Parasitoid and ant interactions of some Iberian butterflies (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

As a result of recent field studies in the Iberian Peninsula, interactions between 17 parasitoid taxa and 17 butterfly species, and 9 species of Lycaenidae and 15 species of Formicidae are detailed and discussed. Several of these, which are presented quantitatively, are otherwise unrecorded in the literature, while others confirm previous records. Attention is drawn to the need for the deposition of voucher material and both carefully and prolonged quantitative recording in order to understand and conserve these vulnerable aspects of biodiversit

Dispersal of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) over southern Spain from its breeding grounds

Dispersión de la mariposa monarca (Danaus plexippus) en el sur de España desde las zonas de apareamiento Durante el período comprendido entre los años 2000 y 2016, se detectaron mariposas monarca en 127 lugares fuera de las zonas costeras donde se reproducen habitualmente en el sur de la península ibérica. Estos datos se obtuvieron en verano e invierno, coincidiendo con la máxima abundancia de individuos y la mayor proporción de sitios ocupados en sus zonas de reproducción cercanas al estrecho de Gibraltar. Los individuos que se dispersan no tienen ninguna posibilidad de establecer nuevas colonias en estos sitios porque las plantas en las que ponen los huevos no crecen en las localidades en las que fueron detectados. Sin embargo, estos movimientos de dispersión podrían ser la causa de la colonización de plantas alimentarias que crecen en otras zonas de la península ibérica y en otros países del Mediterráneo.From 2000–2016, monarch butterflies were detected at 127 locations away from their usual coastal breeding areas in the south of the Iberian peninsula. These findings were recorded in the summer–autumn period, coinciding with the highest abundance of individuals and the highest proportion of patches occupied in their reproduction areas near the Strait of Gibraltar. These dispersing individuals have no chance of successfully establishing new colonies at these sites because the food plants for egg laying do not grow in the localities where they were detected. However, these dispersive movements could be the source of their successful colonisation on food plants growing in other areas of the Iberian peninsula and in other Mediterranean countries.Dispersión de la mariposa monarca (Danaus plexippus) en el sur de España desde las zonas de apareamiento Durante el período comprendido entre los años 2000 y 2016, se detectaron mariposas monarca en 127 lugares fuera de las zonas costeras donde se reproducen habitualmente en el sur de la península ibérica. Estos datos se obtuvieron en verano e invierno, coincidiendo con la máxima abundancia de individuos y la mayor proporción de sitios ocupados en sus zonas de reproducción cercanas al estrecho de Gibraltar. Los individuos que se dispersan no tienen ninguna posibilidad de establecer nuevas colonias en estos sitios porque las plantas en las que ponen los huevos no crecen en las localidades en las que fueron detectados. Sin embargo, estos movimientos de dispersión podrían ser la causa de la colonización de plantas alimentarias que crecen en otras zonas de la península ibérica y en otros países del Mediterráneo

Gomphocarpus R. Br. (Apocynaceae sufma. Asclepiadoideae) en Andalucía Occidental

Se da a conocer la presencia en Andalucía Occidental de Gomphocarpus physocarpus E. Mey., un neófi to originario del E y S de África. Se comenta la fenología de la fl oración y fructifi cación, así como la capacidad de dispersión de las plantas en las poblaciones naturalizadas, y se comparan con las de G. fruticosus (L.) T.W. Aiton, también presente en el territorio. Se discute el carácter invasor de las tres especies de Asclepiadaceae citadas en el texto.In this article the neophyte Gomphocarpus physocarpus E.Mey., widely distributed in SE Africa, is fi rst cited in western Andalucía (southern Spain). The flowering and fruit ripening phenology and dispersal potential of plants in different naturalized populations are described and compared with that of G. fruticosus (L.) T.W. Aiton also present in this territory. The invasive potential of the three Asclepiadaceae species here considered is also discussed.Fundación MIGRE

Nanoencapsulated capsaicin changes migration behavior and morphology of madin darby canine kidney cell monolayers

We have developed a drug delivery nanosystem based on chitosan and capsaicin. Both substances have a wide range of biological activities. We investigated the nanosystem’s influence on migration and morphology of Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK-C7) epithelial cells in comparison to the capsaicin-free nanoformulation, free capsaicin, and control cells. For minimally-invasive quantification of cell migration, we applied label-free digital holographic microscopy (DHM) and single-cell tracking. Moreover, quantitative DHM phase images were used as novel stain-free assay to quantify the temporal course of global cellular morphology changes in confluent cell layers. Cytoskeleton alterations and tight junction protein redistributions were complementary analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. Calcium influx measurements were conducted to characterize the influence of the nanoformulations and capsaicin on ion channel activities. We found that both, capsaicin-loaded and unloaded chitosan nanocapsules, and also free capsaicin, have a significant impact on directed cell migration and cellular motility. Increase of velocity and directionality of cell migration correlates with changes in the cell layer surface roughness, tight junction integrity and cytoskeleton alterations. Calcium influx into cells occurred only after nanoformulation treatment but not upon addition of free capsaicin. Our results pave the way for further studies on the biological significance of these findings and potential biomedical applications, e.g. as drug and gene carriers

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Tiempo y orden de aparición de las escamas en el salmón del Atlántico (Salmo salar)Estudios sobre el sapo corredor (Bufo calamita) en el sur de España.III. ReproducciónInfluencia de las carecterísticas del medio acuático sobre las poblaciones de larvas de anfibios en lala Reserva Biológica de Doñana(Huelva, EspañaDieta de la cigüeñuela (Himantopus himantopus) en las salinas del estuario del GuadianaOrientación y selección del lugar del nido en el gorrión moruno (Passer hispaniolensis)la avifauna de las Vegas Bajas del Guadianala reproducción de la malvasía (Oxyura leucocephala) en el sur de la provincia de Córdoba, España.La alimentación de la curruca cabecinegra (Sylvia melanocephala, Gmelin 1788) en olivares de la provincia de Jaén (otoño-invierno)Consideraciones sobre el efecto de los conejos y los grandes herbívoros en los pastizales de la Vera de DoñanaAnálisis factorial de las expresiones faciales del babuino sagrado (Papio hamadryas)Contaminación xenobiótica del Parque Nacionalde Doñana. II. Residuos de insecticidas organoclorados, bifenilos policlorados, (PGBs) y metales pesados en Falconiformes y StrigiformesTransferencia total y del y bioacumulación de mercurio y metilmercurio en ecosistemas del Parque Nacional de DoñanaNota sobre la alimentación de larvas de anfibios: I. Pleurodeles waltl en charcas temporaleNota sobre nuevas especies parasitada por el críalo (Clamator glandarius) en EspañaEstructura de la jerarquización en la predación de huevos y pichones en Spheniscus magellanicusPasser domesticus, nueva specie para Bolivia¿Están realmente subalimentados los cernícalos primilla en el valle del Guadalquivir durante el periodo no reproductor?.Nidificación del paiño común (Hydrobates pelagicus) en las Islas Canarias.Nuevos datos sobre la presencia del visón europeo (Mustela lutreola L.) en NavarraLa población de gamos del Parque Nacional de Doñana en 1979Puntualización a la nota "predacción de Falco peregrino y Falco subbuteo sobre quirópteros" de Aymerich y García de Castro aparecida en el vol. 9 de esta revista.Peer reviewe

Breeding patterns of the Great Tit (Parus major) in a pine plantation and a holm oak forest in a Mediterranean region (southern Spain)

This study compares breeding patterns of nestbox -breeding Great Tits (Parus major) between two adjacent forest habitats : a pine plantation and a Mediterranean holm oak Quercus rotundifolia forest. Breeding density increased in both forests when nestbox density was raised. The breeding season started earlier in the pinewood, but tended to end at the same time in both habitats. Reproductive effort was higher in the plantation as reflected in egg volume rather than clutch size. Time of season had an effect on clutch size but not on the size of the eggs which remained constant throughout the breeding season. Breeding success was associated with habitat, with both the number of fledglings and their weight being higher in the pinewood. These parameters showed a seasonal trend in the pinewood but not in the holm oak forest. Our results show that Great Tit achieves a higher reproductive performance in the pinewood in spite of its recent settling in this habitat.Cette étude compare les patrons de reproduction en nichoir de Mésanges charbonnières (Parus major) entre deux habitats forestiers adjacents : une plantation de pins et une forêt méditerranéenne à Quercus rotundifolia. La densité des reproducteurs s’est accrue dans les deux forêts quand la densité des nichoirs a été augmentée. La saison de reproduction a commencé plus tôt dans la pinède, mais tendit à se terminer en même temps dans les deux habitats. L’effort reproducteur fut plus important dans la plantation mais en terme de volume d’œuf plutôt que de taille de ponte. La période dans la saison a eu un effet sur la taille de la ponte mais pas sur celle des œufs, laquelle est restée constante tout au long de la saison de reproduction. Le succès reproducteur fut associé à l’habitat, avec des effectifs et des poids de jeunes à l’envol plus élevés dans la pinède. Ces paramètres ont montré une tendance saisonnière dans la pinède mais pas dans la chênaie. Nos résultats montrent que la Mésange charbonnière affiche une meilleure performance reproductrice dans la pinède bien que son installation n’y soit que récente.Maícas Catalan R., Fernández Haeger J. Breeding patterns of the Great Tit (Parus major) in a pine plantation and a holm oak forest in a Mediterranean region (southern Spain). In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 51, n°4, 1996. pp. 341-357

Breeding performance of the Blue Tit Parus caeruleus in a patchy Mediterranean landscape

This study compares reproductive strategy and breeding success of Parus caeruleus in a holm-oak (Quercus rotundifolia) forest and a pine plantation (Pinus pinea and P. pinaster) in the southern Iberian Peninsula. During the breeding period, an asymmetric flow of individuals takes place from the holm-oak forest to the pine plantation. This flow is favoured by nestboxes where Blue tits can lay their eggs. During the winter, a large part of the population moves back from the pine plantation to the holm-oak forest. Breeding pair density was much higher in the holm-oak forest than in the pine plantation. This may be accounted for by the poorer quality of the resources available in the pine plantation which birds try to compensate for with larger breeding territories. Breeding density and most life-history traits examined (timing of breeding, clutch size, egg size, number of fledglings and fledgling weight) were similar in both habitats, as a result of the phenotypic plasticity of this species. Although breeding success was similar in both habitats, recruitment of new individuals per unit area was higher in the holm-oak forest. The consequences of pine plantations, as a form of forestry management, on species conservation is discussed.Cette étude compare la stratégie et le succès reproducteur de la Mésange bleue Parus caeruleus dans une forêt de chênes-lièges Quercus rotundifolia et une plantation de pins (Pinus pinea et P. pinaster) dans le sud de la péninsule Ibérique. Pendant la période de reproduction, un flux asymétrique d’individus se produit de la subéraie vers la pinède. Le flux est favorisé par les nichoirs où la Mésange bleue peut pondre. Pendant l'hiver, une grande partie de la population émigre de la pinède vers la forêt de chênes-lièges. La densité de couples reproducteurs fut plus grande dans les chênes-lièges que dans la plantation de pins. Ce résultat pourrait s’expliquer par la qualité inférieure des ressources disponibles dans la plantation que les oiseaux compenseraient par des territoires plus grands. La densité de reproduction et la plupart des traits du cycle vital examinés (chronologie de la reproduction, taille de la ponte, taille des oeufs, succès reproducteur et poids des jeunes à l’envol) furent similaires dans les deux habitats traduisant un effet de la plasticité phénotypique de l’espèce. Bien que le succès reproducteur des couples ait été similaire dans les deux habitats, le recrutement de nouveaux individus par unité de surface fut plus élevé dans la forêt de chênes-lièges. Nous discutons les conséquences sur la conservation des espèces des plantations de pins comme type de gestion de la végétation.Maícas Catalan R., Fernández Haeger J. Breeding performance of the Blue Tit Parus caeruleus in a patchy Mediterranean landscape. In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 54, n°2, 1999. pp. 167-185

Effects of climate change on three species of Cupido (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) with different biogeographic distribution in Andalusia, southern Spain

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of rare or endangered species is of key importance to assess conservation status at different geographic scales and to develop conservation and recovery programs. In this paper we review and update the distribution of three species of Lycaenid butterflies in Andalusia (southern Spain): Cupido carswelli, C. lorquinii, and C. osiris. Cupido carswelli is endemic in south east Spain and is considered a vulnerable species in the Red Book of Invertebrates of Andalusia. Cupido lorquinii is an Iberian–Maghrebian endemism, found in the southern half of the Iberian peninsula. Cupido osiris, widely distributed in Europe and Central Asia, has its southern limit of distribution in Andalusia. We modeled the potential current distribution of these species in Andalusia, using Maxent. Their potential distribution was mainly conditioned by the presence of their host plants and, to a lesser extent, by climatic variables: rainfall during the warmest and coldest quarters of the year and annual mean temperature. AUC test values, sensitivity, and specificity for the three models were high, confirming the accuracy of the models and their high predictive values. We also modeled the potential future distributions of the three species under the climate change scenario A2a. Our results predict a significant reduction in the potential distribution for C. lorquinii —which has a wider distribution in Andalusia than the other two species— and for the more localized species, C. osiris and C. carswelli. This expected decline in the south of the Iberian peninsula highlights the pressing need to design and implement specific conservation plans for these species

A Method for Tree-Ring Analysis Using Diva-Gis Freeware on Scanned Core Images

Tree-ring analysis is a basic technique of paramount importance in forest management, yet it may prove difficult and time-consuming for many slow-growth hardwood tree species. Moreover, it requires the use of specialized tools and proprietary software, which may hinder researchers working with limited budgets. We describe an innovative and inexpensive method using DIVA-GIS freeware software to analyze true color high-resolution scanned images of cores previously enhanced with ImageJ freeware (GIS-SDI), and test its accuracy against the widely-used LINTAB-TSAPWin™ and WinDENDRO™ methods. For this purpose, Abies pinsapo and Pyrus bourgaeana increment cores were processed independently using each of the three methods and the results were statistically compared. Dating results were consistent across all three methods, although identifying rings was easier and quicker to perform on the digital images. Using a modern but affordable flatbed scanner to digitize tree cores and the free DIVA-GIS software to analyze the scanned digital images proved to be an inexpensive but highly accurate and efficient approach to tree-ring analysis. Furthermore, this method greatly facilitates tree-ring analysis in species with inconspicuous rings, and enables a complete digital record of every core analyzed to be stored. Copyright © 2015 by The Tree-Ring Society.This item is part of the Tree-Ring Research (formerly Tree-Ring Bulletin) archive. For more information about this peer-reviewed scholarly journal, please email the Editor of Tree-Ring Research at [email protected]