Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator
Abstract Background Selecting high-quality habitat and the optimal time to reproduce can increase individual fitness and is a strong evolutionary factor shaping animal populations. However, few studies have investigated the interplay between land cover heterogeneity, limitation in food resources, in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2019-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Zoology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12983-019-0331-z |
| _version_ | 1818317766354010112 |
|---|---|
| author | Petra Sumasgutner Julien Terraube Aurélie Coulon Alexandre Villers Nayden Chakarov Luise Kruckenhauser Erkki Korpimäki |
| author_facet | Petra Sumasgutner Julien Terraube Aurélie Coulon Alexandre Villers Nayden Chakarov Luise Kruckenhauser Erkki Korpimäki |
| author_sort | Petra Sumasgutner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Selecting high-quality habitat and the optimal time to reproduce can increase individual fitness and is a strong evolutionary factor shaping animal populations. However, few studies have investigated the interplay between land cover heterogeneity, limitation in food resources, individual quality and spatial variation in fitness parameters. Here, we explore how individuals of different quality respond to possible mismatches between a cue for prey availability (land cover heterogeneity) and the actual fluctuating prey abundance. Results We analyse timing of breeding and reproductive success in a migratory population of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) breeding in nest-boxes, over a full three-year abundance cycle of main prey (voles), and consider several components of individual quality, including body condition, blood parasite infection, and genetic diversity (n = 448 adults) that act on different time scales. Older individuals, and kestrel parents in higher body condition started egg-laying earlier than younger birds and those in lower body condition. Additionally, egg-laying was initiated earlier during the increase and decrease phases (2011 and 2012) than during the low phase of the vole cycle (2013). Nestling survival (ratio of eggs that fledged successfully) was higher in early nests and in heterogeneous landscapes (i.e., mosaic of different habitat types), which was evident during the increase and decrease phases of the vole cycle, but not during the low vole year. Conclusions We found a strong positive effect of landscape heterogeneity on nestling survival, but only when voles were relatively abundant, whereas a difference in the timing of breeding related to territory landscape heterogeneity was not evident. Therefore, landscape heterogeneity appeared as the main driver of high reproductive performance under favourable food conditions. Our results show that landscape homogenization linked to agricultural intensification disrupts the expected positive effect of vole abundance on reproductive success of kestrels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:42:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d4e340217b6431581e3c27b8d84a30d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-9994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:42:32Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Zoology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d4e340217b6431581e3c27b8d84a30d2022-12-21T23:52:10ZengBMCFrontiers in Zoology1742-99942019-08-0116111410.1186/s12983-019-0331-zLandscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predatorPetra Sumasgutner0Julien Terraube1Aurélie Coulon2Alexandre Villers3Nayden Chakarov4Luise Kruckenhauser5Erkki Korpimäki6Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of TurkuDepartment of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of TurkuCEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3ONCFS, Unité Avifaune Migratrice, Station de ChizéDepartment of Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Lund UniversityMuseum of Natural History Vienna, Central Research LaboratoriesDepartment of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of TurkuAbstract Background Selecting high-quality habitat and the optimal time to reproduce can increase individual fitness and is a strong evolutionary factor shaping animal populations. However, few studies have investigated the interplay between land cover heterogeneity, limitation in food resources, individual quality and spatial variation in fitness parameters. Here, we explore how individuals of different quality respond to possible mismatches between a cue for prey availability (land cover heterogeneity) and the actual fluctuating prey abundance. Results We analyse timing of breeding and reproductive success in a migratory population of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) breeding in nest-boxes, over a full three-year abundance cycle of main prey (voles), and consider several components of individual quality, including body condition, blood parasite infection, and genetic diversity (n = 448 adults) that act on different time scales. Older individuals, and kestrel parents in higher body condition started egg-laying earlier than younger birds and those in lower body condition. Additionally, egg-laying was initiated earlier during the increase and decrease phases (2011 and 2012) than during the low phase of the vole cycle (2013). Nestling survival (ratio of eggs that fledged successfully) was higher in early nests and in heterogeneous landscapes (i.e., mosaic of different habitat types), which was evident during the increase and decrease phases of the vole cycle, but not during the low vole year. Conclusions We found a strong positive effect of landscape heterogeneity on nestling survival, but only when voles were relatively abundant, whereas a difference in the timing of breeding related to territory landscape heterogeneity was not evident. Therefore, landscape heterogeneity appeared as the main driver of high reproductive performance under favourable food conditions. Our results show that landscape homogenization linked to agricultural intensification disrupts the expected positive effect of vole abundance on reproductive success of kestrels.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12983-019-0331-zAgro-ecosystemsBiodiversity conservationBoreal landscapesEurasian kestrelGlobal changeHeterozygosity–fitness correlations |
| spellingShingle | Petra Sumasgutner Julien Terraube Aurélie Coulon Alexandre Villers Nayden Chakarov Luise Kruckenhauser Erkki Korpimäki Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator Frontiers in Zoology Agro-ecosystems Biodiversity conservation Boreal landscapes Eurasian kestrel Global change Heterozygosity–fitness correlations |
| title | Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator |
| title_full | Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator |
| title_fullStr | Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator |
| title_full_unstemmed | Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator |
| title_short | Landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator |
| title_sort | landscape homogenization due to agricultural intensification disrupts the relationship between reproductive success and main prey abundance in an avian predator |
| topic | Agro-ecosystems Biodiversity conservation Boreal landscapes Eurasian kestrel Global change Heterozygosity–fitness correlations |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12983-019-0331-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petrasumasgutner landscapehomogenizationduetoagriculturalintensificationdisruptstherelationshipbetweenreproductivesuccessandmainpreyabundanceinanavianpredator AT julienterraube landscapehomogenizationduetoagriculturalintensificationdisruptstherelationshipbetweenreproductivesuccessandmainpreyabundanceinanavianpredator AT aureliecoulon landscapehomogenizationduetoagriculturalintensificationdisruptstherelationshipbetweenreproductivesuccessandmainpreyabundanceinanavianpredator AT alexandrevillers landscapehomogenizationduetoagriculturalintensificationdisruptstherelationshipbetweenreproductivesuccessandmainpreyabundanceinanavianpredator AT naydenchakarov landscapehomogenizationduetoagriculturalintensificationdisruptstherelationshipbetweenreproductivesuccessandmainpreyabundanceinanavianpredator AT luisekruckenhauser landscapehomogenizationduetoagriculturalintensificationdisruptstherelationshipbetweenreproductivesuccessandmainpreyabundanceinanavianpredator AT erkkikorpimaki landscapehomogenizationduetoagriculturalintensificationdisruptstherelationshipbetweenreproductivesuccessandmainpreyabundanceinanavianpredator |