Wildlife health and supplemental feeding: A review and management recommendations

Murray, Maureen H.; Becker, Daniel J.; Hall, Richard J.; Hernández, Sonia M.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2016.10.034

Cited by 164 publications

(194 citation statements)

References 120 publications

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“…Many urban exploiters can directly consume anthropogenic subsidies, and the contribution of anthropogenic sources to their diets can be substantial (10%–90%) (Bateman & Fleming, ; Newsome, Dellinger, et al., ). The consequences of anthropogenic subsidy feeding are a subject of a growing body of research in urban ecology (Newsome, Dellinger, et al., ; Oro, Genovart, Tavecchia, Fowler, & Martínez‐Abraín, ) and in conservation (Murray, Becker, Hall, & Hernandez, ).…”

Section: Trophic Interactions In Citiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic structure in a rapidly urbanizing planet

El‐Sabaawi

2018

Functional Ecology

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The human population is rapidly urbanizing, and the negative impacts of urban cover on biodiversity and ecosystem function are expected to increase. Trophic dynamics have been hypothesized to change with urbanization, with consequences for biodiversity and function. Here, I review recent progress in this area by focusing on how urbanization affects dietary sources, trophic interactions and the functional ecology of synanthropic species. Urbanization affects primary autochthonous production in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems by replacing and fragmenting natural areas with impervious cover, increasing nutrient supply, changing hydrological regimes, and altering the composition and seasonality of primary producers. The responses of primary production differ between climatic regions or across hydrological regimes. Urbanization can also change the availability of subsidies (autochthonous vs. allochthonous resources) because many urban species feed on human food (anthropogenic subsidies) and because of changes in the plant composition and physical characteristics of riparian zones. Urbanization can change the composition of consumers by decreasing the abundance of apex predators, releasing mesopredators, as well as the introduction of non‐native omnivores. Few direct experiments have been conducted on trophic interactions in urban ecosystems. They broadly suggest that urbanization weakens herbivory and predation, but that it might increase competition between synanthropic and urbanophobic species. However, the outcomes of these interactions are highly context‐specific. The reliance of synanthropic species on anthropogenic subsidies appears to be an important aspect of urban trophic ecology. However, more research is needed to understand how dietary flexibility, especially in relation to anthropogenic subsidies, contributes to the physiology and population dynamics of synanthropes. Urbanization can dramatically change trophic dynamics in the urban ecosystem with implications for biodiversity patterns, management and conservation. However, it is clear that a broader and more mechanistic understanding of the urban food webs is needed. This can be accomplished through inclusion of functional trophic metrics in monitoring efforts, the use of stable isotope food web metrics, the use of multi‐trophic‐level experiments and a more detailed study of the functional ecology of synanthropes. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.13114/suppinfo is available for this article.

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Section: Trophic Interactions In Citiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic structure in a rapidly urbanizing planet

El‐Sabaawi

2018

Functional Ecology

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“…Yet, Australia is notable in the extent to which the practice is opposed (Jones, 2017). While reasons given for this opposition are largely similar to concerns expressed elsewhere-potential dependency on anthropogenic foods, the spread of disease, inadequate nutrition, attracting predators and vermin, for example-despite their ubiquity, most are not based on robust empirical data (Jones, 2011;Murray et al, 2016). What little has been published has tended to demonstrate that these concerns, while justified, are often less straightforward than was initially hypothesized (Robb et al, 2008a).…”

Section: Feeding and Dependencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Garden Bird Feeding: Insights and Prospects from a North-South Comparison of This Global Urban Phenomenon

et al. 2017

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Intentional feeding of wild birds in gardens or backyards is one of the most popular forms of human-wildlife interactions in the developed world, especially in urban environments. The scale and intensity of bird feeding are enormous with mainly birdseed consumed daily by a range of species. This represents a subsidy to natural diets of birds attracted to the feeders and typically involves novel dietary components. Yet, relatively little is known about how it influences the behavior and ecology of the species visiting feeders. In part, research has been hampered by logistical difficulties of working in urban areas but studies have demonstrated powerful influences on behavior and phenology of avian breeding, the spread of disease, and the structure of avian communities. Here, we compare bird feeding between Northern and Southern Hemispheres as a means of exploring how similarities and differences in avian responses might inform knowledge of this global urban phenomenon. We start by tracing its origins to north-western Europe and how its expansion has occurred before considering how geographical differences in feeding practices and attitudes map onto bird feeding "on the ground." We explore some of the major emerging themes of recent interest, including why citizens are motivated to feed birds, whether birds become fully dependent on food supplements, the role of feeding in avian disease transmission, and how feeding changes urban bird communities. By proposing that scientists work in collaboration with the public providing food to birds, we pose key research questions that need to be answered urgently and suggest accompanying experimental approaches to do so. These approaches are essential if we are to improve our understanding of how bird feeding shapes the behavior, ecology, movements, and community structure of urban birds. Our hope is that through such citizen science we will be able to provide advice as to location-relevant practices that should maximize benefits to both urban biodiversity and human well-being, and minimize potential adverse impacts. We demonstrate that bird feeding is important for urban biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and in establishing personal connections with nature and their associated benefits.

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“…However, this form of interaction can be highly detrimental to wildlife (Murray et al , 2016). For example, both stingrays (Semeniuk et al , 2007) and iguanas (Knapp et al , 2013) fed by tourists show poorer indicators of adequate nutrition than those eating natural food.…”

Section: Human-induced Environmental Changes and Their Effects On Nutmentioning

confidence: 99%