Soil eutrophication in seabird colonies affects cell wall composition: Implications for the conservation of rare plant species

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,,,,
Otero, X.L., Fernández-Balado, C., Ferreira, T.O., Pérez-Alberti, A. and Revilla, G., 2021. Soil eutrophication in seabird colonies affects cell wall composition: Implications for the conservation of rare plant species. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 168, p.112469.

Seabird colonies exert a strong influence on coastal ecosystems, increasing soil nitrogen bioavailability and modifying plant communities. Previous studies have evidenced that increased N in soils leads to changes in plant cell wall composition; however, this effect has not been assessed in seabird colonies. The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of seabird colonies on nitrogen, cellulose and lignin content in cell walls. For this purpose, analyses were performed on droppings, soils and three native plant species (Armeria pubigera, Armeria pungens and Corema album) growing in yellow-legged gull colonies. The results showed that N excreted by yellow-legged gull is assimilated by plants, increases N content in plant tissues and reduces cellulose and lignin synthesis, therefore potentially altering plant resistance against phytoparasites.

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Influence of fisheries on the spatio-temporal feeding ecology of gulls along the western Iberian coast

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Calado, J.G., Veríssimo, S.N., Paiva, V.H., Ramos, R., Vaz, P.T., Matos, D., Pereira, J., Lopes, C., Oliveira, N., Quaresma, A. and Ceia, F.R., 2021. Influence of fisheries on the spatio-temporal feeding ecology of gulls along the western Iberian coast. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 661, pp.187-201

Gulls are highly opportunistic seabirds, and the exploitation of fishery discards has led to many population increases worldwide. We investigated the importance of fish in the diet of yellow-legged Larus michahellis and Audouin’s gulls L. audouinii and assessed the influence of fishery discards on their feeding ecology. We collected pellets from 4 islands along the western Iberian coast during pre-breeding, breeding, and post-breeding seasons from 2014 to 2018. Stable isotopes (from adult blood, and chick and adult feathers) were used to investigate spatial, seasonal, and inter-annual differences in their feeding ecology. We used pellet, stable isotope (δ15N, δ13C, and δ34S), and biochemical (triglycerides, uric acid, total protein, and carotenoids in adult plasma) analyses to investigate their relationships with fish landings across the annual cycle. Results revealed that the fish species consumed by gulls matched those landed by local fisheries on all study islands, and there was a positive association of pelagic and demersal fish diets with fish landing quantities for 2 islands. δ34S values suggest different self-feeding and chick-provisioning strategies in relation to fisheries. δ15N values exhibited strong negative correlations with fish landings, and triglycerides were positively correlated with pelagic but not with demersal fish landing quantities, suggesting that gulls fed more on lower trophic level and higher energetic content pelagic fish than on demersal fish. Overall, our results based on several techniques suggest that gull feeding ecology was linked to fishery discards, which in view of the new EU landing obligation may have major implications for both gull populations across Europe.

Seabird colonies as the main source of nutrients for the coastal ecosystems in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park (NW Spain)

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De La Peña-Lastra, S., Pérez-Alberti, A. and Otero, X.L., 2021. Seabird colonies as the main source of nutrients for the coastal ecosystems in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park (NW Spain). Chemosphere, 275, p.130077.

Seabirds form large colonies during the reproductive period, producing substantial changes in coastal ecosystems. The present study quantifies the amount of N and P deposited in colonies of yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park (AINP). Based on the composition of droppings, the amount of total N (TN), total P (TP) and bioavailable P (Pbio) deposited directly on the area occupied by the colony was determined. In addition, the amount of NH3 released into the atmosphere was also estimated by applying a bioenergetic model. The results indicated that 5.35 t total N, 3.35 t total P and 1.24 t bioavailable P are deposited in the colony annually. The archipelagos that received the greatest amount of nutrients were the Cíes Islands (2.37 t TN y−1, 1.48 t TP y−1, 0.55 t Pbio y−1), Sálvora (1.94 t TN y−1, 1.22 t TP y−1, 0.55 t Pbio y−1) and Ons (1.04 t TN y−1, 0.65 TP y−1, 0.24 t Pbio y−1). Rainwater from the colonies showed higher values of nutrients than in the control plot, possibly also due to gull influence. Therefore, the yellow-legged gull colony seems to be the most important source of nutrients at a local level, exerting a clear influence on the N and P cycles in this National Park. Another aspect worth taking into consideration is that increased N and P bioavailability may have a negative effect on the conservation of rare or threatened habitats and species by promoting the expansion of non-native ruderal species.

The importance of marine resources in the diet of urban gulls.

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,,
de Faria, J.P., Vaz, P.T., Lopes, C.S., Calado, J.G., Pereira, J.M., Veríssimo, S.N., Paiva, V.H., Gonçalves, A.M. and Ramos, J.A., 2021. The importance of marine resources in the diet of urban gulls. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 660, pp.189-201.

The availability of anthropogenic food subsidies has promoted an increase in generalist opportunistic gull species, which currently breed and forage on predictable anthropogenic resources (e.g. landfills). Here we investigated whether marine resources are still important to urban-dwelling gulls. We studied 4 natural and 2 urban yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis colonies and compared (1) diet composition (through pellet analysis) and (2) isotopic niches of adults and chicks, (3) diet delivered to chicks of different ages, and (4) fatty acid (FA) composition of fledglings, in order to assess diet composition, diversity and quality, and the relevance of marine prey for natural and urban gull populations. Adult urban gulls consumed considerably lower proportions of marine prey when compared to gulls from natural colonies; however, they fed their younger chicks (<20 d old) mostly with fish, representing 61-80% of their chick food deliveries. Refuse items were mostly delivered to chicks older than 20 d. Overall, urban isotopic niches were not completely distinct from those of natural colonies, in some cases sharing ca. 50% of their niche space. Fledglings from the most urbanized colony presented overall higher FA concentrations and diversity, but they were lacking some omega-3 FAs relevant to their physiology. Our results highlight the importance of marine resources in the diet of urban gulls, particularly during early chick rearing, the relevance of food sources in the area around the breeding colonies and the fact that urban gulls benefit from year-round reliable anthropogenic food resources

Levels of Zinc, Cadmium, and Lead in liver, kidney, and feathers of Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) from Spain.

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Fratercula arctica,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,,,,
Barrales, I., Hernández-Moreno, D., Fidalgo, L.E., López-Beceiro, A., Martínez-Morcillo, S., Sánchez-Montero, L., Prado Míguez, M., Soler, F. e Pérez-López, M., (2021). Levels of Zinc, Cadmium, and Lead in liver, kidney, and feathers of Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) from Spain. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, pp.1-24.

Zinc, cadmium, and lead in livers, kidneys, and feathers of 48 young and adult Atlantic puffins found dead or dying off the coast of Galicia (Northwest Spain) were determined. The most abundant between the three elements was the essential metal zinc, with highest mean levels (173±9mg/kg dry weight) in livers. For the two non-essential metals, the highest mean levels of cadmium were found in kidneys (22.1 ± 1.0 mg/kg dry weight), and of lead in feathers (1.31±0.10mg/kg dry weight). For some birds, concentrations of zinc and cadmium exceeded established risk levels. The concentrations of the three metals were positively cor- related in livers. In kidneys and livers, cadmium levels were correlated. With respect to age, the levels of the three metals in adults were higher than in young animals. Female birds showed significantly higher levels than males. The results are useful for establishing baseline data of the concentrations of the three metals for this species.

Effects of a yellow legged gull (Larus michahellis) colony on soils and cliff vegetation in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park (NW Spain)

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,
De La Peña-Lastra, S., Gómez-Rodríguez, C., Pérez-Alberti, A., Torre, F. and Otero, X.L., 2021. Effects of a yellow legged gull (Larus michahellis) colony on soils and cliff vegetation in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park (NW Spain). Catena, 199, p.105-115.

Seabirds are powerful environmental modulators, generating major changes in soil properties and vegetation in areas where their breeding colonies are established. One of the largest yellow-legged gull colonies in the world is found in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park. In this study, we performed seasonal monitoring, over a period of 5 years, of the flora and soil in eight subcolonies characterized by different densities of gulls. Soil nutrient concentrations differed significantly between the control site and the subcolonies, as well as between seasons; the concentrations of N-NO3– and bioavailable P were highest in samples obtained at the end of the breeding season. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) transformed the environmental variables into three main components following varimax rotation. The PCA components were used as potential predictors in distance-based Redundancy Analyses (db- RDA) to explain turnover and also nestedness patterns in plant assemblages. Species turnover was explained by both natural (salinity) and nutrient gradients, while none of the relationships were significant in the nestedness analysis. Floristics inventories clearly revealed ruderalization of vegetation in the densest subcolonies, which led to total replacement of the most representative vascular plant species by eutrophic and ruderal species. PERMANOVA analysis showed that seagull density in 1991, when the seagull population was at its highest, could be used to group similar plant assemblages; however, this relationship was not observed for seagull density in 2011, which was 70–90% lower than in 1991. The study findings indicate that the environmental effects of seabird colonies are long lasting and that disappearance of the birds does not lead to restoration of the previous vegetation. The gull colony has irreversibly transformed the soil and vegetation of cliffs, generating a new environmental system.

Soil under dead or live organic matter systems: Effect of: European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis L.) nesting on soil nematodes and nutrient mineralization

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Phalacrocorax aristotelis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,
Aira, M. e Domínguez, J., 2020. Soil under dead or live organic matter systems: Effect of European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis L.) nesting on soil nematodes and nutrient mineralization. Soil Ecology Letters, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42832-020-0023-9

Here we studied whether soil systems differ if they are under the influence of live (plants) or dead organic matter systems (nest) in terms of C and N mineralization, microbiological characteristics and nematode trophic group structure. We analyzed physicochemical and microbiological properties of soils inside and outside nests of the European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis L.) on the Cíes Islands (NW Spain). We sampled fresh soil below dead (nests) and live organic matter (plants) (paired samples, n = 7). Soil of nests had lower organic matter and higher electric conductivity and dissolved organic C and extractable N contents than the soil of plants. Microbial biomass and activity were greater in soil of nests than in soil of plants. The abundance of nematode trophic groups (bacterivores, fungivores, omnivores and herbivores) differred between soils of nests and plants, and the soil of plants supported a more abundant and diverse nematode community. The present results points to that source of organic matter promote differences in the decomposer community, being more efficient in soil of nests because C mineralization is greater. Further, this occurred independently of the complexity of the systems, higher in the soil of plants with more groups of nematodes.

Yellow-legged gull eggs (Larus michahellis) as persistent organic pollutants and trace metal bioindicator for two nearby areas with different human impact

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Viñas, L., Besada, V., Pérez-Fernández, B. e Bode, A., 2020. Yellow-legged gull eggs (Larus michahellis) as persistent organic pollutants and trace metal bioindicator for two nearby areas with different human impact. Environmental Research, 190, p.110026.

The concentration of different persistent organic pollutants (POPs including chlorinated and brominated compounds) and trace metals and metalloids (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, and Zn) was examined in eggs from two colonies of yellow-legged gulls. The two colonies are established in Ría de Vigo, Northwest Spain, with a distance between them of only 10 km, one in Vigo town (industrial and harbour activities) and the other in the Cíes Islands in a Natural Park and Marine Protected Area –MPA- (with no known anthropogenic inputs). Statistically significant differences for the two colonies were observed for Hg, the sum of 7 CBs, the sum of DDTs y and the sum of 9 PBDEs, with values that could be causing some toxic effects in the area of the most anthropogenically influenced colony. The estimated isotopic niche was also calculated, based on δ15N and δ13C, for the two colonies, pointing to a wider diet in the Cíes colony when compared to the diet in the Vigo colony. The study supports the use of the yellow-legged seagull eggs as a bioindicator of pollution capable of differentiating pollution level even in geographically close areas.

Egg corticosterone can stimulate telomerase activity and promote longer telomeres during embryo development

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Noguera, J.C., da Silva, A. and Velando, A., Egg corticosterone can stimulate telomerase activity and promote longer telomeres during embryo development. Molecular Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15694

It is often assumed that the transfer of maternal glucocorticoids (GCs; e.g. corticosterone or cortisol) to offspring is an inevitable cost associated with adverse or stressful conditions experienced by mothers. However, recent evidence indicates that maternal GCs may adaptively program particular physiological and molecular pathways during development to enhance offspring fitness. In this context, an important mechanism through which maternal GCs may lastingly affect offspring phenotypic quality and survival is via effects on embryo telomerase activity and so on offspring postnatal telomere length. Here, using a field experimental design for which we manipulated the corticosterone content in yellow‐legged gull (Larus michahellis) eggs, we show that embryos from corticosterone‐injected eggs not only had a higher telomerase activity but also longer telomeres just after hatching. A complementary analysis further revealed that gull hatchlings with longer telomeres had a higher survival probability during the period when most of the chick mortality occurs. Given the important role that telomere length and its restoring mechanisms have on ageing trajectories and disease risk, our findings provide a new mechanistic link by which mothers may presumably shape offspring life‐history trajectories and phenotype.

https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15694