Molecular and ecological characterization of urban populations of the mallard (Anas platyrhynchosL.) in Italy

Abstract

Urban habitats are increasing worldwide and represent new potential environments for many species of animals, in particular birds. As a result of contact with humans, urban wildlife can experience ecological and ethological modifications, mainly regarding parental and feeding behaviour. One of the most common birds in urban landscapes is the mallard, Anas platyrhynchos L., which is widespread in temperate regions. This study aimed to characterize two Italian populations of mallards living in a metropolitan area, from both an ecological and a genetic point of view. Field surveys were carried out for 27 consecutive months along two rivers, focusing on the biological cycle and reproductive behaviour of the mallard. The ecological results were integrated with molecular data, obtained by the analysis of 10 microsatellites, genotyped in the two urban, in a wild and in a captive-bred population. No significant changes in eco-ethological features of the mallards living in the urban area were observed, whereas the urban populations were genetically differentiated from the wild and the bred ones.

Brain size and urbanization in birds

“…Urban populations have diverged genetically from nearby rural populations, and different urban habitats also show significant genetic divergence (Fulgione et al 2000;Rutkowski et al 2005;Baratti et al 2009;Evans et al 2009;Björklund et al 2010). A higher degree of left skew in brain mass in urban populations compared to nearby rural populations of the same species suggests that urban habitats may constitute inferior habitats for normal brain development or that urban habitats allow for the survival of a broader spectrum of phenotypes.…”

Admixture between released and wild game birds: a changing genetic landscape in European mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

“…Due to founder effects, inbreeding, and genetic drift, a differentiation between wild and farmed mallards could be expected. However, studies thus far on genetic differentiation give ambiguous results; Baratti et al (2009) did not find any differences using microsatellite markers, while Champagnon et al (2013a), Čížková et al (2012), and Baratti et al (2014) detected genetic differences between regional wild and farmed populations in France, Czech Republic, and Italy, respectively. Thus, more studies of genetic structure across multiple flyways are needed to assess the degree of differentiation and potential genetic homogenization at a larger spatial scale, using a common and more powerful methodological framework.…”

The life cycle and number dynamics of the urban mallard population (Anas platyrhynchos, Anseriformes, Aves) in Moscow

“…Such differentiation was discovered by Italian researchers at the genetic level in the urban population of mallards in Italy (Baratti et al, 2009(Baratti et al, , 2015.…”

“…Since the late 1990s, the urban population has increased in numbers after a brief recession (Avilova and Vinogradov, 1997). The early 21st century has seen a genetic isolation of the urban populations of mallards from the natural ones in the southern Europe (Baratti et al, 2009;Baratti et al, 2015). This demonstrates the importance of the transition to the urban lifestyle on the microevolution level.…”