1
|
Meehan TD, Saunders SP, DeLuca WV, Michel NL, Grand J, Deppe JL, Jimenez MF, Knight EJ, Seavy NE, Smith MA, Taylor L, Witko C, Akresh ME, Barber DR, Bayne EM, Beasley JC, Belant JL, Bierregaard RO, Bildstein KL, Boves TJ, Brzorad JN, Campbell SP, Celis‐Murillo A, Cooke HA, Domenech R, Goodrich L, Gow EA, Haines A, Hallworth MT, Hill JM, Holland AE, Jennings S, Kays R, King DT, Mackenzie SA, Marra PP, McCabe RA, McFarland KP, McGrady MJ, Melcer R, Norris DR, Norvell RE, Rhodes OE, Rimmer CC, Scarpignato AL, Shreading A, Watson JL, Wilsey CB. Integrating data types to estimate spatial patterns of avian migration across the Western Hemisphere. Ecol Appl 2022; 32:e2679. [PMID: 35588285 PMCID: PMC9787853 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
For many avian species, spatial migration patterns remain largely undescribed, especially across hemispheric extents. Recent advancements in tracking technologies and high-resolution species distribution models (i.e., eBird Status and Trends products) provide new insights into migratory bird movements and offer a promising opportunity for integrating independent data sources to describe avian migration. Here, we present a three-stage modeling framework for estimating spatial patterns of avian migration. First, we integrate tracking and band re-encounter data to quantify migratory connectivity, defined as the relative proportions of individuals migrating between breeding and nonbreeding regions. Next, we use estimated connectivity proportions along with eBird occurrence probabilities to produce probabilistic least-cost path (LCP) indices. In a final step, we use generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) both to evaluate the ability of LCP indices to accurately predict (i.e., as a covariate) observed locations derived from tracking and band re-encounter data sets versus pseudo-absence locations during migratory periods and to create a fully integrated (i.e., eBird occurrence, LCP, and tracking/band re-encounter data) spatial prediction index for mapping species-specific seasonal migrations. To illustrate this approach, we apply this framework to describe seasonal migrations of 12 bird species across the Western Hemisphere during pre- and postbreeding migratory periods (i.e., spring and fall, respectively). We found that including LCP indices with eBird occurrence in GAMMs generally improved the ability to accurately predict observed migratory locations compared to models with eBird occurrence alone. Using three performance metrics, the eBird + LCP model demonstrated equivalent or superior fit relative to the eBird-only model for 22 of 24 species-season GAMMs. In particular, the integrated index filled in spatial gaps for species with over-water movements and those that migrated over land where there were few eBird sightings and, thus, low predictive ability of eBird occurrence probabilities (e.g., Amazonian rainforest in South America). This methodology of combining individual-based seasonal movement data with temporally dynamic species distribution models provides a comprehensive approach to integrating multiple data types to describe broad-scale spatial patterns of animal movement. Further development and customization of this approach will continue to advance knowledge about the full annual cycle and conservation of migratory birds.
Collapse
|
2
|
Rimmer CC, Lloyd JD, McFarland KP, Evers DC, Lane OP. Patterns of blood mercury variation in two long-distance migratory thrushes on Mount Mansfield, Vermont. Ecotoxicology 2020; 29:1174-1182. [PMID: 31520201 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02104-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigated mercury (Hg) blood concentrations in Bicknell's thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and Swainson's thrush (C. ustulatus), congeneric long-distance migratory songbirds, from 2000-2017 at a montane forest site in north-central Vermont. We analyzed variation in blood Hg of both species using mixed-effects models, incorporating atmospheric wet Hg deposition data from a nearby sampling location. Although Hg deposition varied among years and seasonally, we detected no temporal trend in either atmospheric deposition or blood Hg, nor evidence of a relationship between the two. Sampling date had the strongest effect on blood Hg concentration, which declined seasonally, followed by age and sex of the individual. The data did not support an effect of species. We believe that the absence of a clear relationship between local atmospheric deposition and thrush blood Hg concentrations suggests that Hg cycling dynamics, mechanisms of transfer, and timing of uptake by montane forest biota are complex and poorly understood. The blood Hg concentrations of ~0.07-0.1 μg/g we documented in Bicknell's and Swainson's thrush are below those found to negatively impact physiological or reproductive endpoints in other invertivorous terrestrial passerines. To better evaluate the validity of Bicknell's thrush as a bioindicator of MeHg availability in montane forest ecosystems, we recommend (1) effects-based investigations, (2) a more robust understanding of Hg and MeHg cycling, (3) more clear geospatial and temporal links between Hg deposition and biotic uptake, and (4) more thorough documentation of Hg burdens across the species' annual cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - John D Lloyd
- Vermont Center for Ecostudies, P.O. Box 420, Norwich, VT, 05055, USA
- American Wind Wildlife Institute, 1990 K Street NW, Suite 620, Washington, DC, 20006, USA
| | - Kent P McFarland
- Vermont Center for Ecostudies, P.O. Box 420, Norwich, VT, 05055, USA
| | - David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| | - Oksana P Lane
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME, 04103, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Brlík V, Koleček J, Burgess M, Hahn S, Humple D, Krist M, Ouwehand J, Weiser EL, Adamík P, Alves JA, Arlt D, Barišić S, Becker D, Belda EJ, Beran V, Both C, Bravo SP, Briedis M, Chutný B, Ćiković D, Cooper NW, Costa JS, Cueto VR, Emmenegger T, Fraser K, Gilg O, Guerrero M, Hallworth MT, Hewson C, Jiguet F, Johnson JA, Kelly T, Kishkinev D, Leconte M, Lislevand T, Lisovski S, López C, McFarland KP, Marra PP, Matsuoka SM, Matyjasiak P, Meier CM, Metzger B, Monrós JS, Neumann R, Newman A, Norris R, Pärt T, Pavel V, Perlut N, Piha M, Reneerkens J, Rimmer CC, Roberto-Charron A, Scandolara C, Sokolova N, Takenaka M, Tolkmitt D, van Oosten H, Wellbrock AHJ, Wheeler H, van der Winden J, Witte K, Woodworth BK, Procházka P. Weak effects of geolocators on small birds: A meta-analysis controlled for phylogeny and publication bias. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:207-220. [PMID: 30771254 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the deployment of tracking devices is one of the most frequently used approaches to study movement ecology of birds. Recent miniaturization of light-level geolocators enabled studying small bird species whose migratory patterns were widely unknown. However, geolocators may reduce vital rates in tagged birds and may bias obtained movement data. There is a need for a thorough assessment of the potential tag effects on small birds, as previous meta-analyses did not evaluate unpublished data and impact of multiple life-history traits, focused mainly on large species and the number of published studies tagging small birds has increased substantially. We quantitatively reviewed 549 records extracted from 74 published and 48 unpublished studies on over 7,800 tagged and 17,800 control individuals to examine the effects of geolocator tagging on small bird species (body mass <100 g). We calculated the effect of tagging on apparent survival, condition, phenology and breeding performance and identified the most important predictors of the magnitude of effect sizes. Even though the effects were not statistically significant in phylogenetically controlled models, we found a weak negative impact of geolocators on apparent survival. The negative effect on apparent survival was stronger with increasing relative load of the device and with geolocators attached using elastic harnesses. Moreover, tagging effects were stronger in smaller species. In conclusion, we found a weak effect on apparent survival of tagged birds and managed to pinpoint key aspects and drivers of tagging effects. We provide recommendations for establishing matched control group for proper effect size assessment in future studies and outline various aspects of tagging that need further investigation. Finally, our results encourage further use of geolocators on small bird species but the ethical aspects and scientific benefits should always be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vojtěch Brlík
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Koleček
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Malcolm Burgess
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds-Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy, UK
| | - Steffen Hahn
- Bird Migration Department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Diana Humple
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, California
| | - Miloš Krist
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Janne Ouwehand
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Emily L Weiser
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.,U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin
| | - Peter Adamík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Museum of Natural History, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - José A Alves
- Department of Biology and Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal.,South Iceland Research Centre, University of Iceland, Laugarvatn, Iceland
| | - Debora Arlt
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sanja Barišić
- Institute of Ornithology, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | - Václav Beran
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Municipal Museum of Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.,ALKA Wildlife o.p.s., Dačice, Czech Republic
| | - Christiaan Both
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Martins Briedis
- Bird Migration Department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | | | - Davor Ćiković
- Institute of Ornithology, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nathan W Cooper
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Joana S Costa
- Department of Biology and Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | - Tamara Emmenegger
- Bird Migration Department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Kevin Fraser
- Avian Behaviour and Conservation Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 Chrono-Environnement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Groupe de recherche en Ecologie Arctique, Francheville, France
| | - Marina Guerrero
- Servicio de Jardines, Bosques y Huertas, Patronato de la Alhambra y el Generalife, Granada, Spain
| | - Michael T Hallworth
- Migratory Bird Center-Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Chris Hewson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, UK
| | - Frédéric Jiguet
- UMR7204 CESCO, MNHN-CNRS-Sorbonne Université, CP135, Paris, France
| | - James A Johnson
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management, Anchorage, Alaska
| | - Tosha Kelly
- Advanced Facility for Avian Research, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dmitry Kishkinev
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.,Biological station Rybachy, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Rybachy, Russia
| | | | - Terje Lislevand
- Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Simeon Lisovski
- Bird Migration Department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Cosme López
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Peter P Marra
- Migratory Bird Center-Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Steven M Matsuoka
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management, Anchorage, Alaska.,U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
| | - Piotr Matyjasiak
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Christoph M Meier
- Bird Migration Department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | | | - Juan S Monrós
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Paterna, València, Spain
| | | | - Amy Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tomas Pärt
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Václav Pavel
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Noah Perlut
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of New England, Biddeford, Maine
| | - Markus Piha
- Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jeroen Reneerkens
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Amélie Roberto-Charron
- Avian Behaviour and Conservation Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Chiara Scandolara
- Bird Migration Department, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Natalia Sokolova
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, Labytnangi, Russia.,Arctic Research Center of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Salekhard, Russia
| | | | | | - Herman van Oosten
- Oenanthe Ecologie, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Animal Ecology, Physiology and Experimental Plant Ecology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Arndt H J Wellbrock
- Institute of Biology, Department of Chemistry-Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Hazel Wheeler
- Wildlife Preservation Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Klaudia Witte
- Institute of Biology, Department of Chemistry-Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Bradley K Woodworth
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Petr Procházka
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Background The island of Puerto Rico supports a diverse assemblage of breeding birds, including 16 endemic species (Raffaele et al. 1998), and provides critical wintering habitat for many North American migratory birds (Wunderle and Waide 1994). Despite being a hotspot of avian biodiversity, spatially extensive data on the distribution and abundance of birds on the island are scarce. Breeding-bird assemblages were sampled by the North American Breeding Bird Survey from 1997–2007 (Sauer et al. 2013), but comparable primary data are not available for bird assemblages present during the boreal winter. New information We provide data from one of the few spatially extensive surveys of forest birds on Puerto Rico. We sampled 211 locations in forests across the island during January–March 2015 using repeated point-count surveys. These data are suitable for use in estimating abundance, occupancy, and distribution of forest birds on Puerto Rico during the winter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John D Lloyd
- Vermont Center for Ecostudies, White River Junction, United States of America
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lloyd JD, Rimmer CC, McFarland KP. Assessing conservation status of resident and migrant birds on Hispaniola with mist-netting. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1541. [PMID: 26844015 PMCID: PMC4737063 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed temporal trends in mist-net capture rates of resident (n = 8) and overwintering Nearctic-Neotropical migrant (n = 3) bird species at two sites in montane broadleaf forest of the Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic, with the goal of providing quantitative information on population trends that could inform conservation assessments. We conducted sampling at least once annually during the winter months of January–March from 1997 to 2010. We found evidence of declines in capture rates for three resident species, including one species endemic to Hispaniola. Capture rate of Rufous-throated Solitaire (Myadestes genibarbis) declined by 3.9% per year (95% CL = 0%, 7.3%), Green-tailed Ground-Tanager (Microligea palustris) by 6.8% (95% CL = 3.9%, 8.8%), and Greater Antillean Bullfinch (Loxigilla violacea) by 4.9% (95% CL = 0.9%, 9.2%). Two rare and threatened endemics, Hispaniolan Highland-Tanager (Xenoligea montana) and Western Chat-Tanager (Calyptophilus tertius), showed statistically significant declines, but we have low confidence in these findings because trends were driven by exceptionally high capture rates in 1997 and varied between sites. Analyses that excluded data from 1997 revealed no trend in capture rate over the course of the study. We found no evidence of temporal trends in capture rates for any other residents or Nearctic-Neotropical migrants. We do not know the causes of the observed declines, nor can we conclude that these declines are not a purely local phenomenon. However, our findings, along with other recent reports of declines in these same species, suggest that a closer examination of their conservation status is warranted. Given the difficulty in obtaining spatially extensive, long-term estimates of population change for Hispaniolan birds, we suggest focusing on other metrics of vulnerability that are more easily quantified yet remain poorly described, such as extent of occurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John D Lloyd
- Vermont Center for Ecostudies , Norwich, VT , United States
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
DeLuca WV, Woodworth BK, Rimmer CC, Marra PP, Taylor PD, McFarland KP, Mackenzie SA, Norris DR. Transoceanic migration by a 12 g songbird. Biol Lett 2016; 11:20141045. [PMID: 25832815 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.1045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many fundamental aspects of migration remain a mystery, largely due to our inability to follow small animals over vast spatial areas. For more than 50 years, it has been hypothesized that, during autumn migration, blackpoll warblers (Setophaga striata) depart northeastern North America and undertake a non-stop flight over the Atlantic Ocean to either the Greater Antilles or the northeastern coast of South America. Using miniaturized light-level geolocators, we provide the first irrefutable evidence that the blackpoll warbler, a 12 g boreal forest songbird, completes an autumn transoceanic migration ranging from 2270 to 2770 km (mean ± s.d.: 2540 ± 257) and requiring up to 3 days (62 h ± 10) of non-stop flight. This is one of the longest non-stop overwater flights recorded for a songbird and confirms what has long been believed to be one of the most extraordinary migratory feats on the planet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William V DeLuca
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Bradley K Woodworth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | | | - Peter P Marra
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Philip D Taylor
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P 2R6
| | | | - Stuart A Mackenzie
- Bird Studies Canada-Long Point Bird Observatory, Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada N0E1M0
| | - D Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Townsend JM, Driscoll CT, Rimmer CC, McFarland KP. Avian, salamander, and forest floor mercury concentrations increase with elevation in a terrestrial ecosystem. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:208-15. [PMID: 24302165 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
High-elevation ecosystems of the northeastern United States are vulnerable to deposition and environmental accumulation of atmospheric pollutants, yet little work has been done to assess mercury (Hg) concentrations in organisms occupying montane ecosystems. The authors present data on Hg concentrations in ground-foraging insectivorous songbirds, a terrestrial salamander, and forest floor horizons sampled along a forested elevational gradient from 185 m to 1273 m in the Catskill Mountains, New York, USA. Mean Hg concentrations in Catharus thrushes and the salamander Plethodon cinereus increased with elevation, as did Hg concentrations in all forest floor horizons. Mean Hg concentrations in organic soils at approximately 1200 m elevation (503.5 ± 17.7 ng/g, dry wt) were 4.4-fold greater than those at approximately 200 m. Montane ecosystems of the northeastern United States, and probably elsewhere, are exposed to higher levels of atmospheric Hg deposition as reflected in accumulation patterns in the forest floor and associated high-elevation fauna. This information can be used to parameterize and test Hg transport and bioaccumulation models of landscape-specific patterns and may serve as a monitoring tool for decision makers considering future controls on Hg emissions. Further investigation is needed into the potential effects of increased Hg concentrations on high-elevation fauna.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Townsend
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
McFarland KP, Rimmer CC, Goetz JE, Aubry Y, Wunderle JM, Sutton A, Townsend JM, Sosa AL, Kirkconnell A. A winter distribution model for Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli), a conservation tool for a threatened migratory songbird. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53986. [PMID: 23326554 PMCID: PMC3541143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation planning and implementation require identifying pertinent habitats and locations where protection and management may improve viability of targeted species. The winter range of Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli), a threatened Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbird, is restricted to the Greater Antilles. We analyzed winter records from the mid-1970s to 2009 to quantitatively evaluate winter distribution and habitat selection. Additionally, we conducted targeted surveys in Jamaica (n = 433), Cuba (n = 363), Dominican Republic (n = 1,000), Haiti (n = 131) and Puerto Rico (n = 242) yielding 179 sites with thrush presence. We modeled Bicknell’s Thrush winter habitat selection and distribution in the Greater Antilles in Maxent version 3.3.1. using environmental predictors represented in 30 arc second study area rasters. These included nine landform, land cover and climatic variables that were thought a priori to have potentially high predictive power. We used the average training gain from ten model runs to select the best subset of predictors. Total winter precipitation, aspect and land cover, particularly broadleaf forests, emerged as important variables. A five-variable model that contained land cover, winter precipitation, aspect, slope, and elevation was the most parsimonious and not significantly different than the models with more variables. We used the best fitting model to depict potential winter habitat. Using the 10 percentile threshold (>0.25), we estimated winter habitat to cover 33,170 km2, nearly 10% of the study area. The Dominican Republic contained half of all potential habitat (51%), followed by Cuba (15.1%), Jamaica (13.5%), Haiti (10.6%), and Puerto Rico (9.9%). Nearly one-third of the range was found to be in protected areas. By providing the first detailed predictive map of Bicknell’s Thrush winter distribution, our study provides a useful tool to prioritize and direct conservation planning for this and other wet, broadleaf forest specialists in the Greater Antilles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kent P McFarland
- Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Norwich, Vermont, United States of America.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Townsend JM, Rimmer CC, Driscoll CT, McFarland KP, Iñigo-Elias E. Mercury concentrations in tropical resident and migrant songbirds on Hispaniola. Ecotoxicology 2013; 22:86-93. [PMID: 23076839 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-012-1005-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite growing concerns over mercury (Hg) exposure to humans and wildlife on a global scale, little is known about Hg bioaccumulation in the New World tropics. From 2005 to 2011, we monitored Hg concentrations in blood of nine avian species occupying a geographic range of tropical wet broadleaf sites on the island of Hispaniola, including eight passerines (two Nearctic-Neotropical migrant and six resident species) and one top order predatory accipiter. Invertivorous songbirds were further differentiated by foraging guild, with six species of ground-foragers and two species of foliage-gleaners. Blood Hg concentrations were orders of magnitude higher in birds sampled in central and southern cloud forest sites (1,000-1,800 m elevation) than in northern and northeastern rainforest sites (50-500 m elevation), with migratory and resident species both showing 2-20× greater blood Hg concentrations in cloud forests than in rainforests. Within cloud forest sites, ground-foraging species had higher Hg concentrations than foliage-gleaning species. Top order predatory sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus) had the highest blood Hg concentrations among all species, suggesting that Hg biomagnification is occurring in terrestrial forests of Hispaniola. Two migrant songbird species overwintering on the island had higher blood Hg concentrations than have been recorded on their North American breeding grounds. Future studies should seek to elucidate sources of variation in atmospheric Hg deposition on Hispaniola and to quantify the dynamics of Hg cycling in tropical forest ecosystems, which may differ in important ways from patterns documented in temperate forest ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Townsend
- Conservation Science Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Studds CE, McFarland KP, Aubry Y, Rimmer CC, Hobson KA, Marra PP, Wassenaar LI. Stable-hydrogen isotope measures of natal dispersal reflect observed population declines in a threatened migratory songbird. DIVERS DISTRIB 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2012.00931.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Colin E. Studds
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; Migratory Bird Center; National Zoological Park Washington DC 20008 USA
| | | | - Yves Aubry
- Environment Canada; Québec G1J 0C3 Canada
| | | | | | - Peter P. Marra
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; Migratory Bird Center; National Zoological Park Washington DC 20008 USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sly ND, Townsend AK, Rimmer CC, Townsend JM, Latta SC, Lovette IJ. Ancient islands and modern invasions: disparate phylogeographic histories among Hispaniola's endemic birds. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:5012-24. [PMID: 21449896 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05073.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
With its large size, complex topography and high number of avian endemics, Hispaniola appears to be a likely candidate for the in situ speciation of its avifauna, despite the worldwide rarity of avian speciation within single islands. We used multilocus comparative phylogeography techniques to examine the pattern and history of divergence in 11 endemic birds representing potential within-island speciation events. Haplotype and allele networks from mitochondrial ND2 and nuclear intron loci reveal a consistent pattern: phylogeographic divergence within or between closely related species is correlated with the likely distribution of ancient sea barriers that once divided Hispaniola into several smaller paleo-islands. Coalescent and mitochondrial clock dating of divergences indicate species-specific response to different geological events over the wide span of the island's history. We found no evidence that ecological or topographical complexity generated diversity, either by creating open niches or by restricting long-term gene flow. Thus, no true within-island speciation appears to have occurred among the species sampled on Hispaniola. Divergence events predating the merging of Hispaniola's paleo-island blocks cannot be considered in situ divergence, and postmerging divergence in response to episodic island segmentation by marine flooding probably represents in situ vicariance or interarchipelago speciation by dispersal. Our work highlights the necessity of considering island geologic history while investigating the speciation-area relationship in birds and other taxa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D Sly
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sly ND, Townsend AK, Rimmer CC, Townsend JM, Latta SC, Lovette IJ. Phylogeography and conservation of the endemic Hispaniolan Palm-Tanagers (Aves: Phaenicophilus). CONSERV GENET 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-010-0098-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
13
|
Rimmer CC, Miller EK, McFarland KP, Taylor RJ, Faccio SD. Mercury bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in the terrestrial food web of a montane forest. Ecotoxicology 2010; 19:697-709. [PMID: 19960247 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-009-0443-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We investigated mercury (Hg) concentrations in a terrestrial food web in high elevation forests in Vermont. Hg concentrations increased from autotrophic organisms to herbivores < detritivores < omnivores < carnivores. Within the carnivores studied, raptors had higher blood Hg concentrations than their songbird prey. The Hg concentration in the blood of the focal study species, Bicknell's thrush (Catharus bicknelli), varied over the course of the summer in response to a diet shift related to changing availability of arthropod prey. The Bicknell's thrush food web is more detrital-based (with higher Hg concentrations) in early summer and more foliage-based (with lower Hg concentrations) during late summer. There were significant year effects in different ecosystem compartments indicating a possible connection between atmospheric Hg deposition, detrital-layer Hg concentrations, arthropod Hg concentrations, and passerine blood Hg concentrations.
Collapse
|
14
|
Townsend AK, Rimmer CC, Latta SC, Lovette IJ. Ancient differentiation in the single-island avian radiation of endemic Hispaniolan chat-tanagers (Aves: Calyptophilus). Mol Ecol 2007; 16:3634-42. [PMID: 17845436 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2007.03422.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The simple geographic structure of island systems often makes them tractable for studies of the patterns and processes of biological diversification. The Calyptophilus chat-tanagers of Hispaniola are of general evolutionary interest because their multiple lineages might have arisen on a single island, of conservation concern because several isolated populations are nearly extinct, and taxonomically ambiguous because they have been variously lumped or split into one to four species. To explore the context of diversification of the seven extant Calyptophilus populations, we conducted a multilocus coalescent analysis based on sequences of mitochondrial ND2 and three nuclear intron loci. We then compared patterns of phylogeographic genetic variation with the morphological differences that distinguish these populations. Mitochondrial haplotypes formed two reciprocally monophyletic groups separated by a large magnitude of nucleotide divergence. Intron structure largely paralleled the geographic grouping pattern of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), but these groups were only reciprocally monophyletic at one of the three introns. Also, the magnitude of between-group divergence was much lower in the introns than mtDNA genealogies. Multilocus coalescent analyses inferred a nonzero divergence time between these two major geographic groups, but suggested that they have experienced a low level of gene flow. All four markers showed substantial allele sharing within each of the two groups, demonstrating that many now separated montane populations do not have long histories of isolation. Considered in concert, our multilocus phylogeographic reconstructions support the recognition of two species within the Calyptophilus complex, and raise the possibility that these taxa differentiated prior to the fusion of the two palaeo-islands that form present-day Hispaniola.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea K Townsend
- Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Rimmer CC, Mcfarland KP, Evers DC, Miller EK, Aubry Y, Busby D, Taylor RJ. Mercury concentrations in Bicknell's thrush and other insectivorous passerines in Montane forests of northeastern North America. Ecotoxicology 2005; 14:223-40. [PMID: 15931968 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-004-6270-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic input of mercury (Hg) into the environment has elevated risk to fish and wildlife, particularly in northeastern North America. Investigations into the transfer and fate of Hg have focused on inhabitants of freshwater aquatic ecosystems, as these are the habitats at greatest risk for methylmercury (MeHg) biomagnification. Deviating from such an approach, we documented MeHg availability in a terrestrial montane ecosystem using a suite of insectivorous passerines. Intensive and extensive sampling of Bicknell's thrush (Catharus bicknelli) indicated significant heterogeneity in MeHg availability across 21 mountaintops in northeastern North America. Southern parts of the breeding range tended to be at greater risk than northern parts. Mean blood Hg concentrations for Bicknell's thrush at 21 distinct breeding sites ranged from 0.08 to 0.38 ug/g (ww) and at seven Greater Antillean wintering sites ranged from 0.03 to 0.42 ug/g (ww). Overall concentrations were significantly greater in wintering than in breeding areas. Mercury exposure profiles for four passerine species on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont indicated greatest MeHg uptake in Bicknell's thrush and yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata) and lowest in blackpoll warbler (Dendroica striata) and white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). The MeHg and total Hg ratio in blood in these four species was nearly 1:1. There was no correlation between blood and feather Hg concentrations in breeding Bicknell's thrush, in part because of apparent retention of winter Hg body burdens, within-season variation of MeHg availability, and confounding factors such as influences from age. Adult thrushes had significantly higher concentrations of feather Hg than did young-of-the-year. Although individual patterns of inter-year feather Hg concentrations were disordered, some individuals exhibited bioaccumulation of MeHg. Female blood Hg concentrations were significantly lower than males', in part because females have additional depurating mechanisms through eggs. Older male Bicknell's thrushes that breed in New England are therefore likely at greatest risk. Mechanisms for Hg methylation in montane areas without standing water are not yet fully understood. However, recent studies indicate that MeHg is present in forest tree leaves and leaf detritus; saturated soils and other moist microhabitats may also contribute to MeHg availability. Our finding of a correlation between regional litterfall Hg flux patterns and Bicknell's thrush blood Hg concentrations demonstrates on-site availability of MeHg. Further investigations into MeHg availability in montane environments are recommended to assess risk to insectivorous passerines, particularly the Bicknell's thrush.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher C Rimmer
- Vermont Institute of Natural Science, 2723 Church Hill Road, Woodstock, VT 05091, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
|
17
|
Hobson KA, McFarland KP, Wassenaar LI, Rimmer CC, Goetz JE. Linking Breeding and Wintering Grounds of Bicknell's Thrushes Using Stable Isotope Analyses of Feathers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2001. [DOI: 10.1093/auk/118.1.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that natural abundance of deuterium (D), and to a lesser extent 13C, in feathers of migrant songbirds in North America can be used to infer geographic origins of molt. We used that approach to investigate whether Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) populations could be segregated on the breeding grounds at six sites in eastern North America to evaluate contributions from the breeding areas to wintering populations. Further, we tested our isotopic model using feathers from hatching-year migrant Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) and Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) moving through southern Manitoba and Ontario and found that δD values were consistent with northerly boreal forest natal sites in northwestern and central Canada. Despite a strong latitudinal gradient in δD of average growing season precipitation over the breeding range, we found considerable overlap in δD values of Bicknell's Thrush among all breeding sites. No strong pattern in δ13C values of feathers with latitude was apparent. Nevertheless, the more negative δD values of feathers from wintering birds in the Dominican Republic compared to breeding area samples suggested that birds from more northerly locations in North America contributed to this population of wintering birds. High variance in feather δD values within breeding populations also suggested high natal dispersal, considerable movement of birds among island habitats on the breeding grounds, or both. Even higher variances in feather δD values from small study areas on the wintering grounds, compared to similar-sized areas in the breeding range, suggest that many different breeding populations mix in winter habitat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keith A. Hobson
- Environment Canada, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Center, Canadian Wildlife Service, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - Kent P. McFarland
- Vermont Institute of Natural Science, 27023 Church Hill Road, Woodstock, Vermont 05091, USA
| | - Leonard I. Wassenaar
- Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute, 11 Innovation Boulevard,Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Christopher C. Rimmer
- Vermont Institute of Natural Science, 27023 Church Hill Road, Woodstock, Vermont 05091, USA
| | - James E. Goetz
- Vermont Institute of Natural Science, 27023 Church Hill Road, Woodstock, Vermont 05091, USA
- SUNY-ESF, 1 Forestry Drive, 6 Illick Hall, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
|
19
|
|