How accurate are coat traits for discriminating wild and hybrid forms of Felis silvestris?

Hybridisation between domestic cats, Felis catus, and wildcats, Felis silvestris, could lead to the genetic extinction of the latter; therefore, checking hybridisation rates in wild populations is of vital conservation importance. However, detecting hybridisation in the field is particularly challenging. Here, we aim to test the success of morphological-based procedures for discriminating wildcats from their hybrids and domestic cats, against genetic methods. We checked 17 putative Spanish wildcats by using two different classification systems based on coat patterns. None of the putative wildcats analysed in this study seemed to have an admixed genotype. Concordance between genetic and pelage approaches was almost total: only one coat classification produced mixed results with detection of one potential hybrid. Assignment was worse when performed in the field after a rapid examination of coat characters. We conclude that classification systems using coat traits could serve as surrogates of genetic approaches, but only after careful examination of those characters with more discriminatory power. Thus, the control of hybrid populations in the field as a management tool to preserve the genetic identity of wild forms is problematic if based on crude approaches or incomplete classification systems

Señales del cambio global en el sitio LTER-Sierra Nevada

La investigación ecológica a largo plazo proporciona información útil para comprender las complejas dinámicas de los sistemas naturales. Esto se hace especialmente importante en las regiones de montaña como Sierra Nevada, que presenta un fuerte gradiente de condiciones ambientales en una escala espacial pequeña. En el sitio LTER-Sierra Nevada se ha implementado un programa de seguimiento a largo plazo que, junto con la integración de información ecológica sobre los ecosistemas nevadenses, está permitiendo evaluar los efectos del cambio global en esta región de montaña. En este trabajo presentamos algunos resultados de los impactos del cambio global sobre los ecosistemas nevadenses, obtenidos tras varios años de implantación del Observatorio del Cambio Global de Sierra Nevada. Además de una evaluación temporal de los principales motores de cambio global (clima y usos del suelo), presentamos varios casos de estudio del impacto del cambio global sobre la componente biótica y socioeconómica de los ecosistemas de Sierra Nevada

Desenvolvimento Vegetativo e morfologia radicular de citrange carrizo afetado por ácido indolbutírico e micorrizas arbusculares Vegetative development and root morphology of carrizo citrange affected by indolebutyric acid and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Este estudo foi realizado na localidade de Alcanar (Tarragona, Espanha) e objetivou avaliar o efeito de cinco concentrações do ácido indolbutírico (AIB) (0,0; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; 2,0 g/L) e da inoculação com micorrizas arbusculares (MA) (Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith) sobre o desenvolvimento vegetativo, conteúdo foliar de P e K e morfologia radicular de plântulas de citrange Carrizo (Citrus sinensis (L.) X Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos completos casualisados em esquema fatorial, com 4 repetições e 10 plantas por parcela. A aplicação de AIB não alterou o desenvolvimento vegetativo das plântulas cultivadas em ausência de MA, apesar de haver incrementado a quantidade de P e K e a espessura dos feixes vasculares. As MA incrementaram o conteúdo de P foliar. Encontrou-se uma interação positiva entre o AIB e as MA, pois as plântulas micorrizadas apresentaram um incremento no desenvolvimento vegetativo, nos conteúdos foliares de P e K e na espessura dos feixes vasculares com o aumento das concentrações de AIB.<br>This study was carried out in Alcanar (Tarragona - Spain) to evaluate the effect of five indolebutyric acid (IBA) concentrations (0.0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 g/L) and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) (Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith) on Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensis (L.) x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.) vegetative development, P and K foliar contents and root morphology. The experimental design was in a Completly Randomized Block Design with 10 seedlings per plot and 4 replicates. The IBA concentrations had no effect on vegetative development of nonmycorrhizal seedlings, althougt it had increased P and K foliar contents and primary xylem tickness. AMF increased P foliar content. IBA x AMF interaction was observed, increasing IBA concentrations on mycorrhizal seedlings resulted in increased in vegetative development, P and K foliar contents and primary xylem thickness