Survival of a Long‐Lived Avian Scavenger: Implications of Age, Season, and Landscape Composition for Mortality Risk.
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| Title: | Survival of a Long‐Lived Avian Scavenger: Implications of Age, Season, and Landscape Composition for Mortality Risk. |
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| Authors: | Hudson, Spencer B.1 (AUTHOR) spencer.hudson@usda.gov, Tillman, Eric A.1 (AUTHOR), Wahl, Marian L.2 (AUTHOR), Zollner, Patrick A.2 (AUTHOR), Ross, Caryn D.3 (AUTHOR), DeVault, Travis L.3 (AUTHOR), Beasley, James C.3 (AUTHOR), Naveda‐Rodríguez, Adrián4 (AUTHOR), Rush, Scott A.4 (AUTHOR), Osterhoudt, Noah M.5 (AUTHOR), Kelly, Jeffrey F.5 (AUTHOR), Duerr, Adam E.6 (AUTHOR), Humberg, Lee A.7 (AUTHOR), Dunlap, Brett G.7 (AUTHOR), Neil, Chad8 (AUTHOR), Forbes, John T.8 (AUTHOR), Glass, Harris9 (AUTHOR), Guerrant, Travis L.10 (AUTHOR), Byrd, Robert W.11 (AUTHOR), Kavouriaris, Philip W.12 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Mar2026, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p1-13. 13p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Scavengers (Zoology), *Conservation of natural resources, *Landscapes, Mortality risk factors, Vultures, Seasonal physiological variations, Survival rate, Aging |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Despite the ecological importance of avian scavengers such as vultures, demographic information that is essential to their conservation and management remains limited. The goal of this study was to evaluate survival and mortality risk in black vultures (Coragyps atratus), a protected native species of conflict management concern in the United States. Here, we combined monitoring data from a 28‐year period to estimate annual survival rates among age classes and test for seasonal and age‐related patterns in mortality risk. Using dead recovery information, we also summarized the causes and timing of annual mortalities. Additionally, we tested whether mortality risk was affected by aspects of landscape composition and configuration, as well as human development. Average annual survival was high overall (0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.98), with estimate precision markedly improved by combining datasets (72.1%–84.2% increase). Mortality risk differed by season and age class such that vultures experienced 68.7% more hazard during the breeding season, and adults experienced 66.2% less hazard than juveniles. Among the mortality causes, 67% were anthropogenic, 4% were natural, and the remaining 29% were unknown. Additionally, greater land cover diversity (Shannon diversity index) reduced mortality risk, whereas measures of landscape configuration and human development had no effect. High survival rates help explain this species' population growth and range expansion and further inform allowable take for sustainable management practices. Moreover, the identified seasonal and age‐related vulnerabilities may help guide lethal control of human–vulture conflicts in an ecologically relevant manner. Maintaining diverse landscapes may also enhance survival overall, facilitating conservation of this species and other avian scavengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 192557246 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Survival of a Long‐Lived Avian Scavenger: Implications of Age, Season, and Landscape Composition for Mortality Risk. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hudson%2C+Spencer+B%2E%22">Hudson, Spencer B.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> spencer.hudson@usda.gov</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tillman%2C+Eric+A%2E%22">Tillman, Eric A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wahl%2C+Marian+L%2E%22">Wahl, Marian L.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zollner%2C+Patrick+A%2E%22">Zollner, Patrick A.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ross%2C+Caryn+D%2E%22">Ross, Caryn D.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22DeVault%2C+Travis+L%2E%22">DeVault, Travis L.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Beasley%2C+James+C%2E%22">Beasley, James C.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Naveda‐Rodríguez%2C+Adrián%22">Naveda‐Rodríguez, Adrián</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rush%2C+Scott+A%2E%22">Rush, Scott A.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Osterhoudt%2C+Noah+M%2E%22">Osterhoudt, Noah M.</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kelly%2C+Jeffrey+F%2E%22">Kelly, Jeffrey F.</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Duerr%2C+Adam+E%2E%22">Duerr, Adam E.</searchLink><relatesTo>6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Humberg%2C+Lee+A%2E%22">Humberg, Lee A.</searchLink><relatesTo>7</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dunlap%2C+Brett+G%2E%22">Dunlap, Brett G.</searchLink><relatesTo>7</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Neil%2C+Chad%22">Neil, Chad</searchLink><relatesTo>8</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Forbes%2C+John+T%2E%22">Forbes, John T.</searchLink><relatesTo>8</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Glass%2C+Harris%22">Glass, Harris</searchLink><relatesTo>9</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guerrant%2C+Travis+L%2E%22">Guerrant, Travis L.</searchLink><relatesTo>10</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Byrd%2C+Robert+W%2E%22">Byrd, Robert W.</searchLink><relatesTo>11</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kavouriaris%2C+Philip+W%2E%22">Kavouriaris, Philip W.</searchLink><relatesTo>12</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p1-13. 13p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scavengers+%28Zoology%29%22">Scavengers (Zoology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Conservation+of+natural+resources%22">Conservation of natural resources</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Landscapes%22">Landscapes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mortality+risk+factors%22">Mortality risk factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vultures%22">Vultures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seasonal+physiological+variations%22">Seasonal physiological variations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Survival+rate%22">Survival rate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aging%22">Aging</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Despite the ecological importance of avian scavengers such as vultures, demographic information that is essential to their conservation and management remains limited. The goal of this study was to evaluate survival and mortality risk in black vultures (Coragyps atratus), a protected native species of conflict management concern in the United States. Here, we combined monitoring data from a 28‐year period to estimate annual survival rates among age classes and test for seasonal and age‐related patterns in mortality risk. Using dead recovery information, we also summarized the causes and timing of annual mortalities. Additionally, we tested whether mortality risk was affected by aspects of landscape composition and configuration, as well as human development. Average annual survival was high overall (0.95, 95% CI: 0.92–0.98), with estimate precision markedly improved by combining datasets (72.1%–84.2% increase). Mortality risk differed by season and age class such that vultures experienced 68.7% more hazard during the breeding season, and adults experienced 66.2% less hazard than juveniles. Among the mortality causes, 67% were anthropogenic, 4% were natural, and the remaining 29% were unknown. Additionally, greater land cover diversity (Shannon diversity index) reduced mortality risk, whereas measures of landscape configuration and human development had no effect. High survival rates help explain this species' population growth and range expansion and further inform allowable take for sustainable management practices. Moreover, the identified seasonal and age‐related vulnerabilities may help guide lethal control of human–vulture conflicts in an ecologically relevant manner. Maintaining diverse landscapes may also enhance survival overall, facilitating conservation of this species and other avian scavengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/ece3.73226 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Scavengers (Zoology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Conservation of natural resources Type: general – SubjectFull: Landscapes Type: general – SubjectFull: Mortality risk factors Type: general – SubjectFull: Vultures Type: general – SubjectFull: Seasonal physiological variations Type: general – SubjectFull: Survival rate Type: general – SubjectFull: Aging Type: general – SubjectFull: United States Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Survival of a Long‐Lived Avian Scavenger: Implications of Age, Season, and Landscape Composition for Mortality Risk. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hudson, Spencer B. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Tillman, Eric A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wahl, Marian L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zollner, Patrick A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ross, Caryn D. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: DeVault, Travis L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Beasley, James C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Naveda‐Rodríguez, Adrián – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Rush, Scott A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Osterhoudt, Noah M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kelly, Jeffrey F. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Duerr, Adam E. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Humberg, Lee A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Dunlap, Brett G. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Neil, Chad – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Forbes, John T. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Glass, Harris – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Guerrant, Travis L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Byrd, Robert W. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kavouriaris, Philip W. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20457758 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 16 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Ecology & Evolution (20457758) Type: main |
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