Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ondrej Maca, David Gonzalez-Solis
Summary: The white-tailed eagle has been confirmed as the definitive host for S. lutrae in the Czech Republic based on morphometric and molecular analyses. One of the eagles carried oocysts and sporocysts in the intestinal mucosa, with sequencing showing high similarity to published sequences of S. lutrae from other hosts.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dora Bjedov, Alma Mikuska, Lidija Begovic, Eric Bollinger, Jan Ove Bustnes, Tamas Deme, Tibor Mikuska, Attila Morocz, Ralf Schulz, Jens Sondergaard, Igor Eulaers
Summary: This study assessed the extent and dietary sources of total mercury exposure in a population of white-tailed eagles for the first time. The results showed variations in THg concentrations across different years, with nests containing aquatic prey remains exhibiting higher THg concentrations compared to those with terrestrial remains or a mixed diet.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
T. Shadbolt, A. Pocknell, A. W. Sainsbury, S. Egerton-Read, D. P. Blake
Summary: This study found a reintroduced white-tailed sea eagle died from muscle parasite infection, revealing a new intermediate host species for the parasite.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Kohei Ogasawara, Norikazu Isoda, Hitoshi Hatai, Kosuke Okuya, Yukiko Watanabe, Ayato Takada, Yoshihiro Sakoda, Keisuke Saito, Makoto Ozawa
Summary: This study demonstrates the susceptibility of white-tailed sea eagles to H5 HPAI virus and confirms the potential for indirect transmission within the population. Histopathological observations suggest that viral replication in the brain is responsible for the severity and mortality of the disease in this species.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elisabeth Hansen, Tove Skotnes, Jan Ove Bustnes, Bjorn Helander, Igor Eulaers, Jiachen Sun, Adrian Covaci, Bard-Jorgen Bardsen, Sandrine Zahn, Francois Criscuolo, Sophie Bourgeon
Summary: This study investigated telomere lengths in white-tailed eagle nestlings and found significant year-to-year variations, but no correlation with concentrations of persistent organic pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elisabeth Hansen, Jiachen Sun, Bjorn Helander, Jan Ove Bustnes, Igor Eulaers, Veerle L. B. Jaspers, Adrian Covaci, Marcel Eens, Sophie Bourgeon
Summary: English Summary: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as organochlorines (OCs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), can have adverse health effects on wildlife. White-tailed eagles in the Baltic ecosystem have suffered population declines due to severe exposure to DDT and PCB. In this study, feathers from breeding WTE pairs were analyzed to investigate the annual variations in feather corticosterone (fCORT), POPs, and dietary proxies. The results did not support fCORT as a relevant biomarker of contaminant-mediated effects in WTEs, but fCORT can be used as a non-destructive assessment of long-term stress physiology in wild raptors.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charles Christian Riis Hansen, Aki Jarl Laruson, Jacob Agerbo Rasmussen, Jesus Adrian Chimal Ballesteros, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Gunnar T. T. Hallgrimsson, Menja von Schmalensee, Robert A. A. Stefansson, Kristinn Haukur Skarphedinsson, Aili Lage Labansen, Madis Leivits, Christian Sonne, Rune Dietz, Kim Skelmose, David Boertmann, Igor Eulaers, Michael D. D. Martin, Agnar S. S. Helgason, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Snaebjorn Palsson
Summary: Divergence in white-tailed eagle populations across Europe and the North-East Atlantic is observed, with the greatest differentiation between island and mainland populations. The island populations have a common ancestry from a mainland population and show signs of inbreeding and little genetic variation. Temporal differences also indicate persistent regional populations despite potential admixture. These patterns may have been shaped by historical events such as glaciation, colonization, human expansion, and persecution.
Article
Parasitology
Sohei Tomikawa, Shotaro Nakagun, Yukiko Watanabe, Keisuke Saito, Yoshiyasu Kobayashi
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of trichomonads in the upper alimentary tract of Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed sea eagles, detecting Trichomonas spp. genomic sequences through PCR and culture. Morphologic and molecular characterizations confirmed all isolates as T. gypaetinii, and novel gene sequences were provided. This is the first study to isolate T. gypaetinii from Haliaeetus eagles, showing that T. gypaetinii belong to independent clusters from other Trichomonas spp.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
D. Rymesova, R. Raab, V. Machalkova, D. Horal, D. Dornakova, L. Rozsypalova, P. Spakovszky, I. Literak
Summary: This study tracked the dispersal behavior of juvenile white-tailed eagles and found that males had significantly larger post-fledging areas than females. The average dispersal distance was 187 kilometers, and young eagles occasionally returned to roost near the parental nest.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bernat Oro-Nolla, Silvia Lacorte, Kristine Vike-Jonas, Susana Gonzalez, Torgeir Nygard, Alexandros G. Asimakopoulos, Veerle L. B. Jaspers
Summary: The study found that white-tailed eagles have accumulated bisphenols and benzophenone UV filters in their livers, raising concerns about potential endocrine-disrupting properties of these emerging contaminants. The high detection frequency of fluorinated BPAF suggests a need for further attention, as other fluorinated compounds have been shown to be persistent and harmful to wildlife.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wiebke Durig, Nikiforos A. Alygizakis, Frank Menger, Oksana Golovko, Karin Wiberg, Lutz Ahrens
Summary: Environmental monitoring studies often miss a large portion of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), but by analyzing archived samples from environmental specimen banks, new CECs can be identified. In this study, non-targeted high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to analyze white-tailed sea eagle muscle tissue samples collected over several decades. Through statistical analysis and molecular formula assignment, potential harmful compounds, including some of anthropogenic origin, were tentatively identified. This study demonstrates the feasibility of prioritizing new CECs in archived biological samples using univariate statistical approaches.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bartosz Sell, Tomasz Sniegocki, Marta Giergiel, Andrzej Posyniak
Summary: This study investigated suspected poisoning cases of white-tailed eagles in Poland and found at least one anticoagulant rodenticide in their liver samples. The extensive use of rodenticides poses a high risk to white-tailed eagles in Poland.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Faiz Haque, Anne L. Soerensen, Martin Skoeld, Raed Awad, Kyra M. Spaan, Melanie Z. Lauria, Merle M. Plassmann, Jonathan P. Benskin
Summary: Temporal and spatial trends of 15 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were determined in white-tailed sea eagle (WTSE) eggs from Sweden between 1969 and 2021. PFAS concentrations generally increased from the late 1960s to the 1990s-2010s and then leveled off or declined. Coastal populations showed higher PFAS concentrations, possibly due to diet and proximity to densely populated areas. The majority of extractable organofluorine in the eggs was identified as legacy PFAS, with low levels of novel substances.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2023)
Review
Ornithology
Marc Engler, Oliver Krone
Summary: The study analyzed GPS tracking data of juvenile White-tailed Sea Eagles in northeast Germany, revealing that post-fledging excursive behavior was influenced by the natal environment, with migration timing delayed by the quantity of excursive behavior and varying significantly among individuals.
Article
Zoology
Vasile Alexe, Adrian Burada, Liliana Teodorof, Mihai Marinov, Alexandru-Catalin Dorosencu, Lucian-Eugen Bolboaca, Cristina Despina, Dana Seceleanu, Marta Peraita, Marian Tudor, Janos Botond Kiss, Dumitru Murariu
Summary: The white-tailed sea-eagle is a top raptor that can serve as a model for contaminants transfer. In this study, significant differences were found in the concentrations of contaminants between juvenile and adult eagles in the study area, suggesting that juveniles are better indicators for pollutants in the region.
TURKISH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ulo Vali, Pawel Mirski, Gunnar Sein, Urmas Abel, Grete Tonisalu, Urmas Sellis
Article
Ecology
Martin Packert, Adrien Favre, Jan Schnitzler, Jochen Martens, Yue-Hua Sun, Dieter Thomas Tietze, Frank Hailer, Ingo Michalak, Patrick Strutzenberger
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Ornithology
Pawel Mirski, Zdzislaw Cenian, Mindaugas Dagys, Szilard Daroczi, Deivis Dementavicius, Grzegorz Maciorowski, Sebastian Menderski, Damian Nowak, Adam Pongracz, Matyas Prommer, Urmas Sellis, Joachim Siekiera, Peter Szinai, Tomasz Tumiel, Janusz Wojciak, Robert Zeitz, Ulo Vali
Summary: Animal home-ranges are influenced by factors such as habitat heterogeneity, vegetation cover, human disturbance, and climate, with differences observed between males and females in terms of range size and relationship with environmental conditions.
Article
Ecology
Sophie E. Watson, Frank Hailer, Nicolas Lecomte, Pratap Kafle, Rajnish Sharma, Emily J. Jenkins, Malik Awan, Vincent L'Herault, Sarah E. Perkins
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Emily O'Rourke, Juliet Hynes, Sara Losada, Jonathan L. Barber, M. Gloria Pereira, Eleanor F. Kean, Frank Hailer, Elizabeth A. Chadwick
Summary: This article reports the widespread pollution of PFASs in Eurasian otters in England and Wales and their association with anthropogenic sources. Various PFAS compounds were detected in otters, with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) being the major component. The study also found that PFAS concentrations in otters were negatively associated with the distance from a factory, and positively associated with load entering wastewater treatment works and arable land.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Katherine E. Mullin, Daniel Firmin, Nina F. D. White, Frank Hailer, Pablo Orozco-terWengel
Summary: Researchers successfully assembled the mitochondrial genome of the critically endangered species Anilany helenae from the central highlands of Madagascar and found differences in gene arrangement compared to other microhylid frogs. A phylogeny analysis of 13 protein coding genes placed this species along with Mantophryne lateralis from New Guinea at the base of the tree among other microhylids.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Donald C. Dearborn, Sophie Warren, Frank Hailer
Summary: Pathogen-mediated selection and sexual selection are important drivers of evolution. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes play a crucial role in these processes. However, previous research has shown a lack of emphasis on the class II MHC gene, MHC-IIA, in infectious disease and sexual selection studies. In this study, MHC-IIA sequence data from 50 vertebrate species were analyzed, revealing high levels of polymorphism and positive selection in MHC-IIA. Fish species exhibited stronger positive selection on MHC-IIA compared to other surveyed vertebrate groups. These findings highlight the importance of MHC-IIA as a target of selection and suggest the need for further characterization of MHC-IIA at both allelic and genomic levels.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Nia E. Thomas, Frank Hailer, Michael W. Bruford, Elizabeth A. Chadwick
Summary: The population growth and recolonization of the Eurasian otter have been observed after environmental and legal protection, but genetic recovery lags behind spatial and demographic recovery, and there is still strong genetic structure among the main subpopulations.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ali E. Basuony, Mostafa Saleh, Moustafa Sarhan, Mahmoud Younes, Fouad Abdel-Hamid, Carlos Rodriguez Fernandes, Paul Vercammen, Faraj Aboshaala, Farid Bounaceur, Elizabeth A. Chadwick, Frank Hailer
Summary: Through DNA sequencing, it was found that there is a relationship but also differences in the evolutionary history of the two closely related species, Ruppell's fox and the red fox. Ruppell's fox is classified within the red fox, but the red fox is not classified within Ruppell's fox, indicating a rapid speciation process or genetic mixing.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Annalea Beard, Renata Medeiros Mirra, Elizabeth Clingham, Leeann Henry, Robert J. Thomas, Frank Hailer
Summary: We studied the Red-billed Tropicbird population at St Helena, South Atlantic, and found that it is the largest colony in the region and an important part of the global population. The survival rate from laying to fledging was low, with most nest failures occurring during incubation due to predation. Breeding interval was influenced by factors such as previous breeding interval and nest cavity fidelity. Management options for reducing mammalian predators are discussed to ensure the long-term viability of this population at St Helena.
EMU-AUSTRAL ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ternenge Apaa, Amy J. Withers, Ceri Staley, Adam Blanchard, Malcolm Bennett, Samantha Bremner-Harrison, Elizabeth A. Chadwick, Frank Hailer, Stephen W. R. Harrison, Matthew Loose, Fiona Mathews, Rachael Tarlinton
Summary: This study conducted PCR testing on two species of bats in the UK. The results showed that 44% of fecal samples and 56% of pooled samples from Rhinolophus hipposideros tested positive for a sarbecovirus coronavirus. However, no coronaviruses were detected in samples from Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, and there was no evidence of cross-species transmission.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sakandar Khan, Jo Cable, Muhammad Younus, Muhammad Imran Rashid, Frank Hailer, Haroon Akbar
Summary: Cystic echinococcosis is a global parasitic disease that affects food animals and humans. The disease has negative impacts on food production, socio-economics, and animal welfare. In this study, a potential candidate antigen, iEg67 kDa crude antigen, was identified and tested for ELISA kit development to improve the diagnostic accuracy for cystic echinococcosis in cattle and buffalo.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah J. du Plessis, Mark Blaxter, Klaus-Peter Koepfli, Elizabeth A. Chadwick, Frank Hailer
Summary: This study compared whole genome sequencing and microsatellite genotyping for the study of Eurasian otters. The results showed that whole genome sequencing provided more genetic information and higher resolution, revealing previously unknown genetic diversity and lineage differences. This study has important implications for understanding population structure and genetic diversity in otters.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Ulo Vali, Piia Katharina Vaan
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
D. C. Dearborn, S. Warren, F. Hailer
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2020)