Migratory patterns of two major influenza virus host species on tropical islands

Lebarbenchon, Camille; Boucher, Solenn; Feare, C. J.; Dietrich, Muriel; Larose, Christine; Humeau, Laurence; Corre, Matthieu Le; Jaeger, A.

doi:10.1101/2023.01.18.524666

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In contrast, despite the breeding of the tern colony coinciding only with the dry season, we also detected high δ 15 N during the wet season in terrestrial and nearshore ecosystems. This is presumably linked partly to brown noddies breeding in much smaller numbers during the wet season (ICS, unpublished data) and individuals which can remain at their breeding grounds year‐round (Bailey, 1968; Lebarbenchon et al., 2023). However, because of isotopic fractionation of guano, nutrient input during the breeding season can maintain isotope levels throughout the non‐breeding season (Pascoe et al., 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seabird presence and seasonality influence nutrient dynamics of atoll habitats

Appoo,

Bunbury,

Letori

et al. 2024

Biotropica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Marine nutrients underpin productivity and functioning of oceanic island ecosystems. On islands where they nest, seabirds represent a primary source of marine nutrients. In tropical regions, some of the largest seabird populations nest on atolls, yet there is limited information available on seabird contributions to atoll ecosystem nutrient dynamics. To investigate the spatial and seasonal dynamics of seabird contributions, we assessed seabird colonies of different taxa, including red‐footed boobies and terns, nesting on separate islands of Farquhar Atoll, Seychelles. We assessed nutrient concentrations of guano, soil, coastal plants, and nearby seagrass in seabird colonies and at a control island with no seabirds, during the wet and dry seasons. Sooty terns contributed the highest quantities of nutrients, estimated at 71.2 N tonne/year and 52.2 P tonne/year. Seabird‐derived nutrient transfer occurred year‐round from seabird colonies to soil, coastal plants and seagrass. Soil macro‐ and inorganic nutrients were higher in the high‐density tern colony and during the dry season, coinciding with the breeding period of sooty terns. Both red‐footed booby and tern colonies maintained high nitrogen levels in coastal plants year‐round, while phosphorus levels did not differ between islands or seasons. Seabird‐derived nitrogen reversed nitrogen limitation of seagrass during the dry season. We provide the first insights into seabird nutrient contributions to atoll ecosystems in Seychelles, with recommendations for seabird conservation to boost and support atoll and island ecosystem resilience. Our results from a relatively undisturbed atoll serve as a baseline with which more impacted atolls and future changes can be assessed.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seabird presence and seasonality influence nutrient dynamics of atoll habitats

Appoo,

Bunbury,

Letori

et al. 2024

Biotropica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Tracking data are available in the Seabird Tracking Database (dataset ID nos. 1943 and 1944), and epidemiological data in the electronic supplementary material [ 48 ].…”

Section: Data Accessibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Migratory patterns of two major influenza virus host species on tropical islands

Lebarbenchon,

Boucher,

Feare

et al. 2023

R. Soc. open sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Animal migration is a major driver of infectious agent dispersal. Duck and seabird migrations, for instance, play a key role in the spatial transmission dynamics and gene flow of avian influenza viruses (AIV), worldwide. On tropical islands, brown and lesser noddies ( Anous stolidus and Anous tenuirostris ) may be important AIV hosts, but the lack of knowledge on their migratory behaviour limits our understanding of virus circulation in island networks. Here we show that high connectivity between islands generated by non-breeding dispersive behaviours may be a major driver in the spread and the maintenance of AIV among tropical islands of the western Indian Ocean. Tracking data highlight two types of dispersive behaviours during the non-breeding season: birds either staying in the vicinity of their breeding ground (on Bird Island, Seychelles), or moving to and roosting on other islands in the western Indian Ocean. Migrant birds used a wide range of roosting places from the Tanzanian coasts to the Maldives archipelago and Tromelin Island. Epidemiological data confirm that brown and lesser noddies are major hosts for AIV, although significant variations of seroprevalence between species suggest that other biological and ecological drivers could be involved in virus infection and transmission dynamics.

show abstract

“…The presence of CoV RNA was looked for in samples previously collected and tested for AIV (N = 1459; (Lebarbenchon et al 2015(Lebarbenchon et al , 2023 as well as in other samples (N = 54), from Brown noddies and Lesser noddies on Reunion Island (Table 1). Only adult birds were included in the study.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%