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

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The breeding performance of raptors in urban landscapes: a review and meta-analysis

Journal of Ornithology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 159(1), P. 1 - 18

Published: Sept. 8, 2017

Global urbanisation is rapidly increasing and can have profound impacts on wild flora fauna. For many species, the are detrimental irreversible, whereas others able to colonise apparently thrive in these novel, human-made environments. Raptors particularly susceptible changes environment due their position at end of food chain, yet some species increasingly associated with towns cities. To explore impact raptors, we reviewed literature compared breeding performance urban rural populations globally. In general, raptors began earlier had larger brood sizes However, also fledged fewer young habitats, caused largely by a lack prey and, cases, increased human disturbance. As such, environments may act as ecological traps for raptor species. Species differed response urbanisation. particular, specialist bird predators such Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) higher (clutch size, number fledge nest success) showed positive those that predate small mammals, Eurasian Kestrels (F. tinnunculus), which negative response. This suggests availability one most important determinants success urban-nesting raptors. We demonstrate need continued research into live environments, stress importance focusing reasons any differences between non-urban order aid conservation management efforts this iconic group.

Language: Английский

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Urbanization Shapes the Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Arthropod Herbivore Interactions

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 7

Published: Aug. 16, 2019

Urbanization is quickly changing natural and agricultural landscapes, with consequences for the herbivorous arthropods dwelling in or near cities. Here, we review evidence effects of urbanization on ecology evolution plant-herbivore interactions. We first summarize how abiotic factors associated affect arthropods. Next, explore affects interactions, by considering urban environments may disrupt top-down bottom-up ecological processes that herbivory. Abiotic changes environment, such as heat island effect, have caused shifts phenology some Other areas, including water availability, pollution, habitat fragmentation, resulted to physiology, behavior, population abundance. Native species richness tends decline however, abundance appear be specific. These suggest could both adaptive non-adaptive their host plants environments. However, interactions dramatically altered if either are unable tolerate Thus, while can physiologically acclimate genetically adapt biotic cause many decline. conclude suggestions future research advance our understanding alters

Language: Английский

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Neophilia, innovation and learning in an urbanized world: a critical evaluation of mixed findings

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 16, P. 15 - 22

Published: March 10, 2017

Language: Английский

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Humans and urban development mediate the sympatry of competing carnivores

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 21(4), P. 765 - 778

Published: April 17, 2018

Language: Английский

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Demographic effects of road mortality on mammalian populations: a systematic review

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(4), P. 1033 - 1050

Published: Feb. 26, 2023

In light of rapidly expanding road networks worldwide, there is increasing global awareness the growing amount mammalian roadkill. However, ways in which mortality affects population dynamics different species remains largely unclear. We aimed to categorise demographic parameters populations around world that are directly or indirectly affected by mortality, as well identify most effective study designs for quantifying population-level consequences mortality. conducted a comprehensive systematic review synthesise literature published between 2000 and 2021 out 11,238 unique studies returned, 83 were retained comprising 69 150 populations. A bias towards research-intensive countries larger mammals was apparent. Although searches five languages, all meeting inclusion criteria English. Relatively few (13.3%) provided relevant context roadkill figures, hampering understanding impacts on persistence. categorised direct mortality: sex- age-biased percentage killed roads per year (values up 50% reported), contribution total rates (up 80%), during inter-patch long-distance movements. Female-biased may be more prevalent than previously recognised likely critical dynamics. Roadkill greatest source 28% studied both additive compensatory mechanisms found occur, bringing varied challenges conservation roads. addition, intra-specific differences effects common. This highlights relative importance specific configuration habitat quality surrounding can vary. Road ecology collect data key life parameters, such age/stage/sex-specific survival dispersal success, use combination methods long-term impacts. Quantifying an important yet complex consideration proactive management.

Language: Английский

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Land‐use intensity influences European tetrapod food webs

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Land use intensification favours particular trophic groups which can induce architectural changes in food webs. These impact ecosystem functions, services, stability and resilience. However, the imprint of land management intensity on food‐web architecture has rarely been characterized across large spatial extent various uses. We investigated influence six facets architecture, namely apex basal species proportions, connectance, omnivory, chain lengths compartmentalization, for 67,051 European terrestrial vertebrate communities. also assessed dependency this climate. In addition to more commonly considered climatic factors, webs was notably influenced by intensity. Intensification tended strongly lower proportion predators consistently contexts. general, proportions species, favoured mesopredators, decreased compartmentalization whereas it increased their connectance. response different some sharply connectance Mediterranean Alpine settlements, tetrapod forest Atlantic croplands. Besides, intensive urbanization especially longer chains omnivory. By favouring mesopredators most contexts, could undermine tetrapods, cascading effects need be assessed. Our results support importance protecting top where possible raise questions about long‐term face human‐induced pressures.

Language: Английский

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Urban conservation hotspots: predation release allows the grassland-specialist burrowing owl to perform better in the city

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: June 8, 2017

Although habitat transformation is one of the main causes biodiversity loss, there are many examples species successfully occupying and even proliferating in highly human-modified habitats such cities. Thus, an increasing interest understanding drivers favoring urban life for some species. Here, we show how low richness abundance predators areas may explain changes selection pattern a grassland specialist species, burrowing owl Athene cunicularia, toward habitats. Predation release improves demographic parameters individuals, thus increment breeding density that accounts apparent positive this detriment more natural ones avoided. These results suggest traditional analyses do not necessarily describe choice decisions actively taken by individuals but differences their prospects. Moreover, they also highlight cites, as predator-free refuges, can become key conservation hotspots dependent on threatened temperate grasslands South America.

Language: Английский

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Growing in Cities: An Urban Penalty for Wild Birds? A Study of Phenotypic Differences between Urban and Rural Great Tit Chicks (Parus major)

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

Published: July 18, 2017

Urban sprawl is associated with deep and intense modifications of the natural habitats wild vertebrates. Although many species are unable to cope such an environment, a few can be found in cities help us assessing impact urbanization on wildlife. Urban-related environmental multiple some them seem beneficial while others rather detrimental Moreover, these vertebrates likely vary depending phase annual life-cycle. Therefore, it challenging get comprehensive picture Overall, usually reduced breeding performances birds, but phenotype quality developing offspring has been less studied. In this study, we specifically investigated several proxies individual great tits (Parus major). We concomitantly measured body size (tarsus length mass), plumage coloration, telomere 14-days old chicks issued from 4 populations (2 pairs urban/rural located two different geographical areas France). First, rural were significantly taller heavier than urban birds although size/body mass appears only true for most urbanized site. Interestingly, was also affected by area capture, suggesting that regional conditions may attenuate or exacerbate influence nestling growth. Second, carotenoid-based yellow nestlings more colorful independently capture. This suggests probably have low-carotenoid diet relative birds. Finally, did not differ between chicks. These results suggest imposes large developmental constraints primarily related constraining nutritional conditions.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal variation of flight initiation distance in Eurasian red squirrels in urban versus rural habitat

Journal of Zoology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 298(3), P. 225 - 231

Published: Dec. 1, 2015

Abstract Urbanization has caused significant behavioural modifications in wild animals. Change anti‐predator behaviour is the most widespread example across different taxa urban areas, which probably due to a decrease predation pressure and habituation towards humans. Seasonality or phenology also been modified by urbanization since some resources environments are highly controlled, for example, artificial feeding. Under natural conditions, responses vary with seasonal variability environmental individual conditions. However, resource stability possibly reduces seasonality of behaviours Here, we compare difference flight initiation distance ( FID ), measurement response, Eurasian red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris between rural areas Tokachi region, Hokkaido, Japan. Rural possessed s two three times longer than those squirrels. We found lowered autumn, but no was observed Our results suggest that continuous supplementary feeding may have buffered response. In addition, strong humans allow correctly assess human activity as benign rather reacting unnecessarily.

Language: Английский

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