Article
Veterinary Sciences
Juan Lopez, Maria Mogedas, Carlos Ballesteros, Barbara Martin-Maldonado, Irene Sacristan, Raul Garcia, Juan Carlos Ortiz, Fernando Esperon
Summary: A study found that wild parakeets in urban parks in Madrid and Seville, Spain, are carriers of infectious agents, including enteropathogenic E. coli, avian influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, and Chlamydia psittaci. These findings highlight the need for monitoring parakeet populations to protect human and animal health.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca S. E. Dawson Pell, Juan Carlos Senar, Daniel W. Franks, Ben J. Hatchwell
Summary: The study found that there is significant clustering of kin within compound nests and nesting trees in the invasive population of Monk parakeets, which results from limited and coordinated natal dispersal, and adults show high breeding site fidelity.
Article
Virology
Christian Sanchez, Ana Domenech, Esperanza Gomez-Lucia, Jose Luis Mendez, Juan Carlos Ortiz, Laura Benitez
Summary: This study identified a new dependoparvovirus in monk parakeets from urban areas of Madrid, Spain. The virus is closely related to a parvovirus found in wild psittacids in China and can be considered a new species. The low prevalence suggests further research is needed to prevent the emergence of novel viral pathogens.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jorge Castro, Carmen Saez, Mercedes Molina-Morales
Summary: The study suggests that the monk parakeet may be a serious pest for agriculture in the Mediterranean basin, causing significant damage to corn crops if their populations continue to grow.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Julieta Carril, Claudio G. Barbeito, Claudia P. Tambussi
Summary: The study investigates the morphogenesis of the tarsometatarsus and foot types in birds, comparing the development between monk parakeets and chickens. The results suggest heterochronies in tarsometatarsus development, likely related to their different developmental patterns.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Matilde Larraechea, Hector Hidalgo, Galia Ramirez-Toloza, Alejandra Sandoval-Rodriguez, Daniel Ibanez, Cristobal Briceno
Summary: This study tested serum samples and swabs from free-ranging monk parakeets in the Metropolitan Region of Chile to determine the presence of Chlamydophila psittaci. Antibody titers were found in the sera of five adult parakeets, but none of the nestlings showed seropositivity. Real-time PCR analysis showed negative results for all samples. This suggests that free-ranging monk parakeets in Chile are exposed to C. psittaci, posing a significant risk of pathogen transmission to human and animal populations.
REVISTA CHILENA DE INFECTOLOGIA
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elena Valsecchi, Emanuele Coppola, Rosa Pires, Andrea Parmegiani, Maurizio Casiraghi, Paolo Galli, Antonia Bruno
Summary: The monk seal is the most endangered pinniped in the world and the only one found in the Mediterranean, with its distribution and abundance suffering a drastic decline in recent decades. Novel molecular techniques have enabled researchers to detect monk seal DNA traces in the environment, providing a non-invasive and highly sensitive tool for monitoring their distribution, recovery rate, and conservation priorities.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luigi Bundone, Lucia Rizzo, Sergio Fai, Gema Hernandez-Milian, Stefano Guerzoni, Emanuela Molinaroli
Summary: Several factors have led to the decline in population of the Mediterranean monk seal over time. Despite the disappearance of documented breeding sub-populations, recent sightings have been reported from most of the species' former habitat. Our research in the Salento coast, Italy, used three different methodologies to collect data on monk seal presence. The study revealed historical and recent records of sightings, suggesting the species' rarity and the need for a regional approach to aid its recovery.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
S. A. Huerta-Sanchez, F. M. Huerta-Martinez, A. Munoz-Urias, C. Neri-Luna, F. J. Sahagun-Sanchez, J. P. Castruita-Dominguez
Summary: This study evaluates the invasion potential of the monk parakeet in natural Protected Areas in Mexico. The species has become invasive in Mexico since 2016, particularly in urban areas. The aim is to assess the risk of invasion into the Natural Protected Areas and analyze the interaction with native parrots. The findings show the potential risk of the invasive monk parakeet in Mexican NPAs and highlight the need for effective measures to prevent further invasions and expansions.
ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Alessandro Nardotto
Summary: Predictive models were used to predict the potential distribution of two parakeet species in the Veneto region of Italy, finding that high suitability areas are primarily located near known occurrences of the species.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH-BOLLETTINO DELLA SOCIETA ITALIANA DI BIOLOGIA SPERIMENTALE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
C. Jane Anderson, Eric A. Tillman, William P. Bukoski, Steven C. Hess, Leonard A. Brennan, Page E. Klug, Bryan M. Kluever
Summary: There are over 40 species of nonnative parrots globally. Monk parakeets are among the most invasive bird species and have negative impacts on native species, habitats, economies, and human safety. Lethal population management is difficult due to their intelligence and public controversy. The parakeet-selective feeder, which restricts access to nontarget species, shows promise in delivering chemical control agents to manage monk parakeets and other nonnative parakeet populations.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eleonora Ciprari, Leonardo Ancillotto, Emiliano Mori, Valentina Studer, Chiara Chessa
Summary: Monitoring population trends of alien species, especially in urban areas, is crucial for effective management plans to conserve native biodiversity. Urban wildlife rescue centers can serve as reliable methods for estimating local changes and population trends of alien species, using citizen-science based approaches. In this study, we analyzed rescue records of monk and ring-necked parakeets in Rome over the past 15 years and found a strong correlation between the number of rescued parakeets and their population trends. We also observed a shift in the breeding phenology of these parakeet species.
Article
Parasitology
Cristobal Briceno, Karina Yevenes, Matilde Larraechea, Alejandra Sandoval-Rodriguez, Maria Carolina Silva-de la Fuente, Fernando Fredes, Hector Hidalgo, Valeria Alcayaga, Pablo Oyarzun-Ruiz, Cintia Munita, Daniel Gonzalez-Acuna
Summary: The invasive monk parakeet, a psittacine species, has successfully colonized cities and may affect other birds and humans, with the potential for its parasite, Ornithonyssus bursa, to serve as a vector for pathogens.
REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Valentina Schiano, Adele Cutignano, Daniela Maiello, Marianna Carbone, Maria Letizia Ciavatta, Gianluca Polese, Federica Fioretto, Chiara Attanasio, Antonio Palladino, Serena Felline, Antonio Terlizzi, Livia D'Angelo, Paolo de Girolamo, Mimmo Turano, Carla Lucini, Ernesto Mollo
Summary: The bisindole alkaloid caulerpin in Caulerpa cylindracea significantly increases food intake in Danio rerio, affecting genes involved in the regulation of the orexigenic pathway. It also improves fish reproductive performance by affecting the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. These findings suggest the potential valorization of C. cylindracea as a sustainable functional feed additive.
Article
Zoology
Meiping Zhao, Jacob D. Wickham, Lilin Zhao, Jianghua Sun
Summary: Pheromones play a role in regulating reproductive plasticity in pinewood nematodes, influencing fecundity in both invasive and native strains. The major pheromone component asc-C5 is identified as a key player in this process, providing new insights into the reproductive strategies of invasive species.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2021)