Abstract
Western
Cattle
Egrets
(
Bubulcus
ibis
)
persist
through
phenotypic
plasticity
in
behaviour
and
undertaking
various
forms
of
migration
to
exploit
available
resources
the
anthropogenic
landscape
mosaics.
The
degradation
natural
habitats,
with
land
conversion
for
agriculture
urbanisation
means
co-existing
alongside
humans.
However,
their
persistence
is
affected
by
human-egret
conflict,
exacerbated
a
growing
human
population.
We
investigated
size
roosting
colonies
within
uMgungundlovu
(Pietermaritzburg)
eThekwini
(Durban)
Municipalities,
KwaZulu-Natal,
South
Africa.
observed
features
30
km
roosts
notes
on
possible
threats
urban
persistence,
from
October
2018
September
2019.
These
areas
were
both
mosaic
landscapes
some
remaining
green
as
well
managed
spaces
built.
conducted
monthly
or
nesting
population
estimates
these
municipalities
identified
characteristics
which
allow
roost
persistence.
An
increase
under
500
individuals
over
600
post-breeding
season
2019
was
observed;
however,
no
significant
difference
between
breeding
seasons
found.
All
Egret
10
landfill,
wetland,
major
road,
river,
grassland.
In
addition,
sites
more
likely
be
near
wastewater
treatment
facility
than
without
nests.
Roosting
had
varying
levels
disturbance,
they
require
protection
continued
landscapes.
Global Change Biology,
Год журнала:
2019,
Номер
26(3), С. 1196 - 1211
Опубликована: Ноя. 22, 2019
Abstract
The
increasing
urbanization
process
is
hypothesized
to
drastically
alter
(semi‐)natural
environments
with
a
concomitant
major
decline
in
species
abundance
and
diversity.
Yet,
studies
on
this
effect
of
urbanization,
the
spatial
scale
at
which
it
acts,
are
present
inconclusive
due
large
heterogeneity
taxonomic
groups
scales
relationship
has
been
investigated
among
studies.
Comprehensive
analysing
across
multiple
animal
rare,
hampering
assessment
how
biodiversity
generally
responds
urbanization.
We
studied
aquatic
(cladocerans),
limno‐terrestrial
(bdelloid
rotifers)
terrestrial
(butterflies,
ground
beetles,
ground‐
web
spiders,
macro‐moths,
orthopterans
snails)
invertebrate
using
hierarchical
design,
wherein
three
local‐scale
(200
m
×
200
m)
levels
were
repeatedly
sampled
landscape‐scale
(3
km
3
km)
levels.
tested
for
local
landscape
effects
richness
each
group,
whereby
total
was
partitioned
into
average
communities
variation
communities.
Abundances
active
dispersers
declined
response
reductions
up
85%
butterflies,
while
passive
did
not
show
any
clear
trend.
Species
also
but
responses
highly
heterogeneous
different
respect
component
impacts
richness.
Depending
biotic
homogenization
and/or
loss.
This
resulted
an
overall
decrease
urban
areas.
These
results
provide
strong
support
general
negative
impact
within
habitat
patches
highlight
importance
considering
taxa
assess
biodiversity.
Journal of Ornithology,
Год журнала:
2019,
Номер
160(3), С. 841 - 860
Опубликована: Апрель 11, 2019
Abstract
The
world
is
urbanising
rapidly,
and
it
predicted
that
by
2050,
66%
of
the
global
human
population
will
be
living
in
urban
areas.
Urbanisation
characterised
land-use
changes
such
as
increased
residential
housing,
business
development
transport
infrastructure,
resulting
habitat
loss
fragmentation.
Over
past
two
decades,
interest
has
grown
how
urbanisation
influences
fundamental
aspects
avian
biology
life-history
strategies,
survival,
breeding
performance,
behaviour
individual
health.
Here,
we
review
current
knowledge
on
nesting
birds,
which
determines
important
fitness-associated
processes
nest
predation
community
assembly.
We
identify
three
major
research
areas:
(i)
sites
birds
areas,
(ii)
composition
their
nests,
(iii)
these
influence
persistence
(and
therefore
conservation
efforts)
show
inhabiting
areas
a
wide
variety
locations,
some
beneficial
through
exploitation
otherwise
relatively
empty
ecological
niches,
but
others
detrimental
when
breed
traps.
describe
urban-associated
materials
plastic
cigarette
butts,
discuss
several
functional
hypotheses
propose
adaptive
value
potential
costs
this
new
strategy.
Urban
provide
to
conserve
nestboxes
other
artificial
can
used
successfully
some,
not
all,
bird
species.
Finally,
those
subject
warrant
further
attention
hope
advancing
our
understanding
Global Change Biology,
Год журнала:
2017,
Номер
24(4), С. 1452 - 1469
Опубликована: Ноя. 23, 2017
The
concept
of
a
pace-of-life
syndrome
describes
inter-
and
intraspecific
variation
in
several
life-history
traits
along
slow-to-fast
continuum,
with
long
lifespans,
low
reproductive
metabolic
rates,
elevated
somatic
defences
at
the
slow
end
continuum
opposite
fast
end.
Pace-of-life
can
vary
relation
to
local
environmental
conditions
(e.g.
latitude,
altitude),
here
we
propose
that
this
may
also
occur
an
anthropogenically
modified
gradient.
Based
on
body
literature
supporting
idea
city
birds
have
longer
predict
urban
slower
compared
rural
thus
invest
more
self
maintenance
less
annual
reproduction.
Our
statistical
meta-analysis
two
key
related
pace-of-life,
survival
breeding
investment
(clutch
size),
indicated
generally
higher
survival,
but
smaller
clutch
sizes.
latter
finding
(smaller
clutches
habitats)
seemed
be
mainly
characteristic
passerines.
We
reviewed
urbanization
studies
other
associated
are
either
or
self-maintenance.
Though
sample
sizes
were
too
small
conduct
formal
meta-analyses,
published
suggests
tend
produce
lower-quality
sexual
signals
offspring
care.
is
agreement
adult
hypothesis,
proposing
prospects
favour
fewer
per
year.
According
our
differences
age
structure
should
arise
between
populations,
providing
novel
alternative
explanation
for
physiological
earlier
breeding.
encourage
research
investigating
how
telomere
dynamics,
immune
defences,
antioxidants
oxidative
damage
different
tissues
gradient,
suggest
applying
framework
gradient
might
next
direction
improve
understanding
as
evolutionary
process.
Global Change Biology,
Год журнала:
2017,
Номер
24(3), С. 1046 - 1054
Опубликована: Окт. 28, 2017
Abstract
Urbanization
is
one
of
the
most
extreme
forms
environmental
alteration,
posing
a
major
threat
to
biodiversity.
We
studied
effects
urbanization
on
avian
communities
via
systematic
review
using
hierarchical
and
categorical
meta‐analyses.
Altogether,
we
found
42
observations
from
37
case
studies
for
species
richness
23
20
abundance.
had
an
overall
strong
negative
effect
bird
richness,
whereas
abundance
increased
marginally
with
urbanization.
There
was
no
evidence
that
city
size
played
role
in
influencing
relationship
between
either
or
Studies
examined
long
gradients
(i.e.
urban
rural)
were
more
likely
detect
than
considered
short
vs.
suburban
rural
areas).
In
contrast,
little
influenced
by
gradient
length.
Effects
including
public
green
spaces
(parks
other
amenity
areas)
sampled
landscapes.
performed
solely
matrix
spaces)
revealed
positive
When
performing
subset
analyses
urban–suburban,
suburban–rural
suburban–natural
comparisons,
decreased
natural
areas,
but
stronger
decrease
at
urban–suburban
interface,
showed
clear
intermediate
peak
along
urban–rural
although
areas
comparable
areas.
This
suggests
loss
happens
especially
highest
abundances
occur
compared
Thus,
our
study
shows
importance
where
majority
birds
fairly
high
richness.
Diversity and Distributions,
Год журнала:
2018,
Номер
24(7), С. 928 - 938
Опубликована: Март 15, 2018
Abstract
Aim
Urbanization
broadly
affects
the
phylogenetic
and
functional
diversity
of
natural
communities
through
a
variety
processes
including
habitat
loss
introduction
non‐native
species.
Due
to
challenge
acquiring
direct
measurements,
these
effects
have
been
studied
primarily
using
“space‐for‐time”
substitution
where
spatial
urbanization
gradients
are
used
infer
consequences
occurring
across
time.
The
ability
alternative
sampling
designs
replicate
findings
derived
space‐for‐time
has
not
tested.
Location
Global.
Methods
We
contrasted
breeding
bird
assemblages
in
58
cities
worldwide
with
corresponding
regional
estimated
geographic
range
maps.
Results
Compared
assemblages,
urban
contained
lower
diversity,
beta
reduction
least
evolutionary
distinct
species
most
evolutionarily
found
no
evidence
that
were
related
presence
Urban
fewer
aquatic
foraging
distribution
body
size
narrowed
for
at
both
tails
distribution,
especially
large
bodied
distributed
greater
proportion
classified
as
passerines,
doves
or
pigeons;
identified
granivores;
forage
within
vegetation
air;
more
generalized
associations
strata.
Main
conclusions
is
associated
overall
constriction
results
largely
those
generated
substitution,
increasing
our
confidence
quality
combined
inferences.
When
measurements
unavailable,
emphasize
value
developing
independent
methods
broaden
reinforce
understanding
ecological
implications
urbanization.
Abstract
Contrasting
trajectories
of
biodiversity
loss
and
urban
expansion
make
it
imperative
to
understand
persistence
in
cities.
Size‐,
local‐,
landscape‐level
habitat
factors
greenspaces
cities
may
be
critical
for
future
design
management
conserving
bird
biodiversity.
Most
current
understanding
communities
has
come
from
disparate
analyses
single
cities,
over
relatively
short
time
periods,
producing
limited
processes
characteristics
patterns
improved
the
world's
We
analyzed
112
51
across
eight
countries,
using
eB
ird,
a
broadscale
citizen
science
project.
Species
richness
Shannon
diversity
were
used
as
response
variables,
while
percent
tree
cover,
water
vegetation
index
predictor
variables
at
both
landscape
(5
25
km
radius)
local‐scale
level
(specific
an
individual
greenspace)
modeling
process,
retrieved
Google
Earth
Engine.
Area
greenspace
was
most
important
biodiversity,
underlining
importance
area
factor
increasing
mitigating
urbanization.
Surprisingly,
distance
city
center
coast
not
significantly
related
Landscape‐scale
predictors
less
than
predictors.
Ultimately,
could
mitigated
by
protecting
developing
large
with
varied
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution,
Год журнала:
2017,
Номер
5
Опубликована: Май 29, 2017
As
an
extension
of
the
classic
life
history
theory,
recently
highlighted
pace-of-life
syndrome
hypothesis
predicts
coevolution
behavioural,
physiological
and
life-history
traits.
For
instance,
bolder
shyer
individuals
do
not
only
differ
in
personality
profiles,
but
also
neuro-endocrinology
breeding
patterns.
While
theory
that
(i.e.
proactive),
more
aggressive
should
colonize
rapidly
urbanized
habitats
than
reactive),
less
individuals,
it
is
predicted
across
generations,
adaptive
selection
processes
could
favour
are
sensitive
to
novel
environmental
cues.
Here
we
compared
two
traits
(handling
aggression,
exploration
score
a
environment),
one
trait
related
stress
response
(breath
rate)
four
(lay
date,
clutch
size,
hatching
success
fledging
success)
rural
urban
study
population
Mediterranean
great
tits
Parus
major.
Mixed
models
revealed
strong
phenotypic
divergence
between
forest
city
most
explored,
particular
personality,
whereby
were
reactive
faster
explorers
birds
(yet
aggressive).
Urban
laid
smaller
broods
earlier
spring
their
conspecifics,
resulted
lower
yet
interestingly
was
similar.
Nest-box
centered
measures
anthropogenic
(artificial
light,
pedestrians
cars)
perturbation
resource
abundance
allowed
us
go
beyond
classical
forest/city
comparison
by
exploring
variation
urbanization
gradient.
This
high
urbanisation
nest-box
surroundings
associated
overall
with
clutches,
breath
rate,
although
these
trends
showed
annual
variation.
Ongoing
rapid
non-random
gene
flow
both
contribute
prevalence
bold
breeders
city.
Our
suggests
existence
tit
ecotypes
different
pace-of-life,
finer-scale
along
degree
within
Future
studies
required
determine
whether
this
at
spatiotemporal
scales
has
genetic
basis
or
results
from
plasticity.
BioScience,
Год журнала:
2020,
Номер
71(3), С. 268 - 279
Опубликована: Окт. 20, 2020
Abstract
Rapid
urbanization
and
the
global
loss
of
biodiversity
necessitate
development
a
research
agenda
that
addresses
knowledge
gaps
in
urban
ecology
will
inform
policy,
management,
conservation.
To
advance
this
goal,
we
present
six
topics
to
pursue
research:
socioeconomic
social–ecological
drivers
versus
gain
biodiversity;
response
technological
change;
biodiversity–ecosystem
service
relationships;
areas
as
refugia
for
spatiotemporal
dynamics
species,
community
changes,
underlying
processes;
ecological
networks.
We
discuss
overarching
considerations
offer
set
questions
inspire
support
research.
In
parallel,
advocate
communication
collaboration
across
many
fields
disciplines
order
build
capacity
research,
education,
practice.
Taken
together
note
play
an
important
role
addressing
extinction
crisis.
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution,
Год журнала:
2017,
Номер
5
Опубликована: Июль 28, 2017
Urban
development
is
rapidly
expanding
across
the
globe
and
a
major
driver
of
environmental
change.
Despite
considerable
improvements
in
our
understanding
how
species
richness
responds
to
urbanisation,
there
still
insufficient
knowledge
other
measures
assemblage
composition
structure
respond
urban
development.
Functional
diversity
metrics
provide
useful
approach
for
quantifying
ecological
function.
We
compare
avian
functional
25
areas,
located
globe,
with
paired
non-urban
assemblages
using
database
27
traits
that
capture
variation
resource
use
(amount
type
resources
they
are
acquired)
529
occurring
these
assemblages.
Using
three
standard
(FD,
MNTD
convex
hull)
we
quantify
observed
and,
standardized
effect
sizes,
this
diverges
from
expected
under
random
community
assembly
null
models.
regression
trees
investigate
whether
human
population
density,
amount
vegetation
city
size
(spatial
extent
land),
bio-region
semi-natural
or
agricultural
as
baseline
modulate
urbanisation
on
diversity.
Our
analyses
suggest
not
consistently
different
After
accounting
higher
cities
than
areas
habitat.
This
creates
paradox
responses
determined
by
their
traits,
which
should
generate
clustered
within
narrow
range
trait
space.
Greater
habitat
compared
dominated
single
may
enhance
explain
paradox.
Regression
further
smaller
lower
densities
increased
all
areas.
A
city's
attributes
can
thus
influence
its
biological
assemblages,
associated
functions.
has
important
implications
debate
regarding
grow
world's
whilst
maintaining