1
|
Tommasi N, Pioltelli E, Biella P, Labra M, Casiraghi M, Galimberti A. Effect of urbanization and its environmental stressors on the intraspecific variation of flight functional traits in two bumblebee species. Oecologia 2022; 199:289-299. [PMID: 35575832 PMCID: PMC9225972 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05184-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The way urbanization shapes the intraspecific variation of pollinator functional traits is little understood. However, this topic is relevant for investigating ecosystem services and pollinator health. Here, we studied how urbanization affects the functional traits of workers in two bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris and B. pascuorum) sampled in 37 sites along a gradient of urbanization in North Italy (an area of 1800 km2 including the metropolitan context of Milan and other surrounding capital districts). Namely, we investigated the effect of land use composition, configuration, air temperature, flower resource abundance, and air pollutants on the variation of traits related to flight performance and of stress during insect development (i.e., wing size, wing shape and size fluctuating asymmetry). The functional traits of the two bumblebees responded idiosyncratically to urbanization. Urban temperatures were associated with smaller wing sizes in B. pascuorum and with more accentuated fluctuating asymmetry of wing size in B. terrestris. Moreover, flower abundance correlated with bigger wings in B. terrestris and with less asymmetric wing size in B. pascuorum. Other traits did not vary significantly, and other urban variables played minor effects. These species-specific variation patterns highlight that environmental stressor linked to urbanization negatively impact the traits related to flight performance and development stability of these syntopic bumblebees, with possible consequences on the pollination service they provide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Tommasi
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- INFN Sezione Di Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Emiliano Pioltelli
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Biella
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Labra
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- INFN Sezione Di Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Casiraghi
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Galimberti
- ZooplantLab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
- INFN Sezione Di Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Effects of rainfall and temperature on timing and breeding performances of a threatened large falcon: case study of the lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus feldeggii) in Italy. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00875-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
3
|
Wemer L, Hegemann A, Isaksson C, Nebel C, Kleindorfer S, Gamauf A, Adrion M, Sumasgutner P. Reduced ectoparasite load, body mass and blood haemolysis in Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) along an urban-rural gradient. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:42. [PMID: 34491450 PMCID: PMC8423637 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01745-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Urbanisation is proceeding at an alarming rate which forces wildlife to either retreat from urban areas or cope with novel stressors linked to human presence and activities. For example, urban stressors like anthropogenic noise, artificial light at night and chemical pollution can have severe impacts on the physiology of wildlife (and humans), in particular the immune system and antioxidant defences. These physiological systems are important to combat and reduce the severity of parasitic infections, which are common among wild animals. One question that then arises is whether urban-dwelling animals, whose immune and antioxidant system are already challenged by the urban stressors, are more susceptible to parasitic infections. To assess this, we studied nestlings of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) in Vienna, Austria, during 2015 and 2017. We measured biomarkers of innate immune function, oxidative stress and body mass index and ectoparasite infection intensity in 143 nestlings (from 56 nests) along an urban gradient. Nestlings in more urbanised areas had overall fewer ectoparasites, lower haemolysis (complement activity) and lower body mass index compared to nestlings in less urbanised areas. None of the other immune or oxidative stress markers were associated with the urban gradient. Despite some non-significant results, our data still suggest that kestrel nestlings experience some level of reduced physiological health, perhaps as a consequence of exposure to more urban stressors or altered prey availability in inner-city districts even though they had an overall lower ectoparasite burden in these heavily urbanised areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Wemer
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5001, Australia
| | | | - Marius Adrion
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,NABU E.V, Head office, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. .,Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dykstra CR, Hays JL, Simon MM, Wegman AR. Breeding Phenology of Red-Shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) Is Related to Snow Cover and Air Temperature During the Pre-Laying Period. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.658390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Global climate change has advanced the breeding phenology of many avian species. However, raptors’ breeding phenologies may not respond in the same way to the factors that influence passerine breeding dates. We studied reproduction of suburban and rural Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) in southern Ohio, United States, from 1997 to 2020. Mean hatching dates for 786 broods were 24 April [Julian day: 114.1 ± 0.3 d (SE)] for suburban birds and 25 April (Julian day: 114.5 ± 0.4) for rural birds. Egg-laying date averages approximately 33 days before hatching date, or about the third week of March. We used mixed models to test which factors influenced nestling hatching dates from 1997 to 2020. The best model included year, days of snow cover during the pre-laying period (February–March), and mean March temperature, with days of snow cover having the largest effect. Hatching date (in Julian days) was positively related to snow cover and negatively related to air temperature, i.e., young hatched earlier in years with fewer days of snow cover and in warmer years). Young also hatched slightly later as the study progressed. Overall, neither mean hatching date nor any of the weather variables showed a significant trend over the course of the study. Previously published reports indicate that many raptor species do not exhibit advancing hatching dates, and breeding phenologies often reflect local weather conditions. The complexity and diversity of raptor responses to climate change underscore the importance of long-term studies of raptors at multiple locations.
Collapse
|
5
|
Kim H, Mo Y, Choi CY, McComb BC, Betts MG. Declines in Common and Migratory Breeding Landbird Species in South Korea Over the Past Two Decades. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.627765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Population declines in terrestrial bird species have been reported across temperate regions in the world and are attributed to habitat loss, climate change, or other direct mortality sources. North American and European studies indicate that long-distance migrants, common species, and species associated with grasslands and agricultural lands are declining at the greatest rates. However, data from East Asia on avian population trends and associated drivers are extremely sparse. We modeled changes in occupancy of 52 common breeding landbird species in South Korea between 1997–2005 and 2013–2019. Thirty-eight percent of the species showed evidence of declines, and seven of these were declining severely (46–95%). Occupancy of Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) populations have dropped the most precipitously over the study period. Among declining species, long-distance migrants (9/20) and common species (14/20) showed more rapid declines than other groups. Declines of five species were associated with climate change, and two species appeared to be affected by land-cover change. However, causes of change in occupancy of other species (46/52) remains cryptic. Based on our results, we suggest an immediate re-evaluation of species’ conservation status and legal protection levels for seven severely declining species in South Korea, and a dedicated survey design and analysis effort for the continued monitoring landbird populations. Because many species exhibiting declines migrate from beyond national boundaries, international collaborations will be required to better quantify population trends across the full annual cycle, and to understand mechanisms for these declines.
Collapse
|