Observation of feeding groups in the Spanish lynx (Felis pardina) in the Doñana National Park, SW Spain

The research was supported by CSIC-DGICYT (project PB87-0405)and Fundacion Ramón ArecesPeer Reviewe

Immobilization and marking of the Egyptian Mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon (L.) in Spain

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas de España (CSIC)Comisión Asesora de Investigación Científica y Técnica de España (CAICYT

Metodi di censimento della Volpe (Vulpes vulpes)

Estimating absolute or relative numbers in red fox populations is not an easy task. Although a range of methods has been described, neither an optimal nor a universally accepted technique has been found. Moreover, none has been tested on populations of known size. We reviewed the efficiency of fourteen indices of fox abundance classified into two groups: (a) methods where individuals are captured and marked, which include ear tagging or similar conspicuous markings, toe clipping, radioactive tagging of faeces, radio-tracking, and statistics from hunting and trapping; (b) methods not requiring capture, which include both direct methods (nocturnal counts, unsystematic observations, and drive censuses), and indirect methods (den counts, transects for track, scat counts, and scent stations). As a rule, statistics are rarely applicable to populations estimates. Methods involving capture are expensive but provide more accurate estimates than the second group of indices, which are not suitable for paired comparisons from one year to another. Management and wildlife specialists should have in mind such restrictions when considering their goals and the required level of accuracy. Finally, we recommend the simultaneous utilization and comparison of several methods (one from each group, as proposed in a double sampling strategy) for optimum evaluations.La valutazione della consistenza di una popolazione di Volpe, mediante censimenti assoluti o relativi, è di difficile soluzione. Tra i diversi metodi di conteggio impiegati, nessuno si è rivelato ottimale e universale. Tuttavia nessuno è stato utilizzato per popolazioni di consistenza nota. Qui esaminiamo la validità di 14 metodi impiegati per il calcolo di indici di abbondanza, ripartendoli in due gruppi: (a) metodi che implicano la cattura e il marcamento degli animali mediante marche auricolari o contrassegni similari, amputazione delle falangi, radioisotopi rilevabili nelle feci, collari radiotelemetrici e metodi che si basano sulle statistiche venatorie e sui trappolaggi; (b) metodi che non richiedono la cattura degli animali e che riguardano sia rilevamenti diretti (conteggio notturno, avvistamenti casuali, censimento in battuta), sia indiretti (conteggio delle tane, conteggio delle impronte e delle feci su percorsi definiti, stazioni odorifere). Raramente l'analisi statistica è applicabile alle stime della consistenza delle popolazioni. I metodi che implicano la cattura degli animali sono molto impegnativi in termini di tempo e costi, ma forniscono stime più accurate rispetto a quelli del secondo gruppo che non sono adatti per la comparazione dei dati da un anno all'altro. Questi limiti vanno attentamente considerati in relazione alle finalità e al grado di precisione che si intende raggiungere. Noi suggeriamo l'impiego simultaneo di più metodi di censimento (almeno uno per ciascun gruppo), per una comparazione incrociata dei dati e per ottenere una stima corretta della consistenza

Feeding habits of Black-billed Magpie during the breeding season in Mediterranean Iberia: the role of birds and eggs

[Capsule]: Feeding habits of the Black-billed Magpie are of interest for researchers, conservationists and hunters since magpies are considered as predators of eggs and chicks of both songbirds and gamebirds. [Aims]: To characterize the feeding habits of magpies during their breeding season in agricultural environments of central Spain, and to assess the occurrence and incidence of birds and eggs in the magpie's diet. [Methods]: Diet was determined by the analysis of gizzard contents from 118 culled magpies. The diet was described as the frequency of occurrence (FO) and the percentage of volume (VOL) of a certain food item and for each gizzard. [Results]: Magpies presented a generalist diet, which included a wide range of foods. Arthropods and cereal seeds were the most frequently consumed food groups (FO > 60%). Eggs and birds were consumed only occasionally (FO < 6% and 17%, respectively; percentage of volume, VOL < 4%). [Conclusion]: Our findings suggest that other birds and their eggs do not represent an important food for magpies in Mediterranean agricultural environments under the conditions found during this study. Nevertheless, more complex studies in different scenarios (i.e. different population sizes of magpies and prey), and over longer temporal scales, are still necessary to clarify this controversial issue.The study was funded by Consejería de Medio Ambiente of Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Project PREG-05-23). F. Díaz-Ruiz holds a postdoctoral contract financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Operational Programme FSE 2007/2013). M. Delibes-Mateos is supported by the Talentia Postdoc Program launched by the Andalusian Knowledge Agency, co-funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program, Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (COFUND – Grant Agreement n° 267226) and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment of the Junta de Andalucía.Peer Reviewe

Characterization of wheat/Aegilops ventricosa introgression and addition lines corresponding to the Mv genome.

Stable wheat-Aegilops introgression lines with 42 chromosomes (H-93), derived by repeated selfing from a cross (Triticum turgidum x Aegilops ventricosa) x T. aestivum, have been characterized using the following DNA probes and isozyme markers: (1) single or low-copy DNA fragments from Ae. ventricosa; (2) known cDNA probes corresponding to 1-thionin, monomeric -amylase inhibitor, the CM3 subunit of tetrameric -amylase inhibitor, and sucrose synthase from wheat; (3) anonymous cDNA probes from wheat that have been mapped by Sharp et al. (1989); (4) isozyme markers corresponding to aconitase, shikimate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase, and endopeptidase. Meiotic metaphases of appropriate hybrids involving selected H-93 lines have been investigated by the Giemsa C-banding technique. The substitution of whole chromosomes [(5A) 5Mv; (4D) 4Mv; (5D) 5Mv; (7D) 7Mv] and chromosomal segments (1Mv; 3Mv; 5Mv; 7Mv) from the Mv genome of Aegilops ventricosa has been demonstrated. The distribution of selected markers among putative wheat-Ae. ventricosa addition lines has also been investigated. The 7Mv addition has been characterized for the first time, while the identity of the previously reported 5Mv and 6Mv additions has been confirmed

Improving decision-making for sustainable hunting: regulatory mechanisms of hunting pressure in red-legged partridge

Knowledge about how hunting pressure is determined, and the relative efficacy of different mechanisms to regulate harvest, can help to improve the managers’ decision-making process. We developed a general framework about the decision-making process that regulates red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) hunting pressure in central Spain based on information from a focus group and individual interviews with game managers. We also used available information to compare the efficiency of different tools thus improving some decision steps. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of different population monitoring methods as a way to reduce uncertainty on partridge availability to hunters. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between annual harvest and various regulatory mechanisms of partridge hunting pressure used in the study area to identify the most potentially useful one to limit annual take-off. Game managers usually set hunting pressure after a qualitative assessment on population abundance prior to the hunting season, but this decision was frequently modified during the course of the hunting season according to variations in catch or perceived abundance at that time. Our results showed that kilometric abundance indices (counting partridges from cars along line transects) was a simple cost-efficient and reliable estimate of partridge density (estimated by Distance sampling). A variety of regulatory mechanisms were used by managers. The variables that most affected annual harvest (in addition to partridge abundance) were the number of driven-shooting days, and hunter density in walked-up hunting days, suggesting that their adjustment will be the most efficient regulatory mechanisms. We conclude that adequate monitoring on population abundance should be a critical step for managers’ decision-making, and that a better understanding of the relative value of regulatory mechanisms, combining social and ecological approaches, would help improving our understanding of any human-mediated system, thus leading to better management recommendations.Work was supported by the European Commission (7th Framework Programme for R&D through project HUNT, 212160, FP7-ENV-2007-1); Consejería de Agricultura of JCCM; by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (CGL2008-04282/BOS), and by CSIC (PIE 201330E105).Peer reviewe

Estudio comparado de la dieta de los zorros mediterráneos (Carnivora, Canidae)

Food habits of four species of foxes iVulpes vulp es, Canis culp aeus, Canis griseus and Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in mediterranean areas of Spain, France. Italy, Australia, Chile and United States of America were compared. The Iberian and Australian foxes appear as insectivores, while the Italian foxes eat fruit and insects and the French ones eat lagomorphs, insects and fruit. Both Chilean species mainly capture rodents and the North American Urocyon consumes fruit and insects. Results can be interpreted in three ways: a) rejecting the hypothesis of convergence among mediterranean ecosystems, b) considering that the well known foxes' opportunism maximizes small differences in prey availability, and/or c) considering that assemblages do not yield a good description of the convergence between communities.Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas de España (CSIC)Comisión Asesora de Investigación Científica y Técnica de España (CAICYT

Residuos de productos lácteos y de grasa de carne en dos recipientes cerámicos de la Edad del Bronce del Valle Medio del Duero

A través de análisis por cromatografía de gases-espectrometría de masas y del estudio de las reacciones inmunoquímicas de la caseína, se ha logrado identificar el residuo de sendos vasos cerámicos del horizonte inicial de Cogotas I de la provincia de Valladolid: un preparado de leche con cereales y grasa de carne. A partir de ahí, se insiste en la importancia de la actividad ganadera entre las comunidades del Bronce Medio de la Meseta y se considera, asimismo, la posibilidad de que el contenido de tales vasijas "completas" representara una ofrenda entre tantas otras atestiguadas en los "campos de hoyos" cogotianos.Through the application of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and the determination of casein based on its immunochemical reactions, residues of animal fats and dairy products have been detected in two Bronze Age (Early Cogotas I culture) pottery vessels from Valladolid. The importance of cattle raising activities among the Middle Bronze Age societies of the Spanish Meseta is assessed here. It is argued that the original contents deposited in these vessels may have been offerings, as is the case with other materials that are found in the Cogotas I pit fields

Ballets

De cada obra s'ha digitalitzat un programa sencer. De la resta s'han digitalitzat les parts que són diferents.Suite de danzas; Elvire de Domenico Scarlatti; Coppelia de Léo Delibe