scholarly journals Higher frequency of extra-pair offspring in urban than forest broods of great tits (Parus major)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivett Pipoly ◽  
Krisztián Szabó ◽  
Veronika Bókony ◽  
Bálint Preiszner ◽  
Gábor Seress ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parus Major ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollution ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Habitats ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Ecological Conditions ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Quality Signals ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
The Social

AbstractUrbanization increasingly changes the ecological conditions for wild animal populations, influencing their demography, reproduction, and behaviour. While studies on the ecological consequences of urbanization frequently document a reduced number and poorer body condition of offspring in urban than in non-urban bird populations, consequences for other components of reproduction are rarely investigated. Mating with partners outside the social pair-bond is widespread in birds, and although theory predicts that the occurrence of extra-pair fertilizations (EPF) may be sensitive to the altered ecological conditions of cities, the effect of urbanization on EPF is poorly known. Here we used data from two urban and two forest populations collected over three years to test whether the frequency of extra-pair offspring (EPO) in great tit broods differed between the habitats. We found that significantly more broods contained EPO in urban habitats (48.9 %) than in forests (24.4 %). In broods with EPO, the number and proportion of EPO was similar in urban and forest broods. These results suggest that females that live in urban habitats are more likely to engage in EPF than those living in forests. Urban environments may either 1) provide more spatiotemporal opportunities to EPF because of higher breeding density and lower or more constant caterpillar supply in cities compared to natural habitats, or 2) enhance the benefits of EPF via increased fertility or due to disrupted quality signals caused by anthropogenic pollution. In addition, 3) females with higher propensity to engage in EPF may more likely settle in urban habitats.

scholarly journals Consistent signatures of urban adaptation in a native, urban invader ant Tapinoma sessile

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Joseph Blumenfeld ◽  
Pierre Andre Eyer ◽  
Anjel M Helms ◽  
Grzegorz Buczkowski ◽  
Edward L Vargo
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
The United States ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Urban Habitats ◽  
Tapinoma Sessile ◽  
The Social ◽  
Odorous House Ant ◽  
Single Nest

Biological invasions are becoming more prevalent due to the rise of global trade and expansion of urban areas. Ants are among the most prolific invaders, with many exhibiting a multi-queen colony structure, dispersal through budding and a lack of inter-nest aggression. Although these characteristics are generally associated with the invasions of exotic ants, they may also facilitate the spread of native ants into novel habitats (e.g., urban areas). Native to North American forests, the odorous house ant Tapinoma sessile has become abundant in urban environments throughout the United States. Forest-dwelling colonies typically have a small workforce, inhabit a single nest, and are headed by a single queen, whereas urban colonies tend to be several orders of magnitude larger, inhabit multiple nests and are headed by multiple queens. Here, we explore and compare the population genetic and breeding structure of T. sessile within and between urban and natural environments in several localities across its distribution range. We found the social structure of a colony to be a plastic trait in both habitats, although extreme polygyny (i.e., nests with multiple queens) was confined to urban habitats. Additionally, polydomous colonies (i.e., nests lacking genetic differentiation and behavioral antagonism) were only present in urban habitats, suggesting T. sessile can only achieve unicoloniality within urbanized areas. Finally, we identified strong differentiation between urban and natural populations in each locality and continent-wide, indicating cities may restrict gene flow and exert intense selection pressure. Overall, our study highlights urbanization's influence in charting the evolutionary course for species.

scholarly journals Foraging in Urban Environments Increases Bactericidal Capacity in Plasma and Decreases Corticosterone Concentrations in White Ibises

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline R. Cummings ◽  
Nicola Y. Khan ◽  
Maureen M. Murray ◽  
Taylor Ellison ◽  
Catharine N. Welch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Habitats ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Eudocimus Albus ◽  
Bactericidal Capacity ◽  
Lower Baseline ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Baseline Corticosterone ◽  
Urban Sites

As humans continue to infringe on natural habitats, more animals are exposed to urbanization and its associated challenges. It is still unclear, however, whether the movement of animals into urban habitats negatively influences the health and/or survival of those animals, however those animals often experience shifts in resource availability, diet composition, and exposure to stimuli that are new and potentially stressful. Recently, white ibises (Eudocimus albus) have become increasingly common in urban habitats where they forage in close proximity to humans and even interact with them, collecting food handouts. We hypothesized that foraging in urban habitats would negatively impact measures of health, impair innate immunity, trigger elevated concentrations of corticosterone, and depress physiological responses to stressors in white ibises. We found that plasma from birds captured from urban sites had higher bactericidal capacity against Escherichia coli than those captured in natural sites. Additionally, adults captured in urban habitats had a significantly lower baseline corticosterone concentrations during the post-breeding season, and corticosterone responses to a handling challenge were lower for birds captured from urban sites during year 2 of the study. These results indicate that exposure to urban habitats impacts ibis health, though in the opposite direction of what was predicted.

Diversity of fruits in Artibeus lituratus diet in urban and natural habitats in Brazil: a review

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-71
Author(s):  
Rafael de Souza Laurindo ◽  
Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Geographic Origin ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Habitats ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Exotic Fruits ◽  
Artibeus Lituratus ◽  
Fecal Sampling

AbstractThe great fruit-eating bat (Artibeus lituratus) is a large-sized species that forages primarily on fruits. This species is widespread throughout the Neotropics, where it is common in natural areas and also occupies forest patches and cities. In this study, we review the composition of Artibeus lituratus diet in Brazil as well as the size of fruits and seeds, plant geographic origin, and sampling methods used in natural versus urban habitats. We show that Artibeus lituratus is able to consume a higher proportion of exotic fruits with large seeds in urban environments than in natural areas. Fruit diameter was not statistically different between environments, but both fruit and seed diameters are smaller when detected by fecal sampling than by other methods. This difference is likely due to the fact that in natural habitats studies are predominantly based on fecal samples, which hinders the detection of large unswallowed seeds. Consequently, we recommend the use of complementary sampling methods (not only the widely used technique of fecal sorting) in order to produce more accurate descriptions of frugivorous bats’ diets. We suggest that the ability to exploit fruits of exotic plant species including the ones with large seeds may be a key trait for the persistence of A. lituratus in urban habitats.

scholarly journals Exclusions for resolving urban badger damage problems: outcomes and consequences

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair I. Ward ◽  
Jason K. Finney ◽  
Sarah E. Beatham ◽  
Richard J. Delahay ◽  
Peter A. Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Meles Meles ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Wild Animal ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wildlife Control ◽  
Variable Success ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Variable Success Rate

Increasing urbanisation and growth of many wild animal populations can result in a greater frequency of human-wildlife conflicts. However, traditional lethal methods of wildlife control are becoming less favoured than non-lethal approaches, particularly when problems involve charismatic species in urban areas. Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) excavate subterranean burrow systems (setts), which can become large and complex. Larger setts within which breeding takes place and that are in constant use are known as main setts. Smaller, less frequently occupied setts may also exist within the social group’s range. When setts are excavated in urban environments they can undermine built structures and can limit or prevent safe use of the area by people. The most common approach to resolving these problems in the UK is to exclude badgers from the problem sett, but exclusions suffer a variable success rate. We studied 32 lawful cases of badger exclusions using one-way gates throughout England to evaluate conditions under which attempts to exclude badgers from their setts in urban environments were successful. We aimed to identify ways of modifying practices to improve the chances of success. Twenty of the 32 exclusion attempts were successful, but success was significantly less likely if a main sett was to be excluded in comparison with another type of sett and if vegetation was not completely removed from the sett surface prior to exclusion attempts. We recommend that during exclusions all vegetation is removed from the site, regardless of what type of sett is involved, and that successful exclusion of badgers from a main sett might require substantially more effort than other types of sett.

scholarly journals Movement and conformity interact to establish local behavioural traditions in animal populations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Somveille ◽  
Josh A. Firth ◽  
Lucy M. Aplin ◽  
Damien R. Farine ◽  
Ben C. Sheldon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Diffusion Experiment ◽  
Cultural Diffusion ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Local Traditions ◽  
First Time ◽  
Animal Culture

ABSTRACTThe social transmission of information is critical to the emergence of animal culture. Two processes are predicted to play key roles in how socially-transmitted information spreads in animal populations: the movement of individuals across the landscape and conformist social learning. We develop a model that, for the first time, explicitly integrates these processes to investigate their impacts on the spread of behavioural preferences. Our results reveal a strong interplay between movement and conformity for determining whether local traditions establish across a landscape or whether a single preference dominates the whole population. The model is able to replicate a real-world cultural diffusion experiment in great tits Parus major, but also allows for a range of predictions for the emergence of animal culture under various initial conditions, habitat structure and strength of conformist bias to be made. Integrating social behaviour with ecological variation will be important for understanding the stability and diversity of culture in animals.

scholarly journals Influence of growing up in the city or near an airport on the physiological stress of tree sparrow nestlings (Passer montanus)

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iraida Redondo ◽  
Jaime Muriel ◽  
Cristina de Castro Díaz ◽  
José I. Aguirre ◽  
Diego Gil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollution ◽  
Aircraft Noise ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Tree Sparrow ◽  
Passer Montanus

AbstractUrbanization constitutes one of the major transformations of natural habitats, creating new areas characterized by multiple potential wildlife stressors. Birds that live in highly anthropized zones are confronted with physiological and behavioural challenges caused by these stressors. Here, we investigated if several health parameters differed between three subpopulations of tree sparrow nestlings subjected to different levels of anthropogenic pollution, and particularly noise pollution: a quiet rural area, a noisy rural area adjacent to an airport and a heavily urbanized area. We compared body condition, oxidative stress markers and baseline corticosterone levels, expecting urban nestlings to be in overall worse condition as compared to rural (rural and rural airport) birds. In addition, we expected nestlings exposed to aircraft noise to show intermediate stress levels. We found that rural-airport nestlings had the highest levels of antioxidant capacity of plasma and did not differ from rural counterparts in the rest of the parameters. By contrast, urban nestlings were in slightly worse body condition and had lower antioxidant capacity than rural and rural-airport individuals. Our results suggest that aircraft noise does not constitute a significant stressor for nestlings. In contrast, urban conditions constitute a more challenging situation, negatively impacting different physiological systems. Although nestlings seem able to buffer these challenges in the short-term, further research should explore the long-term potential consequences of early exposure to these conditions.

scholarly journals Species interactions limit the occurrence of urban-adapted birds in cities

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (49) ◽  
pp. E11495-E11504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Martin ◽  
Frances Bonier
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Competitive Interactions ◽  
Urban Habitats ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Geographic Ranges ◽  
Subordinate Species

Urbanization represents an extreme transformation of more natural systems. Populations of most species decline or disappear with urbanization, and yet some species persist and even thrive in cities. What determines which species persist or thrive in urban habitats? Direct competitive interactions among species can influence their distributions and resource use, particularly along gradients of environmental challenge. Given the challenges of urbanization, similar interactions may be important for determining which species persist or thrive in cities; however, their role remains poorly understood. Here, we use a global dataset to test among three alternative hypotheses for how direct competitive interactions and behavioral dominance may influence the breeding occurrence of birds in cities. We find evidence to support the competitive interference hypothesis: behaviorally dominant species were more widespread in urban habitats than closely related subordinate species, but only in taxa that thrive in urban environments (hereafter, urban adapted), and only when dominant and subordinate species overlapped their geographic ranges. This result was evident across diverse phylogenetic groups but varied significantly with a country’s level of economic development. Urban-adapted, dominant species were more widespread than closely related subordinate species in cities in developed, but not developing, countries; countries in economic transition showed an intermediate pattern. Our results provide evidence that competitive interactions broadly influence species responses to urbanization, and that these interactions have asymmetric effects on subordinate species that otherwise could be widespread in urban environments. Results further suggest that economic development might accentuate the consequences of competitive interactions, thereby reducing local diversity in cities.

scholarly journals “Holding Environments”: Creating Spaces to Support Children's Environmental Learning in the 21st Century

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Malone
Keyword(s):  
Natural World ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Community Identity ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Agenda 21 ◽  
Environmental Learning ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
The Social ◽  
Limited Opportunity

AbstractFor many children across the globe, whether in low or high income nations, growing up in the 21st century will mean living in overcrowded, unsafe and polluted environments which provide limited opportunity for natural play and environmental learning. Yet Agenda 21, the Habitat Agenda and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child all clearly articulate the importance of urban environments as the context for supporting children's sense of place, community identity and empathy with the natural world. I will argue in this paper that these attributes are all key drivers for supporting children in their role as future decision makers and environmental stewards. Extending Winnicotts' concept of “holding environments” beyond the social and cultural aspects of communities as sites for placemaking I draw a link to the value of botanical gardens and other green spaces in cities as the “holding environments” for children's environmental learning. I will construct an argument around the premise that to participate in, and contribute to, global sustainability - our children need places and the opportunity to engage, connect and respond to nature.

scholarly journals Biological Consequences of Marine Energy Development on Marine Animals

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 8460
Author(s):  
Lenaïg G. Hemery ◽  
Andrea E. Copping ◽  
Dorian M. Overhus
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Energy Devices ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
Animal Populations

Marine energy devices harness power from attributes of ocean water to form a sustainable energy source. Knowledge gaps remain about whether marine energy systems can affect the environment, adding another threat to animal populations and habitats already under pressure from climate change and anthropogenic activities. To date, potential environmental effects have been studied under the scope of stressor–receptor interactions, where moving parts of, or emissions from, a system could harm the animals, habitats, and natural processes. While crucial for understanding effects and identifying knowledge gaps, this approach misses a holistic view of what animals may experience in the presence of marine energy systems. We look at six biological consequences and forces that drive the health of an animal population and the effects expected from marine energy development: success of early life stages; changes in competitive capabilities; growth and survival based on food availability; susceptibility to predators; injury or death; and reproductive success. We use case studies to develop this approach, focusing on a variety of marine animals. An approximate level of risk is assigned for each interaction based on the biological consequences. This work highlights the need to examine the effects of marine energy development on animal populations within their natural habitats.

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