Human decimation caused bottleneck effect, genetic drift, and inbreeding in the Canarian houbara bustard

Hórreo, José Luis; Ucero, Alberto; Palacı́n, Carlos; López-Solano, Alfonso; Abril‐Colón, Inmaculada; Alonso, Juan Carlos

doi:10.1002/jwmg.22342

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The average processing time was only 14 min (range 5–25) and we did not observe behavioural alterations after release. Sex was established in the field using distinctive plumage features 111 , 112 , and confirmed by genetic analysis using DNA extracted from 1–2 contour feathers plucked from each bird 113 . Only three birds (one female, two males) showed plumage and biometric characters that made us suspect they could be immatures, all other birds were identified as adults 101 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic mortality threatens the survival of Canarian houbara bustards

Alonso,

Abril-Colón,

Ucero

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Anthropogenic mortality is a major cause of global mortality in terrestrial vertebrates. Quantifying its impact on the dynamics of threatened species is essential to improve their conservation. We investigated cause-specific mortality in Canarian houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae), an endangered subspecies endemic to the Canary Islands. We monitored 51 individuals tagged with solar-powered GSM/GPRS loggers for an average of 3.15 years, and recorded 7 casualties at aerial lines (13.73% of the sample; 5 at power lines, 2 at telephone lines), 1 (1.96%) at a wire fence, 4 road kills (7.84%) and 1 case of predation by cat (1.96%). Cox proportional hazards models showed that anthropogenic and natural annual mortality rates were similar (respectively, 6.20% and 6.36% of the individuals). We estimate that 33–35 houbaras die each year in the Canary Islands due to anthropogenic causes. Population viability models using these data and juvenile productivity values obtained over seven years predicted the extinction of the species in 50 years. Eliminating anthropogenic mortality, the population could be recovered, but would still require management actions to improve habitat quality. Conservation measures to reduce anthropogenic mortality due to power line fatalities, roadkills and predation by cats, as well as to increase productivity, are urgently needed, particularly on Fuerteventura, where houbaras are on the brink of extinction.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic mortality threatens the survival of Canarian houbara bustards

Alonso,

Abril-Colón,

Ucero

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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“…In the three bustards, the sex of the birds was determined by their behaviour both prior to capture (nesting versus displaying) and after release of the tagged birds, and by their distinctive plumage features during tagging (Glutz et al , 1973; Cramp & Simmons, 1980; Gubin, 1999). In the case of Canarian Houbaras sex was later confirmed through molecular sexing techniques (Horreo et al , 2022). Molecular sexing confirmed the sex determined in the field in all cases.…”

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confidence: 97%

Morphometrics of Houbara Bustards Chlamydotis spp: Sexual Size Dimorphism, Seasonal Changes and Differences between Species

Alonso

Dieuleveut

Palacı́n

et al. 2023

Ardeola

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SummaryThis study presents for the first time morphometric data from large samples of free-living individuals of Chlamydotis bustards (448 MacQueen's Bustards, 288 African Houbaras, and 53 Canarian Houbaras). Linear measurements were largest in MacQueen's Bustards, intermediate in African Houbaras and smallest in Canarian Houbaras, with differences between the largest and smallest species ranging from 4.5% to 13.9%. Male MacQueen's Bustards were also the heaviest (4% and 15.5% heavier than, respectively, African and Canarian Houbara males) but, unexpectedly, there were no significant weight differences among females of the three bustards. Males of the three bustards were significantly larger than females in all linear measurements and weight. These between-species/subspecies differences are consistent with a slight trend to insular dwarfism that probably selects for smaller size in the Canarian subspecies. Males are larger and heavier than females in the three bustards, as expected in polygynous species, suggesting a moderate effect of sexual selection acting on male size. Finally, the slightly higher sexual size dimorphism values observed in wings and tarsi in MacQueen's bustards compared to both subspecies of African Houbaras are in line with the allometric constraint hypothesis.—Alonso, J.C., Dieuleveut, T., Palacín, C., Abril-Colón, I., Ucero, A. & Lucas, C. (2023). Morphometrics of Houbara Bustards Chlamydotis spp: sexual size dimorphism, seasonal changes and differences between species. Ardeola, 70: 235-247.

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“…among population units. To identify such population trends and structure at large scales, genetic-based approaches are more suitable (Aylward et al 2022, Willi et al 2022, Horreo et al 2023.…”

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“…Most recommended approaches to estimate current abundance such as camera arrays or abundance indices from surveys are based on linear transects (ENETWILD Consortium et al 2020), which cannot track past oscillations in population numbers or connectivity among population units. To identify such population trends and structure at large scales, genetic‐based approaches are more suitable (Aylward et al 2022, Willi et al 2022, Horreo et al 2023).…”

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The genetics of the European polecat in the Iberian Peninsula

Barrientos,

Carmona,

Burgos

et al. 2024

J Wildl Manag

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Volunteer‐based roadkill monitoring schemes, including road carcass sampling, can represent considerable advances with respect to classical methods employed in conservation biology. We studied the genetic diversity, structure, and dynamics of the European polecat (Mustela putorius) across the Iberian Peninsula. We used samples of road carcasses collected by volunteers because this carnivore is an elusive species otherwise difficult to monitor with standard field protocols. We gathered 238 samples obtained from 2004 to 2022 from 13 different areas (8–31 samples/area). Using microsatellite loci, we identified 4 genetic units with gene flow among 3 of them in the Iberian Peninsula. The genetic variability was steadily low in 1 of the areas (Girona) for all the parameters evaluated. This area is also genetically isolated from the other studied areas. The inbreeding coefficient was significant in the north‐ and south‐Iberia units, and we did not detect a bottleneck signature in any of the 4 genetic units. Future conservation actions should consider the genetic dissimilarity among detected units and elucidate the ecological factors that have led to the observed genetic patterns.

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Human decimation caused bottleneck effect, genetic drift, and inbreeding in the Canarian houbara bustard

Cited by 5 publications

References 51 publications

Anthropogenic mortality threatens the survival of Canarian houbara bustards

Anthropogenic mortality threatens the survival of Canarian houbara bustards

Morphometrics of Houbara Bustards Chlamydotis spp: Sexual Size Dimorphism, Seasonal Changes and Differences between Species

The genetics of the European polecat in the Iberian Peninsula

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