What makes an urban raptor?

LEVEAU, LUCAS MATIAS; FABRICIO GORLERI; IGNACIO ROESLER; FRANCISCO GONZALEZ TABOAS

IBIS

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2022 vol. 164 p. 1213 - 1226

0019-1019

Raptor communities are negatively impacted by urbanization. However, some species can thrive in urban areas. Raptor species traits that favor their presence in urban areas have been scarcely studied. Moreover, phylogenetic relatedness may be a factor promoting raptor occurrence in urban areas. In this study, we use data gathered through citizen science in Argentina to analyze the phylogenetic signal and the drivers that correlate with raptor presence in urban settings. The mean percent urban cover for the records of each species was considered an index of raptor occurrence in urban areas. A total of 55 species were analyzed, which accounted for 90% of the diurnal raptors of Argentina. Harris?s Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus, Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii and Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango had the highest urban index. Raptor occurrence in urban areas had a marginal phylogenetic signal, indicating a tendency for more closely related species to have similar tolerances to urbanization. The index of raptor occurrence in urban areas was highest for the most common species of the non-urban areas, and was not related to traits such as body mass, diet, nesting site and migratory behavior. Our results highlight the importance of citizen science projects in data gathering at large geographical scales.