1
|
Backhouse F, Dalziell AH, Magrath RD, Rice AN, Crisologo TL, Welbergen JA. Differential geographic patterns in song components of male Albert's lyrebirds. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2701-2716. [PMID: 33767830 PMCID: PMC7981226 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Geographic variation in bird song has received much attention in evolutionary studies, yet few consider components within songs that may be subject to different constraints and follow different evolutionary trajectories. Here, we quantify patterns of geographic variation in the socially transmitted "whistle" song of Albert's lyrebirds (Menura alberti), an oscine passerine renowned for its remarkable vocal abilities. Albert's lyrebirds are confined to narrow stretches of suitable habitat in Australia, allowing us to map likely paths of cultural transmission using a species distribution model and least cost paths. We use quantitative methods to divide the songs into three components present in all study populations: the introductory elements, the song body, and the final element. We compare geographic separation between populations with variation in these components as well as the full song. All populations were distinguishable by song, and songs varied according to the geographic distance between populations. However, within songs, only the introductory elements and song body could be used to distinguish among populations. The song body and final element changed with distance, but the introductory elements varied independently of geographic separation. These differing geographic patterns of within-song variation are unexpected, given that the whistle song components are always produced in the same sequence and may be perceived as a temporally discrete unit. Knowledge of such spatial patterns of within-song variation enables further work to determine possible selective pressures and constraints acting on each song component and provides spatially explicit targets for preserving cultural diversity. As such, our study highlights the importance for science and conservation of investigating spatial patterns within seemingly discrete behavioral traits at multiple levels of organization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Backhouse
- The Hawkesbury Institute for the EnvironmentWestern Sydney UniversityRichmondNSWAustralia
| | - Anastasia H. Dalziell
- The Hawkesbury Institute for the EnvironmentWestern Sydney UniversityRichmondNSWAustralia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem SolutionsSchool of Earth, Atmospheric and Life SciencesUniversity of WollongongWollongongNSWAustralia
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology ProgramCornell Lab of OrnithologyCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
- Macaulay LibraryCornell Lab of OrnithologyCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
- Center for Conservation BioacousticsCornell Lab of OrnithologyCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
| | - Robert D. Magrath
- Research School of Biologythe Australian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Aaron N. Rice
- Center for Conservation BioacousticsCornell Lab of OrnithologyCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
| | - Taylor L. Crisologo
- The Hawkesbury Institute for the EnvironmentWestern Sydney UniversityRichmondNSWAustralia
- Macaulay LibraryCornell Lab of OrnithologyCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
| | - Justin A. Welbergen
- The Hawkesbury Institute for the EnvironmentWestern Sydney UniversityRichmondNSWAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Paxton KL, Sebastián-González E, Hite JM, Crampton LH, Kuhn D, Hart PJ. Loss of cultural song diversity and the convergence of songs in a declining Hawaiian forest bird community. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190719. [PMID: 31598249 PMCID: PMC6731710 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The effects of population decline on culturally transmitted behaviours in animals have rarely been described, but may have major implications to population viability. Learned vocal signals in birds are of critical importance to behaviours associated with reproduction, intrasexual interactions and group cohesion, and the complexity of vocal signals such as song can serve as an honest signal of an individual's quality as well as the viability of a population. In this study, we examined how rapid population declines recently experienced by Hawaiian honeycreepers on the island of Kaua'i (USA) may have influenced the diversity, complexity and similarity of learned honeycreeper songs. We analysed the acoustic characteristics of songs recorded during three time periods over a 40-year time frame for three species of declining Kaua'i honeycreepers. We detected a loss of song complexity and diversity over the 40-year time period that paralleled dramatic population declines. Concurrent with the loss of complexity, we also found that the acoustic characteristics of the three honeycreepers' songs became more similar to one another. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of convergence of acoustic characteristics among rapidly declining species. The reduction in song complexity and diversity and convergence of songs not only signals a loss of culturally transmitted behaviours in these endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers, but also potential challenges to the recovery of these rapidly declining species. Moreover, the present study highlights that there is a 'hidden' cost to declining populations beyond just the loss of individuals that is not often considered, the loss of culturally transmitted social behaviours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Esther Sebastián-González
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, Avenida de la Universidad s/n 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Justin M. Hite
- Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Hawai‘i Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Lisa H. Crampton
- Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Hawai‘i Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - David Kuhn
- SoundsHawaiian, PO Box 1018, Waimea, HI 96796, USA
| | - Patrick J. Hart
- Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i Hilo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pleistocene-dated biogeographic barriers drove divergence within the Australo-Papuan region in a sex-specific manner: an example in a widespread Australian songbird. Heredity (Edinb) 2019; 123:608-621. [PMID: 30874632 PMCID: PMC6972870 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-019-0206-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how environmental change has shaped species evolution can inform predictions of how future climate change might continue to do so. Research of widespread biological systems spanning multiple climates that have been subject to environmental change can yield generalizable inferences about the neutral and adaptive processes driving lineage divergence during periods of environmental change. We contribute to the growing body of multi-locus phylogeographic studies investigating the effect of Pleistocene climate change on species evolution by focusing on a widespread Australo-Papuan songbird with several mitochondrial lineages that diverged during the Pleistocene, the grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica). We employed multi-locus phylogenetic, population genetic and coalescent analyses to (1) assess whether nuclear genetic diversity suggests a history congruent with that based on phenotypically defined subspecies ranges, mitochondrial clade boundaries and putative biogeographical barriers, (2) estimate genetic diversity within and genetic differentiation and gene flow among regional populations and (3) estimate population divergence times. The five currently recognized subspecies of grey shrike-thrush are genetically differentiated in nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, but connected by low levels of gene flow. Divergences among these populations are concordant with recognized historical biogeographical barriers and date to the Pleistocene. Discordance in the order of population divergence events based on mitochondrial and nuclear genomes suggests a history of sex-biased gene flow and/or mitochondrial introgression at secondary contacts. This study demonstrates that climate change can impact sexes with different dispersal biology in different ways. Incongruence between population and mitochondrial trees calls for a genome-wide investigation into dispersal, mitochondrial introgression and mitonuclear evolution.
Collapse
|
4
|
Pang‐Ching JM, Paxton KL, Paxton EH, Pack AA, Hart PJ. The effect of isolation, fragmentation, and population bottlenecks on song structure of a Hawaiian honeycreeper. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:2076-2087. [PMID: 29468026 PMCID: PMC5817154 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about how important social behaviors such as song vary within and among populations for any of the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers. Habitat loss and non-native diseases (e.g., avian malaria) have resulted in isolation and fragmentation of Hawaiian honeycreepers within primarily high elevation forests. In this study, we examined how isolation of Hawai'i 'amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens) populations within a fragmented landscape influences acoustic variability in song. In the last decade, small, isolated populations of disease tolerant 'amakihi have been found within low elevation forests, allowing us to record 'amakihi songs across a large elevational gradient (10-1800 m) that parallels disease susceptibility on Hawai'i island. To understand underlying differences among populations, we examined the role of geographic distance, elevation, and habitat structure on acoustic characteristics of 'amakihi songs. We found that the acoustic characteristics of 'amakihi songs and song-type repertoires varied most strongly across an elevational gradient. Differences in 'amakihi song types were primarily driven by less complex songs (e.g., fewer frequency changes, shorter songs) of individuals recorded at low elevation sites compared to mid and high elevation populations. The reduced complexity of 'amakihi songs at low elevation sites is most likely shaped by the effects of habitat fragmentation and a disease-driven population bottleneck associated with avian malaria, and maintained through isolation, localized song learning and sharing, and cultural drift. These results highlight how a non-native disease through its influence on population demographics may have also indirectly played a role in shaping the acoustic characteristics of a species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M. Pang‐Ching
- Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental ScienceUniversity of Hawaii at HiloHiloHIUSA
| | | | - Eben H. Paxton
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research CenterHiloHIUSA
| | - Adam A. Pack
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Hawaii at HiloHiloHIUSA
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Hawaii at HiloHiloHIUSA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Graham BA, Heath DD, Mennill DJ. Dispersal influences genetic and acoustic spatial structure for both males and females in a tropical songbird. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:10089-10102. [PMID: 29238539 PMCID: PMC5723598 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals exhibit diverse dispersal strategies, including sex‐biased dispersal, a phenomenon common in vertebrates. Dispersal influences the genetic structure of populations as well as geographic variation in phenotypic traits. Patterns of spatial genetic structure and geographic variation may vary between the sexes whenever males and females exhibit different dispersal behaviors. Here, we examine dispersal, spatial genetic structure, and spatial acoustic structure in Rufous‐and‐white Wrens, a year‐round resident tropical bird. Both sexes sing in this species, allowing us to compare acoustic variation between males and females and examine the relationship between dispersal and song sharing for both sexes. Using a long‐term dataset collected over an 11‐year period, we used banding data and molecular genetic analyses to quantify natal and breeding dispersal distance in Rufous‐and‐white Wrens. We quantified song sharing and examined whether sharing varied with dispersal distance, for both males and females. Observational data and molecular genetic analyses indicate that dispersal is female‐biased. Females dispersed farther from natal territories than males, and more often between breeding territories than males. Furthermore, females showed no significant spatial genetic structure, consistent with expectations, whereas males showed significant spatial genetic structure. Overall, natal dispersal appears to have more influence than breeding dispersal on spatial genetic structure and spatial acoustic structure, given that the majority of breeding dispersal events resulted in individuals moving only short distances. Song sharing between pairs of same‐sex animals decreases with the distance between their territories for both males and females, although males exhibited significantly greater song sharing than females. Lastly, we measured the relationship between natal dispersal distance and song sharing. We found that sons shared fewer songs with their fathers the farther they dispersed from their natal territories, but that song sharing between daughters and mothers was not significantly correlated with natal dispersal distance. Our results reveal cultural differences between the sexes, suggesting a relationship between culture and sex‐biased dispersal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brendan A Graham
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
| | - Daniel D Heath
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada.,Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
| | - Daniel J Mennill
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Windsor Windsor ON Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Poesel A, Fries AC, Miller L, Gibbs HL, Soha JA, Nelson DA. High levels of gene flow among song dialect populations of the Puget Sound white‐crowned sparrow. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Poesel
- Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
| | - Anthony C. Fries
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
| | - Lisa Miller
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
| | - H. Lisle Gibbs
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
| | - Jill A. Soha
- Department of Biology Duke University Durham NC USA
| | - Douglas A. Nelson
- Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sebastián‐González E, Hart PJ. Birdsong meme diversity in a habitat landscape depends on landscape and species characteristics. OIKOS 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.04531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Sebastián‐González
- Dept of Biology Univ. of Hawai'i at Hilo Hilo HI 96720 USA
- Dept of Applied Biology Miguel Hernández Univ. Elche Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Keighley MV, Langmore NE, Zdenek CN, Heinsohn R. Geographic variation in the vocalizations of Australian palm cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus). BIOACOUSTICS 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2016.1201778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. V. Keighley
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - N. E. Langmore
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - C. N. Zdenek
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - R. Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ferrer ES, García-Navas V, Bueno-Enciso J, Barrientos R, Serrano-Davies E, Cáliz-Campal C, Sanz JJ, Ortego J. The influence of landscape configuration and environment on population genetic structure in a sedentary passerine: insights from loci located in different genomic regions. J Evol Biol 2015; 29:205-19. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. S. Ferrer
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural; Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales; Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Toledo Spain
| | - V. García-Navas
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural; Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales; Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Toledo Spain
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - J. Bueno-Enciso
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales; Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Toledo Spain
| | - R. Barrientos
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales; Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Toledo Spain
| | - E. Serrano-Davies
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales; Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Toledo Spain
| | - C. Cáliz-Campal
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural; Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
- Department of Integrative Ecology; Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC); Seville Spain
| | - J. J. Sanz
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC); Madrid Spain
| | - J. Ortego
- Department of Integrative Ecology; Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC); Seville Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ortego J, Aguirre MP, Noguerales V, Cordero PJ. Consequences of extensive habitat fragmentation in landscape-level patterns of genetic diversity and structure in the Mediterranean esparto grasshopper. Evol Appl 2015; 8:621-32. [PMID: 26136826 PMCID: PMC4479516 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation has altered the distribution and population sizes in many organisms worldwide. For this reason, understanding the demographic and genetic consequences of this process is necessary to predict the fate of populations and establish management practices aimed to ensure their viability. In this study, we analyse whether the spatial configuration of remnant semi-natural habitat patches within a chronically fragmented landscape has shaped the patterns of genetic diversity and structure in the habitat-specialist esparto grasshopper (Ramburiella hispanica). In particular, we predict that agricultural lands constitute barriers to gene flow and hypothesize that fragmentation has restricted interpopulation dispersal and reduced local levels of genetic diversity. Our results confirmed the expectation that isolation and habitat fragmentation have reduced the genetic diversity of local populations. Landscape genetic analyses based on circuit theory showed that agricultural land offers ∽1000 times more resistance to gene flow than semi-natural habitats, indicating that patterns of dispersal are constrained by the spatial configuration of remnant patches of suitable habitat. Overall, this study shows that semi-natural habitat patches act as corridors for interpopulation gene flow and should be preserved due to the disproportionately large ecological function that they provide considering their insignificant area within these human-modified landscapes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Ortego
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC) Seville, Spain
| | - María P Aguirre
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos - IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM) Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Víctor Noguerales
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos - IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM) Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pedro J Cordero
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos - IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM) Ciudad Real, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Major RE, Johnson RN, King AG, Cooke GM, Sladek JLT. Genetic isolation of endangered bird populations inhabiting salt marsh remnants surrounded by intensive urbanization. Anim Conserv 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. E. Major
- Australian Museum Research Institute; Australian Museum; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - R. N. Johnson
- Australian Museum Research Institute; Australian Museum; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - A. G. King
- Australian Museum Research Institute; Australian Museum; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - G. M. Cooke
- Australian Museum Research Institute; Australian Museum; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - J. L. T. Sladek
- Australian Museum Research Institute; Australian Museum; Sydney NSW Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Selwood KE, McGeoch MA, Mac Nally R. The effects of climate change and land-use change on demographic rates and population viability. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2014; 90:837-53. [PMID: 25155196 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Revised: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the processes that lead to species extinctions is vital for lessening pressures on biodiversity. While species diversity, presence and abundance are most commonly used to measure the effects of human pressures, demographic responses give a more proximal indication of how pressures affect population viability and contribute to extinction risk. We reviewed how demographic rates are affected by the major anthropogenic pressures, changed landscape condition caused by human land use, and climate change. We synthesized the results of 147 empirical studies to compare the relative effect size of climate and landscape condition on birth, death, immigration and emigration rates in plant and animal populations. While changed landscape condition is recognized as the major driver of species declines and losses worldwide, we found that, on average, climate variables had equally strong effects on demographic rates in plant and animal populations. This is significant given that the pressures of climate change will continue to intensify in coming decades. The effects of climate change on some populations may be underestimated because changes in climate conditions during critical windows of species life cycles may have disproportionate effects on demographic rates. The combined pressures of land-use change and climate change may result in species declines and extinctions occurring faster than otherwise predicted, particularly if their effects are multiplicative.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Selwood
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Melodie A McGeoch
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ralph Mac Nally
- Institute for Applied Ecology, The University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, 2617, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Amos N, Harrisson KA, Radford JQ, White M, Newell G, Mac Nally R, Sunnucks P, Pavlova A. Species- and sex-specific connectivity effects of habitat fragmentation in a suite of woodland birds. Ecology 2014; 95:1556-68. [PMID: 25039220 DOI: 10.1890/13-1328.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Loss of functional connectivity following habitat loss and fragmentation could drive species declines. A comprehensive understanding of fragmentation effects on functional connectivity of an ecological assemblage requires investigation of multiple species with different mobilities, at different spatial scales, for each sex, and in different landscapes. Based on published data on mobility and ecological responses to fragmentation of 10 woodland-dependent birds, and using simulation studies, we predicted that (1) fragmentation would impede dispersal and gene flow of eight "decliners" (species that disappear from suitable patches when landscape-level tree cover falls below species-specific thresholds), but not of two "tolerant" species (whose occurrence in suitable habitat patches is independent of landscape tree cover); and that fragmentation effects would be stronger (2) in the least mobile species, (3) in the more philopatric sex, and (4) in the more fragmented region. We tested these predictions by evaluating spatially explicit isolation-by-landscape-resistance models of gene flow in fragmented landscapes across a 50 x 170 km study area in central Victoria, Australia, using individual and population genetic distances. To account for sex-biased dispersal and potential scale- and configuration-specific effects, we fitted models specific to sex and geographic zones. As predicted, four of the least mobile decliners showed evidence of reduced genetic connectivity. The responses were strongly sex specific, but in opposite directions in the two most sedentary species. Both tolerant species and (unexpectedly) four of the more mobile decliners showed no reduction in gene flow. This is unlikely to be due to time lags because more mobile species develop genetic signatures of fragmentation faster than do less mobile ones. Weaker genetic effects were observed in the geographic zone with more aggregated vegetation, consistent with gene flow being unimpeded by landscape structure. Our results indicate that for all but the most sedentary species in our system, the movement of the more dispersive sex (females in most cases) maintains overall genetic connectivity across fragmented landscapes in the study area, despite some small-scale effects on the more philopatric sex for some species. Nevertheless, to improve population viability for the less mobile bird species, structural landscape connectivity must be increased.
Collapse
|
14
|
Harrisson KA, Pavlova A, Amos JN, Radford JQ, Sunnucks P. Does reduced mobility through fragmented landscapes explain patch extinction patterns for three honeyeaters? J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:616-27. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Harrisson
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University, Melbourne; Clayton Campus; Melbourne 3800 Vic. Australia
| | - Alexandra Pavlova
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University, Melbourne; Clayton Campus; Melbourne 3800 Vic. Australia
| | - J. Nevil Amos
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University, Melbourne; Clayton Campus; Melbourne 3800 Vic. Australia
| | - James Q. Radford
- Landscape Ecology Research Group; School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Deakin University; 221 Burwood Hwy Burwood Vic. 3125 Australia
| | - Paul Sunnucks
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University, Melbourne; Clayton Campus; Melbourne 3800 Vic. Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Brown SM, Harrisson KA, Clarke RH, Bennett AF, Sunnucks P. Limited population structure, genetic drift and bottlenecks characterise an endangered bird species in a dynamic, fire-prone ecosystem. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59732. [PMID: 23626668 PMCID: PMC3634030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Fire is a major disturbance process in many ecosystems world-wide, resulting in spatially and temporally dynamic landscapes. For populations occupying such environments, fire-induced landscape change is likely to influence population processes, and genetic patterns and structure among populations. The Mallee Emu-wren Stipiturus mallee is an endangered passerine whose global distribution is confined to fire-prone, semi-arid mallee shrublands in south-eastern Australia. This species, with poor capacity for dispersal, has undergone a precipitous reduction in distribution and numbers in recent decades. We used genetic analyses of 11 length-variable, nuclear loci to examine population structure and processes within this species, across its global range. Populations of the Mallee Emu-wren exhibited a low to moderate level of genetic diversity, and evidence of bottlenecks and genetic drift. Bayesian clustering methods revealed weak genetic population structure across the species' range. The direct effects of large fires, together with associated changes in the spatial and temporal patterns of suitable habitat, have the potential to cause population bottlenecks, serial local extinctions and subsequent recolonisation, all of which may interact to erode and homogenise genetic diversity in this species. Movement among temporally and spatially shifting habitat, appears to maintain long-term genetic connectivity. A plausible explanation for the observed genetic patterns is that, following extensive fires, recolonisation exceeds in-situ survival as the primary driver of population recovery in this species. These findings suggest that dynamic, fire-dominated landscapes can drive genetic homogenisation of populations of species with low-mobility and specialised habitat that otherwise would be expected to show strongly structured populations. Such effects must be considered when formulating management actions to conserve species in fire-prone systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Brown
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Harrisson KA, Pavlova A, Amos JN, Takeuchi N, Lill A, Radford JQ, Sunnucks P. Disrupted fine-scale population processes in fragmented landscapes despite large-scale genetic connectivity for a widespread and common cooperative breeder: the superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus). J Anim Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Harrisson
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University; Clayton Campus; Melbourne; Vic; 3800; Australia
| | - Alexandra Pavlova
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University; Clayton Campus; Melbourne; Vic; 3800; Australia
| | - J. Nevil Amos
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University; Clayton Campus; Melbourne; Vic; 3800; Australia
| | - Naoko Takeuchi
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University; Clayton Campus; Melbourne; Vic; 3800; Australia
| | - Alan Lill
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University; Clayton Campus; Melbourne; Vic; 3800; Australia
| | - James Q. Radford
- Landscape Ecology Research Group; School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Deakin University; 221 Burwood Hwy; Burwood; Vic; 3125; Australia
| | - Paul Sunnucks
- School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity; Monash University; Clayton Campus; Melbourne; Vic; 3800; Australia
| |
Collapse
|