Do avian species survive better on islands?

Beauchamp, Guy

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2020.0643

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Interesting parallels can be seen with other vertebrates in this region of Madagascar, such as the Verreaux's sifaka Propithecus verreauxi, which also has a comparatively high adult survival (φ > 0.89) and reduced breeding investment in drought years (Richard et al 2002, Lawler et al 2009). In addition to climate, living on an island may also increase the annual survival of the Malagasy species, as has been shown in other studies (Beauchamp 2021). Indeed, a remote island species, the Saint Helena plover C. sanctaehelenae, a close relative of the Kittlitz's plover, has relatively high rates of adult survival (φ = 0.83); despite its small body size and in the face of declines due to invasive predators (Burns et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Exceptionally high apparent adult survival in three tropical species of plovers in Madagascar

Jones

Eberhart‐Hertel

Freckleton

et al. 2021

Journal of Avian Biology

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Adult survival is a key component of population dynamics, and understanding variation in and the drivers of adult survival rates and longevity is critical for ecological and evolutionary studies, as well as for conservation biology and practice. Tropical species of landbirds are often selected to have higher adult survival due to high nest predation rates, but it is unclear if the same patterns occur in other avian lineages with different life history strategies. Here, we investigate adult survival of three sympatrically breeding species of shorebirds in south-west Madagascar: the endemic and endangered Madagascar plover Charadrius thoracicus and two more widely distributed African species: the white-fronted plover C. marginatus and the Kittlitz's plover C. pecuarius. Using mark-recapture data from 1843 individuals breeding at an intensely monitored saltmarsh over a 13-year period, we estimated annual rates of apparent survival (φ) corrected for encounter probability. Adult apparent survival rates were high for all three species (mean ± SE): Madagascar (φ = 0.899 ± 0.010) and whitefronted plovers (φ = 0.923 ± 0.008). Kittlitz's plovers showed a difference between the first (φ 1 = 0.719 ± 0.026) and subsequent transitions (φ 2+ = 0.892 ± 0.014), suggesting that transient breeders are common in this species. For birds first captured as adults, these survival estimates translate to life expectancies of 9.72 (±1.11) years in Kittlitz's plovers, 9.36 (±0.98) years in Madagascar plovers and 12.48 (±1.32) in white-fronted plovers. We hypothesise that a long lifespan could be an adaptation arising from the unique climatic pressures on the island of Madagascar that would otherwise lead to reduced fitness. However, long lifespans may not sufficiently compensate for a reduction in breeding opportunities due to possible climatic disruption in the future. Consequently, at least two of these plover species seem vulnerable to ongoing habitat destruction and changing climate cycles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Exceptionally high apparent adult survival in three tropical species of plovers in Madagascar

Jones

Eberhart‐Hertel

Freckleton

et al. 2021

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Levels of EPP were lowest in the islandic zoogeographical realms (Oceania and Madagascar), which is consistent with the prediction that the intensity of sexual selection is lower on islands due to lower genetic diversity (Frankham, 1997; Griffith, 2000). Alternatively, low EPP levels on islands could also be related to increased longevity (Beauchamp, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The macroecology of extra‐pair paternity in birds

Vâlcu

Kempenaers

2021

Molecular Ecology

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Environmental gradients can generate large-scale variation in morphology, physiology, life history and behaviour. The essence of the correlations between environmental factors and phenotypic traits is captured by ecogeographical rules (Gaston et al., 2008), many of which have been formulated long ago. However, the data to formally statistically test them have become available only recently.Birds play a prominent role in investigating global patterns of trait variation, because they are one of the best-studied taxonomic groups. Accordingly, recent studies have shown predictable patterns of spatial variation in several avian life-history or phenotypic traits, including body size (

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“…Yet, we lack understanding into the combined effects of multiple introduced species at different trophic levels, such as parasite and predator, on avian nesting success. Island birds tend to have higher annual survival compared with mainland counterparts [16,17]. Additionally, reproductive performance increases with age in many bird species, and females often prefer older males as partners [18,19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nesting Success and Nesting Height in the Critically Endangered Medium Tree Finch (Camarhynchus pauper)

Kleindorfer

Common

Sumasgutner

2021

Birds

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When different introduced species across trophic levels (parasite, predator) invade island systems, they may pose significant threats to nesting birds. In this study, we measure nesting height and infer causes of offspring mortality in the critically endangered Medium Tree Finch (Camarhynchus pauper), an island endemic restricted to Floreana Island on the Galápagos Archipelago. Considering all nests at which a male built a nest, sang and attempted to attract a female (n = 222 nests), only 10.4% of nests produced fledglings (5% of nests had total fledging success, 5.4% of nests had partial fledging success). Of the 123 nests chosen by a female, 18.7% produced fledglings and of 337 eggs laid, 13.4% produced fledglings. Pairing success was higher for older males, but male age did not predict nesting success. All nests with chicks were infested with avian vampire fly larvae (Philornis downsi). We attributed the cause of death to avian vampire fly if chicks were found dead in the nest with fly larvae or pupae (45%) present. We inferred avian (either Asio flammeus galapagoensis or Crotophaga ani) predation (24%) if the nest was empty but dishevelled; and black rat (Rattus rattus) predation (20%) if the nest was empty but undamaged. According to these criteria, the highest nests were depredated by avian predators, the lowest nests by rats, and intermediate nests failed because of avian vampire fly larvae. In conclusion, there is no safe nesting height on Floreana Island under current conditions of threats from two trophic levels (introduced parasitic dipteran, introduced mammalian/avian predators; with Galápagos Short-Eared Owls being the only native predator in the system).

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Do avian species survive better on islands?

Cited by 16 publications

References 31 publications

Exceptionally high apparent adult survival in three tropical species of plovers in Madagascar

Exceptionally high apparent adult survival in three tropical species of plovers in Madagascar

The macroecology of extra‐pair paternity in birds

Nesting Success and Nesting Height in the Critically Endangered Medium Tree Finch (Camarhynchus pauper)

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