Biology subjects

Santangeli, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Santangeli, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Multispecies relations shape bird-feeding practices

While humans often feed birds in their backyards, there is growing awareness that this has positive and negative effects on local biodiversity. Whether the observed species assemblage shapes human activities has, however, rarely been investigated. We analyzed 15,088 open-ended answers from 9,473 Finnish respondents about why they have increased or reduced feeding birds. They mentioned 58 avian and non-avian species linked to changed practices. The main reasons for change were 1) respondents relation to non-human species, 2) respondents relation to other humans and 3) relations between non-human species. Most taxa and reasons could lead to both increase or decrease in feeding, although the direction was context-dependent. We suggest that bird-feeding is an interactive process where the species community strongly affects feeding practices, which in turn can affect community composition. Recognising this process is crucial for understanding the effects of bird-feeding on both humans and nature and providing more nuanced guidance.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2024

Habitat quality influences gut microbiota via cortisol in Siberian flying squirrels (Pteromys volans)

Inconspicuous interactions between host physiological systems and resident microbial communities may underlie how animals respond to environmental change. For example, immunity and metabolism are regulated in part by the gut microbiota, which can be shaped indirectly by host neuroendocrine function via a "gut-brain axis". Yet the sensitivity of this axis in wild vertebrates remains ambiguous. Here, we investigate covariation among environmental quality, glucocorticoids, and gut microbiota in a vulnerable population of Siberian flying squirrels (Pteromys volans) inhabiting a region impacted by variable rates of human disturbance. We test competing hypotheses related to direct versus indirect environmental effects (via the gut-brain axis) on adult and juvenile gut microbial communities. Adults housed a richer gut microbiota and had higher hair glucocorticoids that covaried with microbial composition, while juveniles lacked any hormone-microbiome covariation. Environmental quality (patch size, habitat diversity, and suitability) predicted variation in glucocorticoids but not variation in microbial diversity, suggesting no direct effects on gut microbiota. Instead, structural equation models revealed indirect environmental effects on microbiota via elevations in glucocorticoids in adults. Among juveniles, habitat-induced hormonal responses had no downstream effects on microbial diversity. Together, this provides evidence for age-dependent indirect environmental effects on gut microbial composition in a wild mammal by way of the host neuroendocrine system.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Using animal tracking for early detection of mass poisoning events

1 Amidst the sixth mass extinction, some groups, such as vultures, the only obligate scavengers among vertebrates, are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Vulture populations worldwide are largely threatened by poisoning. As many vulture species are social foragers, they can congregate in large numbers to scavenge at a carcass, potentially increasing their exposure to poisoning risk. Current anti-poisoning prevention and mitigation measures are insufficient to tackle this threat. There is an urgent need for new effective strategies to prevent mass vulture mortality. 2 In this study, we used agent-based modeling to: (1) quantify the impact of different foraging strategies on vulture poisoning risk, and (2) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using vultures as sentinels for poisoning detection. This approach involves GPS tracking of various numbers of vultures and using the data to quickly detect poisoning incidents and decontaminate carcasses. These actions help mitigate further vulture mortality and prevent mass poisoning. 3 Our results indicate that social foraging significantly elevates the risk of vultures being poisoned. Vulture tracking contributes substantially to the early detection of poisoning events, which results in reduced mortality. Poisoning can be mitigated by tracking more vultures and responding faster, with an optimal cost-effectiveness achieved by tracking 5% of the vulture population (25 individuals in our system) and a budget of 58,728 USD. This approach could potentially prevent 45% of poisoning-related mortalities if interventions occur within 2 hours. 4 Synthesis and applications: Our results suggest that, in order to reduce mortality incidences from poisoning, it is sufficient to track a small proportion of the vulture population, which would act as sentinels for the rest. By evaluating the costs and ecological benefits of these mitigation strategies, we provide evidence-based solutions that practitioners can use to design conservation plans. These findings are therefore instrumental in supporting vulture and scavenger conservation policy and practice.

ecology↗