Scientific communication (poster) at the Zoology2024 : "THE WESTERN JACKDAW'S FLIGHT TO THE CITY : A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON BIRD POPULATIONS"

With increasing urbanisation worldwide, many species are compelled to either leave their habitats or adapt to survive. Those that manage to adjust are often categorised as “urban adapters.” But do all individuals within an “urban adapter” species truly tolerate and maintain adequate fitness in such heavily human-modified environments? This doctoral research project aims to investigate this question through a multidisciplinary approach, examining behaviour, genetics, cognition, and diet among jackdaw colonies exposed to various types and levels of human activity.
The central hypothesis of this work is that intense urban pressures act as an ecological filter, limiting the dispersal and habitat occupation capacity of jackdaws that cannot efficiently adapt. Through this approach, the project seeks to determine whether urban environments impact specific traits in jackdaws and, if so, to what extent these pressures drive selective adaptations in urban populations. Ultimately, this research intends to improve our understanding of how human activities influence “urban adapter” birds, facilitating the development of more effective management and conservation strategies for these populations.