A meta-analysis indicates reduced predation pressure with increasing urbanization

Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 180, P. 54 - 59

Published: Aug. 25, 2018

Language: Английский

---

Town and Country Reptiles: A Review of Reptilian Responses to Urbanization

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 30, 2018

The majority of the world population is now inhabiting urban areas, and with staggering growth, urbanization also increasing. While work studying effects changing landscapes specific pressures on wildlife beginning to amass, this focuses avian or mammalian species. However, likely vary substantially across taxonomic groups due differences in habitat requirements life history. current article aims first broaden review reptilian species; second, summarize responses fauna features; third, assess directionality individual level reptile Based our findings, research taxa lacking following areas: (1) investigating interactive additive factors, (2) measuring multiple morphological, behavioral, physiological endpoints within an animal, (3) linking population-level responses, (4) testing genetic/genomic environment as evidence for selective pressures.

Language: Английский

---

Parental habituation to human disturbance over time reduces fear of humans in coyote offspring

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 8(24), P. 12965 - 12980

Published: Dec. 1, 2018

Abstract A fundamental tenet of maternal effects assumes that variance over time should have discordant consequences for offspring traits across litters. Yet, seldom are parents observed multiple reproductive bouts, with few studies considering anthropogenic disturbances as an ecological driver effects. We captive coyote ( Canis latrans ) pairs two successive litters to determine whether among‐litter differences in behavior (i.e., risk‐taking) and hormones cortisol testosterone) corresponded parental plasticity habituation. Thus, we explicitly test the hypothesis accumulating experiences disturbance reduces fear which disparate phenotypic first‐ second‐litter offspring. To quantify risk‐taking behavior, used foraging assays from 5–15 weeks age a human observer present proxy disturbance. At 5, 10, 15 age, collected shaved hair pup hormone levels. then quantitative genetic approach estimate heritability, repeatability, between‐trait correlations. found were riskier foraged more frequently) their second versus first litters, supporting our prediction become increasingly habituated time. Second‐litter pups also less risk‐averse than first‐litter siblings. Heritability all did not differ zero (0.001–0.018); however, moderate support repeatability r = 0.085–0.421). Lastly, evidence positive cohort correlations among traits, implying identity common environment) contributes development syndromes pups. Our results suggest habituation may be cue reduce response, thus emphasizing role shaping pups’ behavioral hormonal responses toward humans.

Language: Английский

---

Does city life reduce neophobia? A study on wild black-capped chickadees.

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 29, 2019

Abstract As human populations increase and city borders grow, many animals have to modify foraging behaviors in order exploit evolutionarily novel urban food sources that could aid their survival. Neophobia, the fear of novelty, can lead missed opportunities these cases. Here, we studied novelty response wild ecologically relevant conditions while controlling for individual characteristics potential differences group size. We predicted black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) would be more likely initially contact than rural subordinates juveniles first dominants adults, respectively. ran replicated experiments using three types (object, color, or food) on six sites, during which registered feeder choice 71 tagged individuals. found showed less neophobia counterparts, latter having a higher probability contacting familiar before approaching feeder. There was no significant effect an individual’s dominance, age, sex its feeder, nor there any type. Overall, our results suggest exhibit counterparts because they generally learned tolerate habitat, adapted live environment rewards low neophobia, and/or are reluctant use feeders at new locations.

Language: Английский

---

How to behave when marooned: the behavioural component of the island syndrome remains underexplored

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 18(4)

Published: April 1, 2022

Animals on islands typically depart from their mainland relatives in assorted aspects of biology. Because they seem to occur concert, and some extent evolve convergently disparate taxa, these changes are referred as the ‘island syndrome’. While morphological, physiological life-history components island syndrome have received considerable attention, much less is known about how insularity affects behaviour. In this paper, we argue why personality traits cognitive abilities can be expected form part syndrome. We provide an overview studies that compared between populations, or among islands. Overall, pickings remarkably slim. There evidence animals tend bolder than mainland, but effects other go either way. The for style highly circumstantial very mixed. Finally, consider ecological drivers may induce such changes, mechanisms through which might occur. conclude our knowledge behavioural responses environments remains limited, encourage biologists make more use ‘natural laboratories evolution’.

Language: Английский

---

Urban Behavioral Ecology: Lessons from Anolis Lizards

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 28, 2018

Human-driven rapid environmental changes such as urbanization challenge the persistence of animal populations worldwide. A major aim research in urban ecology is to unravel which traits allow animals successfully deal with these new selective pressures. Since behavior largely determines how interact environment, it expected be an important factor determining their success environments. However, a complex trait and fully understanding contributes not straightforward: different behaviors may help at levels biological organization. For instance, species level, exploiters often share that them forage reproduce areas. are necessarily same differentiate from less disturbed In addition, individual-level studies essential identify mechanisms favor survival reproduction urbanized settings. Yet, longitudinal, mid-to-long-term individual level have been limited by logistic challenges. Here, I suggest programs behavioral should consider studying species-, population-, individual-levels achieve integrative governs success. use recent carried out Anolis lizards example illustrate progress ecology. Finally, some avenues could bring insight toward perspective role urbanization. Integrative will provide valuable design management measures maximize biodiversity preserve ecosystem services.

Language: Английский

---

Dealing with the unexpected: the effect of environmental variability on behavioural flexibility in a Mediterranean lizard

Behaviour, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 158(12-13), P. 1193 - 1223

Published: April 13, 2021

Abstract Harsh and variable environments have been hypothesized to both drive constrain the evolution towards higher cognitive abilities behavioural flexibility. In this study, we compared of island mainland Aegean wall lizards ( Podarcis erhardii ), which were expected live in respectively a more stable habitat. We used four proxies flexibility: neophobia assay, problem-solving test spatial + reversal learning task. Surprisingly, two populations did not differ or problem-solving. Insular lizards, however, outperformed conspecifics an initial task, but less successful during subsequent learning. Our results thus seem indicate that effect environmental variability on cognition is complex, as it may favour some, all aspects

Language: Английский

---

Chemosensory deficiency may render island-dwelling lizards more vulnerable to invasive predators

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 6, 2019

Abstract Newly introduced predators constitute a major threat to prey populations worldwide. Insular animals in particular often do not succeed overcoming their naivety towards alien predators, making them specifically vulnerable. Why this is the case remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigate how ability detect and respond predator chemical cues varies among of Dalmatian wall lizard, Podarcis melisellensis. Lizards were sampled from five locations south-eastern Croatia (one mainland location four islands) that varied composition community. We observed lizards’ behaviour response native saurophagous snakes (the Balkan whip snake, Hierophis gemonensis, eastern Montpellier Malpolon insignitus) an mammalian small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus – species held responsible for loss numerous insular reptile worldwide). Mainland lizards showed elevated tongue-flick rates (indicative scent detection) as well behaviours associated with distress scents both predators. In sharp contrast, island did alter when confronted any cues. Alarmingly, even islands (both mammals) on which mongooses during 1920s non-responsive. This suggests are chemosensorily deprived. As failure at predator-detection level seen most damaging form naivety, these results provide further insight into mechanisms render insular-living vulnerable invasive species.

Language: Английский

---

How do the physiological traits of a lizard change during its invasion of an oceanic island?

Oecologia, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 198(3), P. 567 - 578

Published: Nov. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

---

Differences in cautiousness between mainland and island Podarcis siculus populations are paralleled by differences in brain noradrenaline/adrenaline concentrations

Physiology & Behavior, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 224, P. 113072 - 113072

Published: July 11, 2020

Language: Английский

---