Global abundance estimates for 9,700 bird species

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(21)

Published: May 17, 2021

Significance For the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation, abundance estimates organisms are essential. Quantifying abundance, however, is difficult time consuming. Using a data integration approach integrating expert-derived global citizen science data, we estimate population 9,700 bird species (∼92% all extant species). We conclude that there many rare species, highlighting need to continue refine for taxa role can play in this effort.

Language: Английский

---

The global biomass of wild mammals

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(10)

Published: Feb. 27, 2023

Wild mammals are icons of conservation efforts, yet there is no rigorous estimate available for their overall global biomass. Biomass as a metric allows us to compare species with very different body sizes, and can serve an indicator wild mammal presence, trends, impacts, on scale. Here, we compiled estimates the total abundance (i.e., number individuals) several hundred from data, used these build model that infers biomass terrestrial which unknown. We present detailed assessment, arriving at wet ≈20 million tonnes (Mt) all (95% CI 13-38 Mt), i.e., ≈3 kg per person earth. The primary contributors land large herbivores such white-tailed deer, boar, African elephant. find even-hoofed (artiodactyls, deer boars) represent about half combined mass mammals. In addition, estimated marine ≈40 Mt 20-80 baleen whales comprising more than this mass. order put into perspective, additionally remaining members class Mammalia. overwhelmingly dominated by livestock (≈630 Mt) humans (≈390 Mt). This work provisional census Earth benchmark human impacts.

Language: Английский

---

Ecological divergence of wild birds drives avian influenza spillover and global spread

PLoS Pathogens, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 18(5), P. e1010062 - e1010062

Published: May 19, 2022

The diversity of influenza A viruses (IAV) is primarily hosted by two highly divergent avian orders: Anseriformes (ducks, swans and geese) Charadriiformes (gulls, terns shorebirds). Studies IAV have historically focused on Anseriformes, specifically dabbling ducks, overlooking the hosts in nature, including gull goose species that successfully adapted to human habitats. This study sought address this imbalance characterizing spillover dynamics global transmission patterns over 10 years at greater taxonomic resolution than previously considered. Furthermore, circulation viral subtypes birds are either host-adapted (low pathogenic H13, H16) or host-generalist (highly influenza—HPAI H5) provided a unique opportunity test extend models evolution. Using Bayesian phylodynamic modelling we uncovered complex network relied ecologically bird hosts. generalist subtype, HPAI H5 was driven largely wild geese acted as source for gulls, land birds, domestic geese. Gulls were responsible moving more rapidly any other host, finding may reflect their long-distance, pelagic movements immuno-naïve status against subtype. Wild long viewed primary spillover, occupied an optimal space transmission, contributing geographic expansion rapid dispersal H5. Evidence inter-hemispheric via both Pacific Atlantic Rims detected, supporting surveillance high latitudes along continental margins achieve early detection. Both neutral (geographic expansion) non-neutral (antigenic selection) evolutionary processes found shape subtype evolution which manifested hotspots each scale. reveals how contribute spread with potential improve era change.

Language: Английский

---

Zoonotic Animal Influenza Virus and Potential Mixing Vessel Hosts

Viruses, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. 980 - 980

Published: April 16, 2023

Influenza viruses belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae with a negative-sense, single-stranded segmented RNA genome. They infect wide range of animals, including humans. From 1918 2009, there were four influenza pandemics, which caused millions casualties. Frequent spillover animal humans or without intermediate hosts poses serious zoonotic and pandemic threat. The current SARS-CoV-2 overshadowed high risk raised by viruses, but highlighted role wildlife as reservoir for viruses. In this review, we summarize occurrence virus in describe potential mixing vessel While several possess (e.g., avian swine viruses), others are low negligible equine, canine, bat bovine viruses). Transmission can occur directly from particularly poultry swine, through reassortant “mixing vessel” hosts. To date, less than 3000 confirmed human infections avian-origin 7000 subclinical documented. Likewise, only few hundreds cases have been reported. Pigs historic host generation due expression both avian-type human-type receptors. Nevertheless, number carry types receptors act host. High vigilance is warranted prevent next

Language: Английский

---

Unveiling global species abundance distributions

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(10), P. 1600 - 1609

Published: Sept. 4, 2023

Whether most species are rare or have some intermediate abundance is a long-standing question in ecology. Here, we use more than one billion observations from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to assess global distributions (gSADs) of 39 taxonomic classes eukaryotic organisms 1900 2019. We show that, as sampling effort increases through time, shape gSAD unveiled; that is, sampled changes, revealing underlying gSAD. The fraction unveiled for each class decreases with total number and individuals sampled, groups, such birds, being fully unveiled. best statistical fit almost all was Poisson log-normal distribution. This strong evidence universal pattern gSADs across suggests there may be general ecological evolutionary mechanisms governing commonness rarity life on Earth.

Language: Английский

---

New horizons for comparative studies and meta-analyses

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(5), P. 435 - 445

Published: Jan. 11, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Breeding bird sensitivity to urban habitat quality is multi‐scale and strongly dependent on migratory behavior

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Human‐caused conversion of natural habitat areas to developed land cover represents a major driver loss and fragmentation, leading reorganization biological communities. Although protected urban greenspaces can preserve systems in fragmented landscapes, their efficacy has been stymied by the complexity scale‐dependency underlying While migratory bird communities are easy to‐study particularly responsive anthropogenic alterations, prior studies have documented substantial variation sensitivity across species groups. This may make approaches that explicitly consider hierarchical nature ecological organization useful for planning decision‐making, landscapes. Herein, we leverage regional vegetation breeding monitoring efforts investigate influences spatial scale, urbanization, habit on occupancy Cleveland Metroparks, large park system Ohio. Using multispecies models, found fine‐scale covariates were more predictive community dynamics than landscape‐level covariates, suggesting positive benefits management activities We also short‐distance migrants positively associated with plants broad tolerances tropical negatively human development other local be effective protecting sensitive communities, many required intact forests low require targeted continued breeding‐season occupancy. More broadly, this study emphasizes how avian strategies landscapes should features at multiple scales—as well as species‐specific behaviors.

Language: Английский

---

A morphometric and stereological study of the chorioallantoic membrane of the developing ostrich ( Struthio camelus australis ) embryo: a light and transmission electron microscopy investigation

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1920)

Published: Feb. 27, 2025

The developing chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the ostrich ( Struthio camelus ) was studied between embryonic days 16 (E16) and E37. Egg masses volumes were estimated prior to harvesting CAM. CAM obtained before sampled for histology transmission electron microscopy analysis. Stereological methods used estimate volume densities absolute structural components. Growth rate estimates its major components obtained. At E16, three layers clearly delineated, but large parts still had not developed blood–gas barrier (BGB) portions. By E37, chorionic blood capillaries assumed a superficial position with thin BGB portions covering most surface. On regression analyses, two growth phases, namely phase I that occurred E16 E25, when grew rapidly from 5.55 ± 1.27 28.82 5.62 cm 3 then decrease 25.18 4.79 during II (E25−E37). latter decline attributed changes in allantoic layers, while mesoderm mainly characterized lymphatic vessels. This article is part theme issue ‘The biology avian respiratory system’.

Language: Английский

---

Vulnerability of amphibians to global warming

Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 5, 2025

Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates, yet their resilience to rising temperatures remains poorly understood1,2. This is primarily because knowledge of thermal tolerance taxonomically and geographically biased3, compromising global climate vulnerability assessments. Here we used a phylogenetically informed data-imputation approach predict heat 60% amphibian species assessed daily temperature variations in refugia. We found that 104 out 5,203 (2%) currently exposed overheating events shaded terrestrial conditions. Despite accounting for heat-tolerance plasticity, 4 °C increase would create step change impact severity, pushing 7.5% beyond physiological limits. In Southern Hemisphere, tropical encounter disproportionally more events, while non-tropical susceptible Northern Hemisphere. These findings challenge evidence general latitudinal gradient risk4-6 underscore importance considering climatic variability provide conservative estimates assuming access cool microenvironments. Thus, impacts warming will probably exceed our projections. Our microclimate-explicit analyses demonstrate vegetation water bodies critical buffering amphibians during waves. Immediate action needed preserve manage these microhabitat features.

Language: Английский

---

Global dissemination of influenza A virus is driven by wild bird migration through arctic and subarctic zones

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(1), P. 198 - 213

Published: Oct. 14, 2022

Influenza A viruses (IAV) circulate endemically among many wild aquatic bird populations that seasonally migrate between wintering grounds in southern latitudes to breeding ranges along the perimeter of circumpolar arctic. Arctic and subarctic zones are hypothesized serve as ecologic drivers intercontinental movement reassortment IAVs due high densities disparate long distance migratory native species present during seasons. Iceland is a staging ground connects East Atlantic North American flyways, providing unique study system for characterizing viral flow eastern western hemispheres. Using Bayesian phylodynamic analyses, we sought evaluate connectivity proximal regions how inter-species transmission dynamics this region influence geographic spread low highly pathogenic IAVs. Findings demonstrate IAV arctic reflects migration around north, favouring short-distance flights rather than over polar interior. virus mainland Europe America, consistent with westward birds from Northeastern Canada Greenland. Though diffusion rates were similar avian taxonomic groups Iceland, gulls play an outsized role sinks other hosts prior onward migration. These data identify patterns northern inform future surveillance strategies related seasonal emergent potential public health concern.

Language: Английский

---