A5037281350- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant and animal studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Study of Mite Species
- Forest ecology and management
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
University of Turku
2021-2025
University of Cape Town
2018-2024
Natural History Museum Vienna
2015-2023
ABSTRACT Anthropogenic activities threaten many wildlife populations by increasing mortality rates, making it crucial to identify the locations and causes of inform conservation actions. Technological advancements, such as GPS satellite tracking, enable precise recording movements. High‐resolution data from devices can facilitate rapid carcass recovery provide insights into tagged individuals. Obtaining required information determine these is complex, standardized approaches overcome...
Natal dispersal, the distance between site of birth and first breeding, has a fundamental role in population dynamics species' responses to environmental changes. Population density is considered key driver natal dispersal. However, few studies have been able examine densities at both settlement site, which critical for understanding Additionally, on dispersal remains poorly understood long-lived slowly reproducing species, due their prolonged periods often elusive nature. We studied...
The Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is among the most widespread of birds prey, covering basically whole Palaearctic from Europe and North Africa through Asia Japan, to American continent. Only few studies have addressed species' genetic structure consequences its demographic history so far, none them has covered larger areas distribution range. Our present study aims at closing this gap. Based on 283 samples (mostly feathers collected in field or museum collections) across distribution,...
Abstract In this study, we explore blood parasite prevalence, infection intensity, and co-infection levels in an urban population of feral pigeons Columba livia Cape Town. We analyze the effect parasites on host body condition association between melanin expression host’s plumage intensity levels. Relating to haemosporidian itself, study their genetic diversity by means DNA barcoding ( cytochrome b ) show geographic distribution related lineages worldwide. Blood from 195 C. individuals was...
Urbanisation is proceeding at an alarming rate which forces wildlife to either retreat from urban areas or cope with novel stressors linked human presence and activities. For example, like anthropogenic noise, artificial light night chemical pollution can have severe impacts on the physiology of (and humans), in particular immune system antioxidant defences. These physiological systems are important combat reduce severity parasitic infections, common among wild animals. One question that...
Abstract Connectivity between golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) populations is poorly understood. Field studies exploring natal dispersal suggest that this raptor a philopatric species, but with the ability to roam far. However, little known about population structure of species in Europe. Our study based on 14 microsatellite loci and complemented by new previously published mitochondrial control region DNA data. The present dataset includes 121 eagles from Scotland, Norway, Finland, Estonia,...
Urban areas provide breeding habitats for many species. However, animals raised in urban environments face challenges such as altered food availability and quality, pollution pathogen assemblages. These can affect physiological processes immune function antioxidant defences which are important fitness. Here, we explore how levels of urbanisation influence innate function, response to a mimicked bacterial infection capacity nestling Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter melanoleucus South Africa. We...
To avoid predation, many species rely on vision to detect predators and initiate an escape response. The ability may be lower in darker light conditions or with backgrounds. For birds, however, this has never been experimentally tested. We test the hypothesis that response time of avian prey (feral pigeon Columbia livia f. domestica) a simulated hawk attack (taxidermy mounted colour-polymorphic black sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus) will differ depending levels background colour. predict...
Conditions experienced during early life can have long-term individual consequences by influencing dispersal, survival, recruitment and productivity. Resource allocation development strong carry-over effects onto these key parameters is directly determined the quality of parental care. In black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus), a colour-polymorphic raptor, morphs influence nestling somatic growth with pairs consisting different colour ('mixed-morph pairs') producing offspring lower body...
Wind power plays a vital role in global climate action and plans for new turbines the Baltic Sea region are underway. However, it is crucial not to overlook environmental impact on wildlife, which can be difficult quantify, especially elusive hard-to-track species. One of these species white-tailed eagle, conservation success story that faces significant collision risk with rotor blades, particularly as being constructed its coastal habitats. To assess effect wind survival territorial...
Abstract Early‐life conditions can have long‐term fitness consequences. However, it is still unclear what optimal rearing are, especially for long‐lived carnivores. A more diverse diet (‘balanced diet’) might optimize nutrient availability and allow young to make experiences with a larger diversity of prey, whereas narrow breadth (‘specialized result in overall higher energy net gain. that dominated by specific prey type (i.e. fish, ‘prey hypothesis’) be beneficial or detrimental, depending...
Abstract Disassortative mating in color-polymorphic raptors is a proposed mechanism for the maintenance of color polymorphism populations. Selection such system may occur if there are fitness advantages with contrasting morph. In black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus), mixed-morph pairs have selective advantage because they produce offspring that higher survival rates. Two hypotheses, which explain mechanism, “avoidance-image” and “complementarity” hypotheses. The first suggests that,...
Due to broad-scale habitat loss, European Rollers (Coracias garrulus) have been decreasing in numbers rapidly during the 20th century parts of their distribution range. In Austria, as 2017, only a completely isolated relict population two breeding pairs and few non-breeders remained Styria compared about 270 1950s. 2018, no breeders recorded. Since 2002, all nestlings adult birds Austria ringed. Given small census size, combined with lack immigration from other populations, genetic depletion...
The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is widely distributed in the northern Hemisphere and thus an ideal candidate to explore large-scale biogeographic patterns. In recent years, population genetics has gained considerable attention. However, Eastern Palearctic region, a numerical stronghold for species, one of least genetically studied regions within its geographic range. West Mongolia, Altai (Altay) Kazakhs collect wild nestlings from eyries or trap juveniles subadults on passage during...
The loss of habitat heterogeneity due to agricultural intensification has led a global decline in farmland birds. Among them is the Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus , which occupies high trophic levels and may be adversely affected by reduced food quantity or quality consequent health impacts. In this study, we investigate effects heterogeneity, individual heterozygosity diet diversity on five different indices (integument coloration, dietary antioxidants, haematocrit, body condition...
Abstract The black sparrowhawk ( Accipiter melanoleucus ) is a color‐polymorphic sub‐Saharan raptor, with adults occurring in two discrete color morphs: dark and light. It has previously been suggested that plumage coloration determined by one‐locus two‐allele system, the light allele being dominant over allele. Here, we revisit assumption an extended dataset of 130 individuals pedigree information from 75 spanning five generations. We test observed offspring phenotypic ratio against...