The contribution of informal green space to urban biodiversity: a city-scale assessment using crowdsourced survey data

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 28(1)

Published: Nov. 5, 2024

Abstract Cities are crucial for supporting biodiversity and likely to play an important role in helping respond the global crisis. Understanding how plants animals utilize various urban spaces is essential designing cities that accommodate both human ecological needs. Informal green (IGS) have been historically overlooked space research planning. However, there growing interest potential benefit of IGS biodiversity. This study builds on previous by examining contribution at metropolitan scale. We do this mapping across entire landscape Greater Melbourne, Australia, using crowdsourced survey data assess native bird plant species richness. Our findings indicate contribute richness can so a similar extent as formal spaces. found utility easements brownfield sites were particularly types While like parks remain vital biodiversity, should be considered integral part greenspace networks. These underscore need more actively consider decision making order achieve positive outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Eating in the city: Experimental effect of anthropogenic food resources on the body condition, nutritional status, and oxidative stress of an urban bioindicator passerine

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 339(9), P. 803 - 815

Published: July 9, 2023

Urban areas provide a constant and predictable supply of anthropogenic processed food. The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus Linnaeus, 1758), declining urban bioindicator species, has recently been reported to have high level oxidative stress, with diet or pollutants proposed as the potential cause. In this study, we aimed experimentally determine effects two trophic resource types (bar snack food leftovers pet food) on sparrows' physical condition, plasma biochemical nutritional parameters, blood status in captivity. To exclude previous effect pollutants, 75 Sparrows were captured from rural area SE Spain kept outdoor aviaries. Individuals exposed one three treatments: control (fruit, vegetables, poultry grain mixture), bar (ultra-processed snacks), cat (dry pellets) for 20 days. Blood samples collected before after treatments analyze relative change rates 12 variables, including status, oxidant-antioxidant status. A principal component analysis was run identify gradients variables covariation, Generalized Linear Mixed Models used diets each selected PC raw variables. led signs anemia malnutrition, females tended lose body condition. increased stress indicators protein catabolism. Unbalanced can affect condition physiology may also induce despite absence environmental pollution.

Language: Английский

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A tale of two worlds: spatial arrangement of avian communities in a Neotropical city

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(2)

Published: Feb. 28, 2025

Language: Английский

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Dynamic occupancy analyses of native birds in an urban ecological reserve reveal seasonal changes in site occupancy and preference for adjacent urbanized areas

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 25, 2024

Abstract Urban ecological reserves are large green areas immersed within cities where native and exotic species of plants animals coexist. Here, we examined the environmental features that facilitate occurrence nine birds in an urban reserve located one largest world, Mexico City. We also searched for changes occupancy rates among three distinct climatic seasons occur central Mexico: warm-dry, rainy, cold-dry. Using data collected during four years multi-season models, found most our study prefer urbanized sites surround over core conservation areas. This affinity can be explained by diverse vegetation prevails such sites, which offers a high habitat heterogeneity facilitates presence bird with needs. In contrast, consists relatively homogeneous xerophytic scrubland few shrubs small trees dominant. detected seasonal five species, highest warm-dry season each year, coincides both their breeding driest period year. finding indicates these find surrounding enough food water this limiting as well safe nesting sites. Our provides evidence some become exploiters benefits they obtain from settings greatest season.

Language: Английский

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Morphological changes in hooded crows (Corvus cornix) related to urbanization

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Oct. 10, 2023

Introduction Urbanization has led to a recent surge of interest in urban biodiversity, and wildlife responses environments have become hot topic environmental sciences biodiversity conservation. However, adaptations urbanization the factors driving them are less understood. Methodology We studied possible morphological by comparing body size condition adult post-fledging juvenile Hooded Crows ( Corvus cornix ), bird species that recently colonised cities eastern Europe, between two rural populations, different-sized locations within one city Hungary. Results Adult crows from cropland-woodland area were lighter poorer than grassland or those medium-sized city. There no differences traits adults juveniles large cities. The comparison multiple trapping Debrecen showed Zoo larger, heavier, better individuals other had longer wings tarsi locations. Our results indicated urbanized some changes live environments, but we did not find large-scale, consistent areas. found significant variation Discussion suggest urban-rural may be mediated local factors, which year-round availability anthropogenic food is fundamental. Such widely available cities, although its quality suboptimal for development. study suggests variables probably more site-dependent gradient-dependent shows documenting requires spatial scales ranging regional (within-city) scales.

Language: Английский

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Innovative Foraging Behavior of Urban Birds: Use of Insect Food Provided by Cars

Birds, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3), P. 469 - 486

Published: Aug. 10, 2024

Despite high-quality insect food being often restricted in cities, insects are important for the development of birds. Nonetheless, plenty smashed on cars, and they available those species that able to use them. We used both our own data community science Internet sources surveying global, national, local about birds using cars. Our results contained a total 308 observations collecting car panels, which indicated 39 this resource since 1928 33 countries. Most considered House Sparrow, followed by White Wagtail several corvids. European urban bird observed cars had larger residual brain size. There was also some indication number innovations (i.e., production novel behaviors), greater diet generalism, longer times living urbanized areas than not Often these resident offered feeding sites. assume more will future, as populations continue decline, thereby increasingly become

Language: Английский

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Can I have fries with that? Context-dependent foraging behavior in urban and rural American crows

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(1)

Published: Nov. 30, 2024

Abstract Behavioral flexibility and the ability to respond appropriately anthropogenic cues that signal potential threats or rewards may promote success of wild animals in urban environment. Here, we examine behavioral responses free-living American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), an opportunistic scavenger common exploiter. Specifically, tested hypotheses would more readily approach (1) novel objects food when close proximity trash cans, (2) paper bags with hidden closer a McDonald’s restaurant, due their associations these cues. In addition, examined preference for marked logo vs. unmarked bags, hypothesizing be likely labeled bag because its familiarity. Consistent our expectations, exhibited lower latency cans. Likewise, they were but showed no logo. Overall, found evidence foraging behavior varied presence specific depended on probable cue Their use local environment, combined exploitation human resources, contributes crow city.

Language: Английский

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Who gets the treat: Interspecific interactions between red squirrels and corvids in an urban park

acta ethologica, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 27(1), P. 65 - 74

Published: Dec. 22, 2023

Abstract Squirrels and some corvids have successfully adapted to urban conditions. Their populations are often more abundant in city parks than rural areas. These species may compete, especially terms of food resources. We studied interactions between (hooded crows rooks) red squirrels inhabiting park, mostly relation supplementary utilisation Poland. The study included the following: (a) feeding trials, when were offered hazelnuts all stealing attempts by other animals noted; (b) direct observations groups (at least one squirrel corvid species) with behaviours being recorded. During trial, constant presence, tried steal almost every third nut cached squirrels. Regardless season, share nuts that was similar. When trial proceeded, joined order obtain food. On contrary, presence seemed refrain from joining trial. a bird/squirrel audience did not result deceptive caches. observations, interacted corvids, less people or most frequent interaction flight chasing away; for it following attempting Overall, we showed can be competitors kleptoparasites Red squirrels, whom affinity relationships, benefited feeding. Corvids, turn, learnt follow human-delivered nuts.

Language: Английский

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The Distribution, Population Size, and Habitat Preferences of a Newly Established Population of the Oriental Magpie Pica serica in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, Northern Japan

Birds, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(4), P. 656 - 670

Published: Oct. 15, 2024

Non-native species have caused various problems for both animal and human communities globally, but their monitoring during the early stages of establishment is often difficult. A population Oriental Magpie (Pica serica) has established on Hokkaido Island, northern Japan, since 1990s, offering a rare opportunity field biologists to monitor entire history colonizing avian population. To clarify current number distribution major determinants, we conducted bimonthly surveys from May 2012 March 2013, over total 417 h, in Tomakomai City, central area distribution. We found 181 248 magpies every survey, 46 active nests May. Most appeared residential areas, avoiding commercial industrial did not show seasonal changes pattern. The mainly foraged short grasslands public spaces, such as parks, July, most birds preferred house gardens foraging November March. Dogs or cats were kept outside where foraged, observations stealing hoarding pet food common. It likely that rely anthropogenic resources food, especially winter. Continuous this will enable further knowledge factors limit range only non-native also populations general be obtained.

Language: Английский

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