New publication on gulls and landfills!

Delgado, S., Tavecchia, G., Herrero, A. et al. Model projections reveal a recent decrease in a yellow-legged gull population after landfill closure. Eur J Wildl Res 69, 99 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-023-01723-w

 In a shell: The study reveals that the closure of local landfills leads to a decline in survival rates, especially in younger birds, ultimately causing a population decrease with continuing consequences.

Abstract: The food available in open-air landfills, one of the most common predictable anthropogenic food subsidies (PAFS), can have a profound impact on animal biodiversity. Understanding how and to what extent PAFS affect wildlife is crucial for a sustainable management of resources. Most large gulls behave as opportunistic foragers and constitute a good avian model to analyze the effect of PAFS reduction on animal populations. 

Using individual data from a yellow-legged gull population of the Basque coast (northern Iberia) collected over a 15-year period, we estimated survival and reproductive parameters and used them to parameterize an age-structured population model to explore the effects of the local landfill closure. Local survival probability declined with time as a consequence of the progressive closure of the local landfill sites. The top-ranked models included a quadratic function of time, suggesting an acceleration of mortality during the later years, especially in juveniles, while survival in adults was linear. An effect more pronounced in first year birds than in older birds. Population models predict a decrease of the population and confirmed a greater sensitivity of the population growth rate to adult survival probability. Overall, our results suggest that the reduced carrying capacity of the system resulted after landfill closures have caused a population decline which is expected to continue in the near future.

New publication on illegal and accidental hunting!

Pérez‐García, J. M., Sebastián‐González, E., Rodríguez‐Caro, R., Sanz‐Aguilar, A., Botella, F. (2023). Blind shots: non‐natural mortality counteracts conservation efforts of a threatened waterbird”. Animal Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12906

In a shell: The study found that 60% of recorded mortalities of the marbled teal was due to non-natural causes, including illegal shooting. Hunters might kill marbled teals accidentally while shooting other game species. The study highlights the need to reduce illegal shootings to establish a viable population of marbled teal.

Abstract: Waterbirds are particularly affected by the high hunting pressure they face in many regions, which in some cases is compromising conservation actions for threatened species. The marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris is one of the most endangered waterbirds in Europe. In order to restore its population, several conservation actions have recently been undertaken, including a population reinforcement programme in Spain using captive-bred birds. With the aim of assessing the success of the reinforcement programme to establish a long-term self-sustaining population, we identified mortality causes of marbled teal, evaluated the survival of individual birds of the reinforcement programme and estimated the viability of the population under different management scenarios. 

Pohto: Wikipedia.com

We used data from wild and captive-bred individuals tracked by GPS since 2018 (n = 42) and from a mark–recapture programme initiated in 2015 (n = 297). We recovered 15 dead birds or transmitters: 20% died of natural causes, 60% of non-natural causes (including all anthropic causes) and 20% of unknown causes. Furthermore, the GPS tags of 24 birds unexpectedly stopped transmitting without any indication of malfunction, and for 66.7% of these disappeared birds, the cessation was suspected to be caused by illegal shooting. Survival during the hunting season was higher for males (31.3%) than for females (12.5%), and for the wild (50%) than for the captive-bred birds (9.4%), probably due to differences in migration patterns to North Africa. Population viability models revealed that maintaining the breeding population at the current mortality rates is only possible with a permanent release programme of captive-bred individuals, and that in order to establish a self-sustaining population, non-natural mortality would have to be reduced by at least 40%. We recommend management measures to reduce marbled teal mortality, such as limiting legal hunting to hours with clear visibility, prosecuting illegal shootings, controlling exotic predators and improving water management to reduce disease outbreaks. Some improvements can be implemented in captive-breeding programmes, such as earlier release times and incorporating anti-predator training.

A press note (in Spanish) here

New publication on the effect of protected areas!

Santangeli, A., Weigel, B., Antão, L.H. et al. Mixed effects of a national protected area network on terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity. Nat Commun 14, 5426 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41073-4

In a shell: Only a small fraction of species benefits of protected areas and it is not linked to species traits or conservation status. This indicates that additional measures like expanding coverage, enhancing connectivity, and better management are essential to address the broader biodiversity crisis effectively.

Abstract: Protected areas are considered fundamental to counter biodiversity loss. However, evidence for their effectiveness in averting local extinctions remains scarce and taxonomically biased. We employ a robust counterfactual multi-taxon approach to compare occupancy patterns of 638 species, including birds (150), mammals (23), plants (39) and phytoplankton (426) between protected and unprotected sites across four decades in Finland. We find mixed impacts of protected areas, with only a small proportion of species explicitly benefiting from protection—mainly through slower rates of decline inside protected areas. The benefits of protection are enhanced for larger protected areas and are traceable to when the sites were protected, but are mostly unrelated to species conservation status or traits (size, climatic niche and threat status). Our results suggest that the current protected area network can partly contribute to slow down declines in occupancy rates, but alone will not suffice to halt the biodiversity crisis. Efforts aimed at improving coverage, connectivity and management will be key to enhance the effectiveness of protected areas towards bending the curve of biodiversity loss.

New publication on plastic and Storm Petrels!

Clark, B.L., Carneiro, A.P.B., [...] Sanz-Aguilar, A.,[...] Rotger, A., et al. Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds. Nat Commun 14, 3665 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38900-z

 In a shell: Unevenly distributed plastic pollution in the ocean can impact on vulnerable marine organisms, particularly petrel seabirds. High exposed zones were found in the Mediterranean, Black Seas, Pacific oceans, South Atlantic, and Indian Ocean. We emphasize the need for international collaboration to mitigate these risks.

Photo: Y.Muzika - eBird

Abstract: Plastic pollution is distributed patchily around the world’s oceans. Likewise, marine organisms that are vulnerable to plastic ingestion or entanglement have uneven distributions. Understanding where wildlife encounters plastic is crucial for targeting research and mitigation. Oceanic seabirds, particularly petrels, frequently ingest plastic, are highly threatened, and cover vast distances during foraging and migration. However, the spatial overlap between petrels and plastics is poorly understood. Here we combine marine plastic density estimates with individual movement data for 7137 birds of 77 petrel species to estimate relative exposure risk. We identify high exposure risk areas in the Mediterranean and Black seas, and the northeast Pacific, northwest Pacific, South Atlantic and southwest Indian oceans. Plastic exposure risk varies greatly among species and populations, and between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Exposure risk is disproportionately high for Threatened species.  Outside the Mediterranean and Black seas, exposure risk is highest in the high seas and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the USA, Japan, and the UK. Birds generally had higher plastic exposure risk outside the EEZ of the country where they breed. We identify conservation and research priorities, and highlight that international collaboration is key to addressing the impacts of marine plastic on wide-ranging species.

 

 

 

The gender equality problem on the news!

The publication of the manuscript by Sebastián-González E et al. (2023) Ten simple rules for a mom-friendly Academia. PLoS Comput Biol 19(8): e1011284. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011284  has attracted the attention of the media. It is a good opportunity to re-state the problem that women, and all gender-discriminated people, are facing when in their academic career and to find solutions!

Here (in catalan) an intervew to A. Sanz-Aguilar who co-signed the manuscript.

Below other press releases in csatellano and english:

https://www.europapress.es/comunitat-valenciana/noticia-estudio-cientificas-ua-umh-propone-medidas-evitar-abandonar-carrera-academica-ser-madre-20230905145201.html

 

https://www.diariodeleon.es/articulo/sociedad/mujeres-reclaman-centros-lactancia-trabajo/202309060343252371579.html

 

https://www.todoalicante.es/alicante-ciudad/investigadora-lidera-proyecto-evitar-abandono-academico-tras-20230905183135-nt.html

 

https://ruvid.org/diez-medidas-para-evitar-el-abandono-de-la-carrera-academica-tras-la-maternidad/

 

http://www.gentedigital.es/palma-de-mallorca/noticia/3697385/un-estudio-con-la-participacion-del-imedea-propone-diez-medidas-para-evitar-el-abandono-academico-tras-la-maternidad/

 

https://www.publitoral.es/cientificas-proponen-diez-medidas-para-evitar-el-abandono-de-la-carrera-academica-tras-la-maternidad-en-un-estudio-en-el-que-participa-la-umh/

 

https://www.palmesana.com/noticia/diez-medidas-para-evitar-el-abandono-de-la-carrera-academica-tras-la-maternidad/

 

https://www.solidaridaddigital.es/noticis/cientificas-espanolas-proponen-medidas-urgentes-para-evitar-el-abandono-de-la-carrera

 

https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/valencia/20230905/9206510/proponen-10-medidas-limitar-abandono-carrera-cientifica-maternidad.html

 

https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/2023/09/05/cientificas-espanolas-proponen-medidas-abandono-carrera-maternidad-universidad-zaragoza-1675875.html

 

https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20230905/9206462/grupo-cientificas-espanolas-demandan-centros-lactancia-trabajo.html

 

https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2023/09/05/un-grupo-de-cientificas-espanolas-demandan-centros-de-lactancia-en-el-trabajo/

 

https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/cientificas-espanolas-proponen-medidas-urgentes-para-evitar-abandono-carrera-academica-tras-maternidad/3824450

 

https://cadenaser.com/comunitat-valenciana/2023/09/05/la-umh-participa-en-un-estudio-que-propone-diez-medidas-para-evitar-el-abandono-de-la-carrera-academica-tras-la-maternidad-radio-elche/

 

https://www.lanocion.es/aragon/20230905/cientificas-espanyolas-proponen-10-medidas-par-15113.html

 

https://www.elperiodic.com/alicante/cientificas-espanolas-proponen-diez-medidas-para-evitar-abandono-carrera-academica-tras-maternidad_920587

 

https://www.elespanol.com/alicante/vivir/20230905/medidas-cientificas-espanolas-evitar-abandono-carrera-maternidad/792170903_0.html

 

https://www.informacion.es/elche/2023/09/05/grupo-cientificas-espanolas-demandan-centros-91725585.html

 

https://www.segre.com/es/noticias/guia/2023/09/05/un_grupo_cientificas_espanolas_demandan_centros_lactancia_el_trabajo_219394_1111.html

 

https://www.diariodemallorca.es/mallorca/2023/09/06/cientificas-urgen-evitar-abandono-carrera-91745884.html

 

https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20230905/estudio-plantea-diez-medidas-evitar-abandono-profesional-maternidad-91738890

 

https://vivasevilla.es/valencia/1347417/las-10-medidas-que-evitarian-que-las-mujeres-dejen-la-carrera-academica-tras-la-maternidad/

 

https://www.diariodeibiza.es/ibiza/2023/09/06/cientificas-urgen-evitar-abandono-carrera-91746804.html

 

https://www.alphagalileo.org/en-gb/Item-Display/ItemId/237049?returnurl=https://www.alphagalileo.org/en-gb/Item-Display/ItemId/237049

 

https://www.usanews.net/breaking/spanish-scientists-propose-10-measures-to-avoid-dropping-out-of-the-career-h85292.html

 

https://www.nation.lk/online/scientists-propose-10-measures-to-prevent-women-from-abandoning-their-academic-careers-after-motherh-226568.html

 

https://phys.org/news/2023-09-scientists-women-abandoning-academic-careers.html

New publication on global changes and distribution shifts!

Marjakangas EL, Bosco L, Versluijs M, Xu Y, Santangeli A, [...] and Lehikoinen A. 2023 Ecological barriers mediate spatiotemporal shifts of bird communities at a continental scale. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 120 (23):e2213330120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2213330120.

In a shell: Overlooked barriers such as landscapes' edges, coastlines, and elevation, hinder animal movement and constrain adaptations. This study emphasizes the need to consider these barriers for predicting future changes in animal communities.

From: wikipedia.com

 Abstract: Species’ range shifts and local extinctions caused by climate change lead to community composition changes. At large spatial scales, ecological barriers, such as biome boundaries, coastlines, and elevation, can influence a community's ability to shift in response to climate change. Yet, ecological barriers are rarely considered in climate change studies, potentially hindering predictions of biodiversity shifts. We used data from two consecutive European breeding bird atlases to calculate the geographic distance and direction between communities in the 1980s and their compositional best match in the 2010s and modeled their response to barriers. The ecological barriers affected both the distance and direction of bird community composition shifts, with coastlines and elevation having the strongest influence. Our results underscore the relevance of combining ecological barriers and community shift projections for identifying the forces hindering community adjustments under global change. Notably, due to (macro)ecological barriers, communities are not able to track their climatic niches, which may lead to drastic changes, and potential losses, in community compositions in the future.

New publication on Egyptian Vulture!

Gómez-López, G., Sanz‐Aguilar, A., [...] and Guillermo Blanco. 2023 Insularity determines nestling sex ratio variation in Egyptian vulture populations. Ecology and Evolution 13 (8) doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10371

Abstract: Variation in offspring sex ratio, particularly in birds, has been frequently studied over the last century, although seldom using long-term monitoring data. In raptors, the cost of raising males and females is not equal, and several variables have been found to have significant effects on sex ratio, including food availability, parental age, and hatching order. Sex ratio differences between island populations and their mainland counterparts have been poorly documented, despite broad scientific literature on the island syndrome reporting substantial differences in population demography and ecology. Here, we assessed individual and environmental factors potentially affecting the secondary sex ratio of the long-lived Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus. 

Photo. wikipedia.com

We used data collected from Spanish mainland and island populations over a ca. 30-year period (1995–2021) to assess the effects of insularity, parental age, breeding phenology, brood size, hatching order, type of breeding unit (pairs vs. trios), and spatial and temporal variability on offspring sex ratio. No sex bias was found at the population level, but two opposite trends were observed between mainland and island populations consistent with the island syndrome. Offspring sex ratio was nonsignificantly female-biased in mainland Spain (0.47, n = 1112) but significantly male-biased in the Canary Islands (0.55, n = 499), where a male-biased mortality among immatures could be compensating for offspring biases and maintaining a paired adult sex ratio. Temporal and spatial variation in food availability might also have some influence on sex ratio, although the difficulties in quantifying them preclude us from determining the magnitude of such influence. This study shows that insularity influences the offspring sex ratio of the Egyptian vulture through several processes that can affect island and mainland populations differentially. Our research contributes to improving our understanding of sex allocation theory by investigating whether sex ratio deviations from parity are possible as a response to changing environments comprised by multiple and complexly interrelated factors.

 

New Publication on gender equality in Academia!

Sebastián-González E, Graciá E, Morán-Ordóñez A, Pérez-Ibarra I, Sanz-Aguilar A, Sobral M (2023) Ten simple rules for a mom-friendly Academia. PLoS Comput Biol 19(8): e1011284. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011284

From: https://www.theovalwindow.com

Abstract:Women (and all gender-discriminated people) are underrepresented in science, especially in leadership positions and higher stages of the scientific career. One of the main causes of career abandonment by women is maternity, with many women leaving Academia after having their first child because of the career penalties associated with motherhood. Thus, more actions to help scientific moms to balance family and academic work are urgently needed to increase representation of women and other gender discriminated people in Academia. Besides mothers, these rules may also benefit other groups such as mothers-to-be, fathers, caregivers, and women in general. Increasing women representation in science, including mothers, is critical because equality is a fundamental right, and because more diverse working environments are more productive and get to more optimal solutions. Here, we describe 10 simple rules that can be adopted in Academia to halt the abandonment of scientific careers by women after motherhood. We strongly encourage their implementation to increase gender diversity and equality in science.