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Costa-Pereira R, Shaner PJL. The spatiotemporal context of individual specialization in resource use and environmental associations. J Anim Ecol 2024. [PMID: 38706400 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14090] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
1. Individual niche specialization is widespread in natural populations and has key implications for higher levels of biological organization. This phenomenon, however, has been primarily quantified in resource niche axes, overlooking individual variation in environmental associations (i.e. abiotic conditions organisms experience). 2. Here, we explore what we can learn from a multidimensional perspective of individual niche specialization that integrates resource use and environmental associations into a common framework. 3. By combining predictions from theory and simple simulations, we illustrate how (i) multidimensional intraspecific niche variation and (ii) the spatiotemporal context of interactions between conspecifics scale up to shape emergent patterns of the population niche. 4. Contemplating individual specialization as a multidimensional, unifying concept across biotic and abiotic niche axes is a fundamental step towards bringing this concept closer to the n-dimensional niche envisioned by Hutchinson.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Costa-Pereira
- Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Pei-Jen Lee Shaner
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
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2
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Zheng Y, Mao Y, Tsao M, Cowen LLE. Minimum chi-square method for estimating population size in capture-recapture experiments. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292622. [PMID: 37824521 PMCID: PMC10569566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Closed population capture-recapture estimation of population size is difficult under heterogeneous capture probabilities. We introduce the minimum chi-square method which can handle multi-occasion capture-recapture data. It complements likelihood methods with elements that can lead to confidence intervals and assessment of goodness-of-fit. We conduct a comprehensive study on the minimum chi-square method for estimating the size of a closed population using multiple-occasion capture-recapture data under heterogeneous capture probability. We also develop two different bootstrap techniques that can be combined with any underlying estimator, be it the minimum chi-square estimator or a likelihood estimator, to perform useful inference for estimating population size. We present a simulation study on the minimum chi-square method and apply it to analyze white stork multiple capture-recapture data. Under certain conditions, the chi-square method outperforms the likelihood based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyan Zheng
- Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yongfei Mao
- Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Min Tsao
- Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Laura L. E. Cowen
- Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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3
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Romero-Vidal P, Luna Á, Fernández-Gómez L, Navarro J, Palma A, Tella JL, Carrete M. Intraspecific competition and individual behaviour but not urbanization affect the dietary patterns of a generalist avian predator. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10255. [PMID: 37355736 PMCID: PMC10290650 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37026-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanization has reshaped ecosystems and changed natural processes, driving an intense transformation of biomes, biotic community composition and diversity. Despite the growing interest in studying urban ecology over the last decades, the consequences of these changes on species occupying these ecosystems are not yet fully understood. Trophic generalism and tolerance to human disturbance have been proposed as two key traits in the colonization of urban environments. However, most studies focused on species' average traits, paying less attention to the potential role of inter-individual variability. Here, we examined diet specialization in urban and rural breeding pairs, as well as its relationship with individual behaviour and intraspecific competition, using the burrowing owl as a study model. Our results show that both urban and rural breeding pairs behaved as trophic specialists. The diet of burrowing owl breeding pairs followed a gradient from coleopteran- to micromammal-dominated, which is related to individual behaviour (bolder individuals consuming more coleopterans than shyer ones). Besides, pairs distant from others showed a more diverse diet than those experiencing higher levels of intraspecific competition. Models fitted separately for each habitat showed that the proportion of micromammals in the diet of urban breeding pairs was related to their behavior, while the diet of rural pairs was not affected by individual behavior but by intraspecific competition. However, despite the strong selection of tame and more explorative individuals in urban environments and the higher density they reach in this habitat type, they did not differ in their degree of diet specialization from rural conspecifics. Although it would be necessary to evaluate prey availability on a small scale, our results suggest that burrowing owl breeding pairs behave as specialists, despite the generalist character of the species, and that this specialization is not affected by the occupation of urban environments but to individual behaviour and intraspecific competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Romero-Vidal
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain.
| | - Álvaro Luna
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lola Fernández-Gómez
- Department of Applied Biology, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Alimentaria (CIAGRO-UMH), Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
| | - Joan Navarro
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Palma
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - José L Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
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4
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Sheppard CE, Heaphy R, Cant MA, Marshall HH. Individual foraging specialization in group-living species. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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5
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Carlson BS, Rotics S, Nathan R, Wikelski M, Jetz W. Individual environmental niches in mobile organisms. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4572. [PMID: 34315894 PMCID: PMC8316569 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24826-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual variation is increasingly recognized as a central component of ecological processes, but its role in structuring environmental niche associations remains largely unknown. Species' responses to environmental conditions are ultimately determined by the niches of single individuals, yet environmental associations are typically captured only at the level of species. Here, we develop scenarios for how individual variation may combine to define the compound environmental niche of populations, use extensive movement data to document individual environmental niche variation, test associated hypotheses of niche configuration, and examine the consistency of individual niches over time. For 45 individual white storks (Ciconia ciconia; 116 individual-year combinations), we uncover high variability in individual environmental associations, consistency of individual niches over time, and moderate to strong niche specialization. Within populations, environmental niches follow a nested pattern, with individuals arranged along a specialist-to-generalist gradient. These results reject common assumptions of individual niche equivalency among conspecifics, as well as the separation of individual niches into disparate parts of environmental space. These findings underscore the need for a more thorough consideration of individualistic environmental responses in global change research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben S Carlson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Shay Rotics
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ran Nathan
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Walter Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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6
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López-García A, Sanz-Aguilar A, Aguirre JI. The trade-offs of foraging at landfills: Landfill use enhances hatching success but decrease the juvenile survival of their offspring on white storks (Ciconia ciconia). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 778:146217. [PMID: 33714819 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
During the last decades, landfills have become a valuable food source for wildlife, being in some cases determinants of large avian population increases. Superabundant food resources at landfills can increase reproductive and/or survival parameters; however, negative effects such as intoxication, plastic ingestion, skeletal deformities, unbalanced oxidative stress, and other health problems have also been reported. White stork (Ciconia ciconia) commonly benefits from landfill resources. Here, we evaluate potential landfill effects on demographic parameters (reproduction and offspring survival) at the individual level in a single population. Our results show that a more intense use of landfills by breeders has a positive effect on hatching success but a negative effect on juvenile survival probability after emancipation, at least during the first year of life. High amount of food and proximity to landfill may explain their beneficial effect on reproductive parameters. On the other hand, poor quality food, pollutants, and pathogens acquired during early development from a diet based on refuse may be responsible for reduced future survival probability. Consequently, both positive and negative effects were detected, being foraging at landfills at low to medium levels the better strategy. Although our study shows that intense foraging on rubbish can imply both costs and benefits at an individual level, the benefits of superabundant food provisioning observed at population level by other studies cannot be ignored. Management actions should be designed to improve natural food resources, reduce non-natural mortality and/or human disturbances to guarantee the species viability under current European Union regulations designed to ban open-air landfills in a near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro López-García
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ana Sanz-Aguilar
- Animal Demography and Ecology Unit, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marquès 21, 07190 Esporles, Spain; Applied Zoology and Conservation Group, University of Balearic Islands, Cra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - José I Aguirre
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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7
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Costa A, Romano A, Rosa G, Salvidio S. Weighted individual-resource networks in prey-predator systems: the role of prey availability on the emergence of modular structures. Integr Zool 2021; 17:115-127. [PMID: 33415838 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ecological networks, usually depicting interactions among species, have been recently down-scaled to the individual level, permitting description of patterns of inter-individual resource variation that are usually hindered at the species level. Optimal diet theory (ODT) models, applied to prey-predator systems, predict different patterns of nestedness and modularity in the network, depending on the available resources and intra-specific competition. The effect of resource availability on the emergence of networks structures, and ODT framework, has not yet fully been clarified. Here, we analyzed the structural patterns of individual-resource networks in 3 species of Mediterranean salamanders, in relation to changes in prey availability. We used weighted individual-resource network metrics to interpret the observed patterns, according to 3 ODT models. We found significant nestedness recurring in our study system, indicating that both selective and opportunistic individuals occur in the same population. Prey diversity, rather than abundance, was apparently related to inter-individual resource variation and promoted the emergence of significant modularity within all networks. The observed patterns of nestedness and modularity, together with the variation in resource diversity and intra-specific competition, are in agreement with the distinct preferences model of ODT. These findings suggest that in the focal prey-predator systems, individuals were able to perceive changes in prey diversity and to exploit in different ways the variations in composition of available resources, shifting their diet assembly rules accordingly. Our findings also confirm that the use of weighted individual-resource networks, in prey-predator systems, allows to disclose dynamics that are masked at the species or population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Costa
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Antonio Romano
- Italian National Research Council (CNR), Agriculture and Food Sciences Department (IBE), Institute of Bioeconomy - Biology, Roma, RM, Italy
| | - Giacomo Rosa
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Salvidio
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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8
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García-Alfonso M, van Overveld T, Gangoso L, Serrano D, Donázar JA. Vultures and Livestock: The Where, When, and Why of Visits to Farms. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10112127. [PMID: 33207713 PMCID: PMC7698296 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent changes in European legislation have legalized the abandonment of carcasses around livestock farms, but our understanding of how vultures exploit these semi-predictable food sources is still very limited. For filling this gap, we determine the individual and ecological drivers influencing vulture visits to farms. We assessed the effects of individual characteristics of both birds and farms on the frequency of vultures' visits to livestock facilities using data collected from 45 GPS-tagged Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) and 318 farms (>94% of livestock) on Fuerteventura Island, Spain. Farms were more visited during the vultures' breeding season. Farms located closer to highly predictable feeding places (i.e., vulture restaurants and garbage dumps) or with more available feeding resources were visited by more vultures, whereas those located close to roads and vultures' breeding territories received fewer visits. Younger territorial birds visited a farm more frequently than older territorial ones, whereas older non-territorial individuals concentrated those visits on farms closer to their activity core areas compared with younger ones. Our findings indicate that visits to farms were determined by their spatial distribution in relation to the age-specific birds' activity centers, the availability of carcasses, seasonality, and individual characteristics of vultures. These interacting factors should be considered in vulture conservation, avoiding very general solutions that ignore population structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina García-Alfonso
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; (T.v.O.); (D.S.); (J.A.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Thijs van Overveld
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; (T.v.O.); (D.S.); (J.A.D.)
| | - Laura Gangoso
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - David Serrano
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; (T.v.O.); (D.S.); (J.A.D.)
| | - José A. Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; (T.v.O.); (D.S.); (J.A.D.)
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9
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Morant J, Abad-Gómez JM, Álvarez T, Sánchez Á, Zuberogoitia I, López-López P. Winter movement patterns of a globally endangered avian scavenger in south-western Europe. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17690. [PMID: 33077857 PMCID: PMC7572415 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74333-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Partial migration, whereby some individuals migrate and some do not, is relatively common and widespread among animals. Switching between migration tactics (from migratory to resident or vice versa) occurs at individual and population levels. Here, we describe for the first time the movement ecology of the largest wintering population of Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) in south-west Europe. We combined field surveys and GPS tracking data from December to February during four wintering seasons (2014–2018). The wintering population consisted on average of 85 individuals (range 58–121; 76% adults and 24% subadults). Individuals were counted at five different roosting sites located near farms, unauthorized carcass deposition sites and authorized carcass deposition sites. Our results show that vultures tend to remain close to the roosting site. Moreover, we observed that females exhibited smaller home range sizes than males, which suggests a possible differential use of food sources. Overall, birds relied more on farms than other available food resources, particularly subadult individuals which exploited more intensively these sites. Our results showed that Egyptian Vultures congregate in significant numbers at specific sites throughout the winter period in south-west Spain and that these roosting and feeding sites should be given some level of legal protection and regular monitoring. Furthermore, predictable food sources might be driving the apparent increase in the non-migratory population of Egyptian Vultures, as observed in other avian species which are also changing their migratory behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Morant
- Department of Ornithology, Aranzadi Sciences Society, Zorroagagaina 11, 20014, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
| | - José María Abad-Gómez
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.,Servicio de Conservación de la Naturaleza y Áreas Protegidas, Junta de Extremadura, Av/ luis Ramallo s/n, 06800, Mérida, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Toribio Álvarez
- Servicio de Conservación de la Naturaleza y Áreas Protegidas, Junta de Extremadura, Av/ luis Ramallo s/n, 06800, Mérida, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Ángel Sánchez
- Servicio de Conservación de la Naturaleza y Áreas Protegidas, Junta de Extremadura, Av/ luis Ramallo s/n, 06800, Mérida, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Iñigo Zuberogoitia
- Department of Ornithology, Aranzadi Sciences Society, Zorroagagaina 11, 20014, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.,Estudios Medioambientales Icarus S.L, C/San Vicente 8, 6 ª Planta, Dpto 8, Edificio Albia I, 48001, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Pascual López-López
- Movement Ecology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, C/ Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
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10
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Hernández-Brito D, Blanco G, Tella JL, Carrete M. A protective nesting association with native species counteracts biotic resistance for the spread of an invasive parakeet from urban into rural habitats. Front Zool 2020; 17:13. [PMID: 32411270 PMCID: PMC7206781 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00360-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Non-native species are often introduced in cities, where they take advantage of microclimatic conditions, resources provided by humans, and competitor/predator release to establish and proliferate. However, native communities in the surrounding rural or natural areas usually halt their spread through biotic resistance, mainly via top-down regulative processes (predation pressure). Here, we show an unusual commensal interaction between exotic and native bird species that favours the spread of the former from urban to rural habitats. Results We show how Monk parakeets Myiopsitta monachus, an invasive species often introduced in cities worldwide, associated for breeding with a much larger, native species (the white stork Ciconia ciconia) to reduce predation risk in central Spain, thus allowing their colonization of rural areas. Parakeets selected stork nests close to conspecifics and where breeding raptors were less abundant. Parakeets always flushed when raptors approached their nests when breeding alone, but stayed at their nests when breeding in association with storks. Moreover, when storks abandoned a nest, parakeets abandoned it in the following year, suggesting that storks actually confer protection against predators. Conclusions Our results show how a protective-nesting association between invasive and native species can counteract biotic resistance to allow the spread of an invasive species across non-urban habitats, where they may become crop pests. Monk parakeet populations are now growing exponentially in several cities in several Mediterranean countries, where they coexist with white storks. Therefore, management plans should consider this risk of spread into rural areas and favour native predators as potential biological controllers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dailos Hernández-Brito
- 1Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- 2Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Tella
- 1Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Martina Carrete
- 3Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, University Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. de Utrera km. 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
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Bialas JT, Dylewski Ł, Tobolka M. Determination of nest occupation and breeding effect of the white stork by human-mediated landscape in Western Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:4148-4158. [PMID: 31828707 PMCID: PMC7024061 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06639-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Choosing an appropriate nest site is essential for successful breeding. Changes in land use cause populations of many species to decline although some species adapt to anthropogenic changes. The white stork Ciconia ciconia commonly uses artificial nest sites. Recently, white storks from Western Europe have been using landfills as feeding sites; the beginnings of this process are being observed in Central-Eastern Europe. The study aimed to determine factors influencing the probability of nest occupation and breeding effect in a Central-Eastern European population of white storks. We used long-term data from Western Poland on breeding effect, nest occupation, the structure supporting the nest, the proximity of the nearest landfills, landfill area, and land cover. The probability of nest occupation was significantly dependent on habitat quality (based on the share of the preferred type of land cover), the structure supporting the nest, and landfill proximity within a specific year. The breeding effect was influenced by habitat quality and nesting structure. We demonstrate that the type of nesting structure is an important factor influencing both the probability of nest reoccupation and breeding effect. However, the significance of landfills appears to be growing, and in recent years, storks prefer occupying nests closer to landfills, which may have significant consequences for the population of the white stork.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna T Bialas
- Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Łukasz Dylewski
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035, Kórnik, Poland
| | - Marcin Tobolka
- Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznań, Poland
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12
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van Overveld T, Gangoso L, García-Alfonso M, Bouten W, de la Riva M, Donázar JA. Seasonal grouping dynamics in a territorial vulture: ecological drivers and social consequences. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2807-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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13
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Cheng Y, Fiedler W, Wikelski M, Flack A. "Closer-to-home" strategy benefits juvenile survival in a long-distance migratory bird. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8945-8952. [PMID: 31462993 PMCID: PMC6706183 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced changes in the climate and environment that occur at an unprecedented speed are challenging the existence of migratory species. Faced with these new challenges, species with diverse and flexible migratory behaviors may suffer less from population decline, as they may be better at responding to these changes by altering their migratory behavior. At the individual level, variations in migratory behavior may lead to differences in fitness and subsequently influence the population's demographic dynamics. Using lifetime GPS bio-logging data from 169 white storks (Ciconia ciconia), we explore whether the recently shortened migration distance of storks affects their survival during different stages of their juvenile life. We also explore how other variations in migratory decisions (i.e., time, destination), movement activity (measured using overall body dynamic acceleration), and early life conditions influence juvenile survival. We observed that their first autumn migration was the riskiest period for juvenile white storks. Individuals that migrated shorter distances and fledged earlier experienced lower mortality risks. In addition, higher movement activity and overwintering "closer-to-home" (with 84.21% of the tracked individuals stayed Europe or North Africa) were associated with higher survival. Our study shows how avian migrants can change life history decisions over only a few decades, and thus it helps us to understand and predict how migrants respond to the rapidly changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yachang Cheng
- Department of MigrationMax Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorRadolfzellGermany
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Wolfgang Fiedler
- Department of MigrationMax Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorRadolfzellGermany
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Department of MigrationMax Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorRadolfzellGermany
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective BehaviourUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Andrea Flack
- Department of MigrationMax Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorRadolfzellGermany
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective BehaviourUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
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14
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Senar JC, Arroyo L, Ortega‐Segalerva A, Carrillo JG, Tomás X, Montalvo T, Sanz‐Aguilar A. Estimating age-dependent survival when juveniles resemble females: Invasive ring-necked parakeets as an example. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:891-898. [PMID: 30766678 PMCID: PMC6362439 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Many species only show sexual dimorphism at the age of maturity, such that juveniles typically resemble females. Under these circumstances, estimating accurate age-specific demographic parameters is challenging. Here, we propose a multievent model parameterization able to estimate age-dependent survival using capture-recapture data with uncertainty in age and sex assignment of individuals. We illustrate this modeling approach with capture-recapture data from the ring-necked parakeet Psittacula krameri. We analyzed capture, recapture, and resighting data (439 recaptures/resightings) of 156 ring-necked parakeets tagged with neck collars in Barcelona city from 2003 to 2016 to estimate the juvenile and adult survival rate. Our models successfully estimated the survival probabilities of the different age classes considered. Survival probability was similar between adults (0.83, 95% CI = 0.77-0.87) and juveniles during their second (0.79, 95% CI = 0.58-0.87) and third winter (0.83, 95% CI = 0.65-0.88). The youngest juveniles (1st winter) showed a slightly lower survival (0.57, 95% CI = 0.37-0.79). Among adults, females showed a slightly higher survival than males (0.87, 95% CI = 0.78-0.93; and 0.80, 95% CI = 0.73-0.86, respectively). These high survival figures predict high population persistence in this species and urge management policies. The analysis also stresses the usefulness of multievent models to estimate juvenile survival when age cannot be fully ascertained.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xavier Tomás
- Natural History Museum of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Tomas Montalvo
- Agencia de Salut Pública de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud PúblicaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Ana Sanz‐Aguilar
- Animal Demography and Ecology GroupIMEDEA, CSIC‐UIBEsporlesSpain
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15
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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.
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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
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16
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Payo-Payo A, Sanz-Aguilar A, Genovart M, Bertolero A, Piccardo J, Camps D, Ruiz-Olmo J, Oro D. Predator arrival elicits differential dispersal, change in age structure and reproductive performance in a prey population. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1971. [PMID: 29386550 PMCID: PMC5792507 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20333-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Predators are an important ecological and evolutionary force shaping prey population dynamics. Ecologists have extensively assessed the lethal effects of invasive predators on prey populations. However, the role of non-lethal effects, such as physiological stress or behavioural responses like dispersal, has been comparatively overlooked and their potential population effects remain obscure. Over the last 23 years, we developed a mark-recapture program for the Audouin's gull and an intensive carnivore monitoring program to assess how the appearance and invasion of the study site by carnivores affects population dynamics. We evaluate changes in turnover of discrete breeding patches within the colony, age structure and breeding performance. Once carnivores entered the colony, the number of occupied patches increased, indicating a higher patch turnover. Breeders responded by moving to areas less accessible to carnivores. More importantly, the presence of carnivores caused differential (and density-independent) breeding dispersal: experienced, better-performing breeders were more likely to leave the colony than younger breeders. This differential dispersal modified the age structure and reduced the reproductive performance of the population. Our results confirm the importance experience in the study of populations. The role of differential dispersal for animal population dynamics might be more important than previously thought, especially under scenarios of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A Sanz-Aguilar
- GEDA, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
- Ecology Area, Dept. Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain
| | - M Genovart
- IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
- CEAB (CSIC), Blanes, Spain
| | - A Bertolero
- Associació Ornitològica Picampall de les Terres de l'Ebre, Amposta, Spain
| | - J Piccardo
- Associació Ornitològica Picampall de les Terres de l'Ebre, Amposta, Spain
| | - D Camps
- General Directorate for Environmental Policy, Ministry of Territory and Sustainability, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Ruiz-Olmo
- General Directorate of the Natural Environment and Biodiversity, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Natural Environment, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - D Oro
- CEAB (CSIC), Blanes, Spain
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17
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Carvalho-Rocha V, Lopes BC, Neckel-Oliveira S. Interindividual patterns of resource use in three subtropical Atlantic Forest frogs. AUSTRAL ECOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vítor Carvalho-Rocha
- Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Florianópolis Brazil
- Vítor Carvalho-Rocha; 88040-900 Florianópolis - SC; Bairro Córrego Grande; Brazil
| | - Benedito Cortês Lopes
- Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Florianópolis Brazil
| | - Selvino Neckel-Oliveira
- Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Florianópolis Brazil
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18
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Galbraith JA, Jones DN, Beggs JR, Parry K, Stanley MC. Urban Bird Feeders Dominated by a Few Species and Individuals. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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19
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Rotics S, Turjeman S, Kaatz M, Resheff YS, Zurell D, Sapir N, Eggers U, Fiedler W, Flack A, Jeltsch F, Wikelski M, Nathan R. Wintering in Europe instead of Africa enhances juvenile survival in a long-distance migrant. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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20
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Peters W, Hebblewhite M, Mysterud A, Spitz D, Focardi S, Urbano F, Morellet N, Heurich M, Kjellander P, Linnell JDC, Cagnacci F. Migration in geographic and ecological space by a large herbivore. ECOL MONOGR 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wibke Peters
- Wildlife Biology Program; Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences; University of Montana; Missoula Montana 59812 USA
- Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology Department; Research and Innovation Centre; Fondazione Edmund Mach; Via Mach 1 38010 San Michele all'Adige TN Italy
- Department of Biosciences; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis; University of Oslo; P.O. Box, 1066 Blindern 0316 Oslo Norway
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program; Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences; University of Montana; Missoula Montana 59812 USA
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Department of Biosciences; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis; University of Oslo; P.O. Box, 1066 Blindern 0316 Oslo Norway
| | - Derek Spitz
- Wildlife Biology Program; Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences; University of Montana; Missoula Montana 59812 USA
| | - Stefano Focardi
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e Ricerca Ambientale; Via Ca'Fornacetta 9 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia BO Italy
| | | | - Nicolas Morellet
- INRA UR35; Comportement et Écologie de la Faune Sauvage; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; B.P. 52627 31326 Castanet-Tolosan France
| | - Marco Heurich
- Department of Conservation and Research; Bavarian Forest National Park; Freyunger Street 2 94481 Grafenau Germany
- Wildlife Ecology and Management; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources; University of Freiburg; Freiburg Germany
| | - Petter Kjellander
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station; Department of Ecology; Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU); 73091 Riddarhyttan Sweden
| | - John D. C. Linnell
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA); PO Box 5685 Sluppen 7485 Trondheim Norway
| | - Francesca Cagnacci
- Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology Department; Research and Innovation Centre; Fondazione Edmund Mach; Via Mach 1 38010 San Michele all'Adige TN Italy
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Department; Harvard University; 26 Oxford Street Cambridge Massachusetts 02138 USA
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21
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Cayuela H, Pradel R, Joly P, Besnard A. Analysing movement behaviour and dynamic space‐use strategies among habitats using multi‐event capture‐recapture modelling. Methods Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cayuela
- UMR 5023 LEHNA Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés 69100 Villeurbanne France
- PSL Research University CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS Université de Montpellier, Université Paul‐Valéry Montpellier, EPHE laboratoire Biogéographie et Ecologie des vertébrés – 1919 route de Mende 34293 Montpellier France
| | - Roger Pradel
- PSL Research University CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS Université de Montpellier, Université Paul‐Valéry Montpellier, EPHE laboratoire Biogéographie et Ecologie des vertébrés – 1919 route de Mende 34293 Montpellier France
| | - Pierre Joly
- UMR 5023 LEHNA Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés 69100 Villeurbanne France
| | - Aurélien Besnard
- PSL Research University CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS Université de Montpellier, Université Paul‐Valéry Montpellier, EPHE laboratoire Biogéographie et Ecologie des vertébrés – 1919 route de Mende 34293 Montpellier France
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22
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Santos CSA, Brandão R, Monteiro MS, Bastos AC, Soares AMVM, Loureiro S. Assessment of DNA damage in Ardea cinerea and Ciconia ciconia: A 5-year study in Portuguese birds retrieved for rehabilitation. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 136:104-110. [PMID: 27833047 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 10/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, the presence of micronucleated blood cells has been used to detect genotoxic effects of xenobiotics in fish, amphibians and birds. This study assessed the frequency of micronuclei (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes of individuals of Ardea cinerea and Ciconia ciconia retrieved for rehabilitation in order to evaluate the influence of age, temporal and spatial factors on the occurrence of DNA damage in Portuguese wild birds. Blood smears from 65 birds with different life-history backgrounds (e.g. geographic origin, age) were collected between 2007 and 2011 and the frequency of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) was analysed. Differences in DNA damage between ages were observed to occur in C. ciconia, with chicks displaying significantly higher frequencies of ENAs (both when looking at total ENAs or only MN frequency) than juveniles and adults. Additionally, significant differences in ENAs frequencies were observed between different years and geographic origins, whereas MN frequency alone did not show significant alterations concerning spatial and temporal variations. These results suggest that the assessment of ENAs rather than MN frequency alone may be a useful and valuable tool to complement the evaluation of DNA damage in populations of birds, as prompted by individual life-history traits and environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia S A Santos
- Department of Biology & CESAM- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ricardo Brandão
- CERVAS -Centre of Ecology, Rehabilitation and Vigilance of Wildlife, Gouveia, Portugal
| | - Marta S Monteiro
- Department of Biology & CESAM- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana C Bastos
- Department of Biology & CESAM- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Department of Biology & CESAM- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Susana Loureiro
- Department of Biology & CESAM- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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23
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Sanz-Aguilar A, Cortés-Avizanda A, Serrano D, Blanco G, Ceballos O, Grande JM, Tella JL, Donázar JA. Sex- and age-dependent patterns of survival and breeding success in a long-lived endangered avian scavenger. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40204. [PMID: 28074860 PMCID: PMC5225485 DOI: 10.1038/srep40204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In long-lived species, the age-, stage- and/or sex-dependent patterns of survival and reproduction determine the evolution of life history strategies, the shape of the reproductive value, and ultimately population dynamics. We evaluate the combined effects of age and sex in recruitment, breeder survival and breeding success of the globally endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), using 31-years of exhaustive data on marked individuals in Spain. Mean age of first reproduction was 7-yrs for both sexes, but females showed an earlier median and a larger variance than males. We found an age-related improvement in breeding success at the population level responding to the selective appearance and disappearance of phenotypes of different quality but unrelated to within-individual aging effects. Old males (≥8 yrs) showed a higher survival than both young males (≤7 yrs) and females, these later in turn not showing aging effects. Evolutionary trade-offs between age of recruitment and fitness (probably related to costs of territory acquisition and defense) as well as human-related mortality may explain these findings. Sex- and age-related differences in foraging strategies and susceptibility to toxics could be behind the relatively low survival of females and young males, adding a new concern for the conservation of this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sanz-Aguilar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Americo Vespucio s/n, Isla La Cartuja E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
- Population Ecology Group, Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marqués 21, E-07190 Esporles, Islas Baleares, Spain
- Ecology Area, Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University. Avda. de la Universidad s/n, E-03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Ainara Cortés-Avizanda
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Americo Vespucio s/n, Isla La Cartuja E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
- Infraestruturas de Portugal Biodiversity Chair CIBIO/InBIO. Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto. Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- CEABN/InBio, Centro de Ecologia Aplicada “Professor Baeta Neves”, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - David Serrano
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Americo Vespucio s/n, Isla La Cartuja E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan M. Grande
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa, CONICET, Avda. Uruguay 151, 6300 Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
- Centro para el Estudio y Conservación de las Aves Rapaces en Argentina, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Avda. Uruguay 151, 6300 Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Americo Vespucio s/n, Isla La Cartuja E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - José A. Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC. Americo Vespucio s/n, Isla La Cartuja E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
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24
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Hatching asynchrony vs. foraging efficiency: the response to food availability in specialist vs. generalist tit species. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37750. [PMID: 27892941 PMCID: PMC5125266 DOI: 10.1038/srep37750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Breeding mistiming is increasingly frequent in several ecosystems in the face of current climate change. Species belonging to higher trophic levels must employ mechanisms to reduce it. One of these mechanisms is hatching asynchrony, with the eggs in a clutch hatching over a period of several days. Some authors have suggested it to be adaptive when food is unpredictable. However, these birds can also suffer associated costs. We tested whether a species with higher foraging efficiency avoid hatching asynchrony compared to its sister species. We studied hatching asynchrony and nestling provisioning in relation to food availability in sympatric populations of blue and great tits. For the first time, we show that sister species respond to food availability with different strategies. Blue tit feeding rates readily responded to the abundance of their main prey, and also reduced the impact of nestling size hierarchy on mean nestling weight, consequently increasing fledging rate. Our results suggest that levels of hatching asynchrony seem to be influenced by species-specific life history traits, as generalist foragers rely less on it. They also highlight the importance of multi-species approaches when studying the response of organisms to environmental unpredictability.
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25
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Pagani‐Núñez E, Barnett CA, Gu H, Goodale E. The need for new categorizations of dietary specialism incorporating spatio‐temporal variability of individual diet specialization. J Zool (1987) 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Pagani‐Núñez
- Behavioral and Community Ecology Conservation Biology Group College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
| | - C. A. Barnett
- Behavioral and Community Ecology Conservation Biology Group College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
| | - H. Gu
- Behavioral and Community Ecology Conservation Biology Group College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
| | - E. Goodale
- Behavioral and Community Ecology Conservation Biology Group College of Forestry Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China
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