Arboreal Habitats Research Articles

Metabarcoding reveals that arboreal habitats contribute significantly to nematode diversity in different forest ecosystems

Metabarcoding reveals that arboreal habitats contribute significantly to nematode diversity in different forest ecosystems

A potential evolutionary trap for the extended phenotype of a nematomorph parasite

Abstract Human activities introduce new environmental cues to wild organisms, leading to maladaptive behavioural and life-history decisions known as the ‘evolutionary trap’. This trap is thought to be a major conservation concern for free-living organisms. However, it has never been studied in endosymbionts, one of the most successful and diverse life forms on Earth. Here, we examine this trap in the extended phenotype of a parasite that exploits the visual system of hosts to alter host behaviour for its benefit. Arboreal mantids infected by nematomorph parasites are drawn to horizontally polarized light, thereby inducing them to enter the water. In this study, we found that the degree of linear polarisation (DOP) of reflected light served as a reliable environmental cue for identifying perennial waters, where nematomorphs can survive in their aquatic life stage without drying out. Infected mantids exhibit attraction to horizontally polarized light with higher DOP in behavioural assays and jumped into pools reflecting light with higher DOP in field experiments. The asphalt road reflected horizontally polarized light closely resembling the polarisation levels observed in perennial waters, likely leading to a higher prevalence of mantids on asphalt roads compared to those found in natural arboreal habitats. In a field experiment, we observed infected mantids walking on asphalt roads more often than on cement roads. These findings imply that evolutionary traps can endanger endosymbionts beyond their hosts that directly perceive environmental cues.

Behavior and Activity Patterns of the Critically Endangered Mangshan Pit Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) Determined Using Remote Monitoring.

This study focuses on understanding the behavior and activity patterns of the critically endangered Protobothrops mangshanensis in China in order to better provide scientific data for upcoming artificial breeding and propagation efforts. We conducted a long-term observation of 15 Mangshan pit vipers at different sites in Hunan Province during the summer and autumn of 2021. Our methods involved analyzing the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and light condition on the snakes' day and night activity and behaviors. The results revealed that the wild behaviors of Protobothrops mangshanensis include resting, sunbathing, crawling, and exploring, with distinct rhythms in their diel behavior. The snakes' diel activity exhibits three peak periods which may be related to food activity and sunbathing. This study also highlights the complex interplay of environmental factors on the activity of Protobothrops mangshanensis. Relative humidity was identified as a critical factor accounting for the difference in activity between observation groups. There was little inter-individual variation among the 15 Protobothrops mangshanensis, even though these snakes used terrestrial and arboreal habitats under different environmental conditions. These findings enhance our understanding of Protobothrops mangshanensis behavior and provide a basis for effective conservation measures for this rare and critically endangered species.

Description of juvenile instars of Scapheremaeus tonatiuh Palacios-Vargas, Ríos & Vázquez, 1998 (Acari, Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae)

The oribatid mite species Scapheremaeus tonatiuh (Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae) is recorded for the first time in the U.S.A. (initially described from Mexico). Its juvenile instars are described, based on materials collected from arboreal habitats in Florida, U.S.A. (Neotropical region). The larval instar is characterized by the presence of gastronotic setae с3, la, lm, lp long, lanceolate having setiform apex, and h1 very long, subflagellate; the nymphal instars are characterized by the presence of exuvial scalps, 12 pairs of gastronotic setae (da, dm, dp absent) of which setae с3, la, lm, lp, h1, h2 are long, phylliform but h3 is very long, subflagellate. The main morphological traits of the adult are summarized.

Seed Availability and Small Mammal Populations: Insights from Mediterranean Forests

Plant–animal interactions play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, especially through seed dispersal mechanisms. Understanding how small mammal populations respond to seed availability is essential for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation, especially in the context of habitat loss and climate change. We conducted a 10-year study in mixed Mediterranean oak–beech forests to investigate the population dynamics of common small mammal species in response to seed availability. Our findings revealed distinct responses among species, influenced by life history traits, foraging behaviour, and diet. Wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) showed a rapid population increase with seed availability both in the same year of seed fall and the following year, suggesting a flexible foraging strategy and a dependence on arboreal seed producers. Yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) revealed immediate population increases in response to seed availability in the autumn, probably because of their arboreal habits and preference for exploiting seeds prior to maturation. Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) showed responses with population peaks in years following high seed availability, indicating a slower demographic response to resource abundance. Surprisingly, the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) responded indirectly to seed availability in Mediterranean forests, suggesting complex interactions with seed-associated invertebrates or dependence on other variables not considered. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding how changes in seed availability influence the population ecology of small mammals, with significant implications for the conservation and management of Mediterranean forest ecosystems in the context of climate change and recurrent droughts. These results emphasise the need to consider species interactions, resource availability, and climate change in the conservation and management of evolving ecosystems.

Olfaction foraging in visually oriented tropical arboreal ants Oecophylla smaragdina: Implications for insect predation studies using artificial sentinel prey

AbstractBecause of the brief and cryptic nature of predatory behavior, sentinel prey has been widely adopted as an indirect way to identify predators and understand trophic interactions. However, sentinel prey presents only static visual cues, potentially biasing toward visually oriented predators while ignoring those that utilize other sensory cues for foraging. Despite this, the effectiveness of sentinel prey has rarely been tested. In this study, we focused on the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a keystone predator widespread in the Asian and Australian tropics. As this species has large eyes and is known to visually navigate in its arboreal habitats, we hypothesized that it relies on visual cues to forage and that its predatory behavior will be captured by caterpillar‐shaped sentinel prey. Ants were collected as colonies, and preference trials on baits were conducted using combinations of olfactory and static visual cues, including the caterpillar shape. Surprisingly, O. smaragdina showed little or no preference for baits in the absence of olfactory cues and did not differentiate the shapes of baits regardless of olfactory cues. Our results indicate that O. smaragdina is likely to make predatory decisions based primarily on olfactory cues, whereas visual cues might be used for other behaviors. Furthermore, O. smaragdina is likely to be left out by the predation studies using sentinel prey models, which is particularly alarming considering the dominant role of this species in the trophic interactions of tropical rainforests. Our study demonstrates that morphological characteristics, arboreal habitats, and visually oriented behavior do not necessarily suggest the use of static visual cues for predatory decisions. We suggest that sentinel prey models should not be used alone when the dominant predators are unlikely to use visual cues to make predatory decisions.

Thinking small: miniaturization might have facilitated adaptation to new niches in tarantulas

Abstract The interplay between ecology and morphology holds significant importance in the field of evolutionary ecology. Miniaturization, a prevalent trend across diverse branches of the tree of life, often emerges as a consequence of adaptation to specific ecological niches. However, the causes and outcomes of miniaturization can vary significantly among different taxa. In our study, we utilized tarantulas as a model system to explore whether microhabitat choices are linked to morphological characteristics. Specifically, we examined whether the transition to a non-burrowing, ground-dwelling lifestyle is associated with miniaturization. Our findings indicate that the evolution of morphological traits in tarantulas has primarily been influenced by stabilizing selection, with no discernible difference in morphotypes associated with fossorial or arboreal habits. Nevertheless, we observed that whenever tarantulas opportunistically transitioned to a non-burrowing, ground-dwelling lifestyle—such as living under rocks, logs, or within crevices—they seem to have undergone body-form miniaturization and a reduction in the ratio of forelimb to hindlimb length. This study underscores the potential for repeated shifts to unique ecological niches to disrupt the conventional trajectory of morphological evolution, resulting in the emergence of novel phenotypes.

Short-term extinction predicted by population viability analysis for a Neotropical salt marsh endemic bird.

Salt marshes pose challenges for the birds that inhabit them, including high rates of nest flooding, tipping, and predation. The impacts of rising sea levels and invasive species further exacerbate these challenges. To assess the urgency of conservation and adequacy of new actions, researchers and wildlife managers may use population viability analyses (PVAs) to identify population trends and major threats. We conducted PVA for Formicivora acutirostris, which is a threatened neotropical bird species endemic to salt marshes. We studied the species' demography in different sectors of an estuary in southern Brazil from 2006 to 2023 and estimated the sex ratio, longevity, productivity, first-year survival, and mortality rates. For a 133-year period, starting in 1990, we modeled four scenarios: (1) pessimistic and (2) optimistic scenarios, including the worst and best values for the parameters; (3) a baseline scenario, with intermediate values; and (4) scenarios under conservation management, with increased recruitment and/or habitat preservation. Projections indicated population decline for all assessment scenarios, with a 100% probability of extinction by 2054 in the pessimistic scenario and no extinction in the optimistic scenario. The conservation scenarios indicated population stability with 16% improvement in productivity, 10% improvement in first-year survival, and stable carrying capacity. The disjunct distribution of the species, with remnants concentrated in a broad interface with arboreal habitats, may seal the population decline by increasing nest predation. The species should be considered conservation dependent, and we recommend assisted colonization, predator control, habitat recovery, and ex situ conservation.

Histomorphological Investigation of the Eye of the Tree Squirrel: A Preliminary Study

Abstract Squirrels are diurnal rodents with high visual acuity including unique properties well-suited for their natural environment. This study was conducted to explore some ocular microscopic features of tree-harbouring squirrels in the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Two male squirrels were cage-trapped within the University premises. Light microscopic analysis was carried on paraffin-embedded eye samples harvested from the animals. The densely compacted stromal fibres, 351 ± 52.5 µm thick, formed the thickest part of the cornea, and the basement membrane of the corneal epithelium, 63.8 ± 13.0 µm thick, was notably positive with Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stain. Strong pigmentation was present at the choroid as well as the iridal and ciliary epithelia. The multiple layering of the retinal structure exhibited densely packed ganglion cells at the ganglion cell layer which together with the nerve fibre layer was observed to be thinnest at the more peripheral portion but becomes thicker towards the optic disc. Strongly positive glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP+) cells with their abundant fibrous processes were demonstrated immunohistochemically at the retinal nerve fibre layer and the optic nerve. Histological features of the retinal cellular components of the tree squirrels investigated has thus highlighted the structural adaptation of these animal species to their environmental arboreal habitat and diurnal lifestyle. Findings from this study, while further noted to be similar to that in human, showed that African tree squirrels represent promising rodent model for human retinal/ocular research.

Sexual dimorphism in the Neotropical snakes genus Chironius (Serpentes: Colubridae)

Abstract Sexual dimorphism is a common phenomenon among snakes, with female snakes being larger than male snakes as a recurrent pattern . However, species that show male-male combat behaviour may impose a selective advantage by developing larger bodies in male specimens, like the diurnal Chironius snakes, which display courtship and male-male combat behaviours. In this study, we analysed sexual dimorphism in body, tail, and head size, and skull size and shape in twelve species of Chironius. We investigated whether sexual dimorphism patterns could be a result of allometric growth. The absence of sexual dimorphism regarding body and head length was the main pattern revealed by our analyses. Sexual dimorphism characterized by larger body and head sizes in males was observed in Chironius bicarinatus, Chironius foveatus, and Chironius fuscus. Only females of Chironius exoletus exhibited larger body and head sizes than males. Regarding the shape of the head, six species showed sexual divergences, with enlarged or robust heads. Sexual dimorphism in skull shape seems related to selection in Chironius flavolineatus, with no allometric influences. Larger tails in males of C. fuscus, C. flavolineatus, and Chironius quadricarinatus may represent an advantageous defensive strategy. Finally, the lack of divergence in tail length in the remaining species probably evolved due to arboreal habits in Chironius.

The Diet and Prey Preference of the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in a Human-Intervened Montane Landscape

Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is a solitary, elusive, and predominantly nocturnal mammal highly adapted to an insectivorous diet. It has become endangered due to hunting for bush meat and scales, illegal trafficking and poaching. Rescue and captive breeding programs for Indian pangolins have limited success due to the lack of understanding of the species‘ dietary preferences and foraging ecology. The stomach contents and prey preference of Indian pangolin have been less studied owing to the difficulty of acquiring suitable specimens. Such scientific information is unavailable, especially in Sri Lanka. In this study, we analyzed the stomach content of three (03) Indian pangolin specimens collected from human-intervened montane landscapes in the Kandy District, thus allowing a deeper understanding of the Indian pangolin‘s foraging ecology in a specific habitat. Stomach content analysis revealed that a greater proportion of the pangolin diet consists of grit which was 96.13% of the average dry mass (DM%). Plant matter (pieces of twigs, leaf particles, stems and barks) was least present, which was 0.26% of the average dry mass percentage. The plant matter is likely to be ingested while praying on arboreal insect nests, insects living under barks, and decaying logs. Insect matter consisted of ants, termites, their body parts, and wings which were 1.84% of the average dry mass and insect eggs accounted for 2.83%. A total of 13 ant species belonging to 05 subfamilies and 02 termite species of the same subfamily were identified in the stomach contents. Insect species representing terranean, subterranean, semi-arboreal and arboreal habitats were found in the stomach content. Approximately 13.97% of the insect matter belonged to the species in the terranean foraging layer, while sub-terranean, semi-arboreal and arboreal species accounted for 19.53%, 64.58% and 1.59% respectively. Accordingly, it appears that Indian pangolin in the studied montane landscape predominantly feed on semi-arboreal insects. The study further provides detailed insights into the prey preference and foraging ecology of the Indian pangolin in the montane landscape. 
 Keywords: Indian pangolin, Stomach content, Foraging ecology, Prey preference

Envenomation by Eyelash Viper Bothriechis schlegelii (Berthold, 1846) in Southwestern Colombia.

Bothriechis schlegelii is a Crotaline viperid species of Central America and Northern South America. The characteristics of its envenomation have not been well established. We present clinical characteristics of human cases evaluated and treated in a hospital in southwestern Colombia. We evaluated data from patients who suffered Bothriechis schlegelii envenomation and were seen at Fundación Valle del Lili Hospital, Cali, Colombia between 2011 and 2022. Eight patients were included, with a median age of 24 years. Snakebites occurred in rural areas. Six (75%) patients were bitten on the upper extremities in relation to the arboreal habits of this animal. The most common symptoms were pain and edema (N = 8, 100%), ecchymoses (N = 2, 25%), and paresthesia (N = 2, 25%). The most common systemic findings were hypofibrinogenemia (N = 8, 100%) and prolonged prothrombin time in five patients (N = 5, 62.5%). All were treated with polyvalent antivenom for Colombian snakes, with a good response and outcome. Most bite sites from B. schlegelii were on the upper limbs. All patients had both local manifestations, including edema, pain, and systemic effects with hypofibrinogenemia, but none had systemic bleeding. Every patient received antivenom and had favorable outcomes.

Vertical climbing in free-ranging bonobos: An exploratory study integrating locomotor performance and substrate compliance.

Ecological factors and body size shape animal movement and adaptation. Large primates such as bonobos excel in navigating the demanding substrates of arboreal habitats. However, current approaches lack comprehensive assessment of climbing performance in free-ranging individuals, limiting our understanding of locomotor adaptations. This study aims to explore climbing performance in free-ranging bonobos and how substrate properties affect their behavior. We collected data on the climbing performance of habituated bonobos, Pan paniscus, in the Bolobo Territory, Democratic Republic of Congo. We analyzed 46 climbing bouts (12 ascents, 34 descents) while moving on vertical substrates of varying diameter and compliance levels. This study assessed the average speed, peak acceleration, resting postures, and transitions between climbing and other locomotor modes. During climbing sequences and transitions, bonobos mitigate speed variations. They also exhibit regular pauses during climbing and show higher speeds during descent in contrast to their ascent. Regarding the influence of substrate properties, bonobos exhibit higher speed when ascending on thin and slightly flexible substrates, while they appear to achieve higher speeds when descending on large and stiff substrates, by using a "fire-pole slide" submode. Bonobos demonstrate remarkable abilities for negotiating vertical substrates and substrate properties influence their performance. Our results support the idea that bonobos adopt a behavioral strategy that aligns with the notion of minimizing costs. Overall, the adoption of high velocities and the use of low-cost resting postures may reduce muscle fatigue. These aspects could represent important targets of selection to ensure ecological efficiency in bonobos.

New insights into a poorly known parasite, Dero lutzi (Oligochaeta: Naididae), associated with tree frogs of the genus Scinax: morphological evaluation and genotypic data.

The oligochaete Dero lutzi follows a life strategy that alternates between free-living periods in aquatic environments and endoparasitic phases. Most occurrences of D. lutzi in anurans are reported in species with arboreal habits, with studies limited to the recording of the oligochaete's presence in the host. Our study recovered specimens of D. lutzi from the tree frogs Scinax fuscovarius and Scinax. nasicus. We performed a morphological assessment of the parasite using light microscopy, for the first time, scanning electron microscopy. Molecular characterization of D. lutzi was carried out using the mitochondrial gene 16S rRNA and the nuclear gene 28S rRNA. Additionally, a phylogenetic tree was constructed to assess the species´position in relation to other group members. In our results, we confirmed the phenotypic morphological characteristics of the endoparasitic phase of D. lutzi. We also presented its phylogenetic position with other oligochaetes in the group, demonstrating the proximity between the endoparasite D. lutzi and the free-living oligochaete D. superterrenus.

Beakiation: how a novel parrot gait expands the locomotor repertoire of living birds.

Occupation of arboreal habitats poses myriad locomotor challenges, driving both anatomical and behavioural innovations across various tetrapod lineages. Here, we report and biomechanically assess a novel, beak-driven locomotor mode-'beakiation'-by which parrots advance along the underside of narrow arboreal substrates. Using high-speed videography and kinetic analyses, we describe the limb loading patterns and pendular mechanics of beakiation, and compare the biomechanical characteristics of this gait with other suspensory behaviours (namely, forelimb-driven brachiation and inverted quadrupedal walking). We report that the parrot beak experiences comparable force magnitudes (approx. 150% body weight in the normal plane; approx. 50% body weight in the fore-aft plane) to the forelimbs of brachiating primates. Parrot beakiation is also characterized by longer-than-expected pendular periods, similar to observations of gibbon brachiation. However, in terms of mechanical energy recovery, beakiation is typified by lower levels of energetic recovery than brachiating specialists: a product of its slower, more careful nature. The observation of this novel behaviour-which adds to a growing base of literature regarding beak-assisted locomotor strategies in birds-highlights the extraordinary behavioural plasticity of birds, the functional versatility of the avian beak, and the difficulties in reconstructing an animal's locomotor repertoire from morphological characteristics alone.

Topographic and morphological aspects of the spleen of Bradypus variegatus (SCHINZ, 1825)

Sloths are wild animals with arboreal habits, with slow metabolism, found in tropical forests from South America to Central America. However, the lack of knowledge of their anatomy does not favor the conservation of the species in veterinary care centers, due to its peculiar anatomy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the topography and morphology of the spleen of the species Bradypusvariegatus, in order to collect more information to support and assist in the clinical-surgical processes of the species. Eight corpses of B. variegatus, previously fixed with 20% formaldehyde and preserved in 30% saline solution, were dissected for the macroscopic study of the spleen. A healthy animal, living in semi-captivity, was assigned to perform a tomography of the abdominal region, for observation of the spleen, while two specimens were destined for the microscopic study of the organ immediately after death. Based on the data obtained, the spleen presented a topography and tissue composition similar to other mammals, but its morphology, absence of visceral lienal hilum and anatomical arrangement in the abdominal cavity differed from most domestic and wild animals.

Quantifying the effects of Anthropocene activities on Mexican endemic amphibians

AbstractIn order to make robust and feasible conservation plans, assessments of species' vulnerability or risk of extinction are ideally needed. However, there are wide differences in the criteria used to assess species vulnerability. Recently, a growing approach seeks to understand the patterns of biodiversity loss using life history traits because these traits show differential responses to environmental disturbances. In order to generate a functional vulnerability assessment for Mexican endemic amphibians, we integrated information from species distribution modeling, functional traits, and spatially explicit threats weighted differentially for each functional group. We obtained 124 distribution models evaluated by species, nine functional groups that represent the differential risk of species against anthropic threats, and 124 layers of spatial vulnerability. We found a generalized presence of threats to amphibians throughout the Mexican territory, highlighting the center of the country as the most affected area, while the southeast and north had a lower level of anthropic activity. We found differential vulnerability values in the distributions of Mexican endemic amphibians. In general, the anthropogenic impact on the distribution of Mexican endemic amphibians is high, and the percentage of habitat loss ranges from 51 to 97%, with an average of 83% lost to anthropogenic pressures. The functional group with the greatest loss of distributional area was found in the salamander genus Ambystoma, while functional groups 2 (frogs with arboreal habits, small size, and reproduction and development in bodies of water) and 4 (small or medium size frogs occupying terrestrial or riparian habitats with oviposition and development occurring in bodies of water or phytotelms) maintain the largest remaining suitable area after considering the threats. We present a replicable methodology that can be implemented anywhere, providing a new tool to generate specific layers that represent threats to functional groups. This allows for updated assessments of species distribution models that can be used in conservation planning, offering more robust data to make conservation planning decisions.

Outstanding botanical resources for Plebeia mansita (Apidae, Meliponini) in the Northern Argentine Yungas: botanical characterization of its honey and main nesting substrates

Plebeia mansita is a native stingless bee endemic to the Yungas whose populations are distributed in sectors above 1000 m a.s.l. Its honeys and other products are used by local residents for various purposes, from food to medicinal uses. With the purpose of understanding the botanical resources that contribute nectar and nesting to this species of bee in the town of Baritú (22°28′54.1ʺS, 64°45′39.4ʺW; at 1546 m a.s.l.), we analyzed 41 honey samples collected between September 2011 and September 2015 and recorded the main host trees. The samples were examined by palynological techniques using acetolysis, revealing the use of pollen types belonging to native plants, mainly of arboreal habit. Pollen richness per sample varied from 13 to 31 pollen types (mean = 22.7), where the family Asteraceae had the highest number of pollen types (n = 9) and nectar relevance, followed by Myrtaceae. Relevant pollen types correspond to Blepharocalyx salicifolius, Ilex argentina, Myrcianthes pseudomato and Allophylus edulis, followed by Sambucus peruviana, Parapiptadenia excelsa, Handroanthus lapacho, Myrsine coriacea and Zanthoxylum. Other recorded pollen types, with importance index values below 3.5% were Eupatorium, Dendrophorbium bomanii, Senecio, Pseudognaphalium and pollen of the families Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae. On the other hand, when evaluating nesting substrates we recorded the frequency of use of trunks of Ilex argentina as 55.9%, Parapiptadenia excelsa 10.3%, Myrcianthes pungens 7.4%, M. pseudomato 5.9%, Juglans australis 4.4%, Handroanthus lapacho 2.9%, and Blepharocalyx salicifolius, Myrsine coriacea, Ocotea porphyria, Viburnum seemenii, Myrcianthes mato, Roupala montana var. brasiliensis and Erithrina falcata with a value of 1.5% each. The results obtained provide valuable information on the plants that provide nectar and nesting sites for this stingless bee. This information should be considered for the preparation of conservation or production plans for their hives and pollination activities.

Rickets associated with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in Callithrix jacchus (Linnaeus, 1758): Case report

Human beings, monkeys from the Old and New World, make up the mammals belonging to the Primate Order, the latter being exclusive to the American continent and of arboreal habits. With the advances in research in the areas of medicine and biomedicine, the demand for raising primates in captivity has increased significantly, so the well-being of non-human primates has become the target of studies by the scientific community. The skeleton is made up of bones and their joints. It is divided into two portions: the axial portion, formed by the skull, vertebrae, ribs and sternum, and the appendicular portion, formed by the thoracic and pelvic limbs. The cells responsible for the formation and integration of these matrices are osteoblasts. However, when they are coated by the matrices, they are called osteocytes, which are responsible for maintaining healthy bone tissue and ensuring isocalcemia (calcium balance). Metabolic bone diseases result from the imbalance between some of these elements and can affect human and non-human primates, as well as other species such as birds, reptiles, amphibians and, of course, other mammals. If calcium levels become unbalanced, the body can develop osteodystrophies over time, that is, lesions in bone tissue caused by an exacerbated increase in bone resorption and consequent weakening of the skeleton. The present case report aims to describe a condition of osteodystrophy secondary to failure in nutritional management in a female Callithrix jacchus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Widespread arboreal foraging behavior in ground-dwelling birds and the urgency of life-history studies

Habitat changes can alter animal behaviors, especially of large-bodied animals. Landfowl (Galliformes) are a phylogenetically diverse group of large-bodied ground-dwelling birds that are generally considered reluctant flyers. However, some species of landfowl have also been found to forage in arboreal habitats, which could be particularly advantageous under declining habitat quality. However, the prevalence of arboreal foraging behavior (AFB) and how it relates to habitat changes are still unexplored. Here, we reviewed life-history traits associated with foraging behaviors in 305 species of landfowl worldwide and examined the prevalence of AFB across the global landfowl phylogeny. We also collected data from arboreal camera traps on 22 subtropical reservoir islands and six nearby mainland sites in the Thousand Island Lake region of China to assess AFB of Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), the largest landfowl in this lake system, with island area and isolation. Globally, at least 84 species of landfowl (28%) showed evidence of AFB, with a strong phylogenetic signal. Camera trapping revealed that Silver Pheasant tended to have AFB on small and isolated islands, as evidenced by the increased arboreal sampling efforts. Our study reveals that landfowl’s AFB is much more widespread than previously recognized, and suggests the importance of prioritizing large, connected habitats for the conservation of large-bodied animals like Silver Pheasant in the fragmented landscape. Finally, camera trapping emerges as a promising tool for recording landfowl’s life history and uncommon behaviors that can help us understand landfowl’s threats and aid conservation programs.