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Yang R, Yu X, Nie P, Cao R, Feng J, Hu X. Climatic niche and range shifts of grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin) in Europe: An invasive pest displacing native squirrels. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:3731-3739. [PMID: 37194192 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As an invasive pest from North America, grey squirrels (GSs; Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin) are displacing native squirrels in Europe. However, the climatic niche and range dynamics of GSs in Europe remain largely unknown. Through niche and range dynamic models, we investigated climatic niche and range shifts between introduced GSs in Europe and native GSs in North America. RESULTS GSs in North America can survive in more variable climatic conditions and have much wider climatic niche breadth than do GSs in Europe. Based on climate, the potential range of GSs in Europe included primarily Britain, Ireland, and Italy, whereas the potential range of GSs in North America included vast regions of western and southern Europe. If GSs in Europe could occupy the same climatic niche space and potential range as GSs in North America, they would occupy an area ca. 2.45 times the size of their current range. The unfilling ranges of GSs in Europe relative to those of GSs in North America were primarily in France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Portugal. CONCLUSION Our observations implied that GSs in Europe have significant invasion potential, and that range projections based on their occurrence records in Europe may underestimate their invasion risk. Given that small niche shifts between GSs in Europe and in North America could lead to large range shifts, niche shifts could be a sensitive indicator in invasion risk assessment. The identified unfilling ranges of the GS in Europe should be prioritized in combating GS invasions in the future. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rujing Yang
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali, China
- Research Center for Agroecology in Erhai Lake Watershed of Dali University, Dali, China
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xiaoli Yu
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali, China
- Research Center for Agroecology in Erhai Lake Watershed of Dali University, Dali, China
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Peixiao Nie
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali, China
- Research Center for Agroecology in Erhai Lake Watershed of Dali University, Dali, China
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Runyao Cao
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali, China
- Research Center for Agroecology in Erhai Lake Watershed of Dali University, Dali, China
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Jianmeng Feng
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali, China
- Research Center for Agroecology in Erhai Lake Watershed of Dali University, Dali, China
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xiaokang Hu
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali, China
- Research Center for Agroecology in Erhai Lake Watershed of Dali University, Dali, China
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali, China
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Jing CL, Lou YQ, Liu H, Song K, Fang Y, Höglund J, Halvarsson P, Sun YH. Avian malaria parasite infections do not affect personality in the chestnut thrush ( Turdus rubrocanus) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20082. [PMID: 37809652 PMCID: PMC10559808 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Personality traits, the consistent individual behavioral differences, are currently gaining much attention in studies of natural bird populations. However, associations between personality traits and parasite infections are not often investigated. Even less attention has been given to studies of birds in the high-elevation region such as the Tibetan plateau. This research aims to examine the relationship between avian malaria parasites and two personality traits in a population of the Chestnut Thrush (Turdus rubrocanus) breed in the Tibetan plateau. Our results revealed no evidence of sex bias in malaria parasite prevalence. Furthermore, we found no effect of infection status on two personality scores: activity and boldness. Additionally, no effects on the activity level or boldness were observed for different parasite lineages of Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, the sex of the birds, or their interactions. Similarly, we did not find any relationship between activity level and boldness with nestling numbers, sex, or their interactions. Notably, individuals with a larger number of offspring tended to display greater boldness. Our findings indicate that blood parasite infections are common in this population but do not significantly impact the personality of the birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-lei Jing
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ying-Qiang Lou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kai Song
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yun Fang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jacob Höglund
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Halvarsson
- Unit of Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7036, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yue-Hua Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Wauters LA, Lurz PWW, Santicchia F, Romeo C, Ferrari N, Martinoli A, Gurnell J. Interactions between native and invasive species: A systematic review of the red squirrel-gray squirrel paradigm. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1083008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) has been labeled as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species by the IUCN. In Europe, the species has been introduced to Britain, Ireland and Italy, and its subsequent spread has resulted in wide-scale extinction of native Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from the areas colonized by the gray squirrel. This replacement of a native by an alien competitor is one of the best documented cases of the devastating effects of biological invasions on native fauna. To understand how this replacement occurs, we present a systematic review of the literature on competition and interactions between red and gray squirrels. We describe the patterns of red and gray squirrel distribution in those parts of Europe where gray squirrels occur and summarize the evidence on the different processes and mechanisms determining the outcome of competition between the native and alien species including the influence of predators and pathogens. Some of the drivers behind the demise of the red squirrel have been intensively studied and documented in the past 30 years, but recent field studies and mathematical models revealed that the mechanisms underlying the red-gray paradigm are more complex than previously thought and affected by landscape-level processes. Therefore, we consider habitat type and multi-species interactions, including host-parasite and predator-prey relationships, to determine the outcome of the interaction between the two species and to better address gray squirrel control efforts.
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Beyts C, Cella M, Colegrave N, Downie R, Martin JGA, Walsh P. The effect of heterospecific and conspecific competition on inter-individual differences in tungara frog tadpole ( Engystomops pustulosus) behavior. Behav Ecol 2023; 34:210-222. [PMID: 36998994 PMCID: PMC10047633 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Repeated social interactions with conspecifics and/or heterospecifics during early development may drive the differentiation of behavior among individuals. Competition is a major form of social interaction and its impacts can depend on whether interactions occur between conspecifics or heterospecifics and the directionality of a response could be specific to the ecological context that they are measured in. To test this, we reared tungara frog tadpoles (Engystomops pustulosus) either in isolation, with a conspecific tadpole or with an aggressive heterospecific tadpole, the whistling frog tadpole (Leptodactylus fuscus). In each treatment, we measured the body size and distance focal E. pustulosus tadpoles swam in familiar, novel and predator risk contexts six times during development. We used univariate and multivariate hierarchical mixed effect models to investigate the effect of treatment on mean behavior, variance among and within individuals, behavioral repeatability and covariance among individuals in their behavior between contexts. There was a strong effect of competition on behavior, with different population and individual level responses across social treatments. Within a familiar context, the variance in the distance swam within individuals decreased under conspecific competition but heterospecific competition caused more variance in the average distance swam among individuals. Behavioral responses were also context specific as conspecific competition caused an increase in the distance swam within individuals in novel and predator risk contexts. The results highlight that the impact of competition on among and within individual variance in behavior is dependent on both competitor species identity and context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cammy Beyts
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, Easter Bush Campus, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Maddalena Cella
- Digital Futures, Warnford Court, 29 Throngmorton Street, London, EC2N 2AT, UK
| | - Nick Colegrave
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Roger Downie
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, R205A Level 2, The University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Julien G A Martin
- Department of Biology, Marie-Curie Private, University of Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 9A7, Canada
| | - Patrick Walsh
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, EH9 3JT, UK
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Morris DW, Palmer S. Do animal personalities promote species coexistence? A test with sympatric boreal rodents. Ecology 2023; 104:e3913. [PMID: 36333888 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The coexistence of competing species requires density feedbacks that have a larger effect on their own species' population growth than they do on others in the assembly. The feedbacks are often associated with behavioral tradeoffs that enable species to differentially exploit underlying axes of heterogeneity. Conjoining theories of species coexistence with foraging behavior and density-dependent habitat selection reveals that such tradeoffs impinge on invasion probabilities and equilibrium dynamics emerging from species' differences in habitat use. The resulting habitat separation promotes coexistence by reducing the overall interaction among species. Differential habitat selection depends on the behavioral abilities of organisms to identify and exploit the most profitable habitats and resource patches. One might thus expect that each species will evolve behavioral types distinct from those of other potential competitors. Accordingly, we exposed four coexisting species in four genera of boreal rodents to open-field tests. We used principal components (PC) to summarize their behaviors along three independent axes corresponding with clines of exploratory, vigilant, and apprehensive personalities. We confirmed that the axes represented repeatable behaviors (personalities) and assessed differences among species with a general linear model (GLM). The GLM revealed highly distinct differences among species, and between pairs of species, on each PC. Even so, it is difficult to infer the adaptive advantages of personality to the habitat segregation that reduces otherwise high interactions among species. Rather, personalities are best interpreted as co-adaptive behaviors reflecting the complex of morphological, physiological and behavioral attributes that dictate tradeoffs and enable coexistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas W Morris
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sommer Palmer
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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Santicchia F, Wauters LA, Dantzer B, Palme R, Tranquillo C, Preatoni D, Martinoli A. Native species exhibit physiological habituation to invaders: a reason for hope. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221022. [PMID: 36168765 PMCID: PMC9515632 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals cope with environmental perturbations through the stress response, a set of behavioural and physiological responses aimed to maintain and/or return to homeostasis and enhance fitness. Vertebrate neuroendocrine axis activation in response to environmental stressors can result in the secretion of glucocorticoids (GCs), whose acute increases may be adaptive, while chronic elevation may be detrimental. Invasive grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) act as a stressor eliciting elevation of GCs in native red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Here we used 6-year data of variation in faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations following invasion by grey squirrels in three red squirrel populations, to identify if red squirrels showed physiological habituation to this stressor. The decrease in FGMs over time was more pronounced shortly after invasion and at high densities of grey squirrels while it decreased less strongly and was no longer influenced by the invader density as time since invasion elapsed. At the individual level, FGMs also decreased more markedly as each red squirrel experienced prolonged contact with the invader. Our study provides compelling new data suggesting that native species in the wild can habituate to prolonged contact with invasive species, showing that they may avoid the potentially harmful effects of chronic elevations in GCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Lucas Armand Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Tranquillo
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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Tranquillo C, Wauters LA, Santicchia F, Preatoni D, Martinoli A. Living on the edge: morphological and behavioral adaptations to a marginal high-elevation habitat in an arboreal mammal. Integr Zool 2022. [PMID: 36052941 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Habitats are characterized by different local environmental conditions that influence both behavior and morphology of species, which can result in habitat-dependent phenotypic differences among animals living in heterogeneous environments. We studied three alpine populations of Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), one living in a marginal high-elevation habitat at the edge of the species' altitudinal distribution, and two occurring in higher-quality habitats. Here, we investigated whether squirrels living in the marginal area differed in two morphological parameters (body size and body mass) and/or in the expression of four personality traits estimated with an open field test and a mirror image stimulation test (activity, exploration, activity-exploration and social tendency). Furthermore, we tested whether within-individual variance of the traits (behavioral plasticity) was higher in the edge habitat. Male squirrels in the edge habitat were smaller and weighed less than in the other study areas, while among females size-habitat relationships were less marked. These sex-specific patterns were explained by a strong association between body mass and reproductive success in female squirrels. Squirrels in the marginal habitat were more active, explorative and had a more social personality than in the other habitats. However, in contrast to our predictions, behavioral plasticity was smaller in the marginal habitat, but only for the trait exploration. Our results suggest that animals choose the habitat that best fits their personality, and that habitat-related differences in selective pressures may shape animals' morphology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tranquillo
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Lucas Armand Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy.,Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium
| | - Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
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The socioeconomics of food hoarding in wild squirrels. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2022.101139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Santicchia F, Wauters LA, Tranquillo C, Villa F, Dantzer B, Palme R, Preatoni D, Martinoli A. Invasive alien species as an environmental stressor and its effects on coping style in a native competitor, the Eurasian red squirrel. Horm Behav 2022; 140:105127. [PMID: 35121301 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Free-living animals cope with environmental stressors through physiological and behavioural responses. According to the unidimensional model, these responses are integrated within a coping style: proactive individuals (bold, active-explorative and social) have a lower hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity than reactive ones (shy, less active-explorative, less social). These associations may change when individuals are exposed to human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC), such as the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS). Here, we studied Eurasian red squirrels to investigate the relationship between personality traits and one integrated measure of HPA axis activity, both in areas uncolonized (natural populations) and colonized by an IAS, the Eastern grey squirrel (invaded populations). We expected an association between physiological and behavioural responses, and that activity, exploration and social tendency would covary, forming a behavioural syndrome in natural populations, while competition with the IAS was predicted to disrupt these associations. We used faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) as an integrated measure of adrenocortical activity, and measured the levels of four personality traits (exploration, activity, activity-exploration and social tendency) with an open field test and a mirror image stimulation test. We found no correlation between FGMs and personality traits, neither in natural nor invaded populations. However, we found correlations among personality traits in areas without interspecific competition, indicating a behavioural syndrome, which was disrupted in invaded populations. This is one of the few studies showing that an IAS, acting as an environmental stressor, alters a native species' behavioural syndrome, but does not influence its coping style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy.
| | - Lucas Armand Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy; Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Claudia Tranquillo
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
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Romeo C, Piscitelli AP, Santicchia F, Martinoli A, Ferrari N, Wauters LA. Invading parasites: spillover of an alien nematode reduces survival in a native species. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02611-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIt is widely assumed that spillover of alien parasites to native host species severely impacts naïve populations, ultimately conferring a competitive advantage to invading hosts that introduced them. Despite such host-switching events occurring in biological invasions, studies demonstrating the impact of alien macroparasites on native animal hosts are surprisingly few. In Europe, native red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are replaced by introduced North American grey squirrels (S. carolinensis) mainly through resource competition, and, only in the United Kingdom and Ireland, by competition mediated by a viral disease. In Italy such disease is absent, but spillover of an introduced North American nematode (Strongyloides robustus) from grey to red squirrels is known to occur. Here, we used long-term (9 years) capture-mark-recapture and parasitological data of red squirrels in areas co-inhabited by grey squirrels in Northern Italy to investigate the impact of this alien helminth on naïve native squirrels’ body mass, local survival, and reproduction of females. We found no negative effect of the alien parasite on body mass or reproductive success, but intensity of infection by S. robustus reduced survival of both male and female squirrels. Significantly, survival of squirrels co-infected by their native nematode, Trypanoxyuris sciuri, was less affected by S. robustus, suggesting a protective effect of the native helminth against the new infection. Hence, we demonstrate that alien S. robustus spillover adds to the detrimental effects of resource competition and stress induced by grey squirrels, further reducing the fitness of the native species in the presence of the invasive competitor.
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11
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Mori E, Ferrari C. Inter-individual behavioural variation in the crested porcupine. MAMMALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In this study, we investigated on the existence of personality in the crested porcupine in Central Italy by measuring variation and repeatability of three behavioural traits. Porcupines were captured through metal traps located around and in the immediate surroundings of the burrows. Then, they were manipulated and set free. Capture and handling were the experimental contexts where we measured exploration, proactivity and aggressiveness of each individual. Our results provided evidence for consistent inter-individual differences in the measured traits, with a high value of individual repeatability in aggressiveness and proactivity. The positive correlation between traits suggest the existence of a behavioural syndrome, with some individuals more aggressive and active with respect to others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Mori
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET) , National Research Council (CNR) , Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 , Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) , Italy
| | - Caterina Ferrari
- Alpine Wildlife Research Centre , Gran Paradiso National Park , Valsavarenche (Aosta) , Italy
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12
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Zablocki-Thomas PB, Boulinguez-Ambroise G, Pacou C, Mézier J, Herrel A, Aujard F, Pouydebat E. Exploring the behavioral reactions to a mirror in the nocturnal grey mouse lemur: sex differences in avoidance. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11393. [PMID: 34035991 PMCID: PMC8126259 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most mirror-image stimulation studies (MIS) have been conducted on social and diurnal animals in order to explore self-recognition, social responses, and personality traits. Small, nocturnal mammals are difficult to study in the wild and are under-represented in experimental behavioral studies. In this pilot study, we explored the behavioral reaction of a small nocturnal solitary forager-the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)-an emergent animal model in captivity. We assessed whether MIS can be used to detect a repeatable behavioral reaction, whether individuals will present a similar reaction toward a conspecific and the mirror, and whether males and females respond similarly. We tested 12 individuals (six males and six females) twice in three different contexts: with a mirror, with a live conspecific, and with a white board as a neutral control. We detected significant repeatability for the activity component of the behavioral reaction. There was a significant effect of the context and the interaction between presentation context and sex for avoidance during the first session for males but not for females. Males avoided the mirror more than they avoided a live conspecific. This pilot study opens a discussion on the behavioral differences between males and females regarding social interactions and reproduction in the nocturnal solitary species, and suggests that males are more sensitive to context of stimulation than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline B. Zablocki-Thomas
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Camille Pacou
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Justine Mézier
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fabienne Aujard
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Pouydebat
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
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Santicchia F, Van Dongen S, Martinoli A, Preatoni D, Wauters LA. Measuring personality traits in Eurasian red squirrels: A critical comparison of different methods. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santicchia
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Varese Italy
| | - Stefan Van Dongen
- Department of Biology Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Varese Italy
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Varese Italy
| | - Lucas Armand Wauters
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences Environment Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group Università degli Studi dell’Insubria Varese Italy
- Department of Biology Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
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14
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Land Use Change and Wildlife Conservation—Case Analysis of LULC Change of Pench-Satpuda Wildlife Corridor in Madhya Pradesh, India. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12124902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To the burgeoning population, the tiger reserves of central India have been islanded by human habitation and are interconnected by narrow ‘wildlife corridors’ for migration of wildlife. Pench-Satpuda wildlife corridor is one such critical wildlife corridor that interconnects the Pench Tiger Reserve and Satpuda Tiger Reserve in central India. Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change of this corridor between April 2002 and April 2019 was analyzed using GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques. The study finds a systematic loss of 10,376.74 ha and 7406.24 ha of dense forests and open forests respectively, thus indicating large scale degradation of the area. The study found that a net area of 2054.60 of dense forests and open forests were diverted for agriculture indicating extensive encroachment of forest land. Water bodies have reduced by 25.41% indicating shrinkage in water bodies in the period under study. The presence of rich coal deposits in the wildlife corridor and operational coal mines in the near vicinity of the wildlife corridor is a matter of serious concern. This study attempts to highlight the importance of long-term sustenance of the Pench-Satpuda wildlife corridor for maintaining the genetic pool of wildlife in the landscape.
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15
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Twining JP, Montgomery WI, Tosh DG. The dynamics of pine marten predation on red and grey squirrels. Mamm Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00031-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractInvasive alien species pose one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. In parts of Europe, introduced eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) have caused regional extinctions of the native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). However, exposure to pine martens (Martes martes) has been demonstrated to reverse the competitive outcome between red and grey squirrels. The mechanism whereby this effect occurs remains unclear. It is hypothesised that direct predation, facilitated by a lack of behavioural response, is the mechanism driving this relationship. We review the literature and reanalyse a new dataset to provide further data on the occurrence of both squirrel species in the scats of pine marten. Both squirrel species occurred in the scats of pine marten confirming its role as a predator of these species. Predation of grey squirrels was significantly higher than red squirrels and was recorded only in spring and summer. Our review provides evidence for the mechanism driving the current decline in grey squirrels in Ireland and Scotland and supports the hypothesis that in the presence of a shared predator, direct predation influences the outcome of species interactions between native red and non-native grey squirrels.
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16
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Reproductive Traits of an Invasive Alien Population of Grey Squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis) in Central Italy. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10040738. [PMID: 32344507 PMCID: PMC7223364 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The reproductive cycle of an invasive alien Italian grey squirrel population was studied to understand its adaptation and limit its spread, in order to conserve the autochthonous red squirrel. Female and male genital traits were evaluated throughout the reproductive cycle, including the ovary, uterus, testicle, epididymis, seminiferous tubule morphometry, and germinative epithelium histology. Moreover, individual female fecundity was determined by counting uterine scars. Ovary width and uterus weight, length, and width reached their highest values in the luteal and pregnancy phases. On conducting a histological evaluation of the testicular germinal epithelium, four morphotypes related to the different reproductive phases of the male squirrels were identified: immature, pubertal, spermatogenesis, and regressive. Testicle and epididymis weights and seminiferous tubule diameters reached their largest values during spermatogenesis. Uterine scar analysis showed that 69% of the females had given birth to one or two litters, while 31% had no uterine scars. Litters were larger in the first breeding period than in the second; annual fecundity was 4.52 ± 1.88 uterine scars/female. Umbrian grey squirrels have adapted to their non-native range, showing two annual mating periods at times similar to those in their native range, and high reproductive success.
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17
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Santicchia F, Wauters LA, Piscitelli AP, Van Dongen S, Martinoli A, Preatoni D, Romeo C, Ferrari N. Spillover of an alien parasite reduces expression of costly behaviour in native host species. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1559-1569. [PMID: 32291765 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of invasive alien species (IAS) on native host-parasite relationships is of importance for enhancing ecological theory and IAS management. When IAS and their parasite(s) invade a guild, the effects of interspecific resource competition and/or parasite-mediated competition can alter existing native host-parasite relationships and the dependent biological traits such as native species' behaviour. We used a natural experiment of populations of native red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris that were colonized by the alien grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, comparing repeated measurements of red squirrel parasite infection and personality with those taken in sites where only the native species occurred. We explored two alternative hypotheses: (a) individual differences in personality traits (activity and/or sociability) of native red squirrel positively affect the probability of macroparasite spillover and thus the likelihood to acquire the alien's parasitic helminth Strongyloides robustus; (b) the combined effects of grey squirrel presence and parasite infection result in a reduction of costly personality traits (activity and/or exploration). Using data from 323 arena tests across three experimental (native species and IAS) and three control sites (only native species), we found negative correlations between native species' activity and infection with S. robustus in the sites invaded by the alien species. Activity was also negatively correlated with infection by its native helminth Trypanoxyuris sciuri but only when grey squirrels were present, while in the red-only sites there was no relationship of T. sciuri infection with any of the personality traits. Moreover, individuals that acquired S. robustus during the study reduced their activity after infection, while this was not the case for animals that remained uninfected. Our results show that parasite-mediated competition is costly, reducing activity in individuals of the native species, and altering the native host-native parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santicchia
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit "Guido Tosi Research Group", Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Lucas A Wauters
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit "Guido Tosi Research Group", Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Anna Pia Piscitelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Università "La Sapienza" di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Adriano Martinoli
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit "Guido Tosi Research Group", Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Damiano Preatoni
- Environment Analysis and Management Unit "Guido Tosi Research Group", Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Claudia Romeo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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18
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Santicchia F, Wauters LA, Dantzer B, Westrick SE, Ferrari N, Romeo C, Palme R, Preatoni DG, Martinoli A. Relationships between personality traits and the physiological stress response in a wild mammal. Curr Zool 2019; 66:197-204. [PMID: 32440278 PMCID: PMC7233610 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are involved in the regulation of an animal's energetic state. Under stressful situations, they are part of the neuroendocrine response to cope with environmental challenges. Animals react to aversive stimuli also through behavioral responses, defined as coping styles. Both in captive and wild populations, individuals differ in their behavior along a proactive-reactive continuum. Proactive animals exhibit a bold, active-explorative and social personality, whereas reactive ones are shy, less active-explorative and less social. Here, we test the hypothesis that personality traits and physiological responses to stressors covary, with more proactive individuals having a less pronounced GC stress response. In wild populations of invasive gray squirrels Sciurus carolinensis, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), an integrated measure of circulating GCs, and 3 personality traits (activity, sociability, and exploration) derived from open field test (OFT) and mirror image stimulation (MIS) test. Gray squirrels had higher FGMs in Autumn than in Winter and males with scrotal testes had higher FGMs than nonbreeding males. Personality varied with body mass and population density. Squirrels expressed more activity-exploration at higher than at lower density and heavier squirrels had higher scores for activity-exploration than animals that weighed less. Variation in FGM concentrations was not correlated with the expression of the 3 personality traits. Hence, our results do not support a strong association between the behavioral and physiological stress responses but show that in wild populations, where animals experience varying environmental conditions, the GC endocrine response and the expression of personality are uncorrelated traits among individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santicchia
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Lucas A Wauters
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy.,Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Ben Dantzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sarah E Westrick
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nicola Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy.,Centro di Ricerca Coordinata Epidemiologia e Sorveglianza Molecolare delle Infezioni, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Claudia Romeo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Damiano G Preatoni
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Adriano Martinoli
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
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