Cinereous Vulture Aegypius Monachus Research Articles

Movement ecology of pre-adult Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus: insights from a reintroduced population

Summary Understanding the movement ecology of threatened species is fundamental to improving management and conservation actions for their protection, mainly during the pre-adult stage and particularly when a species is subject to population reinforcement or reintroduction projects. An example is the case of the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus on the Iberian Peninsula, an endangered species that has been reintroduced in different regions during the last two decades. Here, we explore differences between the spatial ecology of reintroduced pre-adult Cinereous Vultures, according to age-class, sex, and season (breeding and non-breeding). We used GPS-tag data from 51 pre-adult individuals reintroduced into Catalonia (north-east Spain) to describe their use of space, i.e. home-range size, core area, and minimum convex polygon (MCP) and movement patterns, i.e. cumulative distance, maximum displacement, maximum daily dispersal, and maximum annual dispersal. Our study showed significant variation in the use of space and movement patterns among pre-adult birds and the influences of age, sex, and season. Age was the most influential factor, determining range areas and movement patterns. Similar to other vulture species, home range and core areas increase with age, with subadult vultures exhibiting larger ranges than young first year, juveniles, and immature birds, but the MCP measures were larger for juveniles. Movement patterns were also influenced by age-class, with juveniles making longer movements, followed by immatures and subadults (with similar values), and shorter movements for birds during their first year of life. Overall, males made shorter movements and explored smaller foraging areas than females. Season had an important effect on movement patterns, and the daily and dispersal movements were longer during the breeding period (February–August). Our findings fill a knowledge gap regarding the dispersal behaviours of Cinereous Vultures, information that will enable the improvement of management and conservation decisions.

Analysis of the trans-Saharan migration and wintering areas of GPS-tagged Cinereous Vultures Aegypius monachus

ABSTRACT Although the western Mediterranean population of the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus is considered to be mainly resident, a small but increasing number of individuals migrate between western Europe and western Sahel. We used GPS tracking on two juvenile vultures from Spain to reveal their migration routes and their wintering areas in Senegal.

Interspecific differences in plasma carotenoid profiles in nestlings of three sympatric vulture species.

Carotenoids are diet-based micronutrients important in health and coloration signaling. Related species with similar diets can differ in the kinds and levels of circulating carotenoids, which suggests specific physiological mechanisms to efficiently utilize these micronutrients, regardless of their availability. We explored whether diet and parental provisioning of unusual sources of carotenoids (fresh vegetal matter and vertebrate feces) can explain the occurrence and concentrations of carotenoids in the cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus, griffon vulture Gyps fulvus, and Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus nestlings, even when these pigments appear to not be deposited in their integumentary system. A greater diversity of wild prey in diet could be behind the profile of higher concentrations of carotenoids in the Egyptian vulture, the species with carotenoid-dependent coloration during adulthood, while differences in diet composition between cinereous and griffon vultures do not translate to different carotenoid profiles. The carotenoid profile appears to not be related to the ingestion of unusual matter rich in these compounds, although the infrequent occurrence of lycopene and unidentified γ-carotene-like compounds suggest that these vultures may be exploiting vegetal matter that left no identifiable unconsumed remains in the nest of Egyptian vultures. The consumption of green plant material by griffon vultures does not result in especially high levels of carotenoids when compared to the carotenoids found in cinereous vultures, which do not consume green plant material. Ungulate feces were not provisioned to Egyptian vulture nestlings, despite the fact they contain carotenoids that adults need for appropriate coloration. Overall, this study indicates that diet differences alone appear insufficient to explain contrasting interspecific carotenoid profiles, especially since all types of food consumed are considered to be poor in carotenoids, except vegetable matter. We suggest that nestling Egyptian vultures are comparatively efficient in uptaking carotenoids present in low concentrations in food when these compounds are not deposited in their integument, which suggests allocation to other functions.

First record of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, India.

No abstract.

Low genetic variation of cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) revealed by the mitochondrial COI gene in central Mongolia

The cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus is considered as the largest species among old world’s vultures, and it is also recognized as the important part of any ecosystem, as cleaner of dead animals with natural and non-natural mortality. We investigated genetic characteristics of the cinereous vulture (n = 39) using 738 base-pair (bp) long cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in mitochondrial DNA. The observed overall haplotype (Hd) and nucleotide (Pi) diversities were 0.279 ±0.0079 and 3.9 x 10-3, respectively. Relatively small genetic pairwise FST distance (FST = 0.027) resulted for weak geographical structure among studied populations (>95% of total variation due to within population). Conducting more investigation on species genetic diversity using more appropriate/polymorphic markers is crucial for better conservation of the cinereous vulture, especially for little known Asian populations.

Behaviour of a young Cinereous Vulture <i>Aegypius monachus</i> for one hundred days after leaving the nest in the Tianshan Mountains, China

There are few breeding records or reports on Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in China. The species is vulnerable to mortality from poisoning and collision, such as during migration seasons and in wintering areas (Kenny et al . 2008). From 2016 to 2017, we investigated and reported for the first time on the breeding ecology of the vultures in the central Tianshan Mountains (MaMing et al . 2017). In addition to observing behaviour in the nest, we also tracked several young birds after they left the nest, from the end of July to October. Although young birds are relatively easy to observe during their stay in the nest (Reading et al . 2010), it is difficult to understand their fate after leaving the nest. In the Central Asia, only about 25 - 30 % of the sub-adult birds survive, and sometimes the success rate of reproduction is very low (Batbayar 2004, Reading et al . 2010, MaMing et al . 2017).

국내에 월동하는 독수리의 납오염

국내에 월동하는 독수리의 납오염

Incorporating acoustic objectives into Forest Management Planning when sensitive bird species are relevant.

BackgroundThe potentially negative effects of timber harvesting on biodiversity and habitat conservation leads to the consideration of a wide range of restrictions to forest logging in natural areas. In particular, high noise levels produced by forest machinery present a challenge to developing sustainable forest management plans. The Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), the largest bird of prey whose nests are located in mature trees, is considered to be appropriate as an indicator species for environment-friendly forest planning. In this work, we evaluated spatially differences in sound propagation between stands. We hypothesized that differences due to the influence of orography in mountainous forests would allow the relaxation of spatial and temporary restrictions to timber logging, without causing any great disturbance at nesting sites of sensitive species.MethodsOur study was conducted in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest of Spain, where an important colony of the Western European population of Cinereous vulture is located. We built 62 noise maps to characterize noise pollution due to tree logging at planning level. We modeled two different scenarios, in order to characterize; (i) the effect of a chainsaw operator during a complete cycle for felling a tree (Scenario 1), and (ii) the effect of the peak level produced by the breaking noise emitted by the trunk of the tree and its impact on the ground (Scenario 2). A strategy of three logical steps was designed; (i) landscape-scale analysis of noise propagation in stands, (ii) hierarchical cluster analysis of stands, (iii) assessment of the potentially significant influence of noise management in timber harvesting.ResultsThe minimum distance (DIST) from chainsaw operator sites to the 40 dB(A) contour lines was the only variable that had a significant influence on the clustering results. On the other hand, mean values of a newly proposed metric called average radius or radial distance (ARD) oscillated between 174 m in cluster #1 (Scenario 1) and 407 m in cluster #2 (Scenario 2).DiscussionOur results highlight the convenience of considering noise modeling tools at a forest planning level in order to address the compatibility of forest logging and the necessity of protecting nature. We found that spatial propagation of noise made by chainsaws at felling sites does not differ between stands even in a mountainous terrain, contrary to what we initially hypothesized. However, temporary logging restrictions could be excluded in about 36% of the current conditioned management areas according to ARD results in Scenario 2 (400 m). This proposal could be based on a sound pressure level (in decibels) criteria instead of conventional buffer protection distance criteria. In addition, it is suggested that the current size of restricted management areas could be generally extended from a 100 m radius to a 200 m one around the Cinereous vulture nest sites.

Extremely Low Mitochondrial DNA Diversity in a near Threatened Species, the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Turkey

The Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus is a near threatened raptor that occurs in isolated populations across its range. The only comprehensive genetic study performed so far excluded samples from Turkey, although this area forms a significant part of the species' range. In this study, we used 311 bp long sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from 58 Turkish individuals to assess genetic diversity and phylogeny, and to determine if any signals for population expansion exist. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that the Turkish birds hold, along with those from the Caucasus, an intermediate position between European (Balkan and Iberian) and North Asian (Mongolian) lineages. Our findings also demonstrate extremely low mitochondrial diversity and suggest no population expansion. Despite the low genetic diversity found in this study, other mtDNA gene regions and other nuclear markers should be evaluated together with the current results, before any kind of conservation action plan of this species is applied.

Movement and home range of cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus during the wintering and summering periods in East Asia

The present study was conducted to elucidate the movement and home range of 7 subadult cinereous vultures Aegypius monachus during the wintering and summering periods using a telemetry system from January 2015 to March 2017 in East Asia. In total, 7053 locations (180?1607 points per bird) were used to analyze the home range size and movement distance of the birds during the wintering, migration, and summering periods. The tracked birds overwintered in South Korea. They migrated between South Korea and Mongolia during spring and autumn, respectively. Their movement and home range size varied considerably throughout the annual cycle between the wintering and summering grounds. The migration route and home range exhibited considerable overlap among the vultures tracked. Further studies on breeding ecology and habitat use pattern are necessary for the conservation of cinereous vultures and their habitats in the wintering and summering grounds.

Genetic diversity is retained in a bottlenecked Cinereous Vulture population in Turkey

Vulture populations worldwide have suffered precipitous declines in recent decades. The Cinereous VultureAegypius monachus, a highly philopatric scavenger distributed across southern Europe and the central Asian plateau, is threatened in many parts of its range. Turkey holds the second largest population of this species in the Western Palaearctic, but there has been no research on its genetic structure and the possible implications of this structure for the future of the species. Here we report nuclear diversity and relatedness determined by short tandem repeat genotyping of 81 individuals from the four largest colonies. Our results demonstrated no significant genetic structuring, suggesting a single panmictic metapopulation connected by frequent dispersal. Furthermore, we show that the study population has retained moderate levels of genetic diversity, despite passing through a recent demographic bottleneck. We estimated the effective population size to be 112 individuals (95% confidence interval 74–201). Our results imply that the observed lack of increase in population size since the 1990s has not been caused by lowered fitness due to genetic inbreeding but rather by increased mortality via demographic processes. In the short term, we suggest that conservation efforts should treat the Turkish subpopulations as a single management unit and aim to increase population size through effective protection, especially during the breeding season.

Biodiversity Assessment of Mammal and Bird Species from Camera Trap Data in Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve, Gansu Province, China

Camera traps serve as an important tool for monitoring species diversity. We used data from camera traps set for capturing snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in the Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve, Gansu Province, China, to assess species richness with respect to mammal and birds species. We also assessed survey efficiency for species detection, and conducted an initial analysis of species interactions. The survey effort of 10, 171 camera workdays yielded 2, 868 suitable animal image events involving 17 mammal and 20 bird species. Among these, the dhole (Cuon alpinus) is considered to be Endangered, the snow leopard and white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris) Vulnerable, and the Pallas's cat (Feli smanul), mountain weasel (Mustela altaica), Himalayan griffon (Gyps himalayensis) and cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) Near Threatened under the IUCN red list. Fourteen species were also listed as key protected wild animals according to China national standards. Both the rarefaction curves and richness estimators suggested our sampling for mammal and pheasant species is sufficient, while more survey efforts are still needed to detect other bird species. With a focus on the dominant species Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), occupancy models were used to estimate site use and detection probability for selected species, and to investigate predator-prey relationships between lynx on the one hand and woolly hare (Lepus oiostolus), pika (Ochotona spp.) and Tibetan partridge (Perdix hodgsoniae) on the other. We give recommendations on how to increase efficiency in camera-based species inventory and biodiversity monitoring.

Record of Cinereous Vulture <i>Aegypius monachus</i> from Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India

We report a sighting of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus from Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, India. The current observations were made during a two month study on ‘Prey status and abundance in Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve’ during February-March 2015. Five species of vulture were recorded during this period: Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus; Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus; Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus; Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus and Cinereous Vulture. This is an additional record of a Cinereous Vulture sighting in the area. We highlight the need to evaluate the historical and current status of vulture populations in the area and assess the threats posed to vultures from unorganized carcass dumping sites in and around the reserve, as the past studies have been limited only to the north-western part of the reserve.

The status of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus on Jeju Island for 15 years

The status of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus on Jeju Island for 15 years

A preliminary assessment of the palate and tongue for detecting organophosphorus and carbamate pesticide exposure in the degraded carcasses of vultures and other animals

In many regions of the world, organophosphorus (OP) and carbamate (CM) pesticides are used to poison wildlife thought to be competing with human activities (e.g. hunting). Vultures may be secondarily poisoned or directly targeted, e.g. for muti or traditional medicine. Some OPs and CMs are so acutely toxic that animals will die with poisoned material still in their mouths - un-swallowed, before traces may have spread to other parts of the body. Even when death is more prolonged, the tissues in which residues have accumulated may deteriorate before the carcass is discovered, minimizing the chances of recovering viable samples for toxicological analyses that would conclusively identify poisoning as the cause of death. With all these factors in mind, we investigated the feasibility of detecting OP and CM pesticides in the oral cavity, with emphasis on the tongue and palate. A total of 60 degraded carcasses (n = 28 avian and 32 mammalian) recovered from various scenes of wildlife crime in Andalucía, southern Spain, where poisoning was suspected, were submitted to the Center for Analysis and Diagnosis of Wildlife in Málaga for necropsy and toxicological analyses. Of these, 20 and 24 avian and mammalian tongues, respectively, could be recovered for analysis. Separately, the palate from one degraded Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus carcass was also opportunistically retrieved and analyzed following an incident of vulture mass-mortality in which nine Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus also perished. Residues or presence of OPs and CMs were detected in one avian tongue (analyzed with food from the mouth) and four mammalian tongues. Our findings suggest avian tongues alone are not optimal, but canid tongues and those of larger mammals may lend themselves well to analysis. Detection of the OP chlorfenvinphos (3.39 mg/kg) in the Cinereous Vulture palate (the only part of the carcass in which residues were detected) indicates this is a promising sample. To our knowledge, this represents the first time that OP and CM pesticides have been detected in tongue and palate samples. We recommend further exploration of oral cavity samples, especially within the context of the risk that residues therein may pose to human health.See supplementary file attached

Manipulating size, amount and appearance of food inputs to optimize supplementary feeding programs for European vultures

Supplementary feeding is one of the most common techniques used to alleviate threats to scavengers species related to the quality and availability of food resources. Because supplementary feeding may have undesired effects, the management of supplementary sites should be optimized from an ecological and conservation perspective. We installed high-resolution videocameras at six Spanish feeding stations recording more that 7500h of observations at 105 feeding events. We analyzed food preferences in the four European vulture species (Eurasian griffon vulture Gyps fulvus, Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus, bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus and cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus) as they relate to the characteristics of the food remains and carcasses provided at feeding sites. Our results suggest that carrion features (format, scattering, prey species, biomass and items) influence differential selection between species and age-classes. At a species level, large inputs of unscattered carrion increased the abundance of actively feeding griffon vultures. The ratio of the abundance of bearded vultures, Egyptian vultures and cinereous vultures with respect to griffon vultures was favored when less biomass was supplied and when the food provided was not presented as whole carcasses. Thus, using medium-size ungulates (i.e. sheep and goats) presented as small, abundant and scattered pieces favors the consumption of the resource by the most endangered species. Our findings can be used to optimize the supplementary provisioning of vultures in cases where this conservation tool is considered essential for managing targeted species or population groups.

First record of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus (Falconiformes: Accipitridae) from southern Rajasthan, India

Vultures belong to the important scavenger group of birds. The population of which is fast declining. They have gained lot of attention of bird watchers during past few years. Present reporting in the first record of Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus from Ubeshwar, a pilgrim place near Udaipur City in south Rajasthan.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus (Falconiformes: Accipitridae)

In this study we report the complete mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequence from Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus, a large raptorial bird species of Falconiformes. The mtDNA is a 17,811-bp circular molecule with a total A + T content of 54.03%. The mitochondrial genome contains 37 genes and an extra pseudo-control region. The gene arrangement pattern is identical to Buteo and Falco, which has remnant CR2 gene order. All protein-coding genes use the standard mitochondrial initiation codon ATN, except for COI start with GTG. Of the 13 protein coding genes, 11 stop with TAN, the COI and ND1 stop with AGG. All tRNAs possess the classic clover-leaf secondary structure except for tRNASer (AGN) and tRNALys (CUN), which lacks the “DHU” stem, only forming a simple loop. The non-coding region contains some intergenic spacers, a control region and an extra pseudo-control region.

Immature Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Senegal in February 2005

Immature Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Senegal in February 2005

Conservation of the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Spain (1966–2011): a bibliometric review of threats, research and adaptive management

SummaryDetecting and quantifying threats and researching and implementing management actions are key to improving the conservation status of endangered species. Bibliometric analysis can constitute a useful tool for the evaluation of such questions from a long-term perspective. Taking as a case study the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus in Spain, we tested relationships between population dynamics, research efforts, existing threats and conservation milestones. The population growth of the species (from 206 pairs in 1976 to 2,068 in 2011) was parallelled by the increase in the total number of publications, the number of articles in SCI journals and the number of published works dealing with aspects of conservation, threats and management. These results are discussed in terms of cause-effect relationships taking into account that the influence of other non-mutually exclusive factors could also probably explain such associations. Similarly, we analysed the trend of the Cinereous Vulture breeding population with respect to different threats and indices of food availability, obtaining a positive correlation with the increase in big-game hunting bags in Spain. With respect to conservation milestones, we concluded that the current situation is positive in terms of the protection of the species and its habitat, with the situation in relation to food availability being unclear. Finally, we reviewed the main conservation actions that have been taken for the species in Spain and how these have been progressively modified based on new scientific and technical evidence, as an example of adaptive management applied to conservation.