Apex scavengers from different European populations converge at threatened savannah landscapes

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Feb. 15, 2022

Abstract Over millennia, human intervention has transformed European habitats mainly through extensive livestock grazing. “Dehesas/Montados” are an Iberian savannah-like ecosystem dominated by oak-trees, bushes and grass species that subject to agricultural uses. They a good example of how large-scale, low intensive transformations can maintain high biodiversity levels as well socio-economic cultural values. However, the role these human-modified play for individuals or living beyond their borders is unknown. Here, using dataset 106 adult GPS-tagged Eurasian griffon vultures ( Gyps fulvus ) monitored over seven years, we show breeding in western populations from Northern, Central, Southern Spain, France made long-range forays (LRFs) up 800 km converge threatened “dehesas” forage. There, wild ungulates provide large amounts carcasses, which available scavengers traditional exploitations rewilding processes. Our results highlight maintaining critical not only local but also long-term conservation services provided avian across continent.

Language: Английский

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Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in the blood of obligate and facultative European avian scavengers

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 315, P. 120385 - 120385

Published: Oct. 15, 2022

The widespread use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) and their high persistence in animal tissues has led to these compounds becoming ubiquitous rodent-predator-scavenger food webs. Exposure SGARs usually been investigated wildlife species found dead, despite growing evidence the potential risk secondary poisoning predators scavengers, current worldwide exposure free-living scavenging birds remains scarcely investigated. We present first active monitoring blood SGAR concentrations prevalence four European obligate (i.e., vultures) facultative (red black kites) avian scavengers NE Spain. analysed 261 detected 39.1% (n = 102) individuals. Both (ΣSGARs) were related age foraging behaviour studied. Black kites showed highest (100%), followed by red (66.7%), Egyptian (64.2%), bearded (20.9%), griffon (16.9%) cinereous (6.3%) vultures. Overall, both average ΣSGARs higher non-nestlings than nestlings, such as vultures anthropic landscapes (e.g., landfill sites livestock farms) exploiting small/medium-sized carrions. Brodifacoum was most prevalent (28.8%), difenacoum (16.1%), flocoumafen (12.3%) bromadiolone (7.3%). In SGAR-positive birds, ΣSGAR (mean ± SE) 7.52 0.95 ng mL-1; level being 53.50 mL-1. abundant diastereomer forms trans-bromadiolone flocoumafen, cis-brodifacoum difenacoum, showing that lower impact formulations could reduce exposures non-target species. Our findings suggest can bioaccumulate guilds Europe elsewhere. highlight need for further studies on adverse effects associated with SGARSs better interpret birds.

Language: Английский

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Vulture culture: dietary specialization of an obligate scavenger

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(1998)

Published: May 3, 2023

Individual dietary variation has important ecological and evolutionary consequences. However, it been overlooked in many taxa that are thought to have homogeneous diets. This is the case of vultures, considered merely as ‘carrion eaters’. Given their high degree sociality, vultures an excellent model investigate how inter-individual transmissible behaviours drive individual variation. Here, we combine GPS-tracking accelerometers with exhaustive fieldwork campaign identify diet 55 griffon ( Gyps fulvus ) from two Spanish populations partially overlap foraging areas. We found individuals more humanized population consumed anthropic resources (e.g. stabled livestock or rubbish), resulting By contrast, wilder wild ungulates, increasing variability. Between sexes, males than females did. Interestingly, shared area, retained preference original population, highlighting a strong cultural component. Overall, these results expand role traits shaping key call for need including Optimal Foraging models, especially those species strongly rely on social information while foraging.

Language: Английский

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Heterospecific visual cues and trophic facilitation processes used by a solitary bone‐eating vulture

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract While the influence of public information sharing on foraging strategies is growing interest, empirical studies exploring intraguild social use and facilitation roles between individuals with different trophic specializations remain scarce. Heterospecific should be more common in specialist foragers, for example, bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus , a solitary bone‐eating scavenger. We monitored 133 carcasses types/sizes open shrubland landscapes Spanish Pyrenees to explore relation transfer adaptive behavior. hypothesized that they might (1) feed after initial heterospecific exploitation; (2) heterospecifics locate and/or exploit carcasses; (3) prefer old over fresh ones. recorded vultures scavenging at 44 95.5% had been previously exploited by (93.2% griffon Gyps fulvus 2.3% golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos ) while only two small‐sized were scavenged without previous exploitation. Bearded not observed used mammals. Both took longer find shrublands than landscapes. However, arrival times carcass discovery similar. likely discover greater number exploiting it. Only 10.4% events occurred third week following exploitation, suggesting recently opened preferred. Clearly, play an essential role success, are fundamental facilitators both providing visual cues food location opening up enable access food.

Language: Английский

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Movement ecology of pre-adult Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus: insights from a reintroduced population

Bird Conservation International, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Summary Understanding the movement ecology of threatened species is fundamental to improving management and conservation actions for their protection, mainly during pre-adult stage particularly when a subject population reinforcement or reintroduction projects. An example case Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus on Iberian Peninsula, an endangered that has been reintroduced in different regions last two decades. Here, we explore differences between spatial Vultures, according age-class, sex, season (breeding non-breeding). We used GPS-tag data from 51 individuals into Catalonia (north-east Spain) describe use space, i.e. home-range size, core area, minimum convex polygon (MCP) patterns, cumulative distance, maximum displacement, daily dispersal, annual dispersal. Our study showed significant variation space patterns among birds influences age, season. Age was most influential factor, determining range areas patterns. Similar other vulture species, home increase with subadult vultures exhibiting larger ranges than young first year, juveniles, immature birds, but MCP measures were juveniles. Movement also influenced by juveniles making longer movements, followed immatures subadults (with similar values), shorter movements year life. Overall, males made explored smaller foraging females. Season had important effect dispersal breeding period (February–August). findings fill knowledge gap regarding behaviours information will enable improvement decisions.

Language: Английский

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Cape Vultures (Gyps coprotheres) on camera: assessing the behaviour of a vulnerable, colonially nesting raptor with temperature and time of day at nest sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Journal of Ornithology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 10, 2025

Abstract The Cape Vulture ( Gyps coprotheres ) has the smallest range of any vulture species in Africa, Europe or Asia and is substantially impacted by anthropogenic factors because their low productivity long maturation times. Almost year-round presence at breeding colonies makes understanding behaviour essential for conservation. Camera traps, a first this species, were used to investigate effect time day temperature on behaviours performed nest sites. number vultures site was likely be higher during early morning late afternoon when temperatures lower, with significantly fewer individuals present days before after laying. Attendance least one adult recorded 86.9% 99.8% points laying, respectively. Almost-constant attendance incubation may also necessitated predation pressure, study providing observation possible pressure White-necked Ravens Corvus albicollis colony. Here, we demonstrate that camera trapping an effective method studying behaviour, which improves allows more informed conservation measures implemented. affected temperature, so vulnerable climatic changes subsequent pressure.

Language: Английский

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Worlds that collide: conservation applications of behaviour and culture in human–wildlife interactions

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

The behaviour of both humans and wildlife is central to the conservation biodiversity because requires human actions at multiple scales. In species with evidence socially learned culture, juxtaposition animal culture increases complexity human-wildlife interactions their investigation but also offers opportunities mitigate negative interactions. this paper, we consider language used analyse human-animal review effect behaviours on those We investigate how knowledge theory from behavioural studies can be negotiate complex between wildlife, providing specific examples mined for developing policies regarding highlight that are such a key target conservation. Integrating social learning into research scope leverage gaps, misconceptions concerns targeted, relevant meaningful.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: in changing world'.

Language: Английский

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Reproduction and Captive-Breeding of Threatened Wild Birds

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Assessing the potential disturbance effects on the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) for European vultures research: a review and conservation recommendations

Bird Conservation International, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Summary Vultures are among the most threatened bird guilds on planet and have a unique functional role within ecosystems. They therefore subject to increasing research interest, calling for standardised study approaches monitoring methods. The use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) is rapidly gaining popularity in ecological due technological advances, affordability, accessibility. This reviews existing peer-reviewed publications grey literature responses European vultures other comparable species UASs, summarises types UAS use, their potential disturbance effects vultures, resulting inter- intra-specific interactions. Our goal was assess UASs provide practical recommendations optimise safe vulture conservation research. We acknowledge increase efficiency reduce effort, time, financial cost. Owing absence sufficient data long-term effects, we advocate precautionary principle offer set species-tailored limit negative maximise value management. urge that physiological impacts reproduction considered call protocols controls use. conclusions particularly aimed at researchers working restoration projects worldwide.

Language: Английский

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Manipulating animal social interactions to enhance translocation impact

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(4), P. 316 - 319

Published: Feb. 15, 2023

Language: Английский

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