Historical pesticide applications coincided with an altered diet of aerially foraging insectivorous chimney swifts

Nocera, Joseph J.; Blais, Jules M.; Beresford, David; Finity, Leah; Grooms, Christopher; Kimpe, Lynda E.; Kyser, Kurt; Michelutti, Neal; Reudink, Matthew W.; Smol, John P.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2012.0445

Cited by 71 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Because of the diversity and geographical distance between the wintering ranges of species in this ecological guild, it could be argued that factors in these ranges are unlikely to simultaneously affect these species, while forces affecting arthropod populations in their breeding range (e.g. AI and changing agricultural practices) are more likely to explain this guild-wide decline [5]. Nevertheless, in UK-breeding birds, breeding habitat (farmland versus wood) was a very strong predictor of historical declines in the 1970s and 1980s but did not explain more recent demographic trends [60], whereas current declines of migrant birds breeding in Europe are best explained by characteristics of wintering habitats [61].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, aerial insectivores, which comprise several farmland species, are often regarded as the most steeply declining bird guild in industrialized countries [3], particularly in northeastern North America [4]. While the reasons for this decline remain largely speculative, insectivory is a life-history trait shared by all species in this otherwise ecologically diverse guild, suggesting their decline is related to a parallel widespread decline in insect abundances [4,5]. Numerous studies have shown that agricultural intensification, most likely through habitat homogenization and pesticide use, negatively impacts insect diversity and abundance in agricultural landscapes [6,7], constraining farmland aerial insectivores to breed in depauperate habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Severe recent decrease of adult body mass in a declining insectivorous bird population

et al. 2014

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Migratory bird species that feed on air-borne insects are experiencing widespread regional declines, but these remain poorly understood. Agricultural intensification in the breeding range is often regarded as one of the main drivers of these declines. Here, we tested the hypothesis that body mass in breeding individuals should reflect habitat quality in an aerial insectivore, the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), along a gradient of agricultural intensity. Our dataset was collected over 7 years (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) and included 2918 swallow captures and 1483 broods. Analyses revealed a substantial decline of the population over the course of the study (219% occupancy rate), mirrored by decreasing body mass. This trend was especially severe in females, representing a total loss of 8% of their mass. Reproductive success was negatively influenced by intensive agriculture, but did not decrease over time. Interestingly, variation in body mass was independent of breeding habitat quality, leading us to suggest that this decline in body mass may result from carry-over effects from non-breeding areas and affect population dynamics through reduced survival. This work contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that declines in migratory aerial insectivores are driven by multiple, complex factors requiring better knowledge of year-round habitat use.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severe recent decrease of adult body mass in a declining insectivorous bird population

et al. 2014

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“…Overuse of various nondegradable agrochemicals has been suggested as one of the principal reasons for the population decline of seven of the eight EV species examined: bald eagle [38], white-tailed eagle [39], kea [40], Adele penguin [41], emperor penguin [42], chimney swift [43], and the Dalmatian pelican [44]. To investigate whether agrochemical use also contributed to the decline of the crested ibis survival, we first examined the relevant historical evidence.…”

Section: Historic Agrochemical Overuse and Relevant Mutated Genes In mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic signatures of near-extinction and rebirth of the crested ibis and other endangered bird species

Cheng

et al. 2014

Genome Biol

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Background: Nearly one-quarter of all avian species is either threatened or nearly threatened. Of these, 73 species are currently being rescued from going extinct in wildlife sanctuaries. One of the previously most critically-endangered is the crested ibis, Nipponia nippon. Once widespread across North-East Asia, by 1981 only seven individuals from two breeding pairs remained in the wild. The recovering crested ibis populations thus provide an excellent example for conservation genomics since every individual bird has been recruited for genomic and demographic studies. Results: Using high-quality genome sequences of multiple crested ibis individuals, its thriving co-habitant, the little egret, Egretta garzetta, and the recently sequenced genomes of 41 other avian species that are under various degrees of survival threats, including the bald eagle, we carry out comparative analyses for genomic signatures of near extinction events in association with environmental and behavioral attributes of species. We confirm that both loss of genetic diversity and enrichment of deleterious mutations of protein-coding genes contribute to the major genetic defects of the endangered species. We further identify that genetic inbreeding and loss-of-function genes in the crested ibis may all constitute genetic susceptibility to other factors including long-term climate change, over-hunting, and agrochemical overuse. We also establish a genome-wide DNA identification platform for molecular breeding and conservation practices, to facilitate sustainable recovery of endangered species.Conclusions: These findings demonstrate common genomic signatures of population decline across avian species and pave a way for further effort in saving endangered species and enhancing conservation genomic efforts.

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“…Climate change is also expected to disproportionately affect populations in more seasonal habitats due to a phenological mismatch between food availability and timing of breeding in long-distance migrants [21]. Agricultural pesticide use may also influence aerial insectivore populations, through broad changes in their prey base [22]. Nebel et al [20] suggested that northern populations may face higher mortality on the wintering grounds due to agricultural pesticides in South America, either through direct mortality or indirectly via reduction in food availability [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continent-wide tracking to determine migratory connectivity and tropical habitat associations of a declining aerial insectivore

et al. 2012

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North American birds that feed on flying insects are experiencing steep population declines, particularly long-distance migratory populations in the northern breeding range. We determine, for the first time, the level of migratory connectivity across the range of a songbird using direct tracking of individuals, and test whether declining northern populations have higher exposure to agricultural landscapes at their nonbreeding grounds in South America. We used light-level geolocators to track purple martins, Progne subis, originating from North American breeding populations, coast-to-coast (n ¼ 95 individuals). We show that breeding populations of the eastern subspecies, P. s. subis, that are separated by ca. 2000 km, nevertheless have almost completely overlapping non-breeding ranges in Brazil. Most (76%) P. s. subis overwintered in northern Brazil near the Amazon River, not in the agricultural landscape of southern Brazil. Individual non-breeding sites had an average of 91 per cent forest and only 4 per cent agricultural ground cover within a 50 km radius, and birds originating from declining northern breeding populations were not more exposed to agricultural landscapes than stable southern breeding populations. Our results show that differences in wintering location and habitat do not explain recent trends in breeding population declines in this species, and instead northern populations may be constrained in their ability to respond to climate change.

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Historical pesticide applications coincided with an altered diet of aerially foraging insectivorous chimney swifts

Cited by 71 publications

References 50 publications

Severe recent decrease of adult body mass in a declining insectivorous bird population

Severe recent decrease of adult body mass in a declining insectivorous bird population

Genomic signatures of near-extinction and rebirth of the crested ibis and other endangered bird species

Continent-wide tracking to determine migratory connectivity and tropical habitat associations of a declining aerial insectivore

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