influence of daylight time and season on the daily rhythms of Bearded Vultures; flight activity increased during the last three quarters of daylight and was greatest in the spring. Breeding period and sex had also an effect on the maximum displacement and cumulative distance travelled. Individuals flew more during the breeding period and females tended to exhibit greater cumulative and maximum distances per hour than males regardless of breeding season. Conclusions Pyrenean Bearded Vultures flight daily activity was strongly influenced by daylight time, season, and territorial status, while individual sex and breeding season showed a milder effect on the birds’ movement behaviour. This study gives a novel insight into how external factors act as main drivers of the daily flight activity pattern of a long-lived avian scavenger. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12898-018-0195-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth García-Jiménez
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Juan M Pérez-García
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198, Lleida, Spain.,Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Hernández M, Colomer MÀ, Pizarro M, Margalida A. Changes in eggshell thickness and ultrastructure in the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) Pyrenean population: A long-term analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 624:713-721. [PMID: 29272840 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Spanish Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) population has suffered from negative trends in a number of reproductive parameters that could jeopardize its long-term viability. From 1989 to 2012, 27 entire eggs and 63 eggshell fragments were collected from nests after breeding failure and/or fledging. Longer-term changes in eggshell thickness were made by examining 69 eggs collected in Spain from 1858 to 1911, and now held in European museums. Low levels of contamination with organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were found in whole eggs and in conjunction with the high fertility rates observed in the field (66.7%) do not indicate a population suffering from the effects of organochlorine contamination. However, a decrease in the Ratcliffe Index and eggshell thickness were observed in eggs collected since 2001, increasingly so in samples post-2004, indicating an abrupt loss of egg quality. We found no significant relationship between organochlorine residues and eggshell in any of the variables measured. In contrast, we found a positive relationship between food availability and the Ratcliffe Index, eggshell thickness and eggshell surface area. A density-dependent explanation of reduced egg quality could arise from ecological constraints as the decrease of food resources. The impact of sudden changes in food availability due to sanitary regulations between 2006 and 2011 could be related with the loss of Bearded Vulture egg quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ma Àngels Colomer
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Manuel Pizarro
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Department of Animal Science (Division of Wildlife), Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain; Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Azar JF, Chalah T, Rautureau P, Lawrence M, Hingrat Y. Breeding success and juvenile survival in a reintroduced captive-bred population of Asian houbara bustards in the United Arab Emirates. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
33
|
Ferrer M, Morandini V, Baguena G, Newton I. Reintroducing endangered raptors: A case study of supplementary feeding and removal of nestlings from wild populations. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ferrer
- Applied Ecology Group; Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC); Seville Spain
| | - Virginia Morandini
- Applied Ecology Group; Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC); Seville Spain
| | - Gerardo Baguena
- Fundación para la Conservación del Quebrantahuesos; Zaragoza Spain
| | - Ian Newton
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology; Wallingford UK
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Gomo G, Mattisson J, Hagen BR, Moa PF, Willebrand T. Scavenging on a pulsed resource: quality matters for corvids but density for mammals. BMC Ecol 2017; 17:22. [PMID: 28619108 PMCID: PMC5472881 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-017-0132-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human food subsidies can provide predictable food sources in large quantities for wildlife species worldwide. In the boreal forest of Fennoscandia, gut piles from moose (Alces alces) harvest provide a potentially important food source for a range of opportunistically scavenging predators. Increased populations of predators can negatively affect threatened or important game species. As a response to this, restrictions on field dressing of moose are under consideration in parts of Norway. However, there is a lack of research to how this resource is utilized. In this study, we used camera-trap data from 50 gut piles during 1043 monitoring days. We estimated depletion of gut piles separately for parts with high and low energy content, and used these results to scale up gut pile density in the study area. We identified scavenger species and analyzed the influences of gut pile quality and density on scavenging behavior of mammals and corvids (family Corvidae). Results Main scavengers were corvids and red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Parts with high energy content were rapidly consumed, mainly by corvids that were present at all gut piles shortly after the remains were left at the kill site. Corvid presence declined with days since harvest, reflecting reduction in gut pile quality over time independent of gut pile density. Mammals arrived 7–8 days later at the gut piles than corvids, and their presence depended only on gut pile density with a peak at intermediate densities. The decline at high gut pile densities suggest a saturation effect, which could explain accumulation of gut pile parts with low energy content. Conclusions This study shows that remains from moose harvest can potentially be an important food resource for scavengers, as it was utilized to a high degree by many species. This study gives novel insight into how energy content and density of resources affect scavenging patterns among functional groups of scavengers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jenny Mattisson
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7484, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | | | - Tomas Willebrand
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418, Elverum, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Myhre AM, Engen S, SAEther BE. Effective size of density-dependent two-sex populations: the effect of mating systems. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1561-1575. [PMID: 28594470 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Density dependence in vital rates is a key feature affecting temporal fluctuations of natural populations. This has important implications for the rate of random genetic drift. Mating systems also greatly affect effective population sizes, but knowledge of how mating system and density regulation interact to affect random genetic drift is poor. Using theoretical models and simulations, we compare Ne in short-lived, density-dependent animal populations with different mating systems. We study the impact of a fluctuating, density-dependent sex ratio and consider both a stable and a fluctuating environment. We find a negative relationship between annual Ne /N and adult population size N due to density dependence, suggesting that loss of genetic variation is reduced at small densities. The magnitude of this decrease was affected by mating system and life history. A male-biased, density-dependent sex ratio reduces the rate of genetic drift compared to an equal, density-independent sex ratio, but a stochastic change towards male bias reduces the Ne /N ratio. Environmental stochasticity amplifies temporal fluctuations in population size and is thus vital to consider in estimation of effective population sizes over longer time periods. Our results on the reduced loss of genetic variation at small densities, particularly in polygamous populations, indicate that density regulation may facilitate adaptive evolution at small population sizes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A M Myhre
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - S Engen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - B-E SAEther
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Cleasby IR, Bodey TW, Vigfusdottir F, McDonald JL, McElwaine G, Mackie K, Colhoun K, Bearhop S. Climatic conditions produce contrasting influences on demographic traits in a long-distance Arctic migrant. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:285-295. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian R. Cleasby
- Centre of Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Cornwall Campus Penryn TR10 9FE UK
| | - Thomas W. Bodey
- Centre of Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Cornwall Campus Penryn TR10 9FE UK
| | - Freydis Vigfusdottir
- Centre of Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Cornwall Campus Penryn TR10 9FE UK
- Icelandic Institute of Natural History; Urridaholtsstraeti 212 Gardabaer Iceland
| | - Jenni L. McDonald
- Centre of Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Cornwall Campus Penryn TR10 9FE UK
| | - Graham McElwaine
- Irish Brent Goose Research Group; 100 Strangford Road Downpatrick, County Down BT30 7JD UK
| | - Kerry Mackie
- Irish Brent Goose Research Group; Mahee Island Comber, County Down BT23 6EP UK
| | - Kendrew Colhoun
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science; RSPB Northern Ireland Belvoir Park Forest Belfast BT8 7QT UK
| | - Stuart Bearhop
- Centre of Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Cornwall Campus Penryn TR10 9FE UK
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
A clear and present danger: impacts of poisoning on a vulture population and the effect of poison response activities. ORYX 2017. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605316001137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractVultures in Africa are being poisoned deliberately by poachers to prevent the birds alerting authorities to the poachers’ illegal activities, or for harvesting and sale of body parts for use in witchcraft. Hundreds of vultures can be killed at a single poisoned elephant Loxodonta africana carcass, and although field staff trained in poison response activities can limit the damage, mortalities remain numerous. We used the population viability analysis programme VORTEX to simulate seven 100-year-long scenarios investigating various rates of poisoning mortalities and the remedial effects of poison response activities on a population of Critically Endangered white-backed vultures Gyps africanus breeding in Kruger National Park, South Africa. In six scenarios the population declined (λ < 1); in three scenarios the population remained extant over the 100-year simulations but declined by 60–90% from a starting size of 2,400 individuals. In two scenarios one poisoned elephant carcass left untreated and causing the greatest number of vulture deaths was modelled as a catastrophic event with a 50% probability of annual occurrence, which resulted in a 100% probability of population extinction, with a mean time to extinction of 55–62 years. Effective poison response activities were modelled as a 70% reduction of mortality at each poisoned elephant carcass and resulted in population persistence after 100 years but with a c. 90% reduction in size (final n = 205). We highlight that although poison response activities will not prevent poisoning from occurring, they form an essential part of wider conservation actions designed to prevent local extinctions of vultures or other vulnerable species.
Collapse
|
38
|
Decline in territory size and fecundity as a response to carrying capacity in an endangered songbird. Oecologia 2016; 183:597-606. [PMID: 27873065 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3763-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Density-dependent processes are fundamental mechanisms for the regulation of populations. Ecological theories differ in their predictions on whether increasing population density leads to individual adjustments of survival and reproductive output or to dominance and monopolization of resources. Here, we use a natural experiment to examine which factors limit population growth in the only remaining population of the endangered pale-headed brush finch (Atlapetes pallidiceps). For three distinct phases (a phase of population suppression, 2001-2002; expansion due to conservation management, 2003-2008; and equilibrium phase, 2009-2014), we estimated demographic parameters with an integrated population model using population size, the proportion of successfully breeding pairs and their productivity, territory size, and mark-recapture data of adult birds. A low proportion of successful breeders due to brood parasitism (0.42, 95% credible interval 0.26-0.59) limited population growth before 2003; subsequent culling of the brood parasite resulted in a two-fold increase of the proportion of successful breeders during the 'expansion phase'. When the population approached the carrying capacity of its habitat, territory size declined by more than 50% and fecundity declined from 1.9 (1.54-2.27) to 1.3 (1.12-1.53) chicks per breeding pair, but the proportion of successful breeders remained constant (expansion phase: 0.85; 0.76-0.93; equilibrium phase: 0.86; 0.79-0.92). This study demonstrates that limiting resources can lead to individual adjustments instead of despotic behavior, and the individual reduction of reproductive output at high population densities is consistent with the slow life-history of many tropical species.
Collapse
|
39
|
Lee AM, Reid JM, Beissinger SR. Modelling effects of nonbreeders on population growth estimates. J Anim Ecol 2016; 86:75-87. [PMID: 27625075 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Adult individuals that do not breed in a given year occur in a wide range of natural populations. However, such nonbreeders are often ignored in theoretical and empirical population studies, limiting our knowledge of how nonbreeders affect realized and estimated population dynamics and potentially impeding projection of deterministic and stochastic population growth rates. We present and analyse a general modelling framework for systems where breeders and nonbreeders differ in key demographic rates, incorporating different forms of nonbreeding, different life histories and frequency-dependent effects of nonbreeders on demographic rates of breeders. Comparisons of estimates of deterministic population growth rate, λ, and demographic variance, σd2, from models with and without distinct nonbreeder classes show that models that do not explicitly incorporate nonbreeders give upwardly biased estimates of σd2, particularly when the equilibrium ratio of nonbreeders to breeders, Nnb∗/Nb∗, is high. Estimates of λ from empirical observations of breeders only are substantially inflated when individuals frequently re-enter the breeding population after periods of nonbreeding. Sensitivity analyses of diverse parameterizations of our model framework, with and without negative frequency-dependent effects of nonbreeders on breeder demographic rates, show how changes in demographic rates of breeders vs. nonbreeders differentially affect λ. In particular, λ is most sensitive to nonbreeder parameters in long-lived species, when Nnb∗/Nb∗>0, and when individuals are unlikely to breed at several consecutive time steps. Our results demonstrate that failing to account for nonbreeders in population studies can obscure low population growth rates that should cause management concern. Quantifying the size and demography of the nonbreeding section of populations and modelling appropriate demographic structuring is therefore essential to evaluate nonbreeders' influence on deterministic and stochastic population dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aline M Lee
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3114, USA.,Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Jane M Reid
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Steven R Beissinger
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3114, USA.,Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3160, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Myhre AM, Engen S, Saether BE. Effective size of density-dependent populations in fluctuating environments. Evolution 2016; 70:2431-2446. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ane Marlene Myhre
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; N-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Steinar Engen
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; N-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Bernt-Erik Saether
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; N-7491 Trondheim Norway
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Fernández-Bellon D, Cortés-Avizanda A, Arenas R, Donázar JA. Density-dependent productivity in a colonial vulture at two spatial scales. Ecology 2016; 97:406-16. [PMID: 27145615 DOI: 10.1890/15-0357.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how density dependence modifies demographic parameters in long-lived vertebrates is a challenge for ecologists. Two alternative hypotheses have been used to explain the mechanisms behind density-dependent effects on breeding output: habitat heterogeneity and individual adjustment (also known as interference competition). A number of studies have highlighted the importance of habitat heterogeneity in density dependence in territorial species, but less information exists on demographic processes in colonial species. For these, we expect density-dependent mechanisms to operate at two spatial scales: colony and breeding unit. In this study, we used long-term data from a recovering population of Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) in southern Spain. We analyzed a long-term data set with information on 2162 breeding attempts at four colonies over a nine-year period (2002-2010) to evaluate environmental and population parameters influencing breeding output. Our results suggest that breeding productivity is subject to density-dependent processes at the colony and the nest site scale and is best explained by interference competition. Factors intrinsic to each colony, as well as environmental constraints linked to physiography and human presence, also play a role in regulatory processes. We detected the existence of a trade-off between the disadvantages of nesting too close to conspecifics and the benefits of coloniality. These could be mediated by the agonistic interactions between breeding pairs and the benefits derived from social sharing of information by breeding individuals. We propose that this trade-off may play a role in defining colony structure and may hold true for other colonial breeding bird species. Our findings also have important management implications for the conservation of this threatened species.
Collapse
|
42
|
Margalida A, Martínez JM, Gómez de Segura A, Colomer MA, Arlettaz R, Serrano D. Supplementary feeding and young extraction from the wild are not a sensible alternative to captive breeding for reintroducing bearded vulturesGypaetus barbatus. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Margalida
- Department of Animal Production (Division of Wildlife); Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering; University of Lleida; 25198 Lleida Spain
- Division of Conservation Biology; Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Baltzerstrasse, 6 3012 Bern Switzerland
| | - José M. Martínez
- Sección de Biodiversidad; Servicio Provincial de Agricultura; Ganadería y Medio Ambiente de Huesca; Gobierno de Aragón; C/General Lasheras, 8 22071 Huesca Spain
| | - Amaia Gómez de Segura
- Oficina Comarcal Agroambiental del Sobrarbe; Servicio Provincial de Agricultura; Ganadería y Medioambiente; Departamento de Agricultura; Ganadería y Medio Ambiente; Gobierno de Aragón; C/Samper, 4 E-22430 Boltaña Spain
| | - Maria A. Colomer
- Department of Mathematics; Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering; University of Lleida; 25198 Lleida Spain
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology; Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Baltzerstrasse, 6 3012 Bern Switzerland
- Swiss Ornithological Institute; Valais Field Station; Rue du Rhône 11 1950 Sion Switzerland
| | - David Serrano
- Department of Conservation Biology; Estación Biológica de Doñana; EBD-CSIC; Avda de Américo Vespucio s/n Isla de la Cartuja E-41092 Sevilla Spain
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Moreno-Opo R, Trujillano A, Margalida A. Behavioral coexistence and feeding efficiency drive niche partitioning in European avian scavengers. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
44
|
Fondo EN, Chaloupka M, Heymans JJ, Skilleter GA. Banning Fisheries Discards Abruptly Has a Negative Impact on the Population Dynamics of Charismatic Marine Megafauna. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144543. [PMID: 26657412 PMCID: PMC4676608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Food subsidies have the potential to modify ecosystems and affect the provision of goods and services. Predictable Anthropogenic Food Subsidies (PAFS) modify ecosystems by altering ecological processes and food webs. The global concern over the effects of PAFS in ecosystems has led to development of environmental policies aimed at curbing the production or ultimately banning of PAFS. However, the effects of reducing or banning PAFS are not known. We explore the consequences of PAFS removal in a marine ecosystem under two scenarios: 1) gradual reduction, or 2) an abrupt ban, using a mass balance model to test these hypotheses–The reduction or loss of PAFS will: i) modify trophic levels and food webs through effects on foraging by opportunistic species, ii) increase the resilience of opportunistic species to food shortages, and iii) modify predator–prey interactions through shifts in prey consumption. We found that PAFS lower the trophic levels of opportunistic scavengers and increase their food pathways. Scavengers are able to switch prey when PAFS are reduced gradually but they decline when PAFS are abruptly banned. PAFS reduction to a certain minimal level causes a drop in the ecosystem’s stability. We recommend gradual reduction of PAFS to a minimal level that would maintain the ecosystem’s stability and allow species exploiting PAFS to habituate to the food subsidy reduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther N. Fondo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
- * E-mail: (ENF); (GAS)
| | - Milani Chaloupka
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Johanna J. Heymans
- The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Greg A. Skilleter
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail: (ENF); (GAS)
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Margalida A, Colomer MÀ, Oro D, Arlettaz R, Donázar JA. Assessing the impact of removal scenarios on population viability of a threatened, long-lived avian scavenger. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16962. [PMID: 26593059 PMCID: PMC4655339 DOI: 10.1038/srep16962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The removal of eggs or chicks from wild populations to create captive populations, reinforce free-ranging populations or reintroduce species into the wild is a restoration tool that requires an assessment of potential detrimental effects upon the donor population. This is an absolute prerequisite when wild donor populations are scarce and small. Here, we forecast the population trend of the largest European population of the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) over the next 30 years under different demographic and management scenarios (removal of eggs, chicks or fledglings). Projections derived from the combination of a PDP model (Population Dynamic P-system) and a Box-Behnken design would lead to a decline in 77% of all 57 scenarios analysed. Among the 13 scenarios predicting a population increase, only 4 seem realistic in terms of growth rate (0.04%-1.01%), at least if current age at first breeding and productivity would remain constant over time. Our simulations thus suggest that most extraction scenarios would have detrimental effects on the demography of the donor population. Release of captive-born young or removal of only the second hatched chick for subsequent captive rearing and translocation into the wild appear to represent much better supplementation and reintroduction options in this threatened species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Margalida
- Department of Animal Production (Division of Wildlife), Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse, 6 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mª Àngels Colomer
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Daniel Oro
- Population Ecology Group, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marques 21, E-07190 Esporles, Spain
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse, 6 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Valais Field Station, Rue du Rhône 11, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad, IADIZA, CONICET–CCT, Av. Ruiz Leal, Parque General San Martín, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - José A. Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Avda de Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Modeling the consequences of the demise and potential recovery of a keystone-species: wild rabbits and avian scavengers in Mediterranean landscapes. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17033. [PMID: 26593338 PMCID: PMC4655486 DOI: 10.1038/srep17033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoration of demised keystone-species populations is an overriding concern in conservation biology. However, since no population is independent of its environment, progress is needed in predicting the efficacy of restoration in unstable ecological contexts. Here, by means of Population Dynamics P-system Models (PDP), we studied long-term changes in the population size of Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) inhabiting a Natural Park, northern Spain, to changes in the numbers of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a keystone-species of Mediterranean ecosystems that have suffered >90% population decline after a hemorrhagic disease outbreak. Low availability of rabbit carcasses leads Egyptian vultures to extend their foraging activities to unprotected areas with higher non-natural mortality whereas growing numbers of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), a dominant competitor, progressively monopolize trophic resources resulting in a focal population decrease. Modeling shows that, even if keystone-species populations recover in core protected areas, the return to the original studied population size may be unfeasible, due to both the high non-natural mortality rates in humanized areas and long-term changes in the scavenger guild structure. Policy decisions aimed to restore keystone-species should rely on holistic approaches integrating the effects of spatial heterogeneity on both producer and consumer populations as well as within-guild processes.
Collapse
|
47
|
Bruggeman JE, Swem T, Andersen DE, Kennedy PL, Nigro D. Dynamics of a recovering Arctic bird population: the importance of climate, density dependence, and site quality. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2015; 25:1932-43. [PMID: 26591458 DOI: 10.1890/14-1591.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect vital rates and population-level processes, and understanding these factors is paramount to devising successful management plans for wildlife species. For example, birds time migration in response, in part, to local and broadscale climate fluctuations to initiate breeding upon arrival to nesting territories, and prolonged inclement weather early in the breeding season can inhibit egg-laying and reduce productivity. Also, density-dependent regulation occurs in raptor populations, as territory size is related to resource availability. Arctic Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus tundrius; hereafter Arctic peregrine) have a limited and northern breeding distribution, including the Colville River Special Area (CRSA) in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, USA. We quantified influences of climate, topography, nest productivity, prey habitat, density dependence, and interspecific competition affecting Arctic peregrines in the CRSA by applying the Dail-Madsen model to estimate abundance and vital rates of adults on nesting cliffs from 1981 through 2002. Arctic peregrine abundance increased throughout the 1980s, which spanned the population's recovery from DDT-induced reproductive failure, until exhibiting a stationary trend in the 1990s. Apparent survival rate (i.e., emigration; death) was negatively correlated with the number of adult Arctic peregrines on the cliff the previous year, suggesting effects of density-dependent population regulation. Apparent survival and arrival rates (i.e., immigration; recruitment) were higher during years with earlier snowmelt and milder winters, and apparent survival was positively correlated with nesting season maximum daily temperature. Arrival rate was positively correlated with average Arctic peregrine productivity along a cliff segment from the previous year and initial abundance was positively correlated with cliff height. Higher cliffs with documented higher productivity (presumably indicative of higher-quality habitat), are a priority for continued protection from potential nearby development and disturbance to minimize population-level impacts. Climate change. may affect Arctic peregrines in multiple ways, including through access to more snow-free nest sites and a lengthened breeding season that may increase likelihood of nest success. Our work provides insight into factors affecting a population during and after recovery, and demonstrates how the Dail-Madsen model can be used for any unmarked population with multiple years of abundance data collected through repeated surveys.
Collapse
|
48
|
|
49
|
Moreno-Opo R, Trujillano A, Margalida A. Optimization of supplementary feeding programs for European vultures depends on environmental and management factors. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es15-00009.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
|
50
|
Ewen JG, Walker L, Canessa S, Groombridge JJ. Improving supplementary feeding in species conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:341-349. [PMID: 25354808 PMCID: PMC4405093 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Supplementary feeding is often a knee-jerk reaction to population declines, and its application is not critically evaluated, leading to polarized views among managers on its usefulness. Here, we advocate a more strategic approach to supplementary feeding so that the choice to use it is clearly justified over, or in combination with, other management actions and the predicted consequences are then critically assessed following implementation. We propose combining methods from a set of specialist disciplines that will allow critical evaluation of the need, benefit, and risks of food supplementation. Through the use of nutritional ecology, population ecology, and structured decision making, conservation managers can make better choices about what and how to feed by estimating consequences on population recovery across a range of possible actions. This structured approach also informs targeted monitoring and more clearly allows supplementary feeding to be integrated in recovery plans and reduces the risk of inefficient decisions. In New Zealand, managers of the endangered Hihi (Notiomystis cincta) often rely on supplementary feeding to support reintroduced populations. On Kapiti island the reintroduced Hihi population has responded well to food supplementation, but the logistics of providing an increasing demand recently outstretched management capacity. To decide whether and how the feeding regime should be revised, managers used a structured decision making approach informed by population responses to alternative feeding regimes. The decision was made to reduce the spatial distribution of feeders and invest saved time in increasing volume of food delivered into a smaller core area. The approach used allowed a transparent and defendable management decision in regard to supplementary feeding, reflecting the multiple objectives of managers and their priorities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John G Ewen
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, NW1 4RY, London, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|