Animals' movements integrate multiple factors, such as motion and navigational abilities, the motivational and internal states of the individuals, and environmental conditions. We studied Griffon ...Vultures (Gyps fulvus) from two populations (Causses and Pyrenees, France) to determine whether they adapt their movements (foraging and home range) and their time/energy budgets to the local environmental conditions and their breeding status. We found that Caussean vultures spent 35% more time flying per day and 37% more time per flight than Pyrenean birds, landed twice as often to eat, and were 67% more active while on the ground. The distance vultures travelled in the Causses, and to a lesser extent in the Pyrenees, appeared to be influenced by the availability of thermals. Our results suggest that the breeding status of the individual, the seasonality of the availability of food resources and its predictability, and meteorological conditions can influence movements and home ranging behavior. Both internal and external factors also affect the size and shape of home ranges. However, the fact that the vultures we tracked in the Causses were breeding birds whereas most of those in the Pyrenees were nonbreeders precluded us from disentangling the effects of breeding constraints and environment.
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Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This present study is the first case of a
(
) infection reported in
(
) in China. This study aimed to identify the nematode species and explore the genetic evolution of worms infecting
(
). Clinical ...examination revealed several milky white parasites in the stomach and intestinal tract. Polymerase chain reaction and partial 18S gene sequencing analyses identified these worms to be
(SD isolates). Further phylogenetic analyses revealed that they shared the highest genetic identity (99.9%) with a
isolate (EU004820.1) from Germany. Our study is the first report on the identification and characterization of
infecting
in China, based on clinical findings and molecular diagnosis. Therefore, our study provides novel insights for the diagnosis of
infections and the prevention of nematode transmission in wild and domestic animals.
In Italy the Eurasian griffon Gyps fulvus became extinct between the 19th and 20th centuries, with the exception of Sardinia where is now considered “critically endangered”.
Here we provide the first ...whole mitogenome sequence of Gyps fulvus, which was 17,961bp long. Evolutionary analysis pointed out a divergence between griffon and black vulture (Aegypius monachus) which occurred about 25.8MYA, while the rise of the Gyps ancestor was dated back at around 5.4MYA. In addition, the early radiation within the G. fulvus species started between 310 and 120MYA.
To prevent extinction of the Sardinian population, two restocking events were carried out, unfortunately without contributions of genetic evidences.
To estimate the impact derived by the restocking activities, mitochondrial D-loop sequences from 22 museum individuals, which died before reintroduction events, were compared with 44 sequences from the extant population. Within the extant samples we detected three haplotypes (Hpt A, B and C). Hpt C showed the lowest frequency and it was not present among the museum samples, while Hpt A and B were found to be the most represented in extant and museum samples, respectively.
In order to prevent the loss of genetic variability within the Sardinian population we recommend to refer to the new genetic information provided in the present study before the implementation of recovery programs in the future.
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•The sequence of the entire mitogenome of Gyps fulvus has been provided.•Phylogeny of Gyps fulvus was inferred using mtDNA data.•Three mitochondrial haplotypes have been described in Sardinian griffon vulture.•Reintroduction actions altered genetics of Sardinian griffon vulture population.
Quantifying space use and segregation, as well as the extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting them, is crucial to increase our knowledge of species-specific movement ecology and to design effective ...management and conservation measures. This is particularly relevant in the case of species that are highly mobile and dependent on sparse and unpredictable trophic resources, such as vultures. Here, we used the GPS-tagged data of 127 adult Griffon Vultures
captured at five different breeding regions in Spain to describe the movement patterns (home-range size and fidelity, and monthly cumulative distance). We also examined how individual sex, season, and breeding region determined the cumulative distance traveled and the size and overlap between consecutive monthly home-ranges. Overall, Griffon Vultures exhibited very large annual home-range sizes of 5027 ± 2123 km
, mean monthly cumulative distances of 1776 ± 1497 km, and showed a monthly home-range fidelity of 67.8 ± 25.5%. However, individuals from northern breeding regions showed smaller home-ranges and traveled shorter monthly distances than those from southern ones. In all cases, home-ranges were larger in spring and summer than in winter and autumn, which could be related to difference in flying conditions and food requirements associated with reproduction. Moreover, females showed larger home-ranges and less monthly fidelity than males, indicating that the latter tended to use the similar areas throughout the year. Overall, our results indicate that both extrinsic and intrinsic factors modulate the home-range of the Griffon Vulture and that spatial segregation depends on sex and season at the individual level, without relevant differences between breeding regions in individual site fidelity. These results have important implications for conservation, such as identifying key threat factors necessary to improve management actions and policy decisions.
•We performed an experimental videomonitored trial in supplementary feeding sites.•The selection of carrion characteristics by feeding European vultures was studied.•Less priority species was favored ...by inputs of great sized unscattered carcasses.•Endangered vulture species optimized food intake with dispersed small pieces.•Age-classes segregated prey selection being adults more specialized and competitive.
Supplementary feeding is one of the most common techniques used to alleviate threats to scavengers species related to the quality and availability of food resources. Because supplementary feeding may have undesired effects, the management of supplementary sites should be optimized from an ecological and conservation perspective. We installed high-resolution videocameras at six Spanish feeding stations recording more that 7500h of observations at 105 feeding events. We analyzed food preferences in the four European vulture species (Eurasian griffon vulture Gyps fulvus, Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus, bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus and cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus) as they relate to the characteristics of the food remains and carcasses provided at feeding sites. Our results suggest that carrion features (format, scattering, prey species, biomass and items) influence differential selection between species and age-classes. At a species level, large inputs of unscattered carrion increased the abundance of actively feeding griffon vultures. The ratio of the abundance of bearded vultures, Egyptian vultures and cinereous vultures with respect to griffon vultures was favored when less biomass was supplied and when the food provided was not presented as whole carcasses. Thus, using medium-size ungulates (i.e. sheep and goats) presented as small, abundant and scattered pieces favors the consumption of the resource by the most endangered species. Our findings can be used to optimize the supplementary provisioning of vultures in cases where this conservation tool is considered essential for managing targeted species or population groups.
Metals are involved in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which may result in metal-related oxidative stress that can lead to oxidative damage to lipids, DNA and proteins. It is necessary ...to understand the mechanisms of metal toxicity in wild birds, and the concentrations that cause effects on oxidative stress biomarkers. The aim of this study is to assess the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) with regards to oxidative stress in blood samples of 66 Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) from two areas of the Autonomous Community of Valencia (East of Spain). The two study areas (Alcoy n=36 and Cinctorres n=30) were selected as random locations of interest that had not yet been studied, and are feeding stations where supplementary food, mainly of pork origin, is provided for vultures. Given that the two study areas are not considered polluted sites, we expected to find low metal concentrations. However, there are no known threshold concentrations at which metals can affect antioxidant systems, and low metal levels may have an effect on antioxidant biomolecules. In this study, since sampling was done at the beginning of the hunting season, the low Pb levels found in most Griffon vultures from Alcoy and Cinctorres (median=12.37 and 16.26μg/dl, respectively) are suggestive of background levels usually found in vultures that feed on pork carcasses all year round. The ingestion of game meat with bullet fragments in carcasses or with Pb shots embedded in the flesh could be the cause of the high blood Pb concentrations found in three vultures from Cinctorres (83, 290 and 362μg/dl). Griffon vultures feeding in Cinctorres had enhanced CAT and GST activities and tGSH concentrations, which may be interpreted as protective response against the higher TBARS levels. This study provides threshold concentrations at which metals affect antioxidant system derived from 66 samples of Griffon vulture. Blood Cd concentrations greater than 0.05μg/dl produced an induction of 33% in GPx and of 44% in CAT activity in erythrocytes of vultures from Alcoy. Hg concentrations in blood higher than 3μg/dl produced an induction of 10% in SOD activity. Concentrations of Pb above 15µg/dl in blood produced an inhibition of 12.5% in GPx and 11.3% in CAT activity, and a TBARS induction of 10.7% in erythrocytes of Griffon vultures.
•Except for 3 Griffon vultures, lead levels could be considered background levels.•Three vultures may be exposed to meat with bullet fragments (blood Pb=83–362μg/dl).•Blood Cd levels≥0.05μg/dl caused an induction of GPx and CAT activity (33% and 44%).•Blood Hg levels≥3μg/dl caused an induction of 10% in SOD activity.•Blood Pb≥15µg/dl caused an inhibition of GPx and CAT activity and a TBARS induction.
Renewable energy plays a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the expansion of wind farms has raised concerns about risks for bird collisions. We tested different methods used to ...understand whether birds’ flight occurs over wind turbines and found kernel density estimators outperform other methods. Previous studies using kernel utilization distribution (KUD) have considered only the 2 horizontal dimensions (2D). However, if altitude is ignored, an unrealistic depiction of the situation may result because birds move in 3 dimensions (3D). We quantified the 3D space use of the Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in El Estrecho natural park in Tarifa (southern Spain, on the northern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar) during 2012–2013, and, for the first time, their risk of collision with wind turbines in an area in the south of Spain. The 2D KUD showed a substantial overlap of the birds’ flight paths with the wind turbines in the study area, whereas the 3D kernel estimate did not show such overlap. Our aim was to develop a new approach using 3D kernel estimation to understand the space use of soaring birds; these are killed by collision with wind turbines more often than any other bird types in southern Spain. We determined the probability of bird collision with an obstacle within its range. Other potential application areas include airfields, plane flight paths, and tall buildings.
1. Spain holds > 95% of the European breeding population of the Eurasian griffon vulture Gyps fulvus. Vultures provide important ecosystem services in carcass removal and influence emissions of ...greenhouse gases. Despite the known toxicity of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac to this species and other Gyps vultures, in March 2013 the Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS) approved the use of two medicines containing diclofenac for veterinary use in horses, pigs and cattle in Spain. 2. To assess the potential impact of medicated ungulate carcasses on Eurasian griffon vulture populations in Spain, we first used information on the metabolism and elimination of diclofenac from medicated cattle and pigs to calculate residue levels in relation to time elapsed between dosing and death. Secondly, probabilities of the death of a vulture per meal were calculated based upon experimental studies of diclofenac toxicity. Finally, annual numbers of vulture deaths expected to be caused by diclofenac were obtained by multiplying the death rates per meal by the estimated numbers of vulture meals taken from expected numbers of medicated carcasses suggested by AEMPS. 3. Assuming that vultures feed on carcasses that were treated with diclofenac 8 h before the animal's death, the annual number of vulture deaths caused by diclofenac was estimated at 715-6389, depending upon the estimate of numbers of medicated carcasses assumed and the version of the dose-response model used. Using a density-independent simulation model of a vulture population, the expected rate of decline of the Spanish population of Eurasian griffon vultures caused by these deaths is 0·9-7·7% per year. A density-dependent simulation model also indicated substantial population-level effects. Formal estimates of precision and sensitivity analyses of effects of unmeasured variables highlight the uncertainty of estimates using currently available data. 4. Synthesis and applications. Due to the possibility of causing an important impact on vulture populations, our findings justify a precautionary ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac in Spain and encourage the use of meloxicam, a vulture-safe alternative drug. A programme of monitoring of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug contamination of ungulate carcasses available to vultures and of moribund and dead obligate and facultative avian scavengers would be needed to be confident that a damaging level of contamination is not present.
Due to the possible toxicological impact, the accumulation of pharmaceuticals in wildlife as a consequence of human practices is of growing concern. The consumption of carrion at feeding stations – ...the so-called ‘vulture restaurants’ – with no management of the veterinary drugs it contains may expose scavengers to pharmaceuticals. To demonstrate this, we analyzed plasma from Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) originating from two different areas of Spain for antibiotics such as enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, its primary metabolite. Quinolone residues were detected in about 65% (n=106) of birds, of which 15.1% (16/106) had quantifiable amounts of enrofloxacin (0.049±0.102μg/mL) and 5.7% (6/106) of ciprofloxacin (0.009±0.007μg/mL). The differences in exposure between the two sampled areas are attributable to different types of carrion management: the vultures that fed in areas with a high density of dead livestock (supplied directly to feeding stations) were more prone to exposure than those that sought food in areas where carcass availability is more unpredictable. Our findings are evidence that vultures have access to medicated livestock and that there are quantifiable levels of livestock antibiotics in vulture plasma. However, the vultures analyzed in this study had maximum antibiotic concentrations of only 0.4μg/mL, much less than the concentrations used in the clinical treatment of scavengers and a level that is probably too small to cause intoxication.
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•Quinolone residues were detected in plasma of Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus).•Differences in the exposure between areas can be explained by the carrion management.•Vultures in areas providing intensive dead livestock are more exposed to quinolones.•Protocols are needed to improve control of toxic veterinary drugs presence in carrion.
The legal and illegal use of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides represents one of many threats to birds. The activity of the cholinesterase enzyme in plasma is used as a non‐destructive ...biomarker to diagnose the exposure of birds to these pesticides. Scavengers are one of the most important bird groups threatened by the use of baits poisoned with anticholinesterase pesticides. Knowledge of the characteristics of this enzyme in each bird species is crucial, as several studies indicate that more than one cholinesterase form may be present in the plasma of birds. In this study, cholinesterase activity was characterized in the plasma of the Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus by using several substrates and inhibitors of the enzyme, and its normal activity value was also determined. The in vitro sensitivity of Gyps fulvus plasma cholinesterase to carbamate insecticides (aldicarb, carbaryl and methomyl) was also investigated. The results indicated that propionylthiocholine iodide was the preferred substrate to determine plasma cholinesterase activity, followed by acetylcholine iodide and S‐butyrylcholine iodide, and acetylcholinesterase was the predominant enzymatic activity in Gyps fulvus plasma. Aldicarb was the most potent in vitro inhibitor of plasma cholinesterase activity in this species. However, cholinesterase enzymatic activity was significantly inhibited by all tested carbamates, providing further evidence that this biomarker is a suitable tool to monitor the exposure to these poisons in the field, highlighting its utility in conservation programmes.
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