| Impact of urban environment and host phenotype on the epidemiology of Chlamydiaceae in feral pigeons (Columba livia). | Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria found all over the world and known to cause various forms of disease in animals and humans. Urban pigeons are known to be an important reservoir of Chlamydia psittaci, the agent of human psittacosis. In this study, we examined the influence of pigeon houses used to regulate pigeon populations and of melanin-based coloration on several epidemiological parameters of Chlamydiaceae in 708 urban pigeons in Paris. We also identified speci ... | 2011 | 21933318 |
| on public influence on people's interactions with ordinary biodiversity. | besides direct impacts of urban biodiversity on local ecosystem services, the contact of city dwellers with urban nature in their everyday life could increase their awareness on conservation issues. in this paper, we focused on a particularly common animal urban species, the feral pigeon columba livia. through an observational approach, we examined behavioral interactions between city dwellers and this species in the paris metropolis, france. we found that most people (mean: 81%) do not interact ... | 2015 | 26154622 |
| contrasting levels of heavy metals in the feathers of urban pigeons from close habitats suggest limited movements at a restricted scale. | despite restrictions in emissions, heavy metals may remain a major environmental issue due to their numerous sources and their persistence. here, we assessed current levels of 4 metals (copper, cadmium, lead, zinc) in the feathers of 91 feral pigeons (columba livia) from 7 sites in the urbanized region of paris. elements were detected in all pigeons, indicating that metals persist in urbanized areas. the ratio between metal concentrations in the feathers vs. in the environment calculated using d ... | 2012 | 22584112 |