Synanthropic Species Research Articles

Human‐associated species dominate passerine communities across the United States

AbstractAimHuman development and agriculture can have transformative and homogenizing effects on natural systems, shifting the composition of ecological communities towards non‐native and native species that tolerate or thrive under human‐dominated conditions. These impacts cannot be fully captured by summarizing species presence, as they include dramatic changes to patterns of species abundance. However, how human land use patterns and species invasions intersect to shape patterns of abundance and dominance within ecological communities is poorly understood even in well‐known taxa.LocationConterminous United States.Time period2010–2012.Major taxa studiedPasseriformes.MethodsWe analyse continental‐scale monitoring data to study the proportional abundance of non‐native and native synanthropic species within passerine bird communities. Synanthropic species are those that benefit from an association with humans. We estimate how the amount and configuration of human development and agriculture relate to the degree to which human‐associated species dominate passerine communities across the continent.ResultsHuman‐associated species comprised the majority of detected passerine individuals across two‐thirds of bird surveys. Non‐native and synanthropic species responded differently to land cover and reached highest relative abundance in different portions of the continent. The proportional abundance of synanthropic birds increased rapidly with development, but was not related to the configuration of land cover. The proportion of non‐native individuals was higher when intensively‐used land cover was more aggregated.Main conclusionsEven low amounts of intensively‐used lands were associated with a dramatic reshaping of passerine communities, with consequences for patterns of relative abundance across the continent.

<span lang="EN-GB">Communities of the Bidentetea class of small coastal river valleys of the Western Pomerania (Poland)</span>

The aim of work was to investigate the diversification, structure, physiognomy and floristic richness of riverside terophytes from Bidentetea tripartitae class in selected coastal river valleys. The investigates area encompassed the lower and middle section of the river valleys of Rega, Parsęta, Wieprza, Słupia, Łupawa in the Western Pomerania (Poland). 68 phytosociological records were made according to the system of Braun-Blanquet. A database was created with the help of the software Turboveg for Windows.The hierarchy classification with the MVSP package was used in order to arrange and group the collected phytosociological data and to single out the types of plant communities. In order to evaluate similarity of samples with respect to species composition the Bray Curtis was calculated and the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) was applied. Three plant communities belonging to one alliance Bidention tripartitae were identified: Bidenti-Polygonetum hydropiperis (Miljan 1933) Lohmeyer in R.Tx. 1950 nom invers., Bidentetum cernui Kobendza 1948, community with Polygonum minus, and one plant community belonging to the alliance Chenopodion glauci: Chenopodietum rubri Timar 1947.Given the natural origin of most of the patches, their structure, and the relatively small share of synanthropic species, including alien species, it should be emphasized that they constitute a spontaneous stage of succession of riparian vegetation. The presence of therophyte communities in the valleys of the coastal rivers, as well as their structure and physiognomy, testify to the preservation of their natural character.

Оценка компонентов нижних ярусов растительного покрова в антропогенно нарушенных березняках Красноярской лесостепи

The vegetation cover characteristics of anthropogenically disturbed birch stands of Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe are studied. The research purpose is to study the current state of under story vegetation cover of the birch stands, which have been exposed to recreational and anthropogenic impacts for a long time, as well as to assess the degree and nature of its changeover the 12-year period since the last research. The studies were carried out on the sample plots laid out in mixed herbs birch stands. Cenosises are characterized by V–VI age classes,II–IV quality classes, and 0.6–0.9 density of stocking. The birch stands are located in the main transfer of Krasnoyarsk industrial emissions. Phytocenoses were under significant anthropogenic and recreational impact for a long time. At each facility, 30 sites (1 m2 each) were laid, where species composition, horizontal and vertical structure, projective cover and occurrence of undergrowth and forest live cover species were assessed. The comparative analysis of floristic lists was performed using the Sorensen-Czekanowski coefficient (Ksc). The degree of species diversity was estimated by using the Shannon index; the degree of recreational transformation – synanthropization index. Cuttings were taken from 10 sites (20 × 25 cm each) for recording the phytomass stock of forest live cover on each sample area. Plants were cut off at the litter level, sorted by species, dried and weighed. Rating scales of digression were used to study the recreation influence. The degree of anthropogenic impact was determined by the content of toxic ingredients in plants of living ground cover. It is found that the toxic elements concentration in plants does not reach excessive values at which homeostasis disturbance happens. It was concluded that the changes in vegetation cover observed in 2017 in relation to the state of 2005 are more due to recreational than anthropogenic impact; which changed due to the introduction of a new technology at the JSC “RUSAL Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Plant”, which made it possible to reduce toxic industrialemissions. According to the study results, the species composition of the undergrowth and forest live cover was determined, the features of its change over a 12-year period were revealed. It is noted that species diversity has decreased and the proportion of synanthropic species has increased across all plots. Total forest live cover phytomass and individual species phytomass are determined at each plot. The regularities of change in different species contribution to the total stock of phytomass, depending on recreational impact changes, were identified. The ground cover recreational digression stages are determined by analyzing the changes in species diversity, the quantitative ratio of ecological-cenotic groups, the structure and the absolute value of phytomass. For citation: Goncharova I.A., Skripal’shchikova L.N., Barchenkov A.P., Shushpanov A.S. Understory Vegetation Cover Components Assessment in Anthropogenically DisturbedBirch Stands of Krasnoyarsk Forest-Steppe. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2020, no. 1, pp. 75–87. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2020-1-75-87 Funding: The study was carried out within the framework of the basic research projects of the Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS “Biodiversity of Indigenous Coniferous and Derivative Forest Ecosystems” (No. 0356-2016-0301) and “Dynamics of Siberian Forests in a Changing Climate. Monitoring of the Living State, Productivity and Ranges of the MainForest-Forming Species of Woody Plants” (No. 0356-2018-0739).

Development of synanthropic beetle faunas over the last 9000 years in the British Isles

The timing and mechanisms for the develpment of synanthropy for insects is under-explored worldwide; however, substantial archaeoentomological datasets are required to explore this issue in detail. In the British Isles, 50 years of research has generated such a dataset, which we have compiled for this paper. It consists of beetle (Coleoptera) faunas from 55 archaeological sites, comprising 85,829 individuals; out of which 22,670 individuals, representing 128 taxa, were classed as semi- or fully-synanthropic (human-dependent). The data were analysed in terms of presence/absence of different synanthropic taxa; as well as the relative proportions of a range of synanthropic ‘groupings’ for each archaeological period, type of deposit and type of archaeological site. We argue that there are distinct waves of the development or introduction of synanthropes in the British Isles. This initially consisted of a limited group of taxa, derived from the natural environment during the Mesolithic and Neolithic. A second wave of taxa associated with intensive stock raising, pasture and fodder production occurs in the Late Bronze Age/Iron Age. Finally, a range of strongly synanthropic species, including grain pests, were introduced into the British Isles by the Romans as a result of large-scale trade and the development of urban life. Further areas of research, particularly internationally, are outlined.

Mapping bird assemblages in a Mediterranean urban park: Evidence for a shift in dominance towards medium-large body sized species after 26 years

We assessed the structure of the breeding bird assemblage in a Mediterranean urban park in 2012, and compared it with data gathered in the same area in 1986. Since 1986, Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) territories have disappeared from the study area, while breeding pairs of Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) and the introduced Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) have colonized the park. We observed a significant decrease in density of the Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) and a significant increase in Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). At the assemblage level, overall bird densities decreased but total bird biomass increased due to the increase in density of (often cavity-nesting) medium to large body sized species (such as woodpeckers, Rose-ringed Parakeet and Starling). A presumed increase in mature tree availability and in predation by synanthropic species (e.g. crows) may explain the high density and biomass of primary and secondary cavity nesters characterized by medium-to-large body sizes. The decline of Sparrows and Wryneck may reflect the decreasing trend at the continental scale.

Синтаксономия растительности карьеров на месте сведенных сосняков лишайниковых и зеленомошных (среднетаежная подзона европейского северо-востока России)

Синтаксономия растительности карьеров на месте сведенных сосняков лишайниковых и зеленомошных (среднетаежная подзона европейского северо-востока России)

The vegetation of sands in the Chernihiv city (Ukraine)

The vegetation of the Chernihiv city sands (natural and technogenic origin) has rather high syntaxonomic diversity (17 associations and 5 initial communities) and the ruderal phytocoenoses prevail. Natural phytocenoses are represented to a small extent (Cyperetum flavescentis Koch 1926, Dichostylidi–Helochloetum alopecuroidis (Timar 1950) Pietsch 1973, Artemisia scoparia–Dianthus borbasii community, Kochietum arenariae Fijalk 1978). Synanthropic psammophytes species communities that are more resistant to anthropogenic influence, are formed under urban conditions. The ecological range of vegetation of sandy alluvia varies from xerophytic phytocoenoses in mineral-poor sand (Kochietum arenariae) to the communities, which indicate waterlogged areas with increased mineralization of water and saline bottom sediments (Typhetum laxmannii Nedulcu 1968). Itispossibletoobserve the adventization and apophization of sand vegetation, one of the indicators of which is the rupture of coenotic connections between the species of the community. These phenomena indicate that the process of synanthropization of the vegetation cover of the city keeps intensifying, and first of all, occurs in places of newly formed technogenic ecotopes.

Records of Synanthropic Species of Alien Beetles (Coleoptera) in the Anthills of Genus Formica

For the first time, two alien species of beetles, obligate synanthropes, namely, Attagenus smirnovi Zhantiev, 1973 (Dermestidae) and Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius, 1792) (Ptinidae), were revealed in anthills (genus Formica). These records widen the spectrum of biotopes inhabited by these species outside their native ranges and specify their adaptive abilities under the movement of invaders to the north.

State o Phytocenosis in Beremytske Nature Park

Purpose. Botanical analysis of existing vegetation in the territory of the “Beremitske” Nature Park for further zoning and selection of individual territories where reproduction of the original state of the phytocenosis is planned. Methods. Field research methods for the analysis of the taxonomic composition of the flora in the park, cartographic methods for zoning the area and historical analysis of the land use of the former landowners. Results. The conducted flora monitoring showed that in the studied territories the adventitious and synanthropic species predominated, in particular in the meadow-steppe areas the invasive and synanthropic vegetation was represented by Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Asclepias syriaca, Amaranthus retroflexus, Arctium lappa, Sonchus arvensis, Tanacetum vulgare, Medicago lupulina, Verbascum phlomoides, Urtica dioica. Among the wood forms Betula pendula, Robinia pseudoacacia, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Pinus sylvestris Populus nigra, Alnus glutinosa, Carpinus betulus predominated. Among the rare plants we identified the accumulation of Iris sibirica in some meadow-swamp areas. The scheme of the park has been developed and the starting points at which flora reproduction is planned to be identified. Conclusions. The species composition of the phytocenosis showed the predominance of invasive vegetation species in some areas of the park. The growth sites of the endangered species of Iris sibirica have been found, and in the future will allow to design new ecological trails in the park and to reintroduce it to other suitable sites. The data obtained will allow to develop a scheme of restoration of the original floral biodiversity in the park, taking into account the identified features.

Characteristic properties of the genesis of Alnus incana (L.) Moench. associations in the south of Western Siberia

The associations formed by Alnus incana (L.) Moench. in the south of Western Siberia are limited to the middle and lower reaches of the Irtysh river in the Tyumen region (Tobolsk district, Russia). The paper describes Alnetum pteridiosum, Alnetum urticosum, Alnetum еquisetosum, Alnetum coricosum, Alnetum coricoso – еquisetosum, Alnetum coricoso – oxalidosum, Alnetum curtico – еquisetosum, Alnetum еquisetoso – miliosum, Alnetum coricosa – stellariosum, Alnetum urtico – aegopodiosum, Alnetum urtico – stellariosum, Alnetum–cirsiosum, Alnetum cystopteriosum, Alnetum urtico – miliosum, Alnetum poо – urticosum, Alnetum chrysospleniosum, Alnetum corydaliosum, Alnetum impatieno - urticosum and Alnetum stellariosum associations. In these associations, more than a hundred of species of higher plants grow. The species composition analysis showed that they are mesothermal and hydrophilic, the shrub layer is not typical for them, and the grass cover of alder forests is not uniform in origin. During the formation of Alnetum association they interact with taiga, birch and linden forests through mutual exchange of species, and also experience anthropogenic influences, accompanied by the penetration of synanthropic species.

The impact of power lines on phytocenoses of the regional reserve “Uporovsky”, Tyumen Region, Russia

The article reflects the results of anthropogenic impact on phytocenoses of the territory of the Uporovsky regional nature reserve (Uporovsky district, Tyumen region, Russia). On the territory of the Uporovsky regional nature reserve (Uporovsky district, Tyumen region) there is a 110 kV electrical power transmission line (power line) which has the length of 8 kilometers and the right-of-way width of about 30 meters. This power line is undoubtedly the main source of anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation in this area. The degree of participation of individual species in the herbage was determined by taking into account their relative abundance. When exposed to the power lines in the right-of-way area, flora biodiversity decreases due to the loss of a number of species. The effect of electromagnetic fields causes transformation of the vegetation cover, synanthropization and the subsequent complete destruction of natural vegetation. To determine the degree of anthropogenic load on the studied phytocenoses, the synanthropization index is determined. In the synanthropic fraction of the flora, 30 species belonging to 12 families were identified. The synanthropization index of the studied phytocenoses ranges from 6.6% to 81.2%. The largest number of synanthropic species is observed in the anthropogenic area.

Local human population increase in the non‐breeding areas of long‐distance migrant bird species is only weakly associated with their declines, even for synanthropic species

AbstractAimTo show how recent declines in populations of long‐distance migrant birds are associated with recent increases in human population growth and agricultural intensification on their tropical non‐breeding grounds, except for synanthropic species, where we expect the reverse.LocationBreeding populations throughout Europe and North America spending the non‐breeding season throughout Africa, and Central and South America, respectively.MethodsWe mapped 50 species of long‐distance migrant birds from published tagging studies of 126 breeding populations and identified their breeding population trends from 2000 to 2015 from published Country or State census data. We then matched individual bird non‐breeding locations, from each population, to local human population change and crop yield data. We used GLMs to predict whether bird population decline was associated with human population change or crop yield and whether this was dependent on if a species was synanthropic or not, controlling for absolute human population density, breeding and non‐breeding location, migratory distance and phylogeny. We predicted that bird populations that spend the non‐breeding season in areas of recent higher human population increase or agricultural intensification (crop yield) would show greater declines, but that declines would be less for species that frequently utilize anthropogenic habitats such as secondary woodland and farmland.ResultsBird population change, even for synanthropic species, showed a significant negative relationship with relative human population change and crop yield (but this was weak, <2% and 6% of variance respectively), and this relationship was the same for the Neotropics and Africa, despite African human population change being three times larger.Main conclusionsThe results suggest that local human population change in the non‐breeding area is likely to be only a relatively minor driver of migrant declines, and its effects may be through increases in agricultural intensification reducing carrying capacity, but we currently lack local studies to confirm this.

Trypanosoma cruzi transmission dynamics in a synanthropic and domesticated host community.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a Neglected Tropical Disease affecting 8 million people in the Americas. Triatomine hematophagous vectors feed on a high diversity of vertebrate species that can be reservoirs or dead-end hosts, such as avian species refractory to T. cruzi. To understand its transmission dynamics in synanthropic and domesticated species living within villages is essential to quantify disease risk and assess the potential of zooprophylaxis. We developed a SI model of T. cruzi transmission in a multi-host community where vector reproduction and parasite transmission depend on a triatomine blood-feeding rate accounting for vector host preferences and interference while feeding. The model was parameterized to describe T. cruzi transmission in villages of the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, using the information about Triatoma dimidiata vectors and host populations accumulated over the past 15 years. Extensive analyses of the model showed that dogs are key reservoirs and contributors to human infection, as compared to synanthropic rodents and cats, while chickens or other domesticated avian hosts dilute T. cruzi transmission despite increasing vector abundance. In this context, reducing the number of dogs or increasing avian hosts abundance decreases incidence in humans by up to 56% and 39%, respectively, while combining such changes reduces incidence by 71%. Although such effects are only reached over >10-years periods, they represent important considerations to be included in the design of cost-effective Integrated Vector Management. The concomitant reduction in T. cruzi vector prevalence estimated by simulating these zooprophylactic interventions could indeed complement the removal of colonies from the peridomiciles or the use of insect screens that lower vector indoor abundance by ~60% and ~80%. These new findings reinforce the idea that education and community empowerment to reduce basic risk factors is a cornerstone to reach and sustain the key objective of interrupting Chagas disease intra-domiciliary transmission.

Растительность газонов города Уфы (Республика Башкортостан)

Растительность газонов города Уфы (Республика Башкортостан)

Классификация сообществ с инвазионными видами на Южном Урале. IV. Сообщества с видами рода Solidago, Lupinus polyphyllus и Phalacroloma annuum

Классификация сообществ с инвазионными видами на Южном Урале. IV. Сообщества с видами рода Solidago, Lupinus polyphyllus и Phalacroloma annuum

Native and Invasive Small Mammals in Urban Habitats along the Commercial Axis Connecting Benin and Niger, West Africa

Based on compiled small mammal trapping data collected over 12 years from Benin and Niger (3701 individual records from 66 sampling sites), located in mainland Africa, we here describe the small mammal community assemblage in urban habitats along the commercial axis connecting the two countries, from the seaport of Cotonou to the Sahelian hinterland, with a particular focus on invasive species. In doing so, we document extant species distributions, which highlight the risks of continuing the range expansion of three synanthropic invasive rodent species, namely black rats (Rattus rattus), brown rats (R. norvegicus), and house mice (Mus musculus). Using various diversity estimates and community ecology approaches, we detect a latitudinal gradient of species richness that significantly decreased Northward. We show that shrews (Crocidura) represent a very important component of micro-mammal fauna in West African towns and villages, especially at lower latitudes. We also demonstrate that invasive and native synanthropic rodents do not distribute randomly in West Africa, which suggests that invasive species dynamics and history differ markedly, and that they involve gradual, as well as human-mediated, long distance dispersal. Patterns of segregation are also observed between native Mastomys natalensis and invasive rats R. rattus and R. norvegicus, suggesting potential native-to-invasive species turn over. Consequences of such processes, especially in terms of public health, are discussed.

Composition of the Synanthropic Fraction of Spontaneous Flora of the Gardens and Parks in the Middle Pobuzhzhia Region of Ukraine

AbstractThe aim of our work was to analyse synanthropic fraction of spontaneous flora of gardens and parks in the Middle Pobuzhzhia Region of Ukraine and to reveal the features of synanthropisation. The landscapes of gardens and parks in the Region include botanical gardens, arboretums and monuments of landscape art. A total of 15 objects were studied. The floras of parks were estimated by proportion of different groups (origin, naturalisation degree, time and ways of introduction) of synanthropic species. The synanthropic fraction of spontaneous flora was calculated using the indices of synanthropisation, apophytisation, anthropophytisation, archeophytisation, kenophytisation and modernisation. These indices were specified for each park and for the Middle Pobuzhzhia Region in general. The obtained data were compared to each other and to the analogous urban floras from different zones of Ukraine. It was revealed that the apophytisation processes were dominated by the processes of adventisation in most of the parks. The proportion of the synanthropic fraction of spontaneous flora of the Middle Pobuzhzhia Region was significantly lower compared to urban floras of some cities of Ukraine, and despite a considerable anthropogenic pressure retained some features of natural flora.

Interactions between Invasive Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) and Other Bird Species during Nesting Seasons in Santiago, Chile.

Simple SummaryThe monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is an invasive species, unique in the parrot family for its ability to build large nest structures. This species became globally distributed, promoted in part due to the pet trade market, and now is considered a pest because of the economic losses they produce. During the reproductive seasons of 2017 and 2018, we registered interactions between invasive monk parakeets and resident bird species in Santiago, Chile. We observed positive and negative interactions, and herein, we describe parakeets’ nest occupancy by nine bird species, two invasive and seven native. For this reason, the monk parakeet should be considered an ecosystem engineer, a species that is creating available breeding space of potential use for other species. Our results contribute to an assessment of implications of this ecological invasion of local urban wildlife, and raise concern on other impacts, such as disease transmission, as a consequence of these interactions.The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is considered to be one of the most invasive bird species because its unique ability among parrots to build their own communal nests. Currently, they are considered an invasive species in 19 countries and a pest—even in their native distribution—because of economic losses derived from their impacts. During the reproductive seasons of 2017 and 2018, we registered interactions between invasive monk parakeets and resident bird species in Santiago, Chile. We observed agonistic and affiliative interactions, and further, we described monk parakeets’ nest occupancy by nine bird species, two invasive and seven native. For this reason, we consider that the monk parakeet is an allogenic ecosystem engineer with the potential to shape distribution and richness of sympatric species in urban environments. Our results contribute to an assessment of the implications of the monk parakeet’s ecological invasion to other synanthropic species, and raise concern of other potential impacts, such as pathogen transmission derived from these interactions.

Projecting Mammal Distributions in Response to Future Alternative Landscapes in a Rapidly Transitioning Region

Finding balance between the needs of people and wildlife is an essential component of planning sustainable landscapes. Because mammals make up a diverse and ecologically important taxon with varying responses to human disturbance, we used representative mammal species to examine how alternative land-use policies might affect their habitats and distributions in the near future. We used wildlife detections from camera traps at 1591 locations along a large-scale urban to wild gradient in northern Virginia, to create occupancy models which determined land cover relationships and the drivers of contemporary mammal distributions. From the 15 species detected, we classified five representative species into two groups based on their responses to human development; sensitive species (American black bears and bobcats) and synanthropic species (red foxes, domestic cats, and white-tailed deer). We then used the habitat models for the representative species to predict their distributions under four future planning scenarios based on strategic versus reactive planning and high or low human population growth. The distributions of sensitive species did not shrink drastically under any scenario, whereas the distributions of synanthropic species increased in response to anthropogenic development, but the magnitude of the response varied based on the projected rate of human population growth. This is likely because most sensitive species are dependent on large, protected public lands in the region, and the majority of projected habitat losses should occur in non-protected private lands. These findings illustrate the importance of public protected lands in mitigating range loss due to land use changes, and the potential positive impact of strategic planning in further mitigating mammalian diversity loss in private lands.

Mapping of Habitats of Recreationally Significant Terrestrial Vertebrate Species in the Baikal Nature Reserve

A study and mapping of habitats of wild and synanthropic animal species was carried out on the model research site of the Baikal Nature Reserve’ in order to develop methods and conduct zoological tourism on their basis. This type of tourism promotes the preservation of the maximum possible diversity of animal species composition and habitat. The focus of the investigations is on recreational development of the territory while preserving optimal diversity of species composition of the animal population and the ecologically substantiated number of animals. The research site is located on the southeastern coast of Lake Baikal within the northern macroslope of Khamar-Daban Range and the Tankhoi piedmont plain. According to the specific features in the natural and economic conditions and the animal population, we identified the goletz alpinotype, mountain-taiga, piedmont-taiga, coastal and synanthropic landscape-faunistic complexes with characteristic terrestrial vertebrate species. Criteria were defined to be used to identify, among the total list of animals, recreationally significant species. Their study and mapping was carried out on the basis of a landscape map which was used in compiling maps for habitats and the number of species in them. It was found that the number and abundance of species increase along the direction from the goletz-taiga complex in the middle part of the mountain range to the piedmont-plain taiga-bog complex on the shores of Baikal. In economically developed areas as well as in settlements, there is an increase of the total number of species due to an increase in the proportion of synanthropic animals. Considerable attention is paid to synanthropic bird species because of their abundance, availability for observation and high ecological and recreational significance. Some features in zoological tourism development in the conservation and protection areas of the Baikal Nature Reserve differing in the level of environmental protection and in the mode of management are outlined. The areas occupied by recreationally significant species will be evaluated in the future. The findings can be used in the Baikal Nature Reserve as well as in neighboring territories and in other regions.