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Penttinen I, Nebel C, Stjernberg T, Kvist L, Ponnikas S, Laaksonen T. Large-scale genotypic identification reveals density-dependent natal dispersal patterns in an elusive bird of prey. Mov Ecol 2024; 12:16. [PMID: 38360667 PMCID: PMC10870540 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00447-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natal dispersal, the distance between site of birth and site of first breeding, has a fundamental role in population dynamics and species' responses to environmental changes. Population density is considered a key driver of natal dispersal. However, few studies have been able to examine densities at both the natal and the settlement site, which is critical for understanding the role of density in dispersal. Additionally, the role of density on natal dispersal remains poorly understood in long-lived and slowly reproducing species, due to their prolonged dispersal periods and often elusive nature. We studied the natal dispersal of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in response to local breeder densities. We investigated the effects of the number of active territories around the natal site on (a) natal dispersal distance and (b) the difference between natal and settlement site breeder density. We were interested in whether eagles showed tendencies of conspecific attraction (positive density-dependence) or intraspecific competition (negative density-dependence) and how this related to settlement site breeder density. METHODS We used a combination of long-term visual and genotypic identification to match individuals from their breeding site to their natal nest. We identified natal dispersal events for 355 individuals hatched between 1984 and 2015 in the Baltic Sea coast and Arctic areas of Finland. Of those, 251 were identified by their genotype. RESULTS Individuals born in high-density areas dispersed shorter distances than those born in low-density areas, but settled at lower density breeding sites in comparison to their natal site. Eagles born in low natal area densities dispersed farther but settled in higher density breeding sites compared to their natal site. CONCLUSIONS We show that eagles might be attracted by conspecifics (positive density-dependence) to identify high-quality habitats or find mates, but do not settle in the most densely populated areas. This indicates that natal dispersal is affected by an interplay of conspecific attraction and intraspecific competition, which has implications for population dynamics of white-tailed eagles, but also other top predators. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the value of long-term collection of both nestling and (non-invasive) adult DNA samples, and thereafter using genotype matching to identify individuals in long-lived and elusive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Penttinen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Carina Nebel
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Torsten Stjernberg
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Kvist
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Suvi Ponnikas
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Toni Laaksonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Nebel C, Ekblad C, Balotari-Chiebao F, Penttinen I, Stjernberg T, Laaksonen T. Early-life diet specificity is associated with long-lasting differences in apparent survival in a generalist predator. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:850-862. [PMID: 36721964 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Early-life conditions can have long-term fitness consequences. However, it is still unclear what optimal rearing conditions are, especially for long-lived carnivores. A more diverse diet ('balanced diet') might optimize nutrient availability and allow young to make experiences with a larger diversity of prey, whereas a narrow diet breadth ('specialized diet') might result in overall higher energy net gain. A diet that is dominated by a specific prey type (i.e. fish, 'prey type hypothesis') might be beneficial or detrimental, depending for example, on its toxicity or contaminant load. Generalist predators such as the white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla provide an interesting possibility to examine the relationship between early life diet and long-term offspring survival. In the Åland Islands, an archipelago in the Baltic Sea, white-tailed eagles live in various coastal habitats and feed on highly variable proportions of birds and fish. We use data from 21,116 prey individuals that were collected from 120 territories during the annual surveys, to examine how early-life diet is associated with apparent annual survival of 574 ringed and molecular-sexed eaglets. We supplement this analysis by assessing the relationships between diet, reproductive performance and nestling physical condition, to consider whether they are confounding with possible long-term associations. We find that early-life diet is associated with long-term fitness: Nestlings that are fed a diverse diet are in lower physical condition but have higher survival rates. Eagles that are fed more fish as nestlings have lower survival as breeding-age adults, but territories associated with fish-rich diets have higher breeding success. Our results show that young carnivores benefit from a high diversity of prey in their natal territory, either through a nutritional or learning benefit, explaining the higher survival rates. The strong relationship between early-life diet and adult survival suggests that early life shapes adult foraging decisions and that eating fish is associated with high costs. This could be due to high levels of contaminants or high competition for fish-rich territories. Long-lasting consequences of early-life diet are likely not only limited to individual-level consequences but have the potential to drive eco-evolutionary dynamics in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nebel
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Camilla Ekblad
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Ida Penttinen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Torsten Stjernberg
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Toni Laaksonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Nwaogu CJ, Amar A, Nebel C, Isaksson C, Hegemann A, Sumasgutner P. Innate immune function and antioxidant capacity of nestlings of an African raptor covary with the level of urbanisation around breeding territories. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:124-141. [PMID: 36353782 PMCID: PMC10107107 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Urban areas provide breeding habitats for many species. However, animals raised in urban environments face challenges such as altered food availability and quality, pollution and pathogen assemblages. These challenges can affect physiological processes such as immune function and antioxidant defences which are important for fitness. Here, we explore how levels of urbanisation influence innate immune function, immune response to a mimicked bacterial infection and antioxidant capacity of nestling Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter melanoleucus in South Africa. We also explore the effect of timing of breeding and rainfall on physiology since both can influence the environmental condition under which nestlings are raised. Finally, because urbanisation can influence immune function indirectly, we use path analyses to explore direct and indirect associations between urbanisation, immune function and oxidative stress. We obtained measures of innate immunity (haptoglobin, lysis, agglutination, bactericidal capacity), indices of antioxidant capacity (total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (tAOX) and total glutathione from nestlings from 2015 to 2019. In addition, in 2018 and 2019, we mimicked a bacterial infection by injecting nestlings with lipopolysaccharide and quantified their immune response. Increased urban cover was associated with an increase in lysis and a decrease in tAOX, but not with any of the other physiological parameters. Furthermore, except for agglutination, no physiological parameters were associated with the timing of breeding. Lysis and bactericidal capacity, however, varied consistently with the annual rainfall pattern. Immune response to a mimicked a bacterial infection decreased with urban cover but not with the timing of breeding nor rainfall. Our path analyses suggested indirect associations between urban cover and some immune indices via tAOX but not via the timing of breeding. Our results show that early-life development in an urban environment is associated with variation in immune and antioxidant functions. The direct association between urbanisation and antioxidant capacity and their impact on immune function is likely an important factor mediating the impact of urbanisation on urban-dwelling animals. Future studies should explore how these results are linked to fitness and whether the responses are adaptive for urban-dwelling species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chima Josiah Nwaogu
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Grünau/Almtal, Austria.,Department of Behavioural & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Juul L, Danielsen M, Nebel C, Steinhagen S, Bruhn A, Jensen S, Undeland I, Dalsgaard T. Ulva fenestrata protein – Comparison of three extraction methods with respect to protein yield and protein quality. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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5
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Wemer L, Hegemann A, Isaksson C, Nebel C, Kleindorfer S, Gamauf A, Adrion M, Sumasgutner P. Reduced ectoparasite load, body mass and blood haemolysis in Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) along an urban-rural gradient. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:42. [PMID: 34491450 PMCID: PMC8423637 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01745-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Urbanisation is proceeding at an alarming rate which forces wildlife to either retreat from urban areas or cope with novel stressors linked to human presence and activities. For example, urban stressors like anthropogenic noise, artificial light at night and chemical pollution can have severe impacts on the physiology of wildlife (and humans), in particular the immune system and antioxidant defences. These physiological systems are important to combat and reduce the severity of parasitic infections, which are common among wild animals. One question that then arises is whether urban-dwelling animals, whose immune and antioxidant system are already challenged by the urban stressors, are more susceptible to parasitic infections. To assess this, we studied nestlings of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) in Vienna, Austria, during 2015 and 2017. We measured biomarkers of innate immune function, oxidative stress and body mass index and ectoparasite infection intensity in 143 nestlings (from 56 nests) along an urban gradient. Nestlings in more urbanised areas had overall fewer ectoparasites, lower haemolysis (complement activity) and lower body mass index compared to nestlings in less urbanised areas. None of the other immune or oxidative stress markers were associated with the urban gradient. Despite some non-significant results, our data still suggest that kestrel nestlings experience some level of reduced physiological health, perhaps as a consequence of exposure to more urban stressors or altered prey availability in inner-city districts even though they had an overall lower ectoparasite burden in these heavily urbanised areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Wemer
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5001, Australia
| | | | - Marius Adrion
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,NABU E.V, Head office, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. .,Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Nebel C, Sumasgutner P, Rodseth E, Ingle RA, Childs DZ, Curtis‐Scott O, Amar A. Multigenerational pedigree analysis of wild individually marked black sparrowhawks suggests that dark plumage coloration is a dominant autosomal trait. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DSI‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
- Department of Biology University of Turku Turku Finland
| | - P. Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DSI‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
- Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology Konrad Lorenz Research Centre (KLF) Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - E. Rodseth
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - R. A. Ingle
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - D. Z. Childs
- School of Biosciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - O. Curtis‐Scott
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - A. Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology DSI‐NRF Centre of Excellence University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
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Nebel C, Amar A, Hegemann A, Isaksson C, Sumasgutner P. Parental morph combination does not influence innate immune function in nestlings of a colour-polymorphic African raptor. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11053. [PMID: 34040034 PMCID: PMC8155141 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90291-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Conditions experienced during early life can have long-term individual consequences by influencing dispersal, survival, recruitment and productivity. Resource allocation during development can have strong carry-over effects onto these key parameters and is directly determined by the quality of parental care. In the black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus), a colour-polymorphic raptor, parental morphs influence nestling somatic growth and survival, with pairs consisting of different colour morphs ('mixed-morph pairs') producing offspring with lower body mass indices, but higher local apparent survival rates. Resource allocation theory could explain this relationship, with nestlings of mixed-morph pairs trading off a more effective innate immune system against somatic growth. We quantified several innate immune parameters of nestlings (hemagglutination, hemolysis, bacteria-killing capacity and haptoglobin concentration) and triggered an immune response by injecting lipopolysaccharides. Although we found that nestlings with lower body mass index had higher local survival rates, we found no support for the proposed hypothesis: neither baseline immune function nor the induced immune response of nestlings was associated with parental morph combination. Our results suggest that these immune parameters are unlikely to be involved in providing a selective advantage for the different colour morphs' offspring, and thus innate immunity does not appear to be traded off against a greater allocation of resources to somatic growth. Alternative hypotheses explaining the mechanism of a low nestling body mass index leading to subsequent higher local survival could be related to the post-fledgling dependency period or differences in dispersal patterns for the offspring from different morph combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre (KLF), Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Nebel C, Sumasgutner P, McPherson SC, Tate GJ, Amar A. Contrasting parental color morphs increase regularity of prey deliveries in an African raptor. Behav Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Disassortative mating in color-polymorphic raptors is a proposed mechanism for the maintenance of color polymorphism in populations. Selection for such a mating system may occur if there are fitness advantages of mating with a contrasting morph. In the black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus), mixed-morph pairs may have a selective advantage because they produce offspring that have higher survival rates. Two hypotheses, which may explain the mechanism, are the “avoidance-image” and “complementarity” hypotheses. The first suggests that, within a predator’s territory, prey develop a search image for the more commonly encountered parental morph, for example, the male morph during incubation and brooding. Females of a contrasting morph to their partner would then have higher capture rates once they commence hunting in the later nestling phase. Thus, the “avoidance-image” hypothesis predicts higher provisioning rates for mixed-morph pairs. Alternatively, the “complementarity” hypothesis posits that different color morphs exploit different environmental conditions, allowing mixed-morph pairs to hunt under a wider range of conditions and predicts that food is delivered more consistently. We test these hypotheses using nest cameras to record prey delivery rates during the late nestling phase when both parents are hunting. We found support for the “complementarity” hypothesis, with mixed-morph pairs delivering food more consistently but not at a higher rate. This higher consistency in prey deliveries may explain the improved survival of the offspring of mixed-morph pairs and could, therefore, play a role in maintaining the stability of color polymorphism in this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, John Day Building, 7700 Rondebosch, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, John Day Building, 7700 Rondebosch, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Fischerau 11, 4645 Grünau/Almtal, Austria
| | - Shane C McPherson
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, John Day Building, 7700 Rondebosch, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Fischerau 11, 4645 Grünau/Almtal, Austria
| | - Gareth J Tate
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, John Day Building, 7700 Rondebosch, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Birds of Prey Programme, Glen Austin AH, Midrand, 1685 Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, John Day Building, 7700 Rondebosch, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Nebel C, Harl J, Pajot A, Weissenböck H, Amar A, Sumasgutner P. High prevalence and genetic diversity of Haemoproteus columbae (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in feral pigeons Columba livia in Cape Town, South Africa. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:447-463. [PMID: 31883048 PMCID: PMC6985069 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06558-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we explore blood parasite prevalence, infection intensity, and co-infection levels in an urban population of feral pigeons Columba livia in Cape Town. We analyze the effect of blood parasites on host body condition and the association between melanin expression in the host's plumage and parasite infection intensity and co-infection levels. Relating to the haemosporidian parasite itself, we study their genetic diversity by means of DNA barcoding (cytochrome b) and show the geographic and host distribution of related parasite lineages in pigeons worldwide. Blood from 195 C. livia individuals was collected from April to June 2018. Morphometric measurements and plumage melanism were recorded from every captured bird. Haemosporidian prevalence and infection intensity were determined by screening blood smears and parasite lineages by DNA sequencing. Prevalence of Haemoproteus spp. was high at 96.9%. The body condition of the hosts was negatively associated with infection intensity. However, infection intensity was unrelated to plumage melanism. The cytochrome b sequences revealed the presence of four Haemoproteus lineages in our population of pigeons, which show high levels of co-occurrence within individual birds. Three lineages (HAECOL1, COLIV03, COQUI05) belong to Haemoproteus columbae and differ only by 0.1% to 0.8% in the cytochrome b gene. Another lineage (COLIV06) differs by 8.3% from the latter ones and is not linked to a morphospecies, yet. No parasites of the genera Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Josef Harl
- Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adrien Pajot
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Bordeaux Sciences Agro, 1 Cours du Général de Gaulle, Gradignan, France
| | | | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Konrad Lorenz Forschungsstelle, Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Nebel C, Gamauf A, Haring E, Segelbacher G, Väli Ü, Villers A, Zachos FE. New insights into population structure of the European golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) revealed by microsatellite analysis. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
AbstractConnectivity between golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) populations is poorly understood. Field studies exploring natal dispersal suggest that this raptor is a philopatric species, but with the ability to roam far. However, little is known about the population structure of the species in Europe. Our study is based on 14 microsatellite loci and is complemented by new and previously published mitochondrial control region DNA data. The present dataset includes 121 eagles from Scotland, Norway, Finland, Estonia, the Mediterranean and Alpine regions. Our sampling focused on the Alpine and Mediterranean populations because both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages found in golden eagles, the Holarctic and the Mediterranean, are known to co-occur there. Cluster analyses of nuclear DNA support a shallow split into northern and southern populations in Europe, similar to the distribution of the two mtDNA lineages, with the Holarctic lineage occurring in the north and the Mediterranean lineage predominating in the south. Additionally, Scotland shows significant differentiation and low relative migration levels that indicate isolation from the mainland populations. Alpine and Mediterranean golden eagles do not show nuclear structure corresponding to divergent mtDNA lineages. This indicates that the presence of northern Holarctic mitochondrial haplotypes in the Alps and the Mediterranean is attributable to past admixture rather than recent long-distance dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anita Gamauf
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Haring
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Ülo Väli
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Alexandre Villers
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372, CNRS – Université de la Rochelle, Beauvoir sur Niort, France
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Unité Avifaune Migratrice, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Station de Chizé, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Frank E Zachos
- Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Nebel C, Sumasgutner P, Pajot A, Amar A. Response time of an avian prey to a simulated hawk attack is slower in darker conditions, but is independent of hawk colour morph. R Soc Open Sci 2019; 6:190677. [PMID: 31598248 PMCID: PMC6731706 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To avoid predation, many species rely on vision to detect predators and initiate an escape response. The ability to detect predators may be lower in darker light conditions or with darker backgrounds. For birds, however, this has never been experimentally tested. We test the hypothesis that the response time of avian prey (feral pigeon Columbia livia f. domestica) to a simulated hawk attack (taxidermy mounted colour-polymorphic black sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus) will differ depending on light levels or background colour. We predict that response will be slower under darker conditions, which would translate into higher predation risk. The speed of response of prey in relation to light level or background colour may also interact with the colour of the predator, and this idea underpins a key hypothesis proposed for the maintenance of different colour morphs in polymorphic raptors. We therefore test whether the speed of reaction is influenced by the morph of the hawk (dark/light) in combination with light conditions (dull/bright), or background colours (black/white). We predict slowest responses to morphs under conditions that less contrast with the plumage of the hawk (e.g. light morph under bright light or white background). In support of our first hypothesis, pigeons reacted slower under duller light and with a black background. However, we found no support for the second hypothesis, with response times observed between the hawk-morphs being irrespective of light levels or background colour. Our findings experimentally confirm that birds detect avian predators less efficiently under darker conditions. These conditions, for example, might occur during early mornings or in dense forests, which could lead to changes in anti-predator behaviours. However, our results provide no support that different morphs may be maintained in a population due to differential selective advantages linked to improved hunting efficiencies in different conditions due to crypsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Adrien Pajot
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
- Bordeaux Sciences Agro, 1 Cours du Général de Gaulle, 33170 Gradignan, France
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
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Nebel C, Kadletz K, Gamauf A, Haring E, Sackl P, Tiefenbach M, Winkler H, Zachos FE. Witnessing extinction: Population genetics of the last European Rollers (
Coracias garrulus
) in Austria and a first phylogeographic analysis of the species across its distribution range. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nebel
- FitzPatrick Institute of African OrnithologyUniversity of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
- Natural History Museum Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Kerstin Kadletz
- Wolf Science CenterKonrad‐Lorenz Institute of Ethology ViennaUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game ManagementUniversität für Bodenkultur Wien Vienna Austria
| | - Anita Gamauf
- Natural History Museum Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Integrative ZoologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Elisabeth Haring
- Natural History Museum Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Integrative ZoologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | | | - Michael Tiefenbach
- Referat für Natur‐ und allgem. Umweltschutz A13 Umwelt und RaumordnungAmt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung Graz Austria
| | - Hans Winkler
- Austrian Ornithological CentreUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Frank E. Zachos
- Natural History Museum Vienna Vienna Austria
- Department of Integrative ZoologyUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
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13
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Nebel C, Kadletz K, Gamauf A, Haring E, Sackl P, Tiefenbach M, Winkler H, Zachos FE. Cover Image, Volume 57, Issue 2. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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14
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Nebel C, Gamauf A, Haring E, Segelbacher G, Villers A, Zachos FE. Mitochondrial DNA analysis reveals Holarctic homogeneity and a distinct Mediterranean lineage in the Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carina Nebel
- Museum of Natural History Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | - Anita Gamauf
- Museum of Natural History Vienna; Vienna Austria
- Department of Integrative Zoology; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | - Elisabeth Haring
- Museum of Natural History Vienna; Vienna Austria
- Department of Integrative Zoology; University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | | | - Alexandre Villers
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS - Université de la Rochelle; UMR7372 Beauvoir sur Niort France
- Section of Ecology; Department of Biology; University of Turku; Turku Finland
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15
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Rath P, Gruhler N, Khasminskaya S, Nebel C, Wild C, Pernice WHP. Waferscale nanophotonic circuits made from diamond-on-insulator substrates. Opt Express 2013; 21:11031-11036. [PMID: 23669959 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.011031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Wide bandgap dielectrics are attractive materials for the fabrication of photonic devices because they allow broadband optical operation and do not suffer from free-carrier absorption. Here we show that polycrystalline diamond thin films deposited by chemical vapor deposition provide a promising platform for the realization of large scale integrated photonic circuits. We present a full suite of photonic components required for the investigation of on-chip devices, including input grating couplers, millimeter long nanophotonic waveguides and microcavities. In microring resonators we measure loaded optical quality factors up to 11,000. Corresponding propagation loss of 5 dB/mm is also confirmed by measuring transmission through long waveguides.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Rath
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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16
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Konrad C, Ukas T, Nebel C, Arolt V, Toga AW, Narr KL. Defining the human hippocampus in cerebral magnetic resonance images--an overview of current segmentation protocols. Neuroimage 2009; 47:1185-95. [PMID: 19447182 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2008] [Revised: 05/01/2009] [Accepted: 05/05/2009] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to its crucial role for memory processes and its relevance in neurological and psychiatric disorders, the hippocampus has been the focus of neuroimaging research for several decades. In vivo measurement of human hippocampal volume and shape with magnetic resonance imaging has become an important element of neuroimaging research. Nevertheless, volumetric findings are still inconsistent and controversial for many psychiatric conditions including affective disorders. Here we review the wealth of anatomical protocols for the delineation of the hippocampus in MR images, taking into consideration 71 different published protocols from the neuroimaging literature, with an emphasis on studies of affective disorders. We identified large variations between protocols in five major areas. 1) The inclusion/exclusion of hippocampal white matter (alveus and fimbria), 2) the definition of the anterior hippocampal-amygdala border, 3) the definition of the posterior border and the extent to which the hippocampal tail is included, 4) the definition of the inferior medial border of the hippocampus, and 5) the use of varying arbitrary lines. These are major sources of variance between different protocols. In contrast, the definitions of the lateral, superior, and inferior borders are less disputed. Directing resources to replication studies that incorporate characteristics of the segmentation protocols presented herein may help resolve seemingly contradictory volumetric results between prior neuroimaging studies and facilitate the appropriate selection of protocols for manual or automated delineation of the hippocampus for future research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Konrad
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
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Nebel C, Gottschling RD, Hutchison RL, McBride TJ, Taylor DM, Pavoni JL, Tittlebaum ME, Spencer HE, Fleischman M. Ozone disinfection of industrial-municipal secondary effluents. J Water Pollut Control Fed 1973; 45:2493-507. [PMID: 4769855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Nebel C, Mosher WA. A Simple Device for the Unsymmetrical Cutting Of Preparative Gas Chromatography Peaks. J Chromatogr Sci 1968. [DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/6.9.483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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