MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications

Distribución, ecología, genética y conservación de la musaraña de campo, Crocidura suaveolens, en el Golfo de Cádiz

La musaraña de campo, Crocidura suaveolens, tiene una distribución continua por gran parte de Eurasia y es una especie común y abundante. Sin embargo, en el oeste de Europa su distribución está fragmentada y es una especie rara y poco conocida en general. En la península ibérica, poco o nada se conoce sobre su historia, sobre su diversidad genética o sobre su ecología. Esta carencia de conocimiento impide una adecuada evaluación de la prioridad y el estado de su conservación. Las poblaciones del golfo de Cádiz, en particular, al estar situadas en el extremo suroeste de la distribución global de la especie y dado el pasado rol del sur ibérico como refugio glacial, podrían albergar una diversidad genética única que puede resultar clave para la persistencia de la especie ante el actual escenario de cambio global. La presente tesis doctoral tiene como finalidad inferir la historia evolutiva y demográfica de la musaraña de campo en la península ibérica y evaluar su distribución, estado génico y ecología en el golfo de Cádiz, con el objetivo final de contribuir a la evaluación del estado de conservación y, en su caso, al diseño de un plan de gestión de la especie en esta región. Para este propósito, se usaron egagrópilas de lechuza común, Tyto alba, y trampas Trip Trap de captura en vivo como principales métodos de muestreo de la especie, así como diferentes técnicas de genética molecular para la caracterización genética de las muestras obtenidas. Todas las poblaciones de musaraña de campo de la península ibérica pertenecen al clado IV del grupo C. suaveolens. Dentro de este clado, se han identificado tres linajes evolutivos mitocondriales, dos de ellos exclusivamente ibéricos. Las poblaciones del golfo de Cádiz presentan dos sublinajes exclusivos de uno de estos linajes ibéricos. La historia evolutiva de la musaraña de campo en la península ibérica puede ser explicada por la existencia de múltiples refugios glaciares para la especie en la península ibérica y la competencia con la musaraña gris, Crocidura russula, tras su llegada desde África hace aproximadamente 126.000 años. En el golfo de Cádiz la musaraña de campo está solo presente en seis marismas mareales distribuidas en cuatro áreas marismeñas aisladas entre sí: las marismas de los ríos Guadiana (orilla española), Piedras, Odiel, Tinto, Estero Domingo Rubio y Guadalquivir. La especie presenta una fuerte estructura genética como resultado de un alto nivel de aislamiento poblacional, con seis grupos genéticos diferenciados correspondientes a cada una de las seis marismas ocupadas por la especie. Guadalquivir y Estero Domingo Rubio son las poblaciones más diferenciadas genéticamente, mientras que las poblaciones del Guadiana, Piedras, Odiel y Tinto son genéticamente más parecidas entre sí. El flujo génico entre poblaciones está limitado porque la especie no dispersa a través de hábitats no marismeños. Los cauces fluviales más anchos también limitan el flujo génico, pero no parecen constituir barreras absolutas para la dispersión. Se han observado niveles moderados de diversidad local y altos niveles de diversidad genética regional, lo que convierte al golfo de Cádiz en una región con un gran potencial evolutivo para afrontar futuras amenazas. La musaraña de campo es especialista de hábitat de marisma mareal en el golfo de Cádiz, siendo el único caso conocido de especialización en la especie. Su especialización de hábitat parece ser un efecto evolutivo de la competencia pasada con la musaraña gris, que ha favorecido la coexistencia de las dos especies en la región mediante la segregación espacial y temporal de sus nichos ecológicos. La musaraña de campo excluye competitivamente a la musaraña gris de las marismas mareales, invirtiendo el patrón de dominancia habitual en simpatría. La historia evolutiva de las poblaciones de musaraña de campo del golfo de Cádiz, su distribución, su composición genética y su ecología pueden ser explicadas por la acción combinada de la competencia con la musaraña gris, la especialización de la musaraña de campo en marisma mareal y la evolución geomorfológica de las marismas mareales de esta región.The lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens, is continuously distributed, common and abundant throughout most Eurasia. However, in Western Europe its distribution is fragmented and it is a rare and poorly known species. In the Iberian Peninsula, the lack of knowledge about its history, its genetic diversity or its ecology hampers a proper assessment of its conservation priority and status. The populations of the Gulf of Cádiz, in particular, being located in the southwestern limit of the global distribution of the species and given the prominent role of the Iberian Peninsula as glacial refugia, could harbour a unique genetic diversity which may be key for the species persistence in the current scenario of global change. This doctoral thesis aims to describe the evolutionary and demographic history of C. suaveolens in the Iberian Peninsula and to assess its distribution, genetic status and ecology in the Gulf of Cádiz, with the final intention of contributing to the assessment of its conservation status and, where appropriate, to the design of a management plan for the species in this region. For this purpose, I used barn owl, Tyto alba, pellets and Trip Trap live traps to sample individuals, and applied different molecular genetic techniques for the genetic characterization of these samples. All the C. suaveolens populations in the Iberian Peninsula cluster within the previously described clade IV of the C. suaveolens group. Within this clade, three evolutionary mitochondrial lineages have been identified, two of which are exclusively Iberian. Two sublineages within one of these Iberian lineages are exclusive of the populations in the gulf of Cádiz. The evolutionary history of C. suaveolens in the Iberian Peninsula can be explained by the existence of multiple refugia within the Iberian Peninsula and the competition with the greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula, that started with its arrival from Africa ca. 126 Kya. In the Gulf of Cádiz C. suaveolens is present only in six tidal marshes located in four isolated marsh areas: the marshes of the rivers Guadiana (Spanish shore), Piedras, Odiel, Tinto, Estero Domingo Rubio and Guadalquivir. The species has a marked genetic structure as a result of a high level of population isolation, with six differentiated genetic groups corresponding to the six marshes occupied by the species. Guadalquivir and Estero Domingo Rubio are the most genetically differentiated populations, while the populations of Guadiana, Piedras, Odiel and Tinto are genetically more similar to each other. Gene flow between populations is restricted because the species does not disperse through non-marsh habitats. Wider river channels also limit gene flow, but they do not appear to be absolute barriers to dispersal. Moderate levels of local and high levels of regional genetic diversity have been observed, making the Gulf of Cádiz a region with a great evolutionary potential to face future threats. C. suaveolens is a tidal marsh habitat specialist in the Gulf of Cádiz, being the only known case of habitat specialization described for the species. Its habitat specialization in the region seems to be an evolutionary effect of past competition with C. russula, which is allowing the coexistence of the two species through the spatial and temporal segregation of their ecological niches. C. suaveolens is currently outcompeting C. russula in tidal marshes, reversing the dominance pattern observed elsewhere. The evolutionary history of the C. suaveolens populations of the Gulf of Cádiz, its distribution, genetic composition and ecology, can be explained by the competition with C. russula, the specialization of C. suaveolens in tidal marsh and the geomorphological evolution of tidal marshes of this region

Chromosomal Differentiation in Genetically Isolated Populations of the Marsh-Specialist Crocidura suaveolens (Mammalia: Soricidae)

The genus Crocidura represents a remarkable model for the study of chromosome evolution. This is the case of the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens), a representative of the Palearctic group. Although continuously distributed from Siberia to Central Europe, C. suaveolens is a rare, habitat-specialist species in the southwesternmost limit of its distributional range, in the Gulf of Cádiz (Iberian Peninsula). In this area, C. suaveolens is restricted to genetically isolated populations associated to the tidal marches of five rivers (Guadiana, Piedras, Odiel, Tinto and Guadalquivir). This particular distributional range provides a unique opportunity to investigate whether genetic differentiation and habitat specialization was accompanied by chromosomal variation. In this context, the main objective of this study was to determinate the chromosomal characteristics of the habitat-specialist C. suaveolens in Southwestern Iberia, as a way to understand the evolutionary history of this species in the Iberian Peninsula. A total of 41 individuals from six different populations across the Gulf of Cádiz were collected and cytogenetically characterized. We detected four different karyotypes, with diploid numbers (2n) ranging from 2n = 40 to 2n = 43. Two of them (2n = 41 and 2n = 43) were characterized by the presence of B-chromosomes. The analysis of karyotype distribution across lineages and populations revealed an association between mtDNA population divergence and chromosomal differentiation. C. suaveolens populations in the Gulf of Cádiz provide a rare example of true karyotypic polymorphism potentially associated to genetic isolation and habitat specialization in which to investigate the evolutionary significance of chromosomal variation in mammals and their contribution to phenotypic and ecological divergence.This research was partially funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain), through projects CGL2014-54317-P and CGL2017-83802-P to ARH, and through the ‘Microproyecto’ “Evolutionary history of lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens, in the Iberian Peninsula and genetic status of populations in the Gulf of Cádiz” financed by Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD) with funds from the Severo Ochoa Program for Centres of Excellence in R+D+I (SEV-2012-0262). LB benefited from an FPU fellowship from the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte

Esport, salut i qualitat de vida

Cada vegada s’és més conscient de la importància de l’activitat física i l’esport per a la salut i la qualitat de vida de la població. Lluny de la concepció de l’esport exclusivament com un escenari de competició, en el qual la majoria hi assisteix com a espectador i només uns quants hi participen activament, nombrosos estudis indiquen que la difusió d’hàbits esportius entre una majoria de la població és un mitjà excel·lent per prevenir i tractar malalties. L’esport és, a més, una alternativa a estils de vida perjudicials per a la salut i una via per ampliar la xarxa de relacions socials. Aquests beneficis objectius de l’activitat física i l’esport que assenyalen els especialistes no solament són reconeguts per la major part de la població, sinó que el seu foment s’ha convertit en part de les actuals polítiques públiques de salut. Malgrat això, la societat presenta nombrosos obstacles per a la incorporació efectiva de l’esport en l’activitat quotidiana de les persones. En el cas dels joves, per exemple, l’esport ha de competir amb un altre tipus d’oci més sedentari, com l’oci nocturn o l’oci digital, en un context en què les hores dedicades a la formació i la feina redueixen el temps lliure. Aquesta falta de temps lliure també és una característica pròpia de la mitjana edat, un moment de la vida en què la persona ha d’assumir nombroses responsabilitats laborals i familiars, que poden deixar poc espai per a la pràctica esportiva. A això cal sumar-hi la cada vegada menor exigència física del treball, la qual cosa augmenta el nivell de sedentarisme. Tot i que després de la jubilació el temps lliure s’incrementa significativament, les generacions que avui són grans no han estat educades en l’esport com a hàbit ni, majoritàriament, han tingut l’oportunitat de practicarne en etapes anteriors de la vida.Peer Reviewe