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While most of the knowledge on invasive species focuses on their impacts, little is known about their potential positive effects on other species. Invasive ecosystem engineers can disrupt recipient environments; however, they may also facilitate access to novel resources for native species. The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is a worldwide invader and the only parrot that builds its own communal nests, which can be used by other species. However, the ecological effects of these interspecific interactions are barely known. We compared the role of the monk parakeet as a nest-site facilitator in different rural and urban areas, both invaded and native, across three continents and eight breeding seasons. A total of 2690 nests from 42 tenant species, mostly cavity-nesting birds, were recorded in 26% of 2595 monk parakeet nests. Rural and invaded areas showed the highest abundance and richness of tenant species. Multispecies communal nests triggered interspecific aggression between the monk parakeet host and its tenants, but also a cooperative defense against predators. Despite the positive effects for native species, monk parakeets also facilitate nesting opportunities to other non-native species and may also transmit diseases to tenants, highlighting the complexity of biotic interactions in biological invasions.
Dailos Hernández-Brito; Martina Carrete; Guillermo Blanco; Pedro Romero-Vidal; Juan Senar; Emiliano Mori; Thomas White; Álvaro Luna; José Tella. The Role of Monk Parakeets as Nest-Site Facilitators in Their Native and Invaded Areas. Biology 2021, 10, 683 .
AMA StyleDailos Hernández-Brito, Martina Carrete, Guillermo Blanco, Pedro Romero-Vidal, Juan Senar, Emiliano Mori, Thomas White, Álvaro Luna, José Tella. The Role of Monk Parakeets as Nest-Site Facilitators in Their Native and Invaded Areas. Biology. 2021; 10 (7):683.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDailos Hernández-Brito; Martina Carrete; Guillermo Blanco; Pedro Romero-Vidal; Juan Senar; Emiliano Mori; Thomas White; Álvaro Luna; José Tella. 2021. "The Role of Monk Parakeets as Nest-Site Facilitators in Their Native and Invaded Areas." Biology 10, no. 7: 683.
Parrots stand out among birds because of their poor conservation status and the lack of available information on their population sizes and trends. Estimating parrot abundance is complicated by the high mobility, gregariousness, patchy distributions, and rarity of many species. Roadside car surveys can be useful to cover large areas and increase the probability of detecting spatially aggregated species or those occurring at very low densities. However, such surveys may be biased due to their inability to handle differences in detectability among species and habitats. We conducted 98 roadside surveys, covering > 57,000 km across 20 countries and the main world biomes, recording ca. 120,000 parrots from 137 species. We found that larger and more gregarious species are more easily visually detected and at greater distances, with variations among biomes. However, raw estimates of relative parrot abundances (individuals/km) were strongly correlated (r = 0.86–0.93) with parrot densities (individuals/km2) estimated through distance sampling (DS) models, showing that variability in abundances among species (>40 orders of magnitude) overcomes any potential detectability bias. While both methods provide similar results, DS cannot be used to study parrot communities or monitor the population trends of all parrot species as it requires a minimum of encounters that are not reached for most species (64% in our case), mainly the rarest and more threatened. However, DS may be the most suitable choice for some species-specific studies of common species. We summarize the strengths and weaknesses of both methods to guide researchers in choosing the best–fitting option for their particular research hypotheses, characteristics of the species studied, and logistical constraints.
José Tella; Pedro Romero-Vidal; Francisco Dénes; Fernando Hiraldo; Bernardo Toledo; Federica Rossetto; Guillermo Blanco; Dailos Hernández-Brito; Erica Pacífico; José Díaz-Luque; Abraham Rojas; Alan Bermúdez-Cavero; Álvaro Luna; Jomar Barbosa; Martina Carrete. Roadside Car Surveys: Methodological Constraints and Solutions for Estimating Parrot Abundances across the World. Diversity 2021, 13, 300 .
AMA StyleJosé Tella, Pedro Romero-Vidal, Francisco Dénes, Fernando Hiraldo, Bernardo Toledo, Federica Rossetto, Guillermo Blanco, Dailos Hernández-Brito, Erica Pacífico, José Díaz-Luque, Abraham Rojas, Alan Bermúdez-Cavero, Álvaro Luna, Jomar Barbosa, Martina Carrete. Roadside Car Surveys: Methodological Constraints and Solutions for Estimating Parrot Abundances across the World. Diversity. 2021; 13 (7):300.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé Tella; Pedro Romero-Vidal; Francisco Dénes; Fernando Hiraldo; Bernardo Toledo; Federica Rossetto; Guillermo Blanco; Dailos Hernández-Brito; Erica Pacífico; José Díaz-Luque; Abraham Rojas; Alan Bermúdez-Cavero; Álvaro Luna; Jomar Barbosa; Martina Carrete. 2021. "Roadside Car Surveys: Methodological Constraints and Solutions for Estimating Parrot Abundances across the World." Diversity 13, no. 7: 300.
Understanding of ecosystem structure and functioning requires detailed knowledge about plant–animal interactions, especially when keystone species are involved. The recent consideration of parrots as legitimate seed dispersers has widened the range of mechanisms influencing the life cycle of many plant species. We examined the interactions between the burrowing parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus and two dominant algarrobo trees (Prosopis alba and Prosopis nigra) in the Monte Desert, Argentina. We recorded the abundance and foraging behaviour of parrots; quantified the handling, consumption, wasting, and dispersal of ripe and unripe pods; and tested the viability of soft and hard ripe seeds wasted and transported by parrots. We found a high abundance of burrowing parrots. They predated on soft seeds from unripe pods while exclusively feeding upon pulp wrapping hard seeds from ripe pods. Frequent pod wasting beneath the plant or transport at a distance invariably implied the dispersal of multiple seeds in each event. Moreover, soft seeds retained viability after desiccation outside the mother plant, suggesting effective seed dispersal after partial pod predation due to a predator satiation effect. In about half of the foraging flocks, at least one parrot departed in flight with pods in its beak, with 10–34% of the flock components moving pods at distances averaging 238 m (P. alba) and 418 m (P. nigra). A snapshot sampling of faeces from livestock and wild mammals suggested a low frequency of seed dispersal by endozoochory and secondary dispersal by ants and dung beetles. The nomadic movements and long flights of burrowing parrots between breeding and foraging sites can lead to the dispersal of huge amounts of seeds across large areas that are sequentially exploited. Further research should evaluate the role of the burrowing parrot as a functionally unique species in the structure of the Monte Desert woods and the genetic structure of algarrobo species.
Guillermo Blanco; Pedro Romero-Vidal; Martina Carrete; Daniel Chamorro; Carolina Bravo; Fernando Hiraldo; José Tella. Burrowing Parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus as Long-Distance Seed Dispersers of Keystone Algarrobos, Genus Prosopis, in the Monte Desert. Diversity 2021, 13, 204 .
AMA StyleGuillermo Blanco, Pedro Romero-Vidal, Martina Carrete, Daniel Chamorro, Carolina Bravo, Fernando Hiraldo, José Tella. Burrowing Parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus as Long-Distance Seed Dispersers of Keystone Algarrobos, Genus Prosopis, in the Monte Desert. Diversity. 2021; 13 (5):204.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuillermo Blanco; Pedro Romero-Vidal; Martina Carrete; Daniel Chamorro; Carolina Bravo; Fernando Hiraldo; José Tella. 2021. "Burrowing Parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus as Long-Distance Seed Dispersers of Keystone Algarrobos, Genus Prosopis, in the Monte Desert." Diversity 13, no. 5: 204.
Plant–animal interactions are key to sustaining whole communities and ecosystem function. However, their complexity may limit our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the species involved. The ecological effects of epizoochory remain little known compared to other seed dispersal mechanisms given the few vectors identified. In addition, epizoochory is mostly considered non-mutualistic since dispersers do not obtain nutritional rewards. Here, we show a widespread but unknown mutualistic interaction between parrots and plants through epizoochory. Combining our observations with photos from web-sources, we recorded nearly 2000 epizoochory events in 48 countries across five continents, involving 116 parrot species and nearly 100 plant species from 35 families, including both native and non-native species. The viscid pulp of fleshy fruits and anemochorous structures facilitate the adherence of tiny seeds (mean 3.7 × 2.56 mm) on the surface of parrots while feeding, allowing the dispersion of these seeds over long distances (mean = 118.5 m). This parrot–plant mutualism could be important in ecosystem functioning across a wide diversity of environments, also facilitating the spread of exotic plants. Future studies should include parrots for a better understanding of plant dispersal processes and for developing effective conservation actions against habitat loss and biological invasions.
Dailos Hernández-Brito; Pedro Romero-Vidal; Fernando Hiraldo; Guillermo Blanco; José Díaz-Luque; Jomar Barbosa; Craig Symes; Thomas White; Erica Pacífico; Esther Sebastián-González; Martina Carrete; José Tella. Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant–Animal Mutualism. Plants 2021, 10, 760 .
AMA StyleDailos Hernández-Brito, Pedro Romero-Vidal, Fernando Hiraldo, Guillermo Blanco, José Díaz-Luque, Jomar Barbosa, Craig Symes, Thomas White, Erica Pacífico, Esther Sebastián-González, Martina Carrete, José Tella. Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant–Animal Mutualism. Plants. 2021; 10 (4):760.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDailos Hernández-Brito; Pedro Romero-Vidal; Fernando Hiraldo; Guillermo Blanco; José Díaz-Luque; Jomar Barbosa; Craig Symes; Thomas White; Erica Pacífico; Esther Sebastián-González; Martina Carrete; José Tella. 2021. "Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant–Animal Mutualism." Plants 10, no. 4: 760.
Introduced organisms have to overcome several obstacles, including the scarcity of conspecific mates, before becoming successfully established. We recorded interspecific mating in non‐native areas (Spain) that involved Orange‐winged Amazons Amazona amazonica with three non‐congeneric parrot species: Scaly‐headed Parrot Pionus maximiliani, Rose‐ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri and Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus. Rather than mating with parakeets, a male Orange‐winged Amazon successfully bred with a female Scaly‐headed Parrot, raising hybrid offspring during five consecutive years and thus increasing the initial population size from five to 12 individuals in 9 years. Non‐congeneric hybridization seems to be extremely rare in wild parrots and, in this case, it may facilitate the successful establishment of a small introduced population in Tenerife, Spain.
Dailos Hernández‐Brito; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete; Guillermo Blanco. Successful hybridization between non‐congeneric parrots in a small introduced population. Ibis 2021, 163, 1093 -1098.
AMA StyleDailos Hernández‐Brito, José L. Tella, Martina Carrete, Guillermo Blanco. Successful hybridization between non‐congeneric parrots in a small introduced population. Ibis. 2021; 163 (3):1093-1098.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDailos Hernández‐Brito; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete; Guillermo Blanco. 2021. "Successful hybridization between non‐congeneric parrots in a small introduced population." Ibis 163, no. 3: 1093-1098.
We present a dataset that assembles occurrence records of alien tetrapods (amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) in the Iberian Peninsula, a coherent biogeographically unit where introductions of alien species have occurred for millennia. These data have important potential applications for ecological research and management, including the assessment of invasion risks, formulation of preventive and management plans, and research at the biological community level on alien species. This dataset summarizes inventories and data sources on the taxonomy and distribution of alien tetrapods in the Iberia Peninsula, comprising known locations from published literature, expert knowledge and citizen science platforms. An expert-based assessment process allowed the identification of unreliable records (misclassification or natural dispersion from native range), and the classification of species according to their status of reproduction in the wild. Distributional data was harmonized into a common area unit, the 10 × 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system (n = 6,152 cells). The year of observation and/or year of publication were also assigned to the records. In total, we assembled 35,940 unique distribution records (UTM × species × Year) for 253 species (6 amphibians, 16 reptiles, 218 birds and 13 mammals), spanning between 1912 and 2020. The species with highest number of distribution records were the Mediterranean painted frog Discoglossus pictus (n = 59 UTM), the pond slider Trachemys scripta (n = 471), the common waxbill Estrilda astrild (n = 1,275) and the house mouse Mus musculus (n = 4,043), for amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, respectively. Most alien species recorded are native to Africa (33%), followed by South America (21%), Asia (19%), North America (12%) and Oceania (10%). Thirty-six species are classified by IUCN as threatened in their native range, namely 2 Critically Endangered (CR), 6 Endangered (EN), 8 Vulnerable (VU), and 20 species Near Threatened (NT). Species maps are provided in DataSet1, as well R code and GIS layers to update them as new records are obtained.
Fernando Ascensão; Marcello D'Amico; Ricardo C. Martins; Rui Rebelo; A. Márcia Barbosa; Joana Bencatel; Rafael Barrientos; Pedro Abellán; José L. Tella; Laura Cardador; José D. Anadón; Martina Carrete; Enrique Murgui; Pedro Fernandes; Sara M. Santos; António Mira; Maria Da Luz Mathias; Patrícia Tiago; Eduardo Casabella; Luís Reino; Octávio S. Paulo; Henrique M. Pereira; César Capinha. Distribution of alien tetrapods in the Iberian Peninsula. NeoBiota 2021, 64, 1 -21.
AMA StyleFernando Ascensão, Marcello D'Amico, Ricardo C. Martins, Rui Rebelo, A. Márcia Barbosa, Joana Bencatel, Rafael Barrientos, Pedro Abellán, José L. Tella, Laura Cardador, José D. Anadón, Martina Carrete, Enrique Murgui, Pedro Fernandes, Sara M. Santos, António Mira, Maria Da Luz Mathias, Patrícia Tiago, Eduardo Casabella, Luís Reino, Octávio S. Paulo, Henrique M. Pereira, César Capinha. Distribution of alien tetrapods in the Iberian Peninsula. NeoBiota. 2021; 64 ():1-21.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando Ascensão; Marcello D'Amico; Ricardo C. Martins; Rui Rebelo; A. Márcia Barbosa; Joana Bencatel; Rafael Barrientos; Pedro Abellán; José L. Tella; Laura Cardador; José D. Anadón; Martina Carrete; Enrique Murgui; Pedro Fernandes; Sara M. Santos; António Mira; Maria Da Luz Mathias; Patrícia Tiago; Eduardo Casabella; Luís Reino; Octávio S. Paulo; Henrique M. Pereira; César Capinha. 2021. "Distribution of alien tetrapods in the Iberian Peninsula." NeoBiota 64, no. : 1-21.
In some vertebrate species, family units are typically formed when sexually mature individuals delay dispersal and independent breeding to remain as subordinates in a breeding group. This behaviour has been intensively studied in gregarious species but has also been described in non-social species where ecological and evolutionary drivers are less known. Here, we explore factors that favour delayed dispersal and family living and potential benefits associated with this strategy in a non-social, monogamous species (the burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia) occupying urban and rural habitats. Our results show that family units arise when first-year individuals, mainly males, delay their dispersal to stay in their natal nests with their parents. This delayed dispersal, while still uncommon, was more prevalent in urban (7%) than in rural (3%) habitats, and in areas with high conspecific density and productivity. Birds delaying dispersal contributed to the genetic pool of the offspring in 25% of the families analysed, but did not increase the productivity of the nests where they remained. However, their presence was related to an improvement in the body condition of chicks, which was ultimately linked to a slightly positive effect in offspring future survival probabilities. Finally, delayed dispersers were recruited as breeders in high-quality urban territories and closer to their natal nests than individuals dispersing during their first year of life. Thus, our results suggest that delaying dispersal may be mainly related to opportunities to inheriting a good quality territory, especially for males. Our study contributes to understanding the role played by habitat quality in promoting delayed dispersal and family living, not only in social but also non-social species, highlighting its impact in the ecology and evolution of animal populations.
Álvaro Luna; Nicolás A. Lois; Sol Rodríguez-Martinez; Antonio Palma; Ana Sanz-Aguilar; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. Urban life promotes delayed dispersal and family living in a non-social bird species. Scientific Reports 2021, 11, 1 -15.
AMA StyleÁlvaro Luna, Nicolás A. Lois, Sol Rodríguez-Martinez, Antonio Palma, Ana Sanz-Aguilar, José L. Tella, Martina Carrete. Urban life promotes delayed dispersal and family living in a non-social bird species. Scientific Reports. 2021; 11 (1):1-15.
Chicago/Turabian StyleÁlvaro Luna; Nicolás A. Lois; Sol Rodríguez-Martinez; Antonio Palma; Ana Sanz-Aguilar; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. 2021. "Urban life promotes delayed dispersal and family living in a non-social bird species." Scientific Reports 11, no. 1: 1-15.
Falconry may constitute a source of exotic species through the escape into the wild of individuals kept in captivity. The introduction of top predators can have important ecological consequences for the recipient community, including genetic pollution through reproduction between falconry hybrids and wild raptors. Here we assessed the introduction of falconry raptors (both native and exotic) into the wild between 2006 and 2018 through reports of lost, stolen and recaptured birds on a website widely used by the falconer community in Spain. Exotics were 60.9% of the 1995 raptors reported as escaped in the wild (mean rate: 76.7 individuals per year) belonging to 33 species (or subspecies not native to the study area) and 27 hybrid morphs. Escapes, which numbers show a quadratic trend along years with maximums between 2010 and 2012, were aggregated in the most populated areas. The main cause of these escapes was the use of defective materials by the falconers. Although people devote much effort to ensuring that their birds are not lost, 64.3% of escaped raptors were unrecovered, and recapture rates were lower for native raptors (29.9%) compared to exotics (39.4%). Harris’s hawk was the most frequently introduced species (i.e., unrecovered), followed by peregrine falcons and hybrids. This study quantifies for the first time the introduction rate of exotic raptors in the wild from falconry and proposes measures to regulate and improve this practice.
Javier Rivas-Salvador; Natividad Aguilera-Alcalá; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. Assessing the introduction of exotic raptors into the wild from falconry. Biological Invasions 2021, 23, 1131 -1140.
AMA StyleJavier Rivas-Salvador, Natividad Aguilera-Alcalá, José L. Tella, Martina Carrete. Assessing the introduction of exotic raptors into the wild from falconry. Biological Invasions. 2021; 23 (4):1131-1140.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJavier Rivas-Salvador; Natividad Aguilera-Alcalá; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. 2021. "Assessing the introduction of exotic raptors into the wild from falconry." Biological Invasions 23, no. 4: 1131-1140.
David Serrano; Antoni Margalida; Juan M. Pérez-García; Javier Juste; Juan Traba; Francisco Valera; Martina Carrete; Joxerra Aihartza; Joan Real; Santi Mañosa; Carles Flaquer; Inazio Garin; Manuel B. Morales; J. Tomás Alcalde; Beatriz Arroyo; José A. Sánchez-Zapata; Guillermo Blanco; Juan J. Negro; José L. Tella; Carlos Ibañez; José L. Tellería; Fernando Hiraldo; José A. Donázar. Renewables in Spain threaten biodiversity. Science 2020, 370, 1282 -1283.
AMA StyleDavid Serrano, Antoni Margalida, Juan M. Pérez-García, Javier Juste, Juan Traba, Francisco Valera, Martina Carrete, Joxerra Aihartza, Joan Real, Santi Mañosa, Carles Flaquer, Inazio Garin, Manuel B. Morales, J. Tomás Alcalde, Beatriz Arroyo, José A. Sánchez-Zapata, Guillermo Blanco, Juan J. Negro, José L. Tella, Carlos Ibañez, José L. Tellería, Fernando Hiraldo, José A. Donázar. Renewables in Spain threaten biodiversity. Science. 2020; 370 (6522):1282-1283.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavid Serrano; Antoni Margalida; Juan M. Pérez-García; Javier Juste; Juan Traba; Francisco Valera; Martina Carrete; Joxerra Aihartza; Joan Real; Santi Mañosa; Carles Flaquer; Inazio Garin; Manuel B. Morales; J. Tomás Alcalde; Beatriz Arroyo; José A. Sánchez-Zapata; Guillermo Blanco; Juan J. Negro; José L. Tella; Carlos Ibañez; José L. Tellería; Fernando Hiraldo; José A. Donázar. 2020. "Renewables in Spain threaten biodiversity." Science 370, no. 6522: 1282-1283.
Biological invasion is a global problem with large negative impacts on ecosystems and human societies. When a species is introduced, individuals will first have to pass through the invasion stages of uptake and transport, before actual introduction in a non‐native range. Selection is predicted to act during these earliest stages of biological invasion, potentially influencing the invasiveness and/or impact of introduced populations. Despite this potential impact of pre‐introduction selection, empirical tests are virtually lacking. To test the hypothesis of pre‐introduction selection, we followed the fate of individuals during capture, initial acclimation, and captivity in two bird species with several invasive populations originating from the international trade in wild‐caught pets (the weavers Ploceus melanocephalus and Euplectes afer). We confirm that pre‐introduction selection acts on a wide range of physiological, morphological, behavioral and demographic traits (incl. sex, age, size of body/brain/bill, bill shape, body mass, corticosterone levels, and escape behavior); these are all traits which likely affect invasion success. Our study thus comprehensively demonstrates the existence of hitherto ignored selection acting before the actual introduction into non‐native ranges. This could ultimately change the composition and functioning of introduced populations, and therefore warrants greater attention. More knowledge on pre‐introduction selection also might provide novel targets for the management of invasive species, if pre‐introduction filters can be adjusted to change the quality and/or quantity of individuals passing through such that invasion probability and/or impacts are reduced.
Adrián Baños‐Villalba; Martina Carrete; Jose Luis Tella; Julio Blas; Jaime Potti; Carlos Camacho; Moussa Sega Diop; Tracy A. Marchant; Sonia Cabezas; Pim Edelaar. Selection on individuals of introduced species starts before the actual introduction. Evolutionary Applications 2020, 14, 781 -793.
AMA StyleAdrián Baños‐Villalba, Martina Carrete, Jose Luis Tella, Julio Blas, Jaime Potti, Carlos Camacho, Moussa Sega Diop, Tracy A. Marchant, Sonia Cabezas, Pim Edelaar. Selection on individuals of introduced species starts before the actual introduction. Evolutionary Applications. 2020; 14 (3):781-793.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdrián Baños‐Villalba; Martina Carrete; Jose Luis Tella; Julio Blas; Jaime Potti; Carlos Camacho; Moussa Sega Diop; Tracy A. Marchant; Sonia Cabezas; Pim Edelaar. 2020. "Selection on individuals of introduced species starts before the actual introduction." Evolutionary Applications 14, no. 3: 781-793.
Illegal wildlife trade, which mostly focuses on high-demand species, constitutes a major threat to biodiversity. However, whether poaching is an opportunistic crime within high-demand taxa such as parrots (i.e., harvesting proportional to species availability in the wild), or is selectively focused on particular, more desirable species, is still under debate. Answering this question has important conservation implications because selective poaching can lead to the extinction of some species through overharvesting. However, the challenges of estimating species abundances in the wild have hampered studies on this subject. We conducted a large-scale survey in Colombia to simultaneously estimate the relative abundance of wild parrots through roadside surveys (recording 10811 individuals from 25 species across 2221 km surveyed) and as household, illegally trapped pets in 282 sampled villages (1179 individuals from 21 species). We used for the first time a selectivity index to test selection on poaching. Results demonstrated that poaching is not opportunistic, but positively selects species based on their attractiveness, defined as a function of species size, coloration, and ability to talk, which is also reflected in their local prices. Our methodological approach, which shows how selection increases the conservation impacts of poaching for parrots, can be applied to other taxa also impacted by harvesting for trade or other purposes.
Pedro Romero-Vidal; Fernando Hiraldo; Federica Rosseto; Guillermo Blanco; Martina Carrete; José L. Tella. Opportunistic or Non-Random Wildlife Crime? Attractiveness rather than Abundance in the Wild Leads to Selective Parrot Poaching. Diversity 2020, 12, 314 .
AMA StylePedro Romero-Vidal, Fernando Hiraldo, Federica Rosseto, Guillermo Blanco, Martina Carrete, José L. Tella. Opportunistic or Non-Random Wildlife Crime? Attractiveness rather than Abundance in the Wild Leads to Selective Parrot Poaching. Diversity. 2020; 12 (8):314.
Chicago/Turabian StylePedro Romero-Vidal; Fernando Hiraldo; Federica Rosseto; Guillermo Blanco; Martina Carrete; José L. Tella. 2020. "Opportunistic or Non-Random Wildlife Crime? Attractiveness rather than Abundance in the Wild Leads to Selective Parrot Poaching." Diversity 12, no. 8: 314.
Owls (Strigiformes) evolved specific adaptations to their nocturnal predatory lifestyle, such as asymmetrical ears, a facial disk, and a feather structure allowing silent flight. Owls also share some traits with diurnal raptors and other nocturnal birds, such as cryptic plumage patterns, reversed sexual size dimorphism, and acute vision and hearing. The genetic basis of some of these adaptations to a nocturnal predatory lifestyle has been studied by candidate gene approaches but rarely with genome-wide scans. Here, we used a genome-wide comparative analysis to test for selection in the early history of the owls. We estimated the substitution rates in the coding regions of 20 bird genomes, including 11 owls of which five were newly sequenced. Then, we tested for functional overrepresentation across the genes that showed signals of selection. In the ancestral branch of the owls, we found traces of positive selection in the evolution of genes functionally related to visual perception, especially to phototransduction, and to chromosome packaging. Several genes that have been previously linked to acoustic perception, circadian rhythm, and feather structure also showed signals of an accelerated evolution in the origin of the owls. We discuss the functions of the genes under positive selection and their putative association with the adaptation to the nocturnal predatory lifestyle of the owls.
Pamela Espíndola-Hernández; Jakob C Mueller; Martina Carrete; Stefan Boerno; Bart Kempenaers. Genomic Evidence for Sensorial Adaptations to a Nocturnal Predatory Lifestyle in Owls. Genome Biology and Evolution 2020, 12, 1895 -1908.
AMA StylePamela Espíndola-Hernández, Jakob C Mueller, Martina Carrete, Stefan Boerno, Bart Kempenaers. Genomic Evidence for Sensorial Adaptations to a Nocturnal Predatory Lifestyle in Owls. Genome Biology and Evolution. 2020; 12 (10):1895-1908.
Chicago/Turabian StylePamela Espíndola-Hernández; Jakob C Mueller; Martina Carrete; Stefan Boerno; Bart Kempenaers. 2020. "Genomic Evidence for Sensorial Adaptations to a Nocturnal Predatory Lifestyle in Owls." Genome Biology and Evolution 12, no. 10: 1895-1908.
Protected areas are central to the conservation of biodiversity across the globe. However, their performance, especially in relation to highly mobile species, is largely dependent on the socio-ecological characteristics of the landscape that surrounds them. Here, we assess the patterns of avian scavenger distribution, including both obligate (i.e., vultures) and facultative (corvids and other raptors) scavenger species, inside and outside of protected areas. We contrast the situation between an African area, which has protected areas surrounded by mostly subsistence stockbreeding (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa) and a European area, which has protected areas surrounded by commercial farming (Ebro Valley, Spain). We found large differences between the two areas. In the South African area, the richness and abundance of vultures, but not of facultative scavengers, were higher inside than outside of protected areas; as a result, the richness and abundance of vultures were negatively related to the distance to the nearest protected area in South Africa. In contrast, the richness and abundance of vultures in the Spanish area were similar inside and outside of protected areas. We obtained similar results when focusing solely on presence and abundance of Gyps vultures. The contrasting effects of protected areas in the distribution of avian scavengers, especially vultures, in the studied areas may be due to differences in agro-systems and socio-economical models that lead to differential availability of ungulate carcasses. We suggest that carrion shortage in the subsistence farming systems in the South African area, whereby domestic livestock carcasses are generally used by householders and thus rarely become available to vultures, should be considered alongside poisoning prevention to help conserve African vulture populations.
Marcos Moleón; Ainara Cortés-Avizanda; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Jesús Bautista; Claire Geoghegan; Martina Carrete; Arjun Amar; José A. Sánchez-Zapata; José A. Donázar. Distribution of avian scavengers inside and outside of protected areas: contrasting patterns between two areas of Spain and South Africa. Biodiversity and Conservation 2020, 29, 3349 -3368.
AMA StyleMarcos Moleón, Ainara Cortés-Avizanda, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Jesús Bautista, Claire Geoghegan, Martina Carrete, Arjun Amar, José A. Sánchez-Zapata, José A. Donázar. Distribution of avian scavengers inside and outside of protected areas: contrasting patterns between two areas of Spain and South Africa. Biodiversity and Conservation. 2020; 29 (11-12):3349-3368.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarcos Moleón; Ainara Cortés-Avizanda; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Jesús Bautista; Claire Geoghegan; Martina Carrete; Arjun Amar; José A. Sánchez-Zapata; José A. Donázar. 2020. "Distribution of avian scavengers inside and outside of protected areas: contrasting patterns between two areas of Spain and South Africa." Biodiversity and Conservation 29, no. 11-12: 3349-3368.
The psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a globally widespread infectious bird disease that mainly affects species within the Order Psittaciformes (parrots and allies). The disease is caused by an avian circovirus (the beak and feather disease virus, BFDV), which is highly infectious and can lead to severe consequences in wild and captive populations during an outbreak. Both legal and illegal trading have spread the BFDV around the world, although little is known about its prevalence in invasive parrot populations. Here, we analyze the BFDV prevalence in sympatric invasive populations of rose-ringed (Psittacula krameri) and monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Southern Spain. We PCR-screened 110 blood samples (55 individuals from each species) for BFDV and characterized the genotypes of five positives from each species. About 33% of rose-ringed parakeets and 37% of monk parakeets sampled were positive for BFDV, while neither species showed disease symptoms. The circovirus identified is a novel BFDV genotype common to both species, similar to the BFDV genotypes detected in several parrot species kept in captivity in Saudi Arabia, South Africa and China. Our data evidences the importance of an accurate evaluation of avian diseases in wild populations, since invasive parrots may be bringing BFDV without showing any visually detectable clinical sign. Further research on the BFDV prevalence and transmission (individual–individual, captive–wild and wild–captive) in different bird orders and countries is crucial to understand the dynamics of the viral infection and minimize its impact in captive and wild populations.
Francisco Morinha; Martina Carrete; José L. Tella; Guillermo Blanco. High Prevalence of Novel Beak and Feather Disease Virus in Sympatric Invasive Parakeets Introduced to Spain From Asia and South America. Diversity 2020, 12, 192 .
AMA StyleFrancisco Morinha, Martina Carrete, José L. Tella, Guillermo Blanco. High Prevalence of Novel Beak and Feather Disease Virus in Sympatric Invasive Parakeets Introduced to Spain From Asia and South America. Diversity. 2020; 12 (5):192.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancisco Morinha; Martina Carrete; José L. Tella; Guillermo Blanco. 2020. "High Prevalence of Novel Beak and Feather Disease Virus in Sympatric Invasive Parakeets Introduced to Spain From Asia and South America." Diversity 12, no. 5: 192.
Background Non-native species are often introduced in cities, where they take advantage of microclimatic conditions, resources provided by humans, and competitor/predator release to establish and proliferate. However, native communities in the surrounding rural or natural areas usually halt their spread through biotic resistance, mainly via top-down regulative processes (predation pressure). Here, we show an unusual commensal interaction between exotic and native bird species that favours the spread of the former from urban to rural habitats. Results We show how Monk parakeets Myiopsitta monachus, an invasive species often introduced in cities worldwide, associated for breeding with a much larger, native species (the white stork Ciconia ciconia) to reduce predation risk in central Spain, thus allowing their colonization of rural areas. Parakeets selected stork nests close to conspecifics and where breeding raptors were less abundant. Parakeets always flushed when raptors approached their nests when breeding alone, but stayed at their nests when breeding in association with storks. Moreover, when storks abandoned a nest, parakeets abandoned it in the following year, suggesting that storks actually confer protection against predators. Conclusions Our results show how a protective-nesting association between invasive and native species can counteract biotic resistance to allow the spread of an invasive species across non-urban habitats, where they may become crop pests. Monk parakeet populations are now growing exponentially in several cities in several Mediterranean countries, where they coexist with white storks. Therefore, management plans should consider this risk of spread into rural areas and favour native predators as potential biological controllers.
Dailos Hernández-Brito; Guillermo Blanco; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. A protective nesting association with native species counteracts biotic resistance for the spread of an invasive parakeet from urban into rural habitats. Frontiers in Zoology 2020, 17, 1 -13.
AMA StyleDailos Hernández-Brito, Guillermo Blanco, José L. Tella, Martina Carrete. A protective nesting association with native species counteracts biotic resistance for the spread of an invasive parakeet from urban into rural habitats. Frontiers in Zoology. 2020; 17 (1):1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDailos Hernández-Brito; Guillermo Blanco; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. 2020. "A protective nesting association with native species counteracts biotic resistance for the spread of an invasive parakeet from urban into rural habitats." Frontiers in Zoology 17, no. 1: 1-13.
When a species colonizes an urban habitat, differences in the environment can create novel selection pressures. Successful colonization will further lead to demographic perturbations and genetic drift, which can interfere with selection. Here, we test for consistent urban selection signals in multiple populations of the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), a species that colonized South American cities just a few decades ago. We sequenced 213 owls from three urban‐rural population pairs and performed a genome‐wide comparison of urban against rural birds. We further studied genome‐wide associations with flight initiation distance (FID), a measure of harm avoidance in which urban and rural birds are known to differ. Based on four samples taken over nine years from one of the urban populations, we investigated temporal allele frequency changes. The genomic data were also used to identify urban‐specific signatures of selective sweeps. Single genomic sites did not reach genome‐wide significance for any association. However, a gene‐set analysis on the strongest signals from these four selection scans suggests a significant enrichment of genes with known functions related to synapses and neuron projections. We identified 98 genes predominantly expressed in the brain, of which many may play a role in the modulation of brain connectivity and consequently in cognitive function and motivational behavior during urbanization. Furthermore, polymorphisms in the promotor region of the synaptic SERT gene – one of the two candidates known to correlate with urban colonization in birds ‐ associated with the habitat in which individuals lived (urban vs. rural).
Jakob C. Mueller; Martina Carrete; Stefan Boerno; Heiner Kuhl; José L. Tella; Bart Kempenaers. Genes acting in synapses and neuron projections are early targets of selection during urban colonization. Molecular Ecology 2020, 29, 3403 -3412.
AMA StyleJakob C. Mueller, Martina Carrete, Stefan Boerno, Heiner Kuhl, José L. Tella, Bart Kempenaers. Genes acting in synapses and neuron projections are early targets of selection during urban colonization. Molecular Ecology. 2020; 29 (18):3403-3412.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJakob C. Mueller; Martina Carrete; Stefan Boerno; Heiner Kuhl; José L. Tella; Bart Kempenaers. 2020. "Genes acting in synapses and neuron projections are early targets of selection during urban colonization." Molecular Ecology 29, no. 18: 3403-3412.
There is a growing need to understand how species respond to habitat changes and the potential key role played by natal dispersal in population dynamics, structure and gene flow. However, few studies have explored differences in this process between conspecifics living in natural habitats and those inhabiting landscapes highly transformed by humans, such as cities. Here, we investigate how individual traits and social characteristics can influence the natal dispersal decisions of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) living in urban and rural areas, as well as the consequences in terms of reproductive success and apparent survival. We found short dispersal movements among individuals, with differences between urban and rural birds (i.e., the former covering shorter distances than the latter), maybe because of the higher conspecific density of urban compared to rural areas. Moreover, we found that urban and rural females as well as bold individuals (i.e., individuals with shorter flight initiation distance) exhibited longer dispersal distances than their counterparts. These dispersal decisions have effects on individual fitness. Individuals traveling longer distances increased their reproductive prospects (productivity during the first breeding attempt, and long term productivity). However, the apparent survival of females decreased when they dispersed farther from their natal territory. Although further research is needed to properly understand the ecological and evolutionary consequences of dispersal patterns in transformed habitats, our results provide information about the drivers and the consequences of the restricted natal movements of this species, which may explain its population structuring through restricted gene flow between and within urban and rural areas.
Álvaro Luna; Antonio Palma; Ana Sanz-Aguilar; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. Sex, personality and conspecific density influence natal dispersal with lifetime fitness consequences in urban and rural burrowing owls. PLOS ONE 2020, 15, e0226089 .
AMA StyleÁlvaro Luna, Antonio Palma, Ana Sanz-Aguilar, José L. Tella, Martina Carrete. Sex, personality and conspecific density influence natal dispersal with lifetime fitness consequences in urban and rural burrowing owls. PLOS ONE. 2020; 15 (2):e0226089.
Chicago/Turabian StyleÁlvaro Luna; Antonio Palma; Ana Sanz-Aguilar; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. 2020. "Sex, personality and conspecific density influence natal dispersal with lifetime fitness consequences in urban and rural burrowing owls." PLOS ONE 15, no. 2: e0226089.
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Álvaro Luna; Antonio Palma; Ana Sanz-Aguilar; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. Author Correction: Personality-dependent breeding dispersal in rural but not urban burrowing owls. Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 1729 -2.
AMA StyleÁlvaro Luna, Antonio Palma, Ana Sanz-Aguilar, José L. Tella, Martina Carrete. Author Correction: Personality-dependent breeding dispersal in rural but not urban burrowing owls. Scientific Reports. 2020; 10 (1):1729-2.
Chicago/Turabian StyleÁlvaro Luna; Antonio Palma; Ana Sanz-Aguilar; José L. Tella; Martina Carrete. 2020. "Author Correction: Personality-dependent breeding dispersal in rural but not urban burrowing owls." Scientific Reports 10, no. 1: 1729-2.
We assessed the relative importance of human activity and environmental suitability as drivers of compositional dissimilarity of alien birds for 65 of the most populous cities of the Iberian Peninsula. We examined how these drivers relate to Zeta diversity (ζ) for alien Passeriformes and Psittaciformes. We performed the analysis using multiple orders of ζ, which provides insight on the role played by rare and common species in determining levels of dissimilarity. We also ran the analyses using the community of native Passeriformes as a phylogenetically close contrasting control. Our results showed that the proportion of urban area, a variable related to colonization and propagule pressure, had a strong influence on Psittaciformes but not on alien Passeriformes. This latter group showed to be primarily influenced by environmental factors, similarly to what was found for native Passeriformes. On other hand, human connectivity, as measured by distance through roads and railways seemed to play a significant role in shaping the compositional dissimilarity of alien Passeriformes, but not Psittaciformes. Regardless of the group analysed, the relative importance of the explanatory variables was similar for both rare and common species. Our findings highlight differences between the factors driving compositional dissimilarity for distinct groups of birds. While the emerging biogeography of Psittaciformes is mainly a reflection of distinctiveness in urban areas, alien Passeriformes are more strongly affected by the natural environment and thus their biogeography may increasingly resemble the one of their native counterparts.
Fernando Ascensão; Guillaume Latombe; José D. Anadón; Pedro Abellán; Laura Cardador; Martina Carrete; José L. Tella; César Capinha. Drivers of compositional dissimilarity for native and alien birds: the relative roles of human activity and environmental suitability. Biological Invasions 2020, 22, 1447 -1460.
AMA StyleFernando Ascensão, Guillaume Latombe, José D. Anadón, Pedro Abellán, Laura Cardador, Martina Carrete, José L. Tella, César Capinha. Drivers of compositional dissimilarity for native and alien birds: the relative roles of human activity and environmental suitability. Biological Invasions. 2020; 22 (4):1447-1460.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando Ascensão; Guillaume Latombe; José D. Anadón; Pedro Abellán; Laura Cardador; Martina Carrete; José L. Tella; César Capinha. 2020. "Drivers of compositional dissimilarity for native and alien birds: the relative roles of human activity and environmental suitability." Biological Invasions 22, no. 4: 1447-1460.
The hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal/interrenal (HPA) axis of vertebrates integrates external information and orchestrates responses to cope with energy-demanding and stressful events through changes in circulating glucocorticoid levels. Urbanization exposes animals to a wide variety of ever-changing stimuli caused by human activities that may affect local wildlife populations. Here, we empirically tested the hypothesis that urban and rural owls (Athene cunicularia) show different adrenocortical responses to stress, with urban individuals showing a reduced HPA-axis response compared to rural counterparts to cope with the high levels of human disturbance typical of urban areas. We applied a standard capture-restraint protocol to measure baseline levels and stress-induced corticosterone (CORT) responses. Urban and rural owls showed similar circulating baseline CORT levels. However, maximum CORT levels were attained earlier and were of lower magnitude in urban compared to rural owls, which showed a more pronounced and long-lasting response. Variability in CORT responses was also greater in rural owls and contained the narrower variability displayed by urban ones. These results suggest that only individuals expressing low-HPA-axis responses can thrive in cities, a pattern potentially mediated by three alternative and non-exclusive hypotheses: phenotypic plasticity, natural selection and matching habitat choice. Due to their different conservation implications, we recommend further research to properly understand wildlife responses to humans in an increasingly urbanized world.
Antonio Palma; Julio Blas; José L Tella; Sonia Cabezas; Tracy A Marchant; Martina Carrete. Differences in adrenocortical responses between urban and rural burrowing owls: poorly-known underlying mechanisms and their implications for conservation. Conservation Physiology 2020, 8, coaa054 .
AMA StyleAntonio Palma, Julio Blas, José L Tella, Sonia Cabezas, Tracy A Marchant, Martina Carrete. Differences in adrenocortical responses between urban and rural burrowing owls: poorly-known underlying mechanisms and their implications for conservation. Conservation Physiology. 2020; 8 (1):coaa054.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonio Palma; Julio Blas; José L Tella; Sonia Cabezas; Tracy A Marchant; Martina Carrete. 2020. "Differences in adrenocortical responses between urban and rural burrowing owls: poorly-known underlying mechanisms and their implications for conservation." Conservation Physiology 8, no. 1: coaa054.