Eating in the city: Experimental effect of anthropogenic food resources on the body condition, nutritional status, and oxidative stress of an urban bioindicator passerine

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 339(9), С. 803 - 815

Опубликована: Июль 9, 2023

Urban areas provide a constant and predictable supply of anthropogenic processed food. The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus Linnaeus, 1758), declining urban bioindicator species, has recently been reported to have high level oxidative stress, with diet or pollutants proposed as the potential cause. In this study, we aimed experimentally determine effects two trophic resource types (bar snack food leftovers pet food) on sparrows' physical condition, plasma biochemical nutritional parameters, blood status in captivity. To exclude previous effect pollutants, 75 Sparrows were captured from rural area SE Spain kept outdoor aviaries. Individuals exposed one three treatments: control (fruit, vegetables, poultry grain mixture), bar (ultra-processed snacks), cat (dry pellets) for 20 days. Blood samples collected before after treatments analyze relative change rates 12 variables, including status, oxidant-antioxidant status. A principal component analysis was run identify gradients variables covariation, Generalized Linear Mixed Models used diets each selected PC raw variables. led signs anemia malnutrition, females tended lose body condition. increased stress indicators protein catabolism. Unbalanced can affect condition physiology may also induce despite absence environmental pollution.

Язык: Английский

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Stress in the city? Coyote hair cortisol varies with intrinsic and extrinsic factors within a heavily urbanized landscape

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 901, С. 165965 - 165965

Опубликована: Авг. 3, 2023

Wildlife living in proximity to people are exposed both natural and anthropogenic factors that may influence cortisol production associated with stress response. While some species, including coyotes (Canis latrans), have become commonplace developed areas throughout North America, urban individuals still must navigate ever-changing, novel environments cope frequent disturbance. Given relatively large predators compared most other wildlife, they face unique pressures such as crossing roadways use suitable habitat fragments at a greater risk of being detected experiencing negative human interactions. To assess whether urbanization influences hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity free-ranging coyotes, we analyzed concentration hair samples from 97 residing across the gradient within Greater Chicago Metropolitan area. As proportion landcover coyote home ranges increased, experienced more stress. Body condition social status also had strong relationships Animals poorer body subordinate less than alphas. We found evidence varied seasonally among different age classes. Understanding how intrinsic extrinsic endocrine carnivores is vital for predicting hormone related behavioral patterns change future populations developed.

Язык: Английский

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Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird

Royal Society Open Science, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 12(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

There is a growing body of evidence that urbanization can affect condition and immune function in wild birds, although these effects may be complex taxa-specific. Here, we assessed the on (size-corrected mass haemoglobin concentration) innate defences (haemolysis-haemagglutination assay, haptoglobin concentration bacterial killing assay) 136 Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) from three urban non-urban populations across Poland. We also quantified heterophil to lymphocyte ratio control for potential effect physiological stress defences. found showed significantly better than ones. At same time, no relationship between any defence or condition. Thus, our study offers support condition-dependent function. Our analyses revealed significant differences male female both defences; however, sex-specific responses urbanization. In conclusion, provides correlative habitat enhances condition, but not coot.

Язык: Английский

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Freshwater turtle (Reptilia: Testudines) assemblage from an urban protected Atlantic Forest remnant: population density, movement and habitat preference

Zoologia (Curitiba), Год журнала: 2025, Номер 42

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Urbanization may significantly impact wild population dynamics, even in protected green spaces. From 2016 to 2018, we accessed an assemblage of freshwater turtles isolated urban remnant the Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil. We captured by active search, hookless fishing, and funnel trap, marked them individually. Using a capture-mark-recapture method, estimated density, movement, including home range size habitat selection. Home ranges were using 100% minimum convex polygon method selections through eigenanalysis. 41 specimens Phrynops geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812), 35 Trachemys dorbigni (Duméril & Bibron, 1835), 20 scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1839). The invasive T. showed highest density (1.72 individual/ha), followed native P. (1.36 individual/ha) (0.87 individual/ha). sizes for ranged between 0.04-0.48 ha, with latter species covering longest distance (525.8 m). All three preference habitats influenced human presence (walkways). Our findings highlight anthropic influence on movement turtle underscore need enhanced protection control turtles. This study provides essential baseline data future researches management areas.

Язык: Английский

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Human pressure may pose a threat to Mediterranean Golden Eagle’s (Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri) nestlings’ welfare

Journal of Ornithology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 30, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Feather corticosterone levels in the southern lapwing revealed no association with the degree of urbanization

Frontiers in Physiology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 16

Опубликована: Фев. 28, 2025

The urbanization process modifies the environment in which wildlife lives. On one hand, it biotic and abiotic elements introduces new stress factors like light pollution, noise chemical pollution. These modifications to natural introduction of ones could induce organisms lead release glucocorticoids. One taxonomic group that lives cities is highly sensitive changes habitat human population density birds. Most studies about have measured glucocorticoids (GCs) circulating blood, offer only a “snapshot” an animal’s current state, affected by capture procedure. An alternative measure GCs samples are not altered procedure, feathers. In this study we compared levels corticosterone feather (Cort Feather ) southern lapwing ( Vanellus chilensis four locations Metropolitan Region (RM) Santiago de Chile. To accurately urbanization, employed distinct land cover typologies illustrate variations structural characteristics. A 500-m buffer zone was created around each collection sites where feathers were gathered, creating “Urbanization score”. We observed statistically significant variation median Cort values across studied localities. Contrary our expectation, differences concentrations identified among urbanized populations but rather between two characterized lower scores. same line, absence correlation score” levels. Our findings indicate beyond those captured satellite images may contribute elevated hormone low wetland region For instance, prevalence feral dogs vicinity, including within wetland, be contributing factor.

Язык: Английский

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Exploring stress and morphology in two songbird species across urban, agricultural, and natural habitats on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos

BMC Zoology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 10(1)

Опубликована: Март 10, 2025

Abstract Land use changes can have morphological and physiological impacts on wildlife. This study aimed to explore the influence of anthropogenic land morphology corticosterone concentrations in two songbirds endemic Galapagos archipelago: granivorous Small Ground Finch Geospiza fuliginosa insectivorous Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia aureola San Cristobal Island. Birds were caught measured between June August 2018 July 2019 across four areas with different human uses: urban green coastal town Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, natural deciduous forest lowlands, agricultural highlands, seasonal evergreen highlands. Morphological comparisons among made using ANOVA or Kurskall-Wallis test. Corticosterone levels obtained from tail feathers an ELISA Linear regression models employed effects uses concentrations. For G. , we found significant differences ( p < 0.05) weight, wing, tarsus length disturbed habitats. The linear results showed higher than those Additionally, finches captured 2018, a year much precipitation 2019. S. only difference was wider beak birds compared areas. Although our sample size does not allow for definitive conclusions, provide evidence that ecology each species plays crucial role shaping their responses environmental changes.

Язык: Английский

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Some like it hot: Elevated heating capacity of carotenoid-containing contour feathers compared to melanized feathers and of rural over urban feathers

Avian Biology Research, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Май 21, 2025

Bird feathers serve many purposes, ranging from flight and thermoregulation to camouflage communication. Considerable attention has been paid the insulative heat-dissipation functions of feathers, which can depend on factors, including local environment feather pigmentation. However, more studies are needed understand heating cooling properties different in situations where certain color ornaments (e.g. melanin, carotenoid) favored for signaling hot environments urban heat-islands) may exert particularly strong novel thermal selection pressures. We investigated responses contour male house finches ( Haemorhous mexicanus ) – an urban-adapted passerine bird species males exhibit sexually selected carotenoid-pigmented plumage a controlled laboratory setting (i.e. standard illuminant exposure close distance). used samples carotenoid- melanin-colored captured non-urban habitats impacts urbanization pigment type properties. experimentally heated 1 min tracked surface temperatures over this time as well during min. phase immediately after removal heat source. found that, at end beginning phase, were cooler than areas, carotenoid-containing had higher melanized feathers. discuss possible morphological adaptations implications these differences, specifically desert- have carotenoid-based signals.

Язык: Английский

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Echoes of adaptation: House sparrows’ ecological response to shifting human disturbances

Ethology Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 1 - 22

Опубликована: Май 20, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Long term stability of corticosterone in feathers

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 283, С. 111472 - 111472

Опубликована: Июнь 28, 2023

Язык: Английский

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