New Publication on Shearwaters!

Genovart, M., Ramos, R., Igual, J.M., Sanz-Aguilar, A., Tavecchia, G., Rotger, A., Militão, T., Vicente-Sastre, D., Garcia-Urdangarin, B., Pradel, R., González-Solís, J. and Oro, D. (2024), Individual Choices of Wintering Areas Drive Adult Survival Heterogeneity in a Long-Lived Seabird. Ecol Evol, 14: e70675. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70675

In a shell:Wintering area preferences and environmental variability drive survival heterogeneity in long-distance migratory seabirds.

 Abstract:Seasonal migration has evolved as an adaptation for exploiting peaks of resource abundance and avoiding unfavourable climatic conditions. Differential migratory strategies and choices of wintering areas by long-distance migratory species may impose varying selective pressures and mortality risks with fitness consequences. Recently developed tracking technologies allow wintering movements of migratory species to be studied. However, these technologies typically involve a limited number of tracked individuals, which gives low statistical power for any robust estimate of survival probabilities. Additionally, when utilising geolocators, data become accessible only upon individual recapture, presenting a potential source of bias. We used multievent modelling to include information of 147 identified wintering tracks in the analysis of 1104 long-term individual capture histories (2000–2022) of migratory seabird Calonectris diomedea and then test if individual preferences for wintering areas may drive heterogeneity in adult survival. 

Photo: P. Arcos

We also examined individual fidelity to wintering areas and tested if climatic and oceanographic conditions, as represented by the wNAO and SOI climatic indices, influenced survival and fidelity. The probability of fidelity to a wintering area was ca. 0.79. Annual changes between areas were influenced by environmental variability driven by the wNAO. Survival probability was influenced by the SOI and differed between wintering areas; these differences coupled with high wintering site fidelity, generated individual heterogeneity in adult survival. Our study reveals that, over the last two decades, some individuals wintered in less suitable areas, with nonnegligible consequences on adult survival, the parameter to which the population growth rate is most sensitive in long-lived species. Winter oceanographic conditions such as stormy weather or the proximity to upwellings probably play a relevant role in driving survival heterogeneity. Further research is needed to enhance our understanding of how the interlinked effects of climate, local selective pressures and individual condition shape population dynamics in migratory species.

 

New publication on European Storm Petrel foraging areas!

 Bolumar Roda, S., Rotger, A., santangeli A., Tavecchia, G., Sola, A., [...] and Sanz-Aguilar, A., 2024. Coping with ocean dynamics: Foraging strategy and implications for conservation of a small petrel. Biological Conservation, 302: 110913 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110913  

 In a shell: The study used GPS tracking and oceanographic data to model foraging habitats of European Storm-petrels in the Western Mediterranean, identifying key regions influenced by dynamic oceanographic features that largely fall outside Marine Protected Areas, highlighting the need for conservation measures.

Abstract: Seabirds' distribution is generally influenced by the ecological dynamics of marine environments. Understanding how oceanographic features shape seabird foraging behaviour remains a challenge. We combined GPS tracking locations (n = 2883) of 39 European Storm-petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus) breeding in four West Mediterranean colonies during incubation over multiple years (2019–2021) with near-real-time remotely sensed oceanographic drivers. We model habitat selection using GPS tracking data from one colony, Benidorm Island, and use data from other three colonies for validation.

Photo: V. Paris

We show that suitable foraging areas are strongly characterized by low sea surface temperature, high chlorophyll concentration and eddy kinetic energy. Based on this model, we predict habitat suitability maps for 2018–2022. Cross-validation using data from the other three colonies highlights that the identified suitable areas are universally applicable across other Storm-petrel colonies in the Western Mediterranean. We identified the Alboran Sea, the North African coast, the Gulf of Lion and the Ebro River Delta as the most suitable regions. These areas are characterized by high mesoscale variability, suggesting the importance of dynamic oceanographic features in determining foraging habitat. Identified main foraging areas are largely outside of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), thus vulnerable to anthropogenic threats such as overfishing and energy infrastructure development. The critical foraging areas identified for this species underscore the need to expand the MPA network and/or adopt sustainable resource extraction in unprotected marine areas.

New Publication on vultures !

Santangeli A, Fozzi I, De Rosa D, et al. Quantifying the regulation and cultural ecosystem services associated with Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus in Sardinia, Italy. Bird Conservation International. 2024;34:e35. doi:10.1017/S0959270924000327 

 In a shell: The study shows the roles in carcass disposal, greenhouse gas mitigation, cultural identity, and ecotourism of Griffon Vultures in Sardinia, while emphasizing the need for their conservation to ensure sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.

Abstract: In the Anthropocene, recognising nature’s role in human well-being is pivotal for biodiversity conservation. Despite their significance, knowledge gaps persist regarding ecosystem services, even for well-studied species like vultures. Our study focuses on the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus in Sardinia, Italy, exploring their cultural and regulating services, including carcass disposal and resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. Through surveys of natural reserve visitors and data on carcass provision and GHG emissions, we assess public perception, economic value, and environmental impacts associated with vultures. The public perception of Griffon Vultures is predominantly positive, with a strong acknowledgment of their role in disease prevention and carcass disposal, highlighting their contribution to regulation services. 

Furthermore, vultures are widely recognised as a key element characterising the agropastoral landscapes of Sardinia, underscoring their cultural importance. The economic evaluation, through willingness to pay for vulture-watching and photography opportunities, indicates a significant appreciation of these birds, with almost three-quarters of respondents willing to pay an entrance fee at vulture observation sites. We also show that supplanting the disposal role of vultures at studied feeding sites (during 2017–2022) would result in the emission of 96 tons of CO2 equivalent, which highlights the critical role of vultures in climate mitigation. This study not only sheds light on the ecological and cultural significance of Griffon Vultures in Sardinia but also underscores the economic and environmental benefits of their conservation. It emphasises the need for continued efforts in vulture conservation, integrating ecological, cultural, and economic perspectives to foster a sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Subscriptions to CMR workshop open!

Subscription to the upcoming workshop now open.

 

INTRODUCTORY COURSE: 25 - 29 Nov. 2024, Mallorca, Spain  

 (places: 20, price 390Є)

 

This introductory course aims to introduce students, researchers and environmental managers to the theory and practical aspects of the analysis of capture-mark-recapture and –recovery data to estimate survival, recruitment and dispersal probabilities. The course is based on theoretical classes as well as practical sessions with real and simulated data. The format of the course will be a combination of lectures and computer lab exercises with programs MARK, U-CARE and R (optional). No previous knowledge of these programs is needed.   

To register : http://fueib.org/curs/capture   (click on: "MATRICULA-t'hi")
Ask more information at: g.tavecchia-at-uib.es

Award for the best talk on seabird tracking!

Sofia Bolumar Roda has been awarded with a price for the best talk on seabird tracking at the "Seabird Group Conference" held in Coimbra, Portugal. Sofia's research coupled oceanic variables with the foraging movements of the European Storm Petrel. 

 

Well done, Sofia!  Congratulations!

 

New publication on vulture and mortality hotspots

Curk, T., [...] Santangeli, A., 2024 Integrating threat mapping and animal movement data to identify high-risk areas for endangered mobile species. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12980

In a shell: The work maps poisoning risks for the Lappet-faced Vultures in Southern Africa. It helps to identify hotspots that require conservation efforts. High food availability in these areas increases vulture risks of mortality.

Abstract:  Given the current biodiversity crisis, understanding how animals move across a landscape dotted with different anthropogenic threats and the consequences of those threats for animals is paramount to devising evidence-based conservation interventions. Vultures roam across large areas and are highly exposed to poisoning, which represents a particularly damaging form of wildlife crime. In this study, we introduce a framework for quantifying the exposure to threats and illustrate an example of poisoning risk as a threat in an endangered African vulture species, the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). 

photo from ebird

We combined GPS tracking data of 19 individuals collected between 2012 and 2022 with food availability and spatial threat maps of both intentional (poachers directly targeting vultures) and unintentional (farmers aiming to kill carnivores, with vultures being secondarily affected) poisoning across most of Southern Africa. We identified poisoning hotspots in northern Botswana and south-eastern Namibia. These areas were also associated with a high number of vulture mortalities, providing additional support for poisoning risk. Northern Botswana and areas at the border between Botswana and South Africa were characterized by high food availability, potentially amplifying the mortality rate by attracting vultures from surrounding areas. Our results offer valuable insights for regional vulture conservation, together with a methodological framework for quantifying and mapping the spatial exposure to threats for mobile species of conservation concern, enabling improved targeting of conservation actions.

 

GEDAi and the Balearic Sheawater on the news!

From https://www.ultimahora.es

 The monitoring of the Blaearic Shearwater by the GEDAi in collaboration with a team from the Oxford University at the Natural Park of Sa Dragonera found an increase of the breeding population.

A good news for this endangered species that hit the news this week here and here.

GEDAi and Vultures!

Dr A. Santangeli from the GEDA comments on a new study about the consequences of the decline of vultures in India and its cost in terms of human lifes and monetary damages. Here   

Bernard Castelein/NPL/Minden Pictures

"To calculate monetary damages, the team relied on previous research that calculated the economic value of what Indian society is willing to spend to save one life at roughly $665,000 a person. That put the total economic damages from the loss of vulture populations at $69.4 billion a year from 2000 to 2005.

The numbers themselves aren’t surprising, says Andrea Santangeli, a conservation scientist at the Institute for Mediterranean Studies who wasn’t involved with the research. He and others have sounded the alarm on biodiversity loss for decades. But the new, dramatic stats could help convince lawmakers to act, he says. “If you give them flashy figures, it’s probably easier to push forward policy and conservation measures." by Vivian La (Science News 15/07/2024)