Adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystems
Abstract Ground-nesting birds on islands are particularly vulnerable to the introduction of terrestrial carnivores because the former often lack defensive behaviors, displaying high levels of naivety under absence of co-evolutionary history. Relatively few studies have addressed such potentially ada...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98920-1 |
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| author | Valeria Gómez-Silva Fabian M. Jaksic Ramiro D. Crego Gabriela Flores-Benner Elke Schüttler |
| author_facet | Valeria Gómez-Silva Fabian M. Jaksic Ramiro D. Crego Gabriela Flores-Benner Elke Schüttler |
| author_sort | Valeria Gómez-Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Ground-nesting birds on islands are particularly vulnerable to the introduction of terrestrial carnivores because the former often lack defensive behaviors, displaying high levels of naivety under absence of co-evolutionary history. Relatively few studies have addressed such potentially adaptive responses. In this study, we investigated whether two bird species, upland geese (Chloephaga picta) and flightless steamer ducks (Tachyeres pteneres) have modified their nesting strategies as a response to the novel predatory pressure imposed by the invasive American mink (Neogale vison) on Navarino Island, southernmost Chile, since its arrival in 2001. We used discriminant analysis and pairwise Wilcoxon tests to compare two data sets (n = 140 nests in total) regarding the macro- and microhabitat where nests were placed, separated by a time span of 15 years. We found that upland geese currently nest in less dense habitat (macrohabitat), hide their nests in shorter shrubs with lower top and side cover (microhabitat), and breed later in the season. In contrast, flightless steamer ducks retain almost the same nesting habitat characteristics. We discuss our findings in the context of ecological and evolutionary restrictions to adaptation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3c36d7e7a0494a9db6f2cc8f0a47e478 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-3c36d7e7a0494a9db6f2cc8f0a47e4782025-08-20T02:55:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-011511810.1038/s41598-025-98920-1Adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystemsValeria Gómez-Silva0Fabian M. Jaksic1Ramiro D. Crego2Gabriela Flores-Benner3Elke Schüttler4Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, University of MagallanesCenter of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences - Environmental Research Institute, University College CorkCenter of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileCentro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, University of MagallanesAbstract Ground-nesting birds on islands are particularly vulnerable to the introduction of terrestrial carnivores because the former often lack defensive behaviors, displaying high levels of naivety under absence of co-evolutionary history. Relatively few studies have addressed such potentially adaptive responses. In this study, we investigated whether two bird species, upland geese (Chloephaga picta) and flightless steamer ducks (Tachyeres pteneres) have modified their nesting strategies as a response to the novel predatory pressure imposed by the invasive American mink (Neogale vison) on Navarino Island, southernmost Chile, since its arrival in 2001. We used discriminant analysis and pairwise Wilcoxon tests to compare two data sets (n = 140 nests in total) regarding the macro- and microhabitat where nests were placed, separated by a time span of 15 years. We found that upland geese currently nest in less dense habitat (macrohabitat), hide their nests in shorter shrubs with lower top and side cover (microhabitat), and breed later in the season. In contrast, flightless steamer ducks retain almost the same nesting habitat characteristics. We discuss our findings in the context of ecological and evolutionary restrictions to adaptation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98920-1Cape HornChloephaga pictaFlightless steamer duckInvasive predatorTachyeres pteneresUpland goose |
| spellingShingle | Valeria Gómez-Silva Fabian M. Jaksic Ramiro D. Crego Gabriela Flores-Benner Elke Schüttler Adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystems Scientific Reports Cape Horn Chloephaga picta Flightless steamer duck Invasive predator Tachyeres pteneres Upland goose |
| title | Adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystems |
| title_full | Adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystems |
| title_fullStr | Adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystems |
| title_short | Adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystems |
| title_sort | adaptive response in waterbirds after mink introduction in subantarctic ecosystems |
| topic | Cape Horn Chloephaga picta Flightless steamer duck Invasive predator Tachyeres pteneres Upland goose |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98920-1 |
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