Article
Environmental Sciences
Joeline E. Lim, Matthew P. Duda, John P. Smol
Summary: This paleolimnological study examined the impact of changes in Leach's Storm-Petrel colony size on the subfossil Chironomidae assemblages in ponds on Baccalieu Island, Canada. The study found that chironomids tracked the growth and decline of the storm-petrel colony over the past 1700 years, likely due to fluctuations in pH, metal concentrations, and bottom-water oxygen. The observed degradation in chironomids in ponds influenced by storm-petrels was attributed to chitinolytic processes mediated by bacteria and/or fungi thriving on organic matter in productive aquatic systems.
JOURNAL OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Chris W. Tyson, Sarah L. Jennings, Brian A. Hoover, Amy Miles
Summary: This study examined sex-specific provisioning in the monomorphic Leach's storm-petrel and found that males provisioned more frequently and made a larger overall contribution to chick feeding than females. Females showed more variable trip durations, suggesting they alternated between short, energetically taxing trips for chick care and longer recovery trips for self-care. These findings suggest that energetic constraints on females lead to male-biased, sex-specific provisioning in monomorphic species.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zheng Zhang, Guangyue Wen, Dexiao Bu, Guojun Sun, Sheng Qiang
Summary: Canada goldenrod is an invasive plant species that spreads rapidly through wind dispersal, traveling longer distances and in greater amounts in the downwind direction. The temperature and wind speed positively affect the dispersal amount, while relative humidity negatively affects it.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rielle Hoeg, Dave Shutler, Ingrid L. Pollet
Summary: Seabird populations are declining globally, with predation being a major threat. A study in two Nova Scotian LHSP breeding colonies found more predation events on Bon Portage Island (BP) where no predator management is in place, compared to Country Island (CI) where management is used.
MARINE ORNITHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rhyl Frith, David M. Krug, Robert A. Ronconi, Sarah N. P. Wong
Summary: The Leach's Storm-Petrel is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, but its North American populations are declining with uncertain causes. Detailed long-term studies have been conducted on a large colony in Canada, but nesting petrels on neighboring islands are poorly documented. A recent census on Hay Island revealed lower burrow densities and occupancy rates compared to nearby colonies, highlighting the importance of baseline population estimates for ongoing monitoring and conservation planning.
NORTHEASTERN NATURALIST
(2021)
Article
Biology
Daniel Suarez, Paula Arribas, Eduardo Jimenez-Garcia, Brent C. Emerson
Summary: Dispersal ability plays a crucial role in shaping the genetic structure, population differentiation, and lineage diversification within species. This study on beetles and spiders in the Canary Islands reveals a positive relationship between population genetic structure and diversification. Non-dispersive lineages exhibit stronger population genetic structure, higher endemic species richness at the genus level, and greater proxies for diversification rate. These findings suggest that dispersal limitation influences species and lineage diversity across evolutionary timescales, with higher extinction rates in less dispersive lineages.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fernando Medrano, Teresa Militao, Ivandra Gomes, Mariona Sarda-Serra, Monica de la Fuente, Herculano A. Dinis, Jacob Gonzalez-Solis
Summary: This study investigated the breeding phenology, population connectivity, and niche differentiation of two allochronic populations of the Cape Verde Storm-petrel. The timing of breeding for these populations was primarily driven by biannual cyclicity in food availability. Despite the breeding phenological divergence, there was limited differentiation in spatial use, daily activity patterns, and trophic niche between the populations. The exchange of breeders between seasons may hinder seasonal adaptation and allochronic speciation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oscar Johnson, Camila C. C. Ribas, Alexandre Aleixo, Luciano N. N. Naka, Michael G. G. Harvey, Robb T. T. Brumfield
Summary: Understanding the factors that influence genetic structure across species is essential for studying speciation and population genetics. This study examined population genetic data from bird species specialized in different Amazonian habitat types. The results showed that habitat type significantly affects population genetic structure, with species in more dynamic habitats having higher levels of gene flow. These differences in genetic variation across taxa specialized in distinct habitats could lead to divergent responses to environmental change and habitat-specific diversification dynamics over time.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexander L. Bond, Sabina I. Wilhelm, Donald W. Pirie-Hay, Gregory J. Robertson, Ingrid L. Pollet, Jillian L. Arany
Summary: The predation of gulls on sympatric seabirds has been a topic of concern and management action. In Witless Bay, Newfoundland, gulls depredate significant numbers of Leach's Storm-petrels annually. This study quantified the predation on Gull Island and its effects on the storm-petrel population, finding a decline in breeding pairs and a high predation rate by gulls.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Eva K. Nobrega, Roger Vidal-Cardos, Alberto Munoz, Mariona Ferrandiz-Rovira
Summary: Scatter-hoarding rodents play a vital role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. This study compared the predation and dispersal patterns of holm oak acorns by wood mice in original dense forest vs open forest in Spain. The results showed variations in acorn predation and dispersal between forest types, with a greater acorn fraction being harvested and dispersed further in the managed forest. However, increased predation in the managed forest reduced the proportion of acorns that survived and could potentially grow, impacting the natural regeneration potential of forests.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Constanza Leon, Sam Banks, Nadeena Beck, Robert Heinsohn
Summary: Understanding the effects of environmental conditions on cooperatively breeding species helps to reveal the evolutionary forces behind this social system. This study investigated the genetic structure and dispersal patterns of white-winged choughs, focusing on within-group relatedness and genetic differentiation among groups. The results showed female-biased dispersal during years of abundant rainfall, contrasting with the previous study conducted during a drought. Differences in genetic structure were also found between groups breeding in suburbs versus native woodlands. The study suggests that ecological conditions play an important role in shaping the social structure of cooperatively breeding birds.
Article
Biology
Marta Cruz-Flores, Roger Pradel, Joel Bried, Jacob Gonzalez-Solis, Raul Ramos
Summary: This study found that females of a long-lived seabird species generally have lower survival probabilities than males, and breeding females have lower survival probabilities than non-breeding females, indicating costs of reproduction on survival. In contrast, breeding males have higher survival probabilities than non-breeding males, suggesting that males do not incur costs of reproduction on survival.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon Legault, Julian Wittische, Michel Cusson, Jacques Brodeur, Patrick M. A. James
Summary: The study revealed evidence of panmixia and high genetic connectivity for two important species of spruce budworm parasitoids in boreal forests, indicating similar effective dispersal during outbreaks and high population densities between outbreaks. Additionally, a significant negative relationship between genetic diversity and latitude was found for one species but not the other, suggesting potential differences in northern range limits within the parasitoid community. These spatial dynamics should be considered when predicting future insect outbreak severities in boreal landscapes.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vanessa de Araujo Barbosa, S. Elizabeth Graham, Brian J. Smith, Ian D. Hogg, Angela McGaughran
Summary: This study compared the resolution of mitochondrial COI and nuclear SNP markers for detecting population structure among stream insects at small spatial scales. The results showed that both types of markers can provide suitable initial estimates of fine-scale population genetic differentiation in stream insects.
Article
Fisheries
Jon-Ivar Westgaard, Guldborg Sovik, Torild Johansen
Summary: Our study examined the genetic structure of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in the Skagerrak-Kattegat and Norwegian Deep regions using DNA markers. We found no genetic structure within this region, but detected a shallow structure between Scotland and Iceland. Female lobsters showed greater genetic differences, indicating sex-biased dispersal. Ocean currents may connect Nephrops populations through larval drift. Despite evidence for one biological population, differences in fishing pressure and regulations support the current two-areas management regime.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Liam P. Langley, Stuart Bearhop, Niall H. K. Burton, Alex N. Banks, Tim Frayling, Chris B. Thaxter, Gary D. Clewley, Emily Scragg, Stephen C. Votier
Summary: Despite the negative impact of urbanization on biodiversity, urban areas provide unique opportunities for certain species. This study compares the movement behavior and habitat selection of Lesser Black-backed Gulls breeding in an urban colony and a coastal colony in north-west England. The results show that urban breeders prefer to forage in urban areas, while coastal breeders primarily forage in coastal habitats and avoid urban areas. Additionally, individual variations in habitat use were observed, which may have implications for management strategies. These findings highlight the link between nesting and foraging ecology and demonstrate that changes in food availability will affect gulls in coastal and urban areas differently.
Article
Ecology
Maria Botella-Cruz, Susana Pallares, Josefa Velasco, A. John Moody, Richard Billington, Andres Millan, David T. Bilton
Summary: This study compared the immune capacity between freshwater and hypersaline species pairs and found that hypersaline species have lower immune capacity. This suggests that adaptation to saline environments may involve trade-offs between immune defenses and osmoregulation.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mirjam J. Borger, David S. Richardson, Hannah Dugdale, Terry Burke, Jan Komdeur
Summary: Species are facing challenges from rapidly changing environments, such as increased frequency of extreme weather events. While natural selection acts slowly, organisms may use mechanisms like cooperative breeding to cope with rapid change. However, our study on the Seychelles warbler found that low rainfall was associated with reduced reproductive output, but cooperative breeding did not seem to buffer against harsh environments. This highlights the importance of considering the interaction between environment and life histories when studying species survival.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
David T. Bilton, Manfred A. Jaech, Ignacio Ribera, Emmanuel F. A. Toussaint
Summary: This article presents a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the diverse moss beetle genera in the family Hydraenidae. The research suggests that these beetles originated in Africa and Madagascar during the mid-Cretaceous, and their biogeographic history in the Southern Hemisphere was shaped by both vicariant and dispersal processes as well as extinctions. The study also reveals multiple shifts in habitat occupancy across the phylogeny, including the independent origins of terrestrial and humicolous taxa in different regions.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Amanda Kuepfer, Paulo Catry, Stuart Bearhop, Richard B. Sherley, Olivia Bell, Jason Newton, Paul Brickle, Alexander Arkhipkin, Stephen C. Votier
Summary: Effective marine ecosystem monitoring is critical for sustainable management. Monitoring seabird diets can provide important information on ecosystem health and seabird-fishery interactions. This study combines stomach content analysis (SCA) and stable isotope analysis (SIA) to examine the diet of black-browed albatross chicks, with a focus on fishery discard consumption.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kelly Atkins, Stuart Bearhop, Thomas W. W. Bodey, W. James Grecian, Keith Hamer, Jorge M. M. Pereira, Hannah Meinertzhagen, Chris Mitchell, Greg Morgan, Lisa Morgan, Jason Newton, Richard B. B. Sherley, Stephen C. C. Votier
Summary: Combining precision satellite-tracking with blood sampling, this study explores the potential of using seabird geolocators and feather sampling to validate large-scale isotopic patterns. By matching winter-grown feathers with the non-breeding location of tracked birds, the study reveals latitudinal gradients in carbon and nitrogen isotopes in neritic waters. Furthermore, the isotopic patterns are best explained by sea surface temperature, and similar gradients are found in fish muscle samples collected from local ports.
RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
David t. Bilton, Musa c. Mlambo
Summary: The Southern African endemic torridincolid water beetle genus Delevea Reichardt, 1976 is revised, based on recently collected material from the Republic of South Africa. The study provides significant range extensions for two previously described species and describes two new species. One of the new species, D. namaqua sp. nov., is the largest known extant species of the suborder Myxophaga, with an adult body length of up to 2.85 mm.
Article
Zoology
David T. Bilton
Summary: Two new species of beetles, Hydraena saotometerrestris and H. turneri, were discovered on Sao Tome island in the Gulf of Guinea. They belong to the subgenus Hydraenopsis and were found in primary forest habitats. H. turneri was found in aquatic environments, whereas H. saotometerrestris was found in damp forest litter, suggesting possible adaptive radiation after a single colonization event.
Article
Ecology
Emma Jane Rendle, Emily Louise Hunt, Anthony William James Bicknell
Summary: The expansion of seabed licensed for offshore renewables is driven by the global need to reduce carbon emissions. There is an international exploration of Nature-based Solutions for various initiatives such as restoration, conservation, mariculture, infrastructure protection, and carbon sequestration. Co-locating marine renewable structures with conservation initiatives offers the opportunity to support threatened species and provide wider ecosystem services. A three-step approach is presented to identify offshore wind farm sites suitable for co-location with compatible species, based on environmental conditions, species compatibility, and numerical modeling. This approach reduces project costs and failure risks by identifying feasible sites for Nature-based Solution projects. A case study is provided to demonstrate the restoration and conservation of European Flat Oyster at Gunfleet Sands offshore wind farm in southeast England.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Samuel J. L. Tasker, David T. T. Bilton
Summary: We found evidence of invasive alien aquatic plant Crassula helmsii in cases constructed by caddisfly larvae. In invaded ponds in the UK and Belgium, fragments of C. helmsii were present in cases of various caddisfly species. The fragmentation of C. helmsii during case creation may aid in its dispersal as vegetative propagules.
Article
Ornithology
Jude V. Lane, Jana W. E. Jeglinski, Stephanie Avery-Gomm, Elmar Ballstaedt, Ashley C. Banyard, Tatsiana Barychka, Ian H. Brown, Brigitte Brugger, Tori V. Burt, Noah Careen, Johan H. F. Castenschiold, Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard, Shannon Clifford, Sydney M. Collins, Emma Cunningham, Johannis Danielsen, Francis Daunt, Kyle J. N. D'Entremont, Parker Doiron, Steven Duffy, Matthew D. English, Marco Falchieri, Jolene Giacinti, Britt Gjerset, Silje Granstad, David Gremillet, Magella Guillemette, Gunnar T. Hallgrimsson, Keith C. Hamer, Sjurdur Hammer, Katherine Harrison, Justin D. Hart, Ciaran Hatsell, Richard Humpidge, Joe James, Audrey Jenkinson, Mark Jessopp, Megan E. B. Jones, Stephane Lair, Thomas Lewis, Alexandra A. Malinowska, Aly McCluskie, Gretchen McPhail, Borge Moe, William A. Montevecchi, Greg Morgan, Caroline Nichol, Craig Nisbet, Bergur Olsen, Jennifer Provencher, Pascal Provost, Alex Purdie, Jean-Francois Rail, Greg Robertson, Yannick Seyer, Maggie Sheddan, Catherine Soos, Nia Stephens, Hallvard Strom, Vilhjalmur Svansson, T. David Tierney, Glen Tyler, Tom Wade, Sarah Wanless, Christopher R. E. Ward, Sabina I. Wilhelm, Saskia Wischnewski, Lucy J. Wright, Bernie Zonfrillo, Jason Matthiopoulos, Stephen C. Votier
Summary: During 2021 and 2022, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused significant deaths among wild birds, including Northern Gannets. This study analyzed HPAI outbreaks in North Atlantic Gannet colonies and found that the outbreaks had a profound impact on population size, breeding success, and adult survival. Serological investigation also revealed that some Gannets were able to recover from HPAI infection. It is important to understand the effects of HPAI infection in order to develop effective conservation strategies for threatened seabird populations.
Article
Ornithology
Ian R. Cleasby, Ellie Owen, Adam Butler, Julia Baer, Jez Blackburn, Maria I. Bogdanova, Tessa Coledale, Francis Daunt, Stephen Dodd, Julian C. Evans, Jonathan A. Green, Tim Guilford, Michael P. Harris, Robert Hughes, Mark A. Newell, Stephen F. Newton, Gail S. Robertson, Lise Ruffino, Akiko Shoji, Louise M. Soanes, Stephen C. Votier, Ewan D. Wakefield, Sarah Wanless, Linda J. Wilson, Mark Bolton
Summary: Knowledge of seabird distributions is crucial for seabird conservation and marine management. However, most seabird colonies have not been tracked, so alternative methods must be used to assess their foraging distribution. By analyzing multiple tracking datasets, we found significant variations in foraging range among different colonies and individuals. Our estimates of typical foraging ranges for each species were also subject to high uncertainties.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
David T. Bilton, Ignacio Ribera, Adrian Villastrigo
Summary: The biogeographical history of the Tyrrhenian Islands and the evolutionary history of their endemic Hydraena water beetles are explored using a time-calibrated phylogeny derived from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. The results show that Tyrrhenian species of Hydraena stem from five colonisation events occurring at different intervals in the last 15 million years.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
S. D. Good, M. Gummery, S. McLennan, K. Dewar, S. C. Votier, R. A. Phillips
Summary: Many seabird populations are declining due to fisheries bycatch, and the use of risk criteria to identify and address this issue is often lacking. Various methods have been used to assess the impact of fisheries on seabird populations, and the study compared the performance of different tools in assessing the risk. The findings suggest that the previous approach used by the Marine Stewardship Council was less effective than other approaches, and recommendations are made to improve species-specific risk assessments and management of seabird bycatch.
ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ingrid L. Pollet, Ariel K. Lenske, Anne N. M. Ausems, Christophe Barbraud, Yuliana Bedolla-Guzman, Anthony W. J. Bicknell, Mark Bolton, Alexander L. Bond, Karine Delord, Antony W. Diamond, David A. Fifield, Carina Gjerdrum, Luke R. Halpin, Erpur S. Hansen, April Hedd, Rielle Hoeg, Heather L. Major, Robert A. Mauck, Gregory T. W. McClelland, Laura McFarlane Tranquilla, William A. Montevecchi, Mike Parker, Isabeau Pratte, Jean-Francois Rail, Gregory J. Robertson, Jennifer C. Rock, Robert A. Ronconi, Dave Shutler, Iain J. Stenhouse, Akinori Takahashi, Yukata Watanuki, Linda J. Welch, Sabina I. Wilhelm, Sarah N. P. Wong, Mark L. Mallory
Summary: Seabirds, including Leach's Storm-Petrel, are facing global declines, but the specific threats vary between and within species and populations. The main threats near colonies include avian and mammalian predators, while at-sea threats are less studied but may include offshore lights, prey shifts, and contaminants. Overall, preventing the introduction of mammalian predators and implementing targeted conservation strategies are crucial for the conservation of this species.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2023)