Use of anthropogenic-related nest material and nest parasite prevalence have increased over the past two centuries in Australian birds

Dominique A Potvin; Fabiola Opitz; Kathy A Townsend; Sarah A Knutie

doi:10.1007/s00442-021-04982-z

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Use of anthropogenic-related nest material and nest parasite prevalence have increased over the past two centuries in Australian birds

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Use of anthropogenic-related nest material and nest parasite prevalence have increased over the past two centuries in Australian birds

Dominique A Potvin, Fabiola Opitz, Kathy A Townsend and Sarah A Knutie

Oecologia, Vol.196, pp.1207-1217

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-04982-z

PMID: 34236465

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Abstract

nest

debris

urbanizatin

anthropogenic materials

museum collections

parasitism

Global plastic production has increased exponentially since the 1940s, resulting in the increased presence of anthropogenic debris in the environment. Recent studies have shown that birds incorporate anthropogenic debris into their nests, which can reduce nest ectoparasite loads. However, we know little about the long-term history of interactions among birds, anthropogenic debris, and ectoparasites. Our study took a unique approach to address this issue by determining the prevalence of anthropogenic debris and ectoparasitic nest flies (Protocalliphora and Passeromyia spp.) in 893 bird nests from 224 species between 1832 and 2018, which were sourced from Australian museum collections. The prevalence of anthropogenic material increased from approximately 4% in 1832 to almost 30% in 2018. This change was driven by an increase in the incorporation of synthetic rather than biodegradable anthropogenic debris (by 2018 ~ 25% of all nests contained synthetics), with the first synthetic item being found in a nest from 1956 in the city of Melbourne. Nest parasite prevalence increased over time but contrary to other studies, there was no relationship between habitat type or anthropogenic material and parasite presence. Our study is the first to use museum specimens to quantify temporal and spatial impacts of anthropogenic material on birds, the results of which justifies contemporary concerns regarding the ubiquitous nature of human impacts on terrestrial wildlife.

Details

Title: Use of anthropogenic-related nest material and nest parasite prevalence have increased over the past two centuries in Australian birds
Authors: Dominique A Potvin (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Fabiola Opitz (Author) - Justus-Liebig-University
Kathy A Townsend (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Sarah A Knutie (Author) - University of Connecticut
Publication details: Oecologia, Vol.196, pp.1207-1217
Audience: Academic
Publisher: Springer
Date published: 2021
DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04982-z
ISSN: 1432-1939
PMID: 34236465
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99565708602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology

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