A meta-analysis of the relationship between flock size and flight initiation distance in birds

Animal Behaviour, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 210, С. 1 - 9

Опубликована: Фев. 6, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Human recreational activity does not influence open cup avian nest survival in urban green spaces

Urban Ecosystems, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 28(2)

Опубликована: Янв. 30, 2025

Abstract The breeding period of birds is a critical and sensitive portion the annual cycle. Understanding how human use urban green spaces affects nest survival can improve our understanding conserving bird populations in cities support science-based management that benefit both people nature. We conducted field study between April August 2023 multiple Montreal, Quebec, Canada, country’s second-largest city. asked whether presence (distance to trails amount activity) influences four common open-cup nesting species: American robins ( Turdus migratorius ), gray catbirds Dumetella carolinensis Northern cardinals Cardinalis cardinalis yellow warblers Setophaga petechia ). also if variables traditionally associated with survival, such as vegetation concealment seasonality, would influence survival. Our analyses surprisingly revealed no significant activity, concealment, seasonality on for target species. found nests did fail, established during earlier part failed faster. robin were most successful study’s species, whereas cardinal least successful. Within limitations system, findings suggest not negatively impacting success species using spaces. provides integrated science advice land managers so they opportunities connect nature without causing trade-offs biodiversity conservation.

Язык: Английский

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Effects of light and noise pollution on avian communities of European cities are correlated with the species’ diet

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(1)

Опубликована: Март 16, 2023

Abstract Urbanization affects avian community composition in European cities, increasing biotic homogenization. Anthropic pollution (such as light at night and noise) is among the most important drivers shaping bird use urban areas, where species are mainly attracted by greenery. In this study, we collected data on 127 breeding 1349 point counts distributed along a gradient of urbanization fourteen different cities. The main aim was to explore effects anthropic city characteristics, communities, regarding species’ diet composition. green cover areas increased number insectivorous omnivorous species, while slightly decreasing overall heterogeneity communities. heterogeneity—a measure evenness considering relative coverage grass, shrubs trees—was positively correlated with richness granivorous, insectivorous, level assemblages. Additionally, communities were associated species' diet. Overall, negatively affected not affecting granivorous species. noise pollution, contrast, significantly changes Our results offer some tips planners, managers, ecologists, challenge producing more eco-friendly cities for future.

Язык: Английский

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Lockdown effects on fear revealed direct and indirect effects of human presence on perceived predation risk

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 872, С. 162122 - 162122

Опубликована: Фев. 15, 2023

The Covid-19 lockdown reduced drastically human presence outdoors, providing an uncontrolled experiment for disentangling direct and indirect effects of on animal fearfulness. We measured 18,494 flight initiation distances (FIDs, the distance at which individual animals fly away when approached by a human) from 1333 populations 202 bird species taken in four European cities both before, during after lockdown. FIDs decreased rural habitats but increased urban habitats, especially singing birds. Height above ground increases non-singing birds only, adjusted horizontal tolerance to approach according height outside lockdown, while not singing. Responses showed lagged habitats. Differential responses among between signing were consistent with relaxation disturbance as well fear mediated predator release cities. seemed measure balance humans predations risk food needs rather than fear.

Язык: Английский

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Effects of human disturbance on detectability of non-breeding birds in urban green areas

Global Ecology and Conservation, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 51, С. e02873 - e02873

Опубликована: Март 1, 2024

Animals adapted to disturbed habitats have evolved multiple behavioural strategies, spanning from hiding displacing less microhabitats. Urban areas pose new evolutionary challenges since animals often need deal with novel environmental conditions. In this context, urban parks may constitute biodiversity hotspots within the concrete jungle. Nonetheless, recent increase in recreational activities potentially puzzles ability of urban-dwelling exploit these environments. study, we evaluated effect human disturbance and other contextual variables on activity patterns four bird species commonly found European parks, covering a wide range ecological characteristics: blackbird (Turdus merula), hooded crow (Corvus cornix), Eurasian robin (Erithacus rubecula), wood pigeon (Columba palumbus). We performed repeated counts six northern Italy fitted Bayesian N-mixture models estimate relationship between detection probability (number people present park), phenology (date time day), weather conditions (temperature precipitation). For all but blackbird, negative number park focal species. also species-specific effects both probability. Our results suggest that dwelling can finely modulate their response level disturbance, suggesting possible key role phenotypic plasticity. Furthermore, uncovering detectability fauna help planning monitoring conservation, as it provides useful information carry out surveys when detecting individuals is highest, optimising resource investments reliability estimates.

Язык: Английский

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Disentangling the “many-eyes”, “dilution effect”, “selfish herd”, and “distracted prey” hypotheses in shaping alert and flight initiation distance in a colonial seabird

Behavioural Processes, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 210, С. 104919 - 104919

Опубликована: Июль 20, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Understanding antipredator strategies of insects: Human presence and escape behaviour in Odonata

Ecological Entomology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 18, 2025

Abstract Insects, like many organisms, face widespread human‐driven habitat transformations which are major threats to biodiversity. However, at the same time, transformed areas including cities increasingly being colonised by wildlife, sometimes serving as important refuges for vulnerable species. Most studies on traits that enable insects thrive in urban environments have focused morphology, physiology, and feeding or reproductive strategies, often overlooking behavioural traits, despite evidence from vertebrates showing tolerance towards humans is key wildlife successfully colonise cities. In this study, we tested effects of urbanisation, along with a range life‐history, environmental contextual humans—measured flight initiation distance—in 14 Odonata (dragonflies damselflies) species western Poland. We found escape distances were moderately repeatable within Urbanisation had generally weak effect behaviour; however, odonates delayed their sites high human presence. also tended increase observer’ starting distance species‐specific body size decrease perch height. Additionally, male more likely earlier than females. These results suggest can sense levels anthropogenic disturbance adjust behaviour accordingly. Furthermore, our findings indicate some basic patterns principles commonly reported vertebrates, such ability tolerate presence mass, may apply invertebrates. This implications understanding ecology evolution antipredator strategies conservation.

Язык: Английский

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Desktop Method to Map and Assess Environmental Impacts of Formal and Informal Mountain Biking Trails in an Urban National Park

Ecological Management & Restoration, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 26(2)

Опубликована: Апрель 12, 2025

ABSTRACT Recreational trails, including informal trails created by visitors, have a range of ecological impacts, but mapping and assessing these impacts can be expensive time‐consuming. It is increasingly possible to harness publicly available data posted park visitors fitness platforms combine it with other spatial field help prioritise management actions enhance conservation visitor experiences. Here we outline then apply such desktop methodology assess the extensive network formal mountain biking in popular urban national Australia. Across Nerang National Park on Gold Coast, 31.4 km 36.2 bike were identified assessed using from platform Trailforks existing trail records managers. Informal mostly higher more remote parts steeper slopes generally less than closer main entrance. The resulted loss 0.8% vegetation, increased fragmentation potentially disturb wildlife across 13% Park, some traversing an important wetland catchment. results demonstrate scale nature potential which doubled area Park. They highlight need for specific actions, as closing restoring particularly when poorly designed areas high value.

Язык: Английский

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Litter buffet: On the use of trash bins by birds in six boreal urban settlements

Avian Research, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14, С. 100094 - 100094

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Unintentional food resources in urban areas (street litter, leftovers, overflowing trash bins) are dietary components of some urban-exploiter bird species. In this study, we report on 13 species six southern Finnish cities using bins and describe differences their activity when provided with (i.e., bait) different bin types. We used generalized linear models (GLM) classification regression trees (CART) to test for associations between environmental variables at the binscapes. Bird binscapes significantly differed among all types was higher after placing bait cases. Bins largest opening had more as opposed those smaller openings or lids. Corvids gulls highest activity, corvids usually being present before placed increasing thereafter. These show that foraging is highly malleable thus susceptible management preventing its occurrence. Suitable waste measures could aid reducing number close surroundings, benefiting both human health.

Язык: Английский

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Managing wildlife tolerance to humans for ecosystem goods and services

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 39(3), С. 248 - 257

Опубликована: Ноя. 8, 2023

Язык: Английский

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