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Buchan C, Gilroy JJ, Catry I, Hewson CM, Atkinson PW, Franco AMA. Combining remote sensing and tracking data to quantify species' cumulative exposure to anthropogenic change. Glob Chang Biol 2023; 29:6679-6692. [PMID: 37812027 PMCID: PMC10946810 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Identifying when and where organisms are exposed to anthropogenic change is crucial for diagnosing the drivers of biodiversity declines and implementing effective conservation measures. Accurately measuring individual-scale exposure to anthropogenic impacts across the annual cycle as they move across continents requires an approach that is both spatially and temporally explicit-now achievable through recent parallel advances in remote-sensing and individual tracking technologies. We combined 10 years of tracking data for a long-distance migrant, (common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus), with multi-dimensional remote-sensed spatial datasets encompassing thirteen relevant anthropogenic impacts (including infrastructure, hunting, habitat change, and climate change), to quantify mean hourly and total accumulated exposure of tracked individuals to anthropogenic change across each stage of the annual cycle. Although mean hourly exposure to anthropogenic change was greatest in the breeding stage, accumulated exposure to changes associated with direct mortality risks (e.g., built infrastructure) and with climate were greatest during the wintering stage, which comprised 63% of the annual cycle on average for tracked individuals. Exposure to anthropogenic change varied considerably within and between migratory flyways, but there were no clear between-flyway differences in overall exposure during migration stages. However, more easterly autumn migratory routes were significantly associated with lower subsequent exposure to anthropogenic impacts in the winter stage. Cumulative change exposure was not significantly associated with recent local-scale population trends in the breeding range, possibly because cuckoos from shared breeding areas may follow divergent migration routes and therefore encounter very different risk landscapes. Our study highlights the potential for the integration of tracking data and high-resolution remote sensing to generate valuable and detailed new insights into the impacts of environmental change on wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Buchan
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
| | - James J. Gilroy
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
| | - Inês Catry
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoUniversidade do PortoVairaoPortugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de AgronomiaUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in GenomicsBiodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIOVairaoPortugal
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2
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Davies JG, Kirkland M, Miller MGR, Pearce-Higgins JW, Atkinson PW, Hewson CM. Spring arrival of the common cuckoo at breeding grounds is strongly determined by environmental conditions in tropical Africa. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230580. [PMID: 37339739 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Failure to adapt migration timing to changes in environmental conditions along migration routes and at breeding locations can result in mismatches across trophic levels, as occurs between the brood parasitic common cuckoo Cuculus canorus and its hosts. Using satellite tracking data from 87 male cuckoos across 11 years, we evaluate why the cuckoo has not advanced its arrival to the UK. Across years, breeding ground arrival was primarily determined by timing of departure from stopover in West Africa before northward crossing of the Sahara. Together with high population synchrony and low apparent endogenous control of this event, this suggests that a seasonal ecological constraint operating here limits overall variation in breeding grounds arrival, although this event was itself influenced by carry-over from timing of arrival into tropical Africa. Between-year variation within individuals was, in contrast, mostly determined by northward migration through Europe, probably due to weather conditions. We find evidence of increased mortality risk for (a) early birds following migration periods positively impacting breeding grounds arrival, and (b) late birds, possibly suffering energy limitation, after departure from the breeding grounds. These results help identify areas where demands of responding to global change can potentially be alleviated by improving stopover quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G Davies
- British Trust for Ornithology Scotland, Stirling University Innovation Park, Beta Centre (Unit 15), Stirling, FK9 4NF, UK
| | - Máire Kirkland
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, IP24 2PU, Norfolk, UK
| | - Mark G R Miller
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, IP24 2PU, Norfolk, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | | | - Philip W Atkinson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, IP24 2PU, Norfolk, UK
| | - Chris M Hewson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, IP24 2PU, Norfolk, UK
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Kirkland M, Atkinson PW, Pearce-Higgins JW, De Jong M, Dowling TPF, Grummo D, Critchley M, Ashton-Butt A. Landscape fires disproportionally affect high conservation value temperate peatlands, meadows, and deciduous forests, but only under low moisture conditions. Sci Total Environ 2023; 884:163849. [PMID: 37137369 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Landscape fires are a natural component of the Earth System. However, they are of growing global concern due to climate change exacerbating their multiple impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, carbon storage, human health, economies, and wider society. Temperate regions are predicted to be at greatest risk of increasing fire activity due to climate change, where fires can seriously impact important ecosystems for biodiversity and carbon storage, such as peatlands and forests. There is insufficient literature on the background prevalence, distribution, and drivers of fires in these regions, especially within Europe, to assess and mitigate their risks. Using a global database of fire patches based on the MODIS FireCCI51 product, we address this knowledge gap by quantifying the current prevalence and size of fires in Polesia, a 150,000 km2 area comprising a mosaic of peatland, forest, and agricultural habitats in northern Ukraine and southern Belarus. Between 2001 and 2019, fires burned 31,062 km2 of land, and were most frequent in spring and autumn. Although most fires started in agricultural land, fires disproportionately affected natural and semi-natural land cover types, particularly in protected areas. Over one fifth of protected land burned. Coniferous forests were the most common land cover type in protected areas, but fires mostly occurred in meadows, open peatlands (especially fen and transition mires), and native deciduous forests. These land cover types were highly susceptible to fires under low soil moisture conditions, but the risk of fire was low under average or higher soil moisture conditions. Restoring and maintaining natural hydrological regimes could be an effective nature-based solution to increase the resilience of fire-vulnerable ecosystems and support global biodiversity and carbon storage commitments under the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change and Convention on Biological Diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máire Kirkland
- British Trust for Ornithology, the Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, UK.
| | | | - James W Pearce-Higgins
- British Trust for Ornithology, the Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, UK; Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark De Jong
- Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste Marie, Canada
| | - Thomas P F Dowling
- School of Environment, Department of Geography, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Dmitri Grummo
- V.F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the National Academy of Science of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Megan Critchley
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
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4
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Acácio M, Catry I, Soriano-Redondo A, Silva JP, Atkinson PW, Franco AMA. Timing is critical: consequences of asynchronous migration for the performance and destination of a long-distance migrant. Mov Ecol 2022; 10:28. [PMID: 35725653 PMCID: PMC9901525 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00328-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Migration phenology is shifting for many long-distance migrants due to global climate change, however the timing and duration of migration may influence the environmental conditions individuals encounter, with potential fitness consequences. Species with asynchronous migrations, i.e., with variability in migration timing, provide an excellent opportunity to investigate how of the conditions individuals experience during migration can vary and affect the migratory performance, route, and destination of migrants. METHODS Here, we use GPS tracking and accelerometer data to examine if timing of autumn migration influences the migratory performance (duration, distance, route straightness, energy expenditure) and migration destinations of a long-distance, asynchronous, migrant, the white stork (Ciconia ciconia). We also compare the weather conditions (wind speed, wind direction, and boundary layer height) encountered on migration and examine the influence of wind direction on storks' flight directions. RESULTS From 2016 to 2020, we tracked 172 white storks and obtained 75 complete migrations from the breeding grounds in Europe to the sub-Saharan wintering areas. Autumn migration season spanned over a 3-month period (July-October) and arrival destinations covered a broad area of the Sahel, 2450 km apart, from Senegal to Niger. We found that timing of migration influenced both the performance and conditions individuals experienced: later storks spent fewer days on migration, adopted shorter and more direct routes in the Sahara Desert and consumed more energy when flying, as they were exposed to less supportive weather conditions. In the Desert, storks' flight directions were significantly influenced by wind direction, with later individuals facing stronger easterly winds (i.e., winds blowing to the west), hence being more likely to end their migration in western areas of the Sahel region. Contrastingly, early storks encountered more supportive weather conditions, spent less energy on migration and were exposed to westerly winds, thus being more likely to end migration in eastern Sahel. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the timing of migration influences the environmental conditions individuals face, the energetic costs of migration, and the wintering destinations, where birds may be exposed to different environmental conditions and distinct threats. These findings highlight that on-going changes in migration phenology, due to environmental change, may have critical fitness consequences for long-distance soaring migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Acácio
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
| | - Inês Catry
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Andrea Soriano-Redondo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
- Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science (HELICS), Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - João Paulo Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade Do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | | | - Aldina M A Franco
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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5
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Gauld JG, Silva JP, Atkinson PW, Record P, Acácio M, Arkumarev V, Blas J, Bouten W, Burton N, Catry I, Champagnon J, Clewley GD, Dagys M, Duriez O, Exo K, Fiedler W, Flack A, Friedemann G, Fritz J, Garcia‐Ripolles C, Garthe S, Giunchi D, Grozdanov A, Harel R, Humphreys EM, Janssen R, Kölzsch A, Kulikova O, Lameris TK, López‐López P, Masden EA, Monti F, Nathan R, Nikolov S, Oppel S, Peshev H, Phipps L, Pokrovsky I, Ross‐Smith VH, Saravia V, Scragg ES, Sforzi A, Stoynov E, Thaxter C, Van Steelant W, Toor M, Vorneweg B, Waldenström J, Wikelski M, Žydelis R, Franco AMA. Hotspots in the grid: Avian sensitivity and vulnerability to collision risk from energy infrastructure interactions in Europe and North Africa. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jethro G. Gauld
- School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich UK
| | - João P. Silva
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | | | | | - Marta Acácio
- School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich UK
| | - Volen Arkumarev
- Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds BirdLife Bulgaria Sofia Bulgaria
| | - Julio Blas
- Department of Applied Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana Seville Spain
| | - Willem Bouten
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Niall Burton
- British Trust for Ornithology The Nunnery Thetford UK
| | - Inês Catry
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Jocelyn Champagnon
- Tour du Valat Research institute for conservation of Mediterranean wetlands Arles France
| | - Gary D. Clewley
- British Trust for Ornithology Scotland Stirling University Innovation Park Stirling UK
| | | | - Olivier Duriez
- Centre of Evolutionary and Functional Ecology CNRS Campus Montpellier France
| | | | - Wolfgang Fiedler
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell am Bodensee Germany
| | - Andrea Flack
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell am Bodensee Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour University of Konstanz Constance Germany
| | | | | | | | - Stefan Garthe
- Research and Technology Centre (FTZ) Kiel University Kiel Germany
| | | | - Atanas Grozdanov
- Department of Zoology and Anthropology Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia Bulgaria
- Fund for wild Flora and Fauna Bulgaria
| | - Roi Harel
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
| | | | - René Janssen
- Bionet Natuuronderzoek EL Stein (Lb) The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Kölzsch
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell am Bodensee Germany
| | - Olga Kulikova
- Institute of Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS Magadan Russia
| | - Thomas K. Lameris
- Netherlands, Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW) Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Pascual López‐López
- Movement Ecology Lab, Environmental Research Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia Valencia Spain
| | - Elizabeth A. Masden
- Institute, North Highland College – UHI University of the Highlands and Islands Thurso UK
| | - Flavio Monti
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment University of Siena Siena Italy
| | - Ran Nathan
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
| | - Stoyan Nikolov
- Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds BirdLife Bulgaria Sofia Bulgaria
| | - Steffen Oppel
- Centre for Conservation Science Research Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Cambridge UK
| | - Hristo Peshev
- Fund for wild Flora and Fauna Bulgaria
- Department of Geography, Ecology and Environmental Protection South‐West University Neofit Rilski Blagoevgrad Bulgaria
| | - Louis Phipps
- The Vulture Conservation Foundation Zürich Switzerland
| | - Ivan Pokrovsky
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell am Bodensee Germany
- Institute of Plant & Animal Ecology, UB RAS Ekaterinburg Russia
- Institute of Biological Problems of the North, FEB RAS Magadan Russia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Chris Thaxter
- British Trust for Ornithology The Nunnery Thetford UK
| | - Wouter Van Steelant
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Mariëlle Toor
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science Linnaeus University Kalmar Sweden
| | - Bernd Vorneweg
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell am Bodensee Germany
| | - Jonas Waldenström
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science Linnaeus University Kalmar Sweden
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell am Bodensee Germany
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Acácio M, Atkinson PW, Silva JP, Franco AMA. Performance of GPS/GPRS tracking devices improves with increased fix interval and is not affected by animal deployment. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265541. [PMID: 35353826 PMCID: PMC8966994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of GPS tracking technologies has revolutionized the study of animal movement providing unprecedentedly detailed information. The characterization of GPS accuracy and precision under different conditions is essential to correctly identify the spatial and temporal resolution at which studies can be conducted. Here, we examined the influence of fix acquisition interval and device deployment on the performance of a new GPS/GSM solar powered device. Horizontal and vertical accuracy and precision of locations were obtained under different GPS fix acquisition intervals (1min, 20 min and 60 min) in a stationary test. The test devices were deployed on pre-fledgling white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and we quantified accuracy and precision after deployment while controlling for bias caused by variation in habitat, topography, and animal movement. We also assessed the performance of GPS-Error, a metric provided by the device, at identifying inaccurate locations (> 10 m). Average horizontal accuracy varied between 3.4 to 6.5 m, and vertical accuracy varied between 4.9 to 9.7 m, in high (1 min) and low frequency (60 min) GPS fix intervals. These values were similar after the deployment on white storks. Over 84% of GPS horizontal positions and 71% of vertical positions had less than 10m error in accuracy. Removing 3% of data with highest GPS-Error eliminated over 99% of inaccurate positions in high GPS frequency intervals, but this metric was not effective in the low frequency intervals. We confirmed the suitability of these devices for studies requiring horizontal and vertical accuracies of 5-10m. For higher accuracy data, intensive GPS fix intervals should be used, but this requires more sophisticated battery management, or larger batteries and devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Acácio
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | - João Paulo Silva
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Aldina M. A. Franco
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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Sutherland WJ, Atkinson PW, Butchart SHM, Capaja M, Dicks LV, Fleishman E, Gaston KJ, Hails RS, Hughes AC, Le Anstey B, Le Roux X, Lickorish FA, Maggs L, Noor N, Oldfield TEE, Palardy JE, Peck LS, Pettorelli N, Pretty J, Spalding MD, Tonneijck FH, Truelove G, Watson JEM, Wentworth J, Wilson JD, Thornton A. A horizon scan of global biological conservation issues for 2022. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 37:95-104. [PMID: 34809998 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [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: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We present the results of our 13th annual horizon scan of issues likely to impact on biodiversity conservation. Issues are either novel within the biological conservation sector or could cause a substantial step-change in impact, either globally or regionally. Our global panel of 26 scientists and practitioners identified 15 issues that we believe to represent the highest priorities for tracking and action. Many of the issues we identified, including the impact of satellite megaconstellations and the use of long-distance wireless energy transfer, have both elements of threats and emerging opportunities. A recent state-sponsored application to commence deep-sea mining represents a significant step-change in impact. We hope that this horizon scan will increase research and policy attention on the highlighted issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine's (BioRISC), St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1RL, UK.
| | | | - Stuart H M Butchart
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; BirdLife International, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Marcela Capaja
- Natural England, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Rd, Cambridge CB2 8DR, UK
| | - Lynn V Dicks
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Erica Fleishman
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | | | - Alice C Hughes
- Centre for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan 666303, PR China
| | - Becky Le Anstey
- Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK
| | - Xavier Le Roux
- Microbial Ecology Centre, UMR1418 INRAE, UMR5557 CNRS, University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; BiodivERsA, la Fondation pour la recherche sur la biodiversité, 195 rue Saint Jacques, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Fiona A Lickorish
- UK Research and Consultancy Services (RCS) Ltd, Valletts Cottage, Westhope, Hereford HR4 8BU, UK
| | - Luke Maggs
- Natural Resources Wales, Cambria House, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 0TP, UK
| | - Noor Noor
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK
| | | | - James E Palardy
- The Pew Charitable Trusts, 901 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
| | - Lloyd S Peck
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Nathalie Pettorelli
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Jules Pretty
- Centre for Public and Policy Engagement and School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Mark D Spalding
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; The Nature Conservancy, Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Pian dei Mantellini, Siena 53100, Italy
| | | | - Gemma Truelove
- UK Research and Innovation, Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1EU, UK
| | - James E M Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jonathan Wentworth
- Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 14 Tothill Street, Westminster, London SW1H 9NB, UK
| | - Jeremy D Wilson
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Centre for Conservation Science, 2 Lochside View, Edinburgh EH12 9DH, UK
| | - Ann Thornton
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
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8
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Buchan C, Gilroy JJ, Catry I, Bustamante J, Marca AD, Atkinson PW, González JM, Franco AMA. Carryover effects of long-distance avian migration are weaker than effects of breeding environment in a partially migratory bird. Sci Rep 2021; 11:935. [PMID: 33441826 PMCID: PMC7807013 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80341-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Migration may expose individuals to a wide range of increasing anthropogenic threats. In addition to direct mortality effects, this exposure may influence post-migratory reproductive fitness. Partial migration-where a population comprises migrants and residents-represents a powerful opportunity to explore carryover effects of migration. Studies of partial migration in birds typically examine short-distance systems; here we studied an unusual system where residents breed in mixed colonies alongside long-distance trans-Saharan migrants (lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni) in Spain). Combining geolocator data, stable isotope analysis and resighting data, we examined the effects of this stark difference in migratory strategy on body condition, breeding phenology and breeding success. We monitored four colonies in two regions of southern Spain for five consecutive years (2014-2018), yielding 1962 captures, determining migratory strategy for 141 adult bird-years. Despite a 3000-km difference in distance travelled, we find no effect of strategy on breeding parameters. We find weak evidence for a short-term negative carryover effect of migration on body condition, but this was only apparent in the breeding region with lower primary productivity. Our results indicate that carryover effects of even highly divergent migratory strategies may be minimal relative to effects of conditions experienced on breeding grounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Buchan
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
| | - James J Gilroy
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Inês Catry
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.,CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Javier Bustamante
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Remote Sensing and GIS Lab (LAST-EBD), Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), C/ Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alina D Marca
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | | | | | - Aldina M A Franco
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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Sutherland WJ, Atkinson PW, Broad S, Brown S, Clout M, Dias MP, Dicks LV, Doran H, Fleishman E, Garratt EL, Gaston KJ, Hughes AC, Le Roux X, Lickorish FA, Maggs L, Palardy JE, Peck LS, Pettorelli N, Pretty J, Spalding MD, Tonneijck FH, Walpole M, Watson JEM, Wentworth J, Thornton A. A 2021 Horizon Scan of Emerging Global Biological Conservation Issues. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 36:87-97. [PMID: 33213887 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We present the results from our 12th annual horizon scan of issues likely to impact biological conservation in the future. From a list of 97 topics, our global panel of 25 scientists and practitioners identified the top 15 issues that we believe society may urgently need to address. These issues are either novel in the biological conservation sector or represent a substantial positive or negative step-change in impact at global or regional level. Six issues, such as coral reef deoxygenation and changes in polar coastal productivity, affect marine or coastal ecosystems and seven relate to human and ecosystem-level responses to climate change. Identification of potential forthcoming issues for biological conservation may enable increased preparedness by researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK.
| | | | - Steven Broad
- TRAFFIC, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Sam Brown
- Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK
| | - Mick Clout
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, PB 90129 Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Maria P Dias
- BirdLife International, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; MARE Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA, Instituto Universitário, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lynn V Dicks
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Helen Doran
- Natural England, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 8DR, UK
| | - Erica Fleishman
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Garratt
- UK Research and Innovation, Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1EU, UK
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Alice C Hughes
- Centre for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan 666303, PR China
| | - Xavier Le Roux
- Microbial Ecology Centre, UMR1418 INRAE, CNRS, University Lyon 1, VetAgroSup, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; BiodivERsA, Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité, 195 rue Saint Jacques, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Fiona A Lickorish
- UK Research and Consultancy Services (RCS) Ltd, Valletts Cottage, Westhope, Hereford HR4 8BU, UK
| | - Luke Maggs
- Natural Resources Wales, Cambria House, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 0TP, UK
| | - James E Palardy
- The Pew Charitable Trusts, 901 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
| | - Lloyd S Peck
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Nathalie Pettorelli
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Jules Pretty
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Mark D Spalding
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK; The Nature Conservancy, Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Pian dei Mantellini, Siena 53100, Italy
| | | | - Matt Walpole
- Fauna and Flora International, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - James E M Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Jonathan Wentworth
- Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 14 Tothill Street, Westminster, London SW1H 9NB, UK
| | - Ann Thornton
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
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Warwick-Evans VC, Atkinson PW, Robinson LA, Green JA. Predictive Modelling to Identify Near-Shore, Fine-Scale Seabird Distributions during the Breeding Season. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150592. [PMID: 27031616 PMCID: PMC4816348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
During the breeding season seabirds are constrained to coastal areas and are restricted in their movements, spending much of their time in near-shore waters either loafing or foraging. However, in using these areas they may be threatened by anthropogenic activities such as fishing, watersports and coastal developments including marine renewable energy installations. Although many studies describe large scale interactions between seabirds and the environment, the drivers behind near-shore, fine-scale distributions are not well understood. For example, Alderney is an important breeding ground for many species of seabird and has a diversity of human uses of the marine environment, thus providing an ideal location to investigate the near-shore fine-scale interactions between seabirds and the environment. We used vantage point observations of seabird distribution, collected during the 2013 breeding season in order to identify and quantify some of the environmental variables affecting the near-shore, fine-scale distribution of seabirds in Alderney’s coastal waters. We validate the models with observation data collected in 2014 and show that water depth, distance to the intertidal zone, and distance to the nearest seabird nest are key predictors in the distribution of Alderney’s seabirds. AUC values for each species suggest that these models perform well, although the model for shags performed better than those for auks and gulls. While further unexplained underlying localised variation in the environmental conditions will undoubtedly effect the fine-scale distribution of seabirds in near-shore waters we demonstrate the potential of this approach in marine planning and decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philip W. Atkinson
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Leonie A. Robinson
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan A. Green
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Gilbert NI, Correia RA, Silva JP, Pacheco C, Catry I, Atkinson PW, Gill JA, Franco AMA. Are white storks addicted to junk food? Impacts of landfill use on the movement and behaviour of resident white storks (Ciconia ciconia) from a partially migratory population. Mov Ecol 2016; 4:7. [PMID: 26981250 PMCID: PMC4791752 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0070-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The migratory patterns of animals are changing in response to global environmental change with many species forming resident populations in areas where they were once migratory. The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) was wholly migratory in Europe but recently guaranteed, year-round food from landfill sites has facilitated the establishment of resident populations in Iberia. In this study 17 resident white storks were fitted with GPS/GSM data loggers (including accelerometer) and tracked for 9.1 ± 3.7 months to quantify the extent and consistency of landfill attendance by individuals during the non-breeding and breeding seasons and to assess the influence of landfill use on daily distances travelled, percentage of GPS fixes spent foraging and non-landfill foraging ranges. RESULTS Resident white storks used landfill more during non-breeding (20.1 % ± 2.3 of foraging GPS fixes) than during breeding (14.9 % ± 2.2). Landfill attendance declined with increasing distance between nest and landfill in both seasons. During non-breeding a large percentage of GPS fixes occurred on the nest throughout the day (27 % ± 3.0 of fixes) in the majority of tagged storks. This study provides first confirmation of year-round nest use by resident white storks. The percentage of GPS fixes on the nest was not influenced by the distance between nest and the landfill site. Storks travelled up to 48.2 km to visit landfills during non-breeding and a maximum of 28.1 km during breeding, notably further than previous estimates. Storks nesting close to landfill sites used landfill more and had smaller foraging ranges in non-landfill habitat indicating higher reliance on landfill. The majority of non-landfill foraging occurred around the nest and long distance trips were made specifically to visit landfill. CONCLUSIONS The continuous availability of food resources on landfill has facilitated year-round nest use in white storks and is influencing their home ranges and movement behaviour. White storks rely on landfill sites for foraging especially during the non-breeding season when other food resources are scarcer and this artificial food supplementation probably facilitated the establishment of resident populations. The closure of landfills, as required by EU Landfill Directives, will likely cause dramatic impacts on white stork populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie I. Gilbert
- />School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Ricardo A. Correia
- />School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
- />Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (Ce3C), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Silva
- />Centro de Ecologia Aplicada Prof. Baeta Neves and InBio, Rede de Investigacão em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Pacheco
- />School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Inês Catry
- />School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
- />Centro de Ecologia Aplicada Prof. Baeta Neves and InBio, Rede de Investigacão em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Philip W. Atkinson
- />British Trust for Ornithology, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU UK
| | - Jenny A. Gill
- />School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Aldina M. A. Franco
- />School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
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de Lima RF, Viegas L, Solé N, Soares E, Dallimer M, Atkinson PW, Barlow J. Can Management Improve the Value of Shade Plantations for the Endemic Species of São Tomé Island? Biotropica 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo F. de Lima
- Lancaster Environment Centre; Lancaster University; Lancaster LA1 4YQ U.K
- Associação Monte Pico; Monte Café; São Tomé CP 1119 República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe
| | - Leonel Viegas
- Associação Monte Pico; Monte Café; São Tomé CP 1119 República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe
| | - Nelson Solé
- Associação Monte Pico; Monte Café; São Tomé CP 1119 República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe
| | - Estevão Soares
- Associação Monte Pico; Monte Café; São Tomé CP 1119 República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe
- Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé; São Tomé CP 510 República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe
| | - Martin Dallimer
- Department of Food and Resource Economics; Center for Macroecology; Evolution and Climate; University of Copenhagen; Rolighedsvej 23 1958 Copenhagen Denmark
| | | | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre; Lancaster University; Lancaster LA1 4YQ U.K
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de Lima RF, Olmos F, Dallimer M, Atkinson PW, Barlow J. Can REDD+ help the conservation of restricted-range island species? Insights from the endemism hotspot of São Tomé. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74148. [PMID: 24066109 PMCID: PMC3774614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074148] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
REDD+ aims to offset greenhouse gas emissions through “Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation”. Some authors suggest that REDD+ can bring additional benefits for biodiversity, namely for the conservation of extinction-prone restricted-range species. Here, we assess this claim, using São Tomé Island (Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe) as a case study. We quantified the abundance of bird and tree species, and calculated the aboveground carbon stocks across a gradient of land-use intensity. We found a strong spatial congruence between carbon and the presence and abundance of endemic species, supporting the potential of REDD+ to protect these taxa. We then assessed if REDD+ could help protect the forests of São Tomé and Príncipe. To do so, we used OSIRIS simulations to predict country-level deforestation under two different REDD+ designs. These simulations showed that REDD+ could promote the loss of forests in São Tomé and Príncipe through leakage. This happened even when additional payments for biodiversity were included in the simulations, and despite São Tomé and Príncipe having the fourth highest carbon stocks per land area and the second highest biodiversity values according to the OSIRIS database. These results show weaknesses of OSIRIS as a planning tool, and demonstrate that the benefits that REDD+ might bring for biodiversity are strongly dependent on its careful implementation. We recommend that payment for ecosystem services programmes such as REDD+ develop safeguards to ensure that biodiversity co-benefits are met and perverse outcomes are avoided across all tropical countries. In particular, we advise specific safeguards regarding the conservation of extinction-prone groups, such as island restricted-range species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Faustino de Lima
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom
- Associação Monte Pico, Monte Café, Mé Zóchi, República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Martin Dallimer
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom
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de Lima RF, Dallimer M, Atkinson PW, Barlow J. Biodiversity and land-use change: understanding the complex responses of an endemic-rich bird assemblage. DIVERS DISTRIB 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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)
| | - Martin Dallimer
- Forest & Landscape and Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate; University of Copenhagen; Rolighedsvej 23; DK-1958; Frederiksberg C; Denmark
| | | | - Jos Barlow
- Lancaster Environment Centre; Lancaster University; Lancaster; LA1 4YQ; UK
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McGowan CP, Hines JE, Nichols JD, Lyons JE, Smith DR, Kalasz KS, Niles LJ, Dey AD, Clark NA, Atkinson PW, Minton CDT, Kendall W. Demographic consequences of migratory stopover: linking red knot survival to horseshoe crab spawning abundance. Ecosphere 2011. [DOI: 10.1890/es11-00106.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Butler SJ, Mattison EH, Glithero NJ, Robinson LJ, Atkinson PW, Gillings S, Vickery JA, Norris K. Resource availability and the persistence of seed-eating bird populations in agricultural landscapes : a mechanistic modelling approach. J Appl Ecol 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01750.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Cooke IR, Queenborough SA, Mattison EHA, Bailey AP, Sandars DL, Graves AR, Morris J, Atkinson PW, Trawick P, Freckleton RP, Watkinson AR, Sutherland WJ. Integrating socio-economics and ecology: a taxonomy of quantitative methods and a review of their use in agro-ecology. J Appl Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01615.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Gunnarsson TG, Gill JA, Atkinson PW, Gélinaud G, Potts PM, Croger RE, Gudmundsson GA, Appleton GF, Sutherland WJ. Population-scale drivers of individual arrival times in migratory birds. J Anim Ecol 2008; 75:1119-27. [PMID: 16922847 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01131.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
1. In migratory species, early arrival on the breeding grounds can often enhance breeding success. Timing of spring migration is therefore a key process that is likely to be influenced both by factors specific to individuals, such as the quality of winter and breeding locations and the distance between them, and by annual variation in weather conditions before and during migration. 2. The Icelandic black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa islandica population is currently increasing and, throughout Iceland, is expanding into poorer quality breeding areas. Using a unique data set of arrival times in Iceland in different years for individuals of known breeding and wintering locations, we show that individuals breeding in lower quality, recently occupied and colder areas arrive later than those from traditionally occupied areas. The population is also expanding into new wintering areas, and males from traditionally occupied winter sites also arrive earlier than those occupying novel sites. 3. Annual variation in timing of migration of individuals is influenced by large-scale weather systems (the North Atlantic Oscillation), but between-individual variation is a stronger predictor of arrival time than the NAO. Distance between winter and breeding sites does not influence arrival times. 4. Annual variation in timing of migration is therefore influenced by climatic factors, but the pattern of individual arrival is primarily related to breeding and winter habitat quality. These habitat effects on arrival patterns are likely to operate through variation in individual condition and local-scale density-dependent processes. Timing of migration thus appears to be a key component of the intricate relationship between wintering and breeding grounds in this migratory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tómas G Gunnarsson
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
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Gillings S, Atkinson PW, Bardsley SL, Clark NA, Love SE, Robinson RA, Stillman RA, Weber RG. Shorebird predation of horseshoe crab eggs in Delaware Bay: species contrasts and availability constraints. J Anim Ecol 2007; 76:503-14. [PMID: 17439467 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2007.01229.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
1. Functional responses -- the relationship between resource intake rate and resource abundance -- are widely used in explaining predator-prey interactions yet many studies indicate that resource availability is crucial in dictating intake rates. 2. For time-stressed migrant birds refuelling at passage sites, correct decisions concerning patch use are crucial as they determine fattening rates and an individual's future survival and reproduction. Measuring availability alongside abundance is essential if spatial and temporal patterns of foraging are to be explained. 3. A suite of shorebird species stage in Delaware Bay where they consume horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus eggs. Several factors including spawning activity and weather give rise to marked spatial and temporal variation in the abundance and availability of eggs. We undertook field experiments to determine and contrast the intake rates of shorebird species pecking for surface and probing for buried eggs. 4. Whether eggs were presented on the sand surface or buried, we demonstrate strong aggregative responses and rapid depletion (up to 80%). Depletion was greater at deeper depths when more eggs were present. No consistent give-up densities were found. Type II functional responses were found for surface eggs and buried eggs, with peck success twice as high in the former. Maximum intake rates of surface eggs were up to 83% higher than those of buried eggs. 5. Caution is needed when applying functional responses predicted on the basis of morphology. Our expectation of a positive relationship between body size and intake rate was not fully supported. The smallest species, semipalmated sandpiper, had the lowest intake rate but the largest species, red knot, achieved only the same intake rate as the mid-sized dunlin. 6. These functional responses indicate that probing is rarely more profitable than pecking. Currently, few beaches provide egg densities sufficient for efficient probing. Areas where eggs are deposited on the sand surface are critical for successful foraging and ongoing migration. This may be especially true for red knot, which have higher energetic demands owing to their larger body size yet appear to have depressed intake rates because they consume smaller prey than their body size should permit.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gillings
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, UK.
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21
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Smith RC, Walter MF, Hice RH, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. Testis-specific expression of the beta2 tubulin promoter of Aedes aegypti and its application as a genetic sex-separation marker. Insect Mol Biol 2007; 16:61-71. [PMID: 17257209 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2006.00701.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Sex-specific expression of transgenes in pest insects enables novel genetic control strategies, based either on genetic sexing or the spread of transgenes through the germ-line, to be developed and then tested for implementation. We describe the isolation of the beta tubulin genes from the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, and the identification of the particular beta2 tubulin gene which has expression confined to the testes. We demonstrate that the beta2 tubulin promoter of Ae. aegypti can direct the expression of a DsRed genetic marker in the testes and show that labelled sperm can be detected in inseminated spermathecae. The applications for this technology in the genetic control of Ae. aegypti are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Smith
- Program in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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Baker AJ, González PM, Piersma T, Niles LJ, do Nascimento IDLS, Atkinson PW, Clark NA, Minton CDT, Peck MK, Aarts G. Rapid population decline in red knots: fitness consequences of decreased refuelling rates and late arrival in Delaware Bay. Proc Biol Sci 2004; 271:875-82. [PMID: 15255108 PMCID: PMC1691665 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2003.2663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Most populations of migrant shorebirds around the world are in serious decline, suggesting that vital condition-dependent rates such as fecundity and annual survival are being affected globally. A striking example is the red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) population wintering in Tierra del Fuego, which undertakes marathon 30,000 km hemispheric migrations annually. In spring, migrant birds forage voraciously on horseshoe crab eggs in Delaware Bay in the eastern USA before departing to breed in Arctic polar deserts. From 1997 to 2002 an increasing proportion of knots failed to reach threshold departure masses of 180-200 g, possibly because of later arrival in the Bay and food shortage from concurrent over-harvesting of crabs. Reduced nutrient storage, especially in late-arriving birds, possibly combined with reduced sizes of intestine and liver during refuelling, had severe fitness consequences for adult survival and recruitment of young in 2000-2002. From 1997 to 2002 known survivors in Delaware Bay were heavier at initial capture than birds never seen again, annual survival of adults decreased by 37% between May 2000 and May 2001, and the number of second-year birds in wintering flocks declined by 47%. Population size in Tierra del Fuego declined alarmingly from 51,000 to 27,000 in 2000-2002, seriously threatening the viability of this subspecies. Demographic modelling predicts imminent endangerment and an increased risk of extinction of the subspecies without urgent risk-averse management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan J Baker
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S IC6, Canada.
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Stillman RA, West AD, Goss-Custard JD, Caldow RWG, Mcgrorty S, Durell SEAVD, Yates MG, Atkinson PW, Clark NA, Bell MC, Dare PJ, Mander M. An individual behaviour-based model can predict shorebird mortality using routinely collected shellfishery data. J Appl Ecol 2003. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2003.00853.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Abstract
Transposase activity that mediates the mobility of class II transposable elements, is most commonly initiated by the assembly of higher order synaptic complexes, called transpososomes. The formation of these complexes, that contain the transposable element's DNA as well as two or more molecules of the transposase, is dependent on interactions between transposase molecules. Using the yeast Two-Hybrid system, we were able to identify three regions mediating multimerization of the Hermes transposase, an element used for germline transformation of insects belonging to the hAT family of transposable elements. One region facilitating protein binding of Hermes transposase molecules was found within the first 252 amino acids of the transposase. The second region was located at the C-terminus of the transposase, and was found to be specific for Hermes transposase multimerization. Amino acids 551-569 were not only required for multimerization but were also necessary for transposition of the element. The third region was located between amino acids 253 and 380 and was found to eliminate the non-specific protein binding ability of the N-terminal protein interaction region but was required for the specific protein binding ability of the C-terminal region of the transposase. Five point mutations affecting the structural integrity of the C-terminal multimerization region abolished or significantly reduced transpositional activity. The same region had been previously identified to mediate dimerization in Activator (Ac), another hAT element, indicating that hAT transposase multimerization is likely to be a prerequisite for mobility of their elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michel
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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Abstract
For the Hermes transposable element to be mobilized in its eukaryotic host, the transposase, encoded by the element, must make contact with its DNA. After synthesis in the cytoplasm, the transposase has to be actively imported into the nucleus because its size of 70.1 kDa prevents passive diffusion through the nuclear pore. Studies in vitro using transient expression of a Hermes-EGFP fusion protein in Drosophila melanogaster Schneider 2 cells showed the transposase was located predominantly in the nucleus. In silico sequence analysis, however, did not reveal any nuclear localization signal (NLS). To identify the sequence(s) responsible for localization of Hermes transposase in the nucleus, truncated or mutated forms of the transposase were examined for their influence on sub-cellular localization of marker proteins fused to the transposase. Using the same expression system and a GFP-GUS fusion double marker, residues 1-110 were recognized as sufficient, and residues 1-32 as necessary, for nuclear localization. Amino acid K25 greatly facilitated nuclear localization, indicating that at least this basic amino acid plays a significant role in this process. This sequence overlaps the proposed DNA binding region of the Hermes transposase and is not necessarily conserved in all members of the hAT transposable element family.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michel
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
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26
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Guimond N, Bideshi DK, Pinkerton AC, Atkinson PW, O'Brochta DA. Patterns of Hermes transposition in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol Genet Genomics 2003; 268:779-90. [PMID: 12655404 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-002-0800-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2002] [Accepted: 11/24/2002] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Transposable elements are being developed as tools for genomics and for the manipulation of insect genotypes for the purposes of biological control. An understanding of their transposition behavior will facilitate the use of these elements. The behavior of an autonomous Hermes transposable element from Musca domestica in the soma and germ-line of Drosophila melanogaster was investigated using the method of transposon display. In the germ-line, Hermes transposed at a rate of approximately 0.03 jumps per element per generation. Within the soma Hermes exhibited markedly non-random patterns of integration. Certain regions of the genome were distinctly preferred over others as integration targets, while other regions were underrepresented among the integration sites used. One particular site accounted for 4.4% of the transpositions recovered in this experiment, all of which were located within a 2.5-kb region of the actin5C promoter. This region was also present within the Hermes element itself, suggesting that this clustering is an example of transposable element "homing". Clusters of integration sites were also observed near the original donor sites; these represent examples of local hopping. The information content (sequence specificity) of the 8-bp target site was low, and the consensus target site resembles that determined from plasmid-based integration assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Guimond
- Center for Biosystems Research, Plant Sciences Building, Room 5115, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20742-4450, USA
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27
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Abstract
Donor cleavage and strand transfer are two functions performed by transposases during transposition of class II transposable elements. Within transposable elements, the only active center described, to date, facilitating both functions, is the so-called DDE motif. A second motif, R-K-H/K-R-H/W-Y, is found in the site-specific recombinases of the tyrosine recombinase family. While present in many bacterial insertion sequences as well as in the eukaryotic family of mariner/Tc1 elements, the DDE motif was considered absent in other classes of eukaryotic class II elements such as P, and hAT and piggyBac. Based on sequence alignments of a hobo-like element from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, to a variety of other hAT transposases and several members of the mariner/Tc1 group, Bigot et al. [Gene 174 (1996) 265] proposed the presence of a DSE motif in hAT transposases. In the present study we tested if each of these three residues is required for transposition of the Hermes element, a member of the hAT family commonly used for insect transformation. While D402N and E572Q mutations lead to knock-out of Hermes function, mutations S535A and S535D did not affect transposition frequency or the choice of integration sites. These data give the first experimental support that D402 and E572 are indeed required for transposition of Hermes. Furthermore, this study indicates that the active center of the Hermes transposase differs from the proposed DSE motif. It remains to be shown if other residues also form the active site of this transposase.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michel
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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28
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Abstract
A Hermes-based transposable element transformation system incorporating an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) marker was used to produce two transgenic lines of Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). The transformation frequency was approximately 12% and transformation of Culex was shown to be dependent on the presence of Hermes transposase. Injected Culex embryos were treated with four different heat shock regimes, two of which produced transformed individuals. These individuals were mated with wild-type mosquitoes and produced offspring which expressed the dominant EGFP gene in Mendelian ratios predicted for the stable integration of a gene at a single locus. The two transformed lines displayed distinct patterns of phenotypic expression, the expression of which has remained stable after fifteen generations. In these transgenic lines both the Hermes element and flanking plasmid DNA integrated into the Culex genome, as has been previously seen in Hermes-mediated transgenic strains of Aedes aegypti (L.). The high frequency of Culex transformation together with the dependence on the presence of Hermes transposase suggests that, as for Ae. aegypti, this mode of transposition into the germ-line genome occurs by an alternate mechanisms to the cut and paste type of transposition seen for this element in other insect species and in the somatic nuclei of mosquitoes. This is the first report of the genetic transformation of a species in the genus Culex and demonstrates that this medically important mosquito species can now, along with several other Culicine and Anopheline mosquito species, be genetically manipulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Allen
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521, USA
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29
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Gill JA, Norris K, Potts PM, Gunnarsson TG, Atkinson PW, Sutherland WJ. The buffer effect and large-scale population regulation in migratory birds. Nature 2001; 412:436-8. [PMID: 11473317 DOI: 10.1038/35086568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [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: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Buffer effects occur when sites vary in quality and fluctuations in population size are mirrored by large changes in animal numbers in poor-quality sites but only small changes in good-quality sites. Hence, the poor sites 'buffer' the good sites, a mechanism that can potentially drive population regulation if there are demographic costs of inhabiting poor sites. Here we show that for a migratory bird this process can apply on a country-wide scale with consequences for both survival and timing of arrival on the breeding grounds (an indicator of reproductive success). The Icelandic population of the black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa islandica, wintering in Britain has increased fourfold since the 1970s (ref. 5) but rates of change within individual estuaries have varied from zero to sixfold increases. In accordance with the buffer effect, rates of increase are greater on estuaries with low initial numbers, and godwits on these sites have lower prey-intake rates, lower survival rates and arrive later in Iceland than godwits on sites with stable populations. The buffer effect can therefore be a major process influencing large-scale population regulation of migratory species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Gill
- Tyndall Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
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30
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Michel K, Stamenova A, Pinkerton AC, Franz G, Robinson AS, Gariou-Papalexiou A, Zacharopoulou A, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. Hermes-mediated germ-line transformation of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata. Insect Mol Biol 2001; 10:155-162. [PMID: 11422511 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2583.2001.00250.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We report the use of the Hermes transposable element for germ-line transformation of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. Hermes was able to genetically transform this insect at an estimated frequency between 0.6 and 1.1%, which is comparable to the transformation frequencies obtained for this species when using other transposable elements. Hermes integrates into the medfly genome by a cut-and-paste mechanism and the sequences integrated into the genome are delimited by the terminal nucleotides of the Hermes inverted terminal repeats. Integration resulted in the generation of 8 bp target site duplications, the sequences of which conformed to the target site duplications generated by hAT element transposition in insects. The Hermes element is one additional genetic tool that can be deployed in manipulating and characterizing the medfly genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michel
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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31
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Abstract
The past 5 years have witnessed the emergence of techniques that permit the stable genetic transformation of a number of non-drosophilid insect species. These transposable-element-based strategies, together with virus-based techniques that allow the expression of genes to be quickly examined in insects, provide insect scientists with a first generation of genetic tools that can begin to be harnessed to further increase our understanding of gene function and regulation in insects. We review and compare the characteristics of these gene transfer systems and conclude that, although significant progress has been made, these systems still do not meet the requirements of robust genetic tools. We also review risk assessment issues arising from the generation and probable release of genetically engineered insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- P W Atkinson
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA.
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32
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Abstract
The ability of the Hermes transposable element to function as a germ line transformation vector was tested in the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans. Plasmid-based transposable element mobility assays indicated moderate mobility of Hermes in this species. Germline transformants were created using a Hermes element containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the regulatory control of the promoter from Actin5C gene of Drosophila melanogaster. Approximately 4% of the fifty-five adults that developed from the 1903 G(0) embryos injected with the vector produced transgenic progeny. In the four transgenic lines established, the EGFP expression pattern was distinctly nonuniform and levels of expression were low. Promoters other than the one from the Actin5C gene of D. melanogaster should be considered for widespread, constitutive expression. All transgenic lines contained multiple (2-4) integrated Hermes elements. Hermes integration events occurred through a canonical cut-and-paste mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A O'Brochta
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, MD 20742-4450, USA.
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Morgan DJ, Reitz SR, Atkinson PW, Trumble JT. The resolution of Californian populations of Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) using PCR. Heredity (Edinb) 2000; 85 ( Pt 1):53-61. [PMID: 10971691 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2540.2000.00731.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) are important vegetable pests in California. Populations of each species differ in their impact in central and southern regions. This difference may be explained by geographical or host plant differences in each of the regions. We used random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reactions to assess genetic differences between two laboratory populations of each species collected from central and southern California. Individual L. trifolii from the two regions could be discriminated by the presence/absence of PCR products. No such qualitative differences were apparent in PCR products amplified from L. huidobrensis individuals, but the origins of individuals could be differentiated using a bootstrap analysis of marker frequencies. Marker primers were used to compare field and laboratory individuals. No evidence was found for the existence of further populations or of hybrid populations in central and southern California. The distribution of populations of L. huidobrensis was explained completely by geographical differences. As a consequence of the absence of leafminer infestations on the same host plant varieties in both regions, factors governing L. trifolii population distribution differences were less apparent. The presence of the same host plant varieties at both sites suggests that the two L. trifolii populations differ in host plant preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Morgan
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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34
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Abstract
We report here the use of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) from the jellyfish, Aequorea victoria, as a genetic marker for the genetic transformation of mosquitoes. The EGFP gene, under the control of the actin5C promoter of Drosophila melanogaster was inserted into the Hermes transposable element. Preblastoderm embryos of a wild-type strain of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, were microinjected with this plasmid, together with a helper plasmid containing the Hermes transposase placed under the control of the D. melanogaster hsp70 promoter. Somatic EGFP expression was observed during early instars in approximately one-half of all G0 individuals. Two G1 individuals arising from a G0 female displayed high levels of EGFP gene expression during all stages of development. EGFP was transmitted in a Mendelian fashion to the G2 and G3 generations and molecular analysis confirmed the presence of the Hermes[actin5C:EGFP] gene in these insects. These results clearly demonstrate that EGFP can be used as an effective genetic marker in wild-type Ae. aegypti and most likely in other mosquito species as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Pinkerton
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314, USA
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35
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Saville KJ, Warren WD, Atkinson PW, O'Brochta DA. Integration specificity of the hobo element of Drosophila melanogaster is dependent on sequences flanking the integration site. Genetica 1999; 105:133-47. [PMID: 10568258 DOI: 10.1023/a:1003712619487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed the integration specificity of the hobo transposable element of Drosophila melanogaster. Our results indicate that hobo is similar to other transposable elements in that it can integrate into a large number of sites, but that some sites are preferred over others, with a few sites acting as integration hot spots. A comparison of DNA sequences from 112 hobo integration sites identified a consensus sequence of NTNNNNAC, but this consensus was insufficient to account for the observed integration specificity. To begin to define the parameters affecting hobo integration preferences, we analyzed sequences flanking a donor hobo element, as well as sequences flanking a hobo integration hot spot for their relative influence on hobo integration specificity. We demonstrate experimentally that sequences flanking a hobo donor element do not influence subsequent integration site preference, whereas, sequences contained within 31 base pairs flanking an integration hot spot have a significant effect on the frequency of integration into that site. However, sequence analysis of the DNA flanking several hot spots failed to identify any common sequence motif shared by these sites. This lack of primary sequence information suggests that higher order DNA structural characteristics of the DNA and/or chromatin may influence integration site selection by the hobo element.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Saville
- Department of Biology, Albion College, MI 49224, USA.
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36
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Pinkerton AC, Whyard S, Mende HA, Coates CJ, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, contains multiple members of the hAT family of transposable elements. Insect Mol Biol 1999; 8:423-434. [PMID: 10620037 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2583.1999.00137.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Members of the hAT transposable element family are mobile in non-host insect species and have been used as transformation vectors in some of these species. We report that the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, contains at least two types of insect hAT elements called Homer and a Homer-like element (HLE). The Homer element is 3789 bp in size and contains 12-bp imperfect inverted terminal repeats. The Homer element contains a long open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a putative transposase. Three different copies of this long ORF were recovered from the B. tryoni genome and, upon transcription and translation in an in vitro system, all produced transposase. The HLE is an incomplete element since no 3' inverted terminal repeat (ITR) was found. Homer and the HLE are as related to one another as either is to the other insect hAT elements such as Hermes, hobo, hermit and hopper. The structure and distribution of these two Homer elements is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Pinkerton
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521-0314, USA
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37
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Abstract
There are four non-drosophilid insect gene vector systems available that have been constructed from the short inverted repeat-type transposable elements Minos, piggyBac, mariner and Hermes. These elements (with the possible exception of piggyBac) are members of transposable element families that appear to be widespread in nature. Because these transposable element families are large it is possible that an insect species targeted for transformation will contain related transposable elements. The data presented here begin to address directly the question of interaction between diverged but related members of transposable element families. We tested the ability of the hAT elements hobo and Hermes to interact and cause crossmobilization. Using plasmid-based and chromosome-based element mobility assays we found that the terminal sequences of hobo and Hermes were almost equally good substrates for hobo transposase. However, this ability to crossmobilize was not reciprocal. Hermes transposase was only rarely able to cause the excision of hobo elements from plasmids and was never observed from germline chromosomes. These results have important implications for transgenic insect studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Sundararajan
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, MD 20742-4450, USA
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38
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39
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Leopold RA, Rojas RR, Atkinson PW. Post pupariation cold storage of three species of flies: increasing chilling tolerance by acclimation and recurrent recovery periods. Cryobiology 1998; 36:213-24. [PMID: 9597741 DOI: 10.1006/cryo.1998.2081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Three species of flies were examined for chilling tolerance from the end of the pupariation to the onset of adult eclosion for the purpose of determining applicability for cold storage. For the housefly, Musca domestica (Diptera, Muscidae), survival to eclosion was affected by developmental stage/age, length of storage, and storage temperature. Houseflies that were closest to having experienced pupariation or the onset of eclosion were the least cold tolerant. For flies stored at 7 or 10 degrees C, age groups placed directly into storage at 36-72 and 36-48 h postpupariation, respectively, had significantly higher poststorage eclosion than younger or older age groups. Death was observed after only 2 or 3 days with the chilling intolerant groups while mid-aged groups survived 10-12 days under cold storage conditions. Damage could be reduced by giving the mid-aged groups chilled at 7 or 10 degrees C recurrent 2- or 3-h recovery periods every 4 days at 28 degrees C. Examination of O2 consumption throughout the housefly pupal and pharate adult stages showed that the most chilling tolerant groups also had the lowest metabolic activity. Combining a prestorage 17-h slow cooling acclimation interval with the recurrent recovery periods increased eclosion of adults 20% for the 12- to 24-h group after 21 days storage at 7 degrees C. Two blowfly species, Lucilia cuprina and Lucilia sericata (Diptera, Calliphoridae), survived 10 degrees C storage best when given a weekly 4-h recovery period. Survival at 90 days poststorage was nearly 50% for L. cuprina and 80% for L. sericata. Increasing survival under subambient temperatures for all three species appears to relate to whether there is a stage of development which allows cold-induced lowering of metabolism that results in a dormant status best characterized as hibernal quiescence. This study indicates that periodic warming during cold storage increases survival by allowing a chilling intolerant stage to develop to a more tolerant stage and/or by eliminating accumulated toxic metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Leopold
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS Biosciences Research Laboratory, Fargo, North Dakota 58105, USA
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40
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Sarkar A, Yardley K, Atkinson PW, James AA, O'Brochta DA. Transposition of the Hermes element in embryos of the vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 1997; 27:359-363. [PMID: 9219363 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(97)00018-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Using a plasmid-based transpositional recombination assay in vivo, we have demonstrated that Hermes, a short inverted repeat type transposable element from Musca domestica, can transpose in Aedes aegypti embryos. Hermes transpositions in Ae. aegypti have all the characteristics observed during Hermes transposition in its host M. domestica and in related species. These characteristics include an absolute dependence on the expression of the Hermes transposase and a preference for the integration site GTNCAGAC (P < 0.05). In addition, the rate of Hermes transposition in Ae. aegypti (0.286 transpositions per 10,000 donor plasmids screened) was comparable to that observed in Drosophila melanogaster under similar conditions. These results suggest that Hermes can be developed into a gene vector and genetic engineering tool for Ae. aegypti and related mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sarkar
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20742, USA
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41
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Abstract
In this short review, David O'Brochta and Peter Atkinson examine recent progress in the development of transgenic insect technology. To date, only Drosophila melanogaster and a few closely related species can be routinely transformed; transformation is far from routine in all other insects. The key bottleneck that has impeded progress has been the identification of transposable elements or viruses that are mobile in target species such as the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. These mobile genetic elements will serve as platforms upon which effective gene vectors, genetagging agents and enhancer traps will be designed and constructed. Significant progress has been made on a number of research fronts.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A O'Brochta
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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42
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Coates CJ, Turney CL, Frommer M, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. Interplasmid transposition of the mariner transposable element in non-drosophilid insects. Mol Gen Genet 1997; 253:728-33. [PMID: 9079884 DOI: 10.1007/s004380050377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Plasmid-based transposition assays were performed in developing embryos of the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina and the Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni, using the mariner transposable element from Drosophila mauritiana. Transposition products were recovered that were identical in structure to those recovered from D. melanogaster. Only sequences delimited by the mariner terminal repeats were transposed and all insertions occurred at TA residues, and duplicated these. These are the hallmarks of mariner transpositions observed in the chromosomes of D. melanogaster and D. mauritiana, indicating that the plasmid-based assays are accurate indicators of mariner transposition activity. The recovery of precise transposition products from L. cuprina and B. tryoni demonstrates that mariner should be capable of producing germline transformants in these species. The results obtained from these assays suggests that they will be extremely useful in determining if mariner can transpose in other non-drosophilid insects and for investigating factors that might affect mariner transposition frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Division of Entomology, Canberra, Australia
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43
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Sarkar A, Coates CJ, Whyard S, Willhoeft U, Atkinson PW, O'Brochta DA. The Hermes element from Musca domestica can transpose in four families of cyclorrhaphan flies. Genetica 1997; 99:15-29. [PMID: 9226434 DOI: 10.1007/bf02259495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic insect technology will provide opportunities to explore the basic biology of a broad range of insect species in ways that will prove insightful and important. It is also a technology that will provide opportunities to manipulate the genotypes of insects of practical significance to the health and welfare of humans. The Hermes transposable element from the housefly, Musca domestica, is a short inverted repeat-type element related to hobo from Drosophila melanogaster, Ac from Zea mays, and Tam3 from Antirrhinum majus. It has potential to become a versatile and efficient broad host-range insect transformation vector. The ability of Hermes to transpose when introduced into five species of diptera from four divergent families was tested using an in vivo, interplasmid transpositional recombination assay. Hermes was capable of transposing in all species tested, demonstrating that Hermes has a broad host-range. In addition, the rates of transposition were sufficiently high in all species tested to suggest that Hermes will be an efficient gene transfer vector in a wide range of insect species. The Hermes element also revealed a pattern of integration into the target substrate that permitted factors determining integration site selection to be identified. Primary nucleotide sequence of the integration site played a role as did proximity to preferred integration sites and the nucleosomal organization of the target.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sarkar
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20742-4450, USA
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44
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Abstract
The P, hobo, Hermes, Minos and mariner transposable elements have been successfully used as gene vectors to achieve genetic transformation of Drosophila melanogaster. The hobo transposable element of D. melanogaster, a member of the hAT family of transposable elements, can also transpose in other dipteran species including the house fly Musca domestica and the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni. Another hAT element, Hermes, can also transpose in a wide range of insect species. We report here that both of these hAT elements are also capable of mobility and accurate transposition in the noctuid Helicoverpa armigera and thus may be able to be used as gene vectors that will enable the genetic transformation of this important pest species. Significantly, the ability of hobo to excise in this species is independent of the presence of an exogenous source of hobo transposase, which suggests that H. armigera may possess an endogenous hobo-like transposable element.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Pinkerton
- Division of Entomology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
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45
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Coates CJ, Howells AJ, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. The 5' regulatory region from the Drosophila pseudoobscura hsp82 gene results in a high level of reporter gene expression in Lucilia cuprina embryos. Gene X 1996; 175:199-201. [PMID: 8917099 DOI: 10.1016/0378-1119(96)00149-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously examined the efficiency of two Drosophila melanogaster promoters to enable reporter gene expression in embryos of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina. Both the hsp70 heat-shock promoter and the actin5C promoter resulted in low levels of expression of a reporter gene in these embryos. In this study, the D. pseudoobscura hsp82 promoter (phsp82) was tested for its ability to direct the expression of the Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase-encoding gene (cat). We report that the level of CAT activity in L. cuprina embryos was comparable to that obtained with the same construct in D. melanogaster, indicating that phsp82 functions efficiently in this non-drosophilid insect. The results suggest that phsp82 may be utilised in other non-drosophilid insects in which poor expression levels are obtained from constructs containing the hsp70 or actin5C promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
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46
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Abstract
This review summarizes recent data on the development of non-drosophilid insect transformation systems. The discussion focuses on one particular approach to developing transformation systems that relies on the use of short inverted repeat-type transposable elements analogous to that employed for Drosophila melanogaster transformation. Representatives from four families of short inverted repeat-type transposable elements have been shown to either act as non-drosophilid gene vectors or to have the ability to transpose accurately when introduced into non-host insect cells. Minos, a member of the Tcl family of elements isolated originally from D. hydei has been successfully used as a germline transformation vector in the Medfly, Ceratitis capitata. Hermes, a member of the hAT family of elements isolated originally from Musca domestica has been successfully used as a gene transformation vector in D. melanogaster and has a host range that appears to include culicids. hobo, another member of the hAT family of elements isolated from D. melanogaster also has a broad host range that includes tephritid fruitflies. mariner(Mos), a member of the mariner family of elements isolated from D. mauritiana can transpose in calliphorids. Finally, piggyBac/IFP2, a member of the TTAA-specific family of elements isolated from Trichoplusia ni can transpose when introduced into Spodoptera frugiperda cells. Although routine transformation of insects other than D. melanogaster is not possible it is clear that the raw materials for the development of efficient transformation systems are now available.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A O'Brochta
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland, College Park 20742, USA.
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47
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Abstract
A genetic marker for identifying transgenic Musca domestica by changes in eye color is described. The Drosophila melanogaster tryptophan oxygenase gene, vermilion (v), was tested for its ability to genetically complement the mutant tryptophan oxygenase gene in houseflies homozygous for green (ge). The v cDNA, placed under the control of the hsp82 promoter of D. pseudoobscura was transiently expressed in M. domestica embryos homozygous for the tryptophan oxygenase gene, ge, resulting in the rescue of adult eye color. The use of a gene from D. melanogaster to complement an eye color mutant in Musca provides the opportunity to develop a gene vector system for M. domestica and a select group of other non-drosophilid insects in which homologous mutations exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- L D White
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20742-3351, USA
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48
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Abstract
Hermes is a short inverted repeat-type transposable element from the house fly, Musca domestica. Using an extra-chromosomal transpositional recombination assay, we show that Hermes elements can accurately transpose in M. domestica embryos. To test the ability of Hermes to function in species distantly related to M. domestica we used a nonautonomous Hermes element containing the Drosophila melanogaster while (w+) gene and created D. melanogaster germline transformants. Transgenic G1 insects were recovered from 34.6% of the fertile G0 adults developing from microinjected w- embryos. This transformation rate is comparable with that observed using P or hobo vectors in D. melanogaster, however, many instances of multiple-element insertions and large clusters were observed. Genetic mapping, Southern blotting, polytene chromosome in situ hybridization and DNA sequence analyses confirmed that Hermes elements were chromosomally integrated in transgenic insects. Our data demonstrate that Hermes elements transpose at high rates in D. melanogaster and may be an effective gene vector and gene-tagging agent in this species and distantly related species of medical and agricultural importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A O'Brochta
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park 20742, USA.
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49
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Coates CJ, Johnson KN, Perkins HD, Howells AJ, O'Brochta DA, Atkinson PW. The hermit transposable element of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, belongs to the hAT family of transposable elements. Genetica 1996; 97:23-31. [PMID: 8851880 DOI: 10.1007/bf00132577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We report the cloning of hermit, a member of the hAT family of transposable elements from the genome of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina. Hermit is 2716 bp long and is 49% homologous to the autonomous hobo element, HFL1, at the nucleic acid level. Hermit has 15 bp terminal inverted repeats that share 10 bp with the terminal inverted repeats of HFL1. Conceptual translation reveals a 583 residue open reading frame (ORF) that is 64% similar and 42% identical to the HFL1 ORF. However, the sequence of the hermit element contains two frameshifts within the putative ORF, indication that hermit is an inactive element. Analysis of L. cuprina strains from within and outside Australia suggested that hermit is present as a single copy in all the genomes analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Division of Entomology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia
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50
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Coates CJ, Turney CL, Frommer M, O'Brochta DA, Warren WD, Atkinson PW. The transposable element mariner can excise in non-drosophilid insects. Mol Gen Genet 1995; 249:246-52. [PMID: 7500947 DOI: 10.1007/bf00290372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Plasmid-based excision assays performed in embryos of two non-drosophilid species using the mariner transposable element from Drosophila mauritiana resulted in empty excision sites identical to those observed after the excision of mariner from D. mauritiana chromosomes. In the presence of the autonomous mariner element Mos1, excision products were recovered from D. melanogaster, D. mauritiana and the blowfly Lucilia cuprina. When a hsp82 heat shock promoter-Mos1 construct was used to supply mariner transposase, excision products were also recovered from the Queensland fruitfly Bactrocera tryoni. Analysis of DNA sequences at empty excision sites led us to hypothesise that the mariner excision/repair process involves the formation of a heteroduplex at the excision breakpoint. The success of these assays suggests that they will provide a valuable tool for assessing the ability of mariner and mariner-like elements to function in non-drosophilid insects and for investigating the basic mechanisms of mariner excision and repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Coates
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Division of Entomology, Canberra, Australia
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