Human disturbance increases trophic niche overlap in terrestrial carnivore communities

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 117(43), P. 26842 - 26848

Published: Oct. 12, 2020

Significance Niche theory posits that species must limit overlap in the use of space, time, or resources to minimize competition. However, human disturbances are rapidly altering ecosystems with uncertain consequences for niche partitioning. Dietary partitioning is primary way many interspecific competition, and it particularly important carnivores because diet can trigger interference competition killing. We used stable isotope analyses examine carnivore diets across Great Lakes region United States show inhabiting disturbed consume more foods, leading significant increases both breadth dietary among competing species. These results suggest human-dominated landscapes experience conflict due consumption food subsidies.

Language: Английский

---

Nutritional physiology and ecology of wildlife in a changing world

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2017

Over the last century, humans have modified landscapes, generated pollution and provided opportunities for exotic species to invade areas where they did not evolve. In addition, now interact with animals in a growing number of ways (e.g. ecotourism). As result, quality (i.e. nutrient composition) quantity food abundance) dietary items consumed by wildlife have, many cases, changed. We present representative examples extent which vertebrate foraging behaviour, availability (quantity quality) digestive physiology been due human-induced environmental changes human activities. find that these effects can be quite extensive, especially as result human-provisioned sources (despite good intentions). also discuss role nutrition conservation practices, from perspective both situ ex conservation. Though we nutritional ecology alterations are typically negative largely involve impacts on behaviour availability, will affect fitness organisms evolutionary is clearly understood, requires further investigation.

Language: Английский

---

Food availability limits avian reproduction in the city: An experimental study on great tits Parus major

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 89(7), P. 1570 - 1580

Published: May 17, 2020

Abstract The altered ecological and environmental conditions in towns cities strongly affect demographic traits of urban animal populations, for example avian reproductive success is often reduced. Previous work suggests that this partly driven by low insect availability during the breeding season, but robust experimental evidence supports food limitation hypothesis not yet available. We tested core predictions using a controlled experiment provided supplementary (nutritionally enhanced mealworms supplied daily to meet 40%–50% each supplemented brood's requirements) great tit nestlings forest habitats. measured parental provisioning rates estimated amount consumed control nestlings, assessed their body size survival rates. Provisioning were similar across habitats broods, (and control) broods large quantities food. As predicted we found (a) had smaller nestling than those broods; (b) rates; (c) larger crucially (d) broods. Our results provide rare support strong negative effects rearing period on birds' success. Furthermore, fact almost completely eliminated habitat differences rate suggest stressors other shortage contributed relatively little reduced Finally, given impacts taking clutch into account, our populations study system would need be increased factor at least 2.5 tits have

Language: Английский

---

Secrets of Success in a Landscape of Fear: Urban Wild Boar Adjust Risk Perception and Tolerate Disturbance

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Dec. 6, 2017

1 Introduction The landscape of fear describes an animal's trade-off between access to food and predator avoidance on a spatial scale (Brown et al., 1999;Laundre J. W. 2010;Laundre 2014). concept includes that the represents relative levels predation risk as peaks valleys reflect level in different parts its area use (Laundre 2010). Disturbance wildlife by people is particularly frequent urban environments can exceed disturbance natural predators. It therefore has potential shape prey behavior should incite such (Frid Dill, 2002;Ciuti 2012;Rosner 2014;Stoen 2015). number mammals living increases (Bateman Fleming, 2012;Magle 2012). Hence, support provide various sources: (Stillfried 2017b) or anthropogenic, easily accessible (Cahill 2012;Murray 2015;Theimer 2015;Tryjanowski 2015), both which contain high amount energy (Ottoni 2009;Maibeche be worse than rural one because threat with human proximity per se, traffic volume additional predators domestic dogs other companion animals 2002;Baker alKinney, 2002;Lowry 2013). Urban needs perceive spatio-temporal variation (Valeix correspond features roads, vehicle pedestrian (Dowding 2010;Bonnot 2013;Lowry 2013;Morelle 2013;Murray St Clair, 2015;Thurfjell 2015;Gray 2016), sealed built-up areas (= density housing (Bonnot 2013;Magle 2014;Beninde 2016)

Language: Английский

---

Reviewing the effects of food provisioning on wildlife immunity

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1745), P. 20170088 - 20170088

Published: March 12, 2018

While urban expansion increasingly encroaches on natural habitats, many wildlife species capitalize anthropogenic food resources, which have the potential to both positively and negatively influence their responses infection. Here we examine how availability key nutrients been reported shape innate adaptive immunity in by drawing from field-based studies, as well captive restriction studies with species. Examples of provisioning enhancing immune function were seen across three study type distinctions, cases trace metals pharmaceuticals impairing More generally, field tended increase certain challenges, whereas patterns less clear studies. Mild often enhanced, severe frequently impaired immunity. However, enable stronger conclusions stress a need for further research, especially highlight importance integrating nutritional manipulation, challenge, functional outcomes. Despite current gaps research this topic, modern high throughput molecular approaches are feasible offer great opportunities better understand human influences health.This article is part theme issue 'Anthropogenic resource subsidies host-parasite dynamics wildlife'.

Language: Английский

---

Effects of urbanization on resource use and individual specialization in coyotes (Canis latrans) in southern California

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(2), P. e0228881 - e0228881

Published: Feb. 5, 2020

Urban environments are unique because fragments of natural or semi-natural habitat embedded within a potentially permeable matrix human-dominated areas, creating increased landscape and, potentially, heterogeneity. In addition, urban areas can provide diet subsidies for wildlife species in the form fruiting ornamental plants, trash, and domestic animals. Ecological opportunity forms food heterogeneity thought to be important mechanisms maintaining individual specialization. Identifying which contexts, traits, determine success failure individuals an population could predictions about populations may succeed landscapes experience local extinction. We used both scat stable isotope analysis whiskers investigate degree coyotes (Canis latrans) utilized anthropogenic exhibited specialization across urban-rural gradient southern California. Land use surrounding sample locations was also evaluated effect land cover on diet. Human constituted significant portion coyote (22% scats, 38% estimated by analysis). Domestic cats (Felis catus) fruit seeds were items diets. Consumption decreased with decreasing urbanization. suburban seasonality influenced frequency occurrence consumption dry season. The amount altered open space (areas such as golf courses, cemeteries, landscaped parks) nearby had negative areas. Contrary our hypothesis, displayed reduced between-individual variation compared rural coyotes. It is possible that core cities so densely developed subsidized inhabiting these actually have ecological opportunity. Suburban animals broadest isotopic niches maintained similar Wildlife still access relatively undisturbed while being able take advantage neighboring residential Therefore, intermediate development associated

Language: Английский

---

Behavioral plasticity can facilitate evolution in urban environments

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 37(12), P. 1092 - 1103

Published: Sept. 1, 2022

Language: Английский

---

Impervious surface cover and number of restaurants shape diet variation in an urban carnivore

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract In the past decade, studies have demonstrated that urban and nonurban wildlife populations exhibit differences in foraging behavior diet. However, little is known about how environmental heterogeneity shapes dietary variation of organisms within cities. We examined vertebrate prey components diets coyotes ( Canis latrans ) San Francisco to quantify territory‐ individual‐level determine within‐city land cover use affects coyote genotyped fecal samples for individual identification used DNA metabarcoding diet composition niche differentiation. The highest contributor overall was anthropogenic food followed by small mammals. most frequently detected species were domestic chicken, pocket gopher Thomomys bottae ), pig, raccoon Procyon lotor ). Diet varied significantly across territories among individuals, with explaining variation. Within (i.e., family groups), amount attributed among‐individual increased green space decreased impervious surface cover. quantity scats also positively correlated cover, suggesting consumed more human urbanized territories. invasive, human‐commensal rodents number services a territory. Overall, our results revealed substantial intraspecific associated landscape point diversifying effect urbanization on population

Language: Английский

---

Diet-induced changes in metabolism influence immune response and viral shedding in Jamaican fruit bats

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2041)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Land-use change may drive viral spillover from bats into humans, partly through dietary shifts caused by decreased availability of native foods and increased cultivated foods. We experimentally manipulated diets Jamaican fruit to investigate whether diet influences shedding. To reflect changes experienced wild during periods nutritional stress, were fed either a standard or putative suboptimal diet, which was deprived protein (suboptimal-sugar diet) and/or supplemented with fat (suboptimal-fat diet). Upon H18N11 influenza A-virus infection, on the suboptimal-sugar shed most RNA for longest period, but suboptimal-fat least shortest period. Bats both ate more food than suggesting alter foraging behaviour. This study serves as an initial step in understanding how influence dynamics bats, alters risk humans.

Language: Английский

---

Environmental Health and Societal Wealth Predict Movement Patterns of an Urban Carnivore

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT How societal, ecological and infrastructural attributes interact to influence wildlife movement is uncertain. We explored whether neighbourhood socioeconomic status environmental quality were associated with coyote ( Canis latrans ) patterns in Los Angeles, California assessed the performance of integrated social–ecological models. found that coyotes living more anthropogenically burdened regions (i.e. higher pollution, denser development, etc.) had larger home ranges showed greater daily displacement mean step length than less regions. Coyotes experiencing differing levels anthropogenic burdens demonstrated divergent selection for vegetation, road densities other habitat conditions. Further, models included societal covariates performed better only features linear infrastructure. This study provides a unique lens examining drivers urban movement, which should be applicable planners conservationists when building equitable, healthy wildlife‐friendly cities.

Language: Английский

---