Patterns of variation in the size of vulture foraging groups,and their ecological causes and consequences,remain litle explored despite strong links with the carrion recycling service that this key functional group pr...Patterns of variation in the size of vulture foraging groups,and their ecological causes and consequences,remain litle explored despite strong links with the carrion recycling service that this key functional group provides.We documented the group size-frequency pattern of Andean con-dors Vultur gryphus gathered to feed on 42 equine carcasses experimentally placed in Bolivia,between 2012 and 2019,along an elevation range of 1,300-4,500 m asl.Based on the location(altitude and latitude)of the foraging groups,we examined the relationship between their size and species'population parameters(size and trend),habitat conditions,and livestock carcass availability and predictability.Condors utilized a high frequency(93%)of carcasses forming groups that ranged from 1 to 80 individuals(mean=25,median=18)and shaped a"lazy-J curve"typical pattern of size-frequency distribution whereby few groups(5,12%)were large(>55 individuals)and most(21,50%)were relatively small(<19 individuals).Group size related to altitude in that most larger groups formed at lower sites(below c.3,000 m asl),likely following an altitudinal gradient whereby larger groups are more likely to form around larger carcasses(i.e.,cattle),which are more likely to occur at lower elevations.Regardless of population size,group size could be an adaptive response of condors via local enhancement for improving individual scavenging efficiency.Many information gaps on this topic still exist,thus we provide a set of questions to address them,especially amidst the unrestricted impacts of human activities that condition vulture survival globally.展开更多
Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the s...Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the spread of pathogens.Moreover,their specific diets expose them to various deadly pathogens,which makes them potential candidates for studying molecular adaptations required to survive this extremely specialized scavenging habit.In this review,we summarize the morphological characteristics and behavioral habits,origin and phylogeny,and molecular adaptations to scavenging in both Old and New World vultures.The two groups of vultures share a similar appearance,indicative of convergent evolution.Vultures have experienced different degrees of specialization in their sensory organs;Old World vultures depend on sight,while New World ones depend on both smell and sight.Combined fossil records and molecular data suggest that vultures evolved independently,with distinct phylogenetic positions.We also explored their adaptation to scavenging in facial and intestinal microbiomes,gastric acid secretion and immunity.Compared with the facial microbiome,the intestinal microbiome had a lower diversity,dominated by Fusobacteria and Clostridia.The phages and single invertebrate species Adineta vaga,which feeds on dead bacteria and protozoa,present in the gut suggest a possible alternative defense mechanism.Several genes involved in gastric acidic secretion(including ATP4B,SLC26A7 and SST)and immunity(including BCL6,STING,and TLRs) undergoing positive selection likely have essential roles in eliminating invasive pathogens and initiating an innate immune response.Taken together,this review presents the current research status of vultures and highlights the use of vultures as a model for exploring molecular adaptations of dietary specialization in birds.It also provides a theoretical basis for the study of the genetic mechanisms of vultures to scavenging,and contributes to the formulation of vulture conservation strategies.展开更多
Abiotic factors play an important role in species localisation,but biotic and anthropogenic predictors must also be considered in distribution modelling for models to be biologically meaningful.In this study,we formal...Abiotic factors play an important role in species localisation,but biotic and anthropogenic predictors must also be considered in distribution modelling for models to be biologically meaningful.In this study,we formalised the biotic predictors of nesting sites for four threatened Caucasian vultures by including species distribution models(wild ungulates,nesting tree species)as biotic layers in the vulture Maxent models.Maxent was applied in the R dismo package and the best set of the model parameters were defined in the R ENMeval package.Performance metrics were continuous Boyce index,Akaike's information criterion,the area under receiver operating curve and true skill statistics.We also calculated and evaluated the null models.Kernel density estimation method was applied to assess the overlap of vulture ecological niches in the environmental space.The accessibility of anthropogenic food resources was estimated using the Path Distance measure that considers elevation gradient.The availability of pine forests(Scots Pine)and wild ungulates(Alpine Chamois and Caucasian Goat)contributed the most(29.6%and 34.3%)to Cinereous Vulture(Aegypius monachus)nesting site model.Wild ungulate distribution also contributed significantly(about 46%)to the Bearded Vulture(Gypaetus barbatus)model.This scavenger nests in the highlands of the Caucasus at a minimum distance of 5–10 km from anthropogenic facilities.In contrast,livestock as a food source was most important in colony distribution of Griffon Vulture(Gyps fulvus).The contribution of distances to settlements and agricultural facilities to the model was 45%.The optimal distance from Egyptian Vulture(Neophron percnopterus)nesting sites to settlements was only 3–10 km,to livestock facilities no more than 15 km with the factor contribution of about 57%.Excluding the wild ungulate availability,the ecological niches of studied vultures overlapped significantly.Despite similar foraging and nesting requirements,Caucasian vultures are not pronounced nesting and trophic competitors展开更多
Objective:To describe clinical signs,pathology,diagnosis and treatment of Cape vultures in which Aspergillus fumigatus(A.fumigatus)and mixed species of bacteria were isolated.Methods:Six Cape vultures sourced from Sou...Objective:To describe clinical signs,pathology,diagnosis and treatment of Cape vultures in which Aspergillus fumigatus(A.fumigatus)and mixed species of bacteria were isolated.Methods:Six Cape vultures sourced from South Africa for exhibition at Al Ain Zoo developed illness manifesting as anorexia,dyspnea,polyuria and lethargy.Three vultures died manifesting"pneumonia-like syndrome".These three vultures were necropsied and gross lesions recorded,while organ tissues were collected for histopathology.Internal organs were swabbed for bacteriology and mycology.From live vultures,blood was collected for hematology and biochemistry,oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected for mycology and bacteriology.Results:A.fumigatus was isolated from the three dead vultures and two live ones that eventually survived.One of the dead vulture and two live vultures were co-infected with A.fumigatus and mixed species of bacteria that included Clostridium perfringens,Pseudomonas,Staphylococcus,Escherichia,Proteus,Enterococcus and Enterbacter.One of the Cape vulture and a Lappetfaced vulture,however,were free of Aspergillus or bacterial infections.At necropsy,intestinal hemorrhages were observed and the lungs were overtly congested with granulomas present on caudal air sac.Histopathologtcal examinations demonstrated granulomatous lesions that were infiltrated by mononuclear cells and giant cells.Conclusions:Aspergillosis is a persistent threat to captive birds and we recommend routine health assessments so that early diagnosis may prompt early treatment.It is likely that prompt prophylaxis by broad spectrum antibiotics and antifungals medication contributed to the survival of some of the vultures.展开更多
Background:Himalayan Griffons(Gyps himalayensis),large scavenging raptors widely distributed in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,have evolved a remarkable ability to feed on carcasses without suffering any adverse effects.The ...Background:Himalayan Griffons(Gyps himalayensis),large scavenging raptors widely distributed in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,have evolved a remarkable ability to feed on carcasses without suffering any adverse effects.The gut microbiome plays an important role in animal physiological and pathological processes,and has also been found to play a health protective role in the vulture adaptation to scavenging.However,the microbial taxonomic diversity(including nonculturable and culturable microbes),functions,and metabolites related to Himalayan Griffons have not been fully explored.Methods:In the present study,the 28 fecal samples of the Himalayan Griffons and 8 carrion samples were collected and sequenced using high-throughput 16 S rRNA gene sequencing methods to analyze the composition and functional structures of the microbiomes.Twelve fecal samples of the Himalayan Griffons were analyzed using untargeted Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy(LC-MS)to identify metabolites.We used different culture conditions to grow Himalayan Griffons gut microbes.Inhibitory effects of gut beneficial bacteria on 5 common pathogenic bacteria were also tested using the Oxford cup method.Results:According to the results of the culture-independent method,a high abundance of four major phyla in Himalayan Griffons were identified,including Fusobacteria,Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,and Proteobacteria.The most abundant genera were Fusobacterium,followed by Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1,Cetobacterium,Epulopiscium,and Bacteroides.The predicted primary functional categories of the Himalayan Griffons'gut microbiome were associated with carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism,replication and repair,and membrane transport.LC-MS metabolomic analysis showed a total of 154 metabolites in all the fecal samples.Cultivation yielded 184 bacterial isolates with Escherichia coli,Enterococcus faecium,Enterococcus hirae,and Paeniclostridium sordellii as most common isolates.Moreover,7 potential beneficial gut bacteria isolated showed certain inhibition to 5 common 展开更多
基金funded by The Peregrine Fund's Neotropical Science and Student Education Program,a British Ornithologists'Union Small Ornithological Research Grant,a Neotropical Birding and Conservation(formerly known as Neotropical Bird Club)Conservation Award granted to D.Méndez in 2014,and two 2018 grants to D.Méndez,one from the Rufford Small Grants Foundation(24763-1)another from the International Foundation for Science(I-1-D-6156-1).
文摘Patterns of variation in the size of vulture foraging groups,and their ecological causes and consequences,remain litle explored despite strong links with the carrion recycling service that this key functional group provides.We documented the group size-frequency pattern of Andean con-dors Vultur gryphus gathered to feed on 42 equine carcasses experimentally placed in Bolivia,between 2012 and 2019,along an elevation range of 1,300-4,500 m asl.Based on the location(altitude and latitude)of the foraging groups,we examined the relationship between their size and species'population parameters(size and trend),habitat conditions,and livestock carcass availability and predictability.Condors utilized a high frequency(93%)of carcasses forming groups that ranged from 1 to 80 individuals(mean=25,median=18)and shaped a"lazy-J curve"typical pattern of size-frequency distribution whereby few groups(5,12%)were large(>55 individuals)and most(21,50%)were relatively small(<19 individuals).Group size related to altitude in that most larger groups formed at lower sites(below c.3,000 m asl),likely following an altitudinal gradient whereby larger groups are more likely to form around larger carcasses(i.e.,cattle),which are more likely to occur at lower elevations.Regardless of population size,group size could be an adaptive response of condors via local enhancement for improving individual scavenging efficiency.Many information gaps on this topic still exist,thus we provide a set of questions to address them,especially amidst the unrestricted impacts of human activities that condition vulture survival globally.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201267)Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (2208085QC71)+2 种基金the Key University Science Research Project of Anhui Province (KJ2021A0128)supported by the Key University Science Research Project of Anhui Province (KJ2020A0085)supported in part by the Plateau Ecology Youth Innovative Fund of Wuhan University
文摘Vultures are the only obligate scavengers among extant vertebrates.They provide valuable ecological services in ecosystems through removing carcasses,thus preventing the growth of other scavenger populations and the spread of pathogens.Moreover,their specific diets expose them to various deadly pathogens,which makes them potential candidates for studying molecular adaptations required to survive this extremely specialized scavenging habit.In this review,we summarize the morphological characteristics and behavioral habits,origin and phylogeny,and molecular adaptations to scavenging in both Old and New World vultures.The two groups of vultures share a similar appearance,indicative of convergent evolution.Vultures have experienced different degrees of specialization in their sensory organs;Old World vultures depend on sight,while New World ones depend on both smell and sight.Combined fossil records and molecular data suggest that vultures evolved independently,with distinct phylogenetic positions.We also explored their adaptation to scavenging in facial and intestinal microbiomes,gastric acid secretion and immunity.Compared with the facial microbiome,the intestinal microbiome had a lower diversity,dominated by Fusobacteria and Clostridia.The phages and single invertebrate species Adineta vaga,which feeds on dead bacteria and protozoa,present in the gut suggest a possible alternative defense mechanism.Several genes involved in gastric acidic secretion(including ATP4B,SLC26A7 and SST)and immunity(including BCL6,STING,and TLRs) undergoing positive selection likely have essential roles in eliminating invasive pathogens and initiating an innate immune response.Taken together,this review presents the current research status of vultures and highlights the use of vultures as a model for exploring molecular adaptations of dietary specialization in birds.It also provides a theoretical basis for the study of the genetic mechanisms of vultures to scavenging,and contributes to the formulation of vulture conservation strategies.
基金the State Assignment,project 075-00347-19-00(Patterns of the spatiotemporal dynamics of meadow and forest ecosystems in mountainous areas(Russian Western and Central Caucasus)WWF's‘Save the Forest-Home of Raptors’project(2020-2022).
文摘Abiotic factors play an important role in species localisation,but biotic and anthropogenic predictors must also be considered in distribution modelling for models to be biologically meaningful.In this study,we formalised the biotic predictors of nesting sites for four threatened Caucasian vultures by including species distribution models(wild ungulates,nesting tree species)as biotic layers in the vulture Maxent models.Maxent was applied in the R dismo package and the best set of the model parameters were defined in the R ENMeval package.Performance metrics were continuous Boyce index,Akaike's information criterion,the area under receiver operating curve and true skill statistics.We also calculated and evaluated the null models.Kernel density estimation method was applied to assess the overlap of vulture ecological niches in the environmental space.The accessibility of anthropogenic food resources was estimated using the Path Distance measure that considers elevation gradient.The availability of pine forests(Scots Pine)and wild ungulates(Alpine Chamois and Caucasian Goat)contributed the most(29.6%and 34.3%)to Cinereous Vulture(Aegypius monachus)nesting site model.Wild ungulate distribution also contributed significantly(about 46%)to the Bearded Vulture(Gypaetus barbatus)model.This scavenger nests in the highlands of the Caucasus at a minimum distance of 5–10 km from anthropogenic facilities.In contrast,livestock as a food source was most important in colony distribution of Griffon Vulture(Gyps fulvus).The contribution of distances to settlements and agricultural facilities to the model was 45%.The optimal distance from Egyptian Vulture(Neophron percnopterus)nesting sites to settlements was only 3–10 km,to livestock facilities no more than 15 km with the factor contribution of about 57%.Excluding the wild ungulate availability,the ecological niches of studied vultures overlapped significantly.Despite similar foraging and nesting requirements,Caucasian vultures are not pronounced nesting and trophic competitors
基金Supported by the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort through.Grant No.10/917001
文摘Objective:To describe clinical signs,pathology,diagnosis and treatment of Cape vultures in which Aspergillus fumigatus(A.fumigatus)and mixed species of bacteria were isolated.Methods:Six Cape vultures sourced from South Africa for exhibition at Al Ain Zoo developed illness manifesting as anorexia,dyspnea,polyuria and lethargy.Three vultures died manifesting"pneumonia-like syndrome".These three vultures were necropsied and gross lesions recorded,while organ tissues were collected for histopathology.Internal organs were swabbed for bacteriology and mycology.From live vultures,blood was collected for hematology and biochemistry,oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected for mycology and bacteriology.Results:A.fumigatus was isolated from the three dead vultures and two live ones that eventually survived.One of the dead vulture and two live vultures were co-infected with A.fumigatus and mixed species of bacteria that included Clostridium perfringens,Pseudomonas,Staphylococcus,Escherichia,Proteus,Enterococcus and Enterbacter.One of the Cape vulture and a Lappetfaced vulture,however,were free of Aspergillus or bacterial infections.At necropsy,intestinal hemorrhages were observed and the lungs were overtly congested with granulomas present on caudal air sac.Histopathologtcal examinations demonstrated granulomatous lesions that were infiltrated by mononuclear cells and giant cells.Conclusions:Aspergillosis is a persistent threat to captive birds and we recommend routine health assessments so that early diagnosis may prompt early treatment.It is likely that prompt prophylaxis by broad spectrum antibiotics and antifungals medication contributed to the survival of some of the vultures.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31960277)the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Russian Foundation for Basic Research Cooperative Exchange Project(Grant Nos.32111530018,21-54-53031)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province of China(Grant No.2018-ZJ-932Q)supported by“1000 Talent”programs of Qinghai Province。
文摘Background:Himalayan Griffons(Gyps himalayensis),large scavenging raptors widely distributed in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,have evolved a remarkable ability to feed on carcasses without suffering any adverse effects.The gut microbiome plays an important role in animal physiological and pathological processes,and has also been found to play a health protective role in the vulture adaptation to scavenging.However,the microbial taxonomic diversity(including nonculturable and culturable microbes),functions,and metabolites related to Himalayan Griffons have not been fully explored.Methods:In the present study,the 28 fecal samples of the Himalayan Griffons and 8 carrion samples were collected and sequenced using high-throughput 16 S rRNA gene sequencing methods to analyze the composition and functional structures of the microbiomes.Twelve fecal samples of the Himalayan Griffons were analyzed using untargeted Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy(LC-MS)to identify metabolites.We used different culture conditions to grow Himalayan Griffons gut microbes.Inhibitory effects of gut beneficial bacteria on 5 common pathogenic bacteria were also tested using the Oxford cup method.Results:According to the results of the culture-independent method,a high abundance of four major phyla in Himalayan Griffons were identified,including Fusobacteria,Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,and Proteobacteria.The most abundant genera were Fusobacterium,followed by Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1,Cetobacterium,Epulopiscium,and Bacteroides.The predicted primary functional categories of the Himalayan Griffons'gut microbiome were associated with carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism,replication and repair,and membrane transport.LC-MS metabolomic analysis showed a total of 154 metabolites in all the fecal samples.Cultivation yielded 184 bacterial isolates with Escherichia coli,Enterococcus faecium,Enterococcus hirae,and Paeniclostridium sordellii as most common isolates.Moreover,7 potential beneficial gut bacteria isolated showed certain inhibition to 5 common
