Datos sobre plantas levantinas

Se relacionan algunos táxones cuya localización en el área levantina peninsular se considera importante desde los puntos de vista cronológico, ecológico y fitosociológico.There are cited some taxa whose location in the spanish levantine area is considered of chorological, ecological and phytosociological [email protected]

Algunos aspectos de la vegetación de las Sierras Martes y Ave

Se comentan algunos aspectos sobre la fitosociología de los bosques y matorrales de las sierras Mantis y Ave (Valencia, España) y se describen dos nuevas subasociaciones y seis variantes.Some aspects about the woodland and scrub phytosociology of the Martés and Ave ranges (Valencia, Spain) are comented, also are described two new sabassociation and six variants

Contribución al estudio de las comunidades vegetales del orden Potentilletalia caulescentis en la Península Ibérica: la alianza Jasionion foliosae

Se ha efectuado un estudio de la alianza Jasionion foliosae (Asplenietea rupestria) en varios sectores corológicos de la Península Ibérica, describiéndose seis asociaciones de las que tres se proponen como nuevas: Antirrhino pulverulenti-Rhamnetum pumili, Sileno horyii-Saxifragetum cuneatae y Antirrhino granitici-Rhamnetum pumili.A study fon the allince Jasionion foliosae (Asplenietea rupestria) is made in several chorological sectors of the Iberian Peninsula. Six associations are described, of which, three of them are propossed as new: Antirrhino pulverulenti-Rhamnetum pumili, Sileno horyii-Saxifragetum cuneatae and Antirrhino granitici-Rhamnetum [email protected]

Sobre la vegetación del Orden Asplenietalia petrarchae en las montañas valencianas

Se han estudiado las comunidades vegetales casmofíticas basífilas, presentes sobre los roquedos cálidos y secos, pertenecientes al orden Asplenietalia petrarchae Br.-Bl. & Mcier 1934, en el territorio de la Comunidad Valenciana y alrededores, detectándose en el mismo los siguientes sintáxones: Alianza Asplenion petrarchae Br.-Bl. & Meier 1934, con la asociación Melieo-Saturejetum fruticosae O. Bolós & Vives 1957. Alianza Teucrion buxifolii Rivas Goday 1955, con las asociaciones: Hippocrepido-Scabiosetum saxatilis (Rivas Goday 1953) O. Bolós 1957, Jasonio-Teucrietum thymifolii G. Mateo 1983, Rhamno borgiae-Teucrietum buxifolii nova y Lapiedro martinezii-Chelanthetum velleae nova.Chasmophytic basiphil plant communities, wich growth in dry and hot rocky places (Ord. Asplenietalia petrarchae Br.-Bl. & Meier 1934) are studied in Valencia and neighbourhood (E Spain). There we distinguish the following syntaxa: All. Asplenion petrarchae Br.-Bl. & Meier 1934, with the only association Melico-Saturejetum fruticosae O. Bolós & Vives 1957. All. Teucrion buxifolii Rivas Goday 1955, with this four associations: Hippocrepido-Scabiosetum saxatilis (Rivas Goday 1953) O. Bolós 1957, Jasonio-Teucrietum thymifolii G. Mateo 1983, Rhamno borgiae-Teucrietum buxifolii nova and Lapiedro martinezii-Chelanthetum velleae [email protected]

Fur or feather? Feeding preferences of species of Culicoides biting midges in Europe

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Understanding the feeding preferences of haematophagous insects is critical to depicting the amplification and transmission networks of pathogens and identifying key vector species for surveillance programs. In the case of species from genus Culicoides, many of which are important vectors of pathogens causing animal diseases, information from molecular studies on the feeding habits of females is expanding but still limited for a significant fraction of competent vectors of Culicoides-borne pathogens. In spite of these limitations, recent studies highlight that most Culicoides species are able to feed on several vertebrate species, but present clear preferences for mammals or birds.Peer Reviewe

A synthesis of Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata arquata) demography and population viability to inform its management

The European population of Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata arquata, a nearthreatened wader subspecies, has undergone pronounced population declines over the past 30 years. To assess the demography and viability of its global population, we surveyed studies quantifying demographic rates (productivity and survival) and complemented this review with new estimates of survival probability at the flyway scale. Then, using a demographic model, we estimated population growth rates while accounting for the range of variation of demographic parameters, and compared these estimates (expected based on demographic rates) with those observed based on population censuses. Both observed and expected average growth rates were negative but the observed rates were higher than estimates from demographic models (λ = 0.98–0.99 compared with 0.85–0.95). This discrepancy implies that there is geographical variation in the demography of different populations that is not fully covered by current demographic data, namely unstudied regions with higher productivity. According to our calculations, at the flyway scale, productivity is currently c. 0.57 fledglings per pair per year, higher than the average reported productivity of 0.29, but lower than the 0.68 needed to achieve a stable global population size (λ = 1). Adult survival, estimated at 0.90, was the most sensitive parameter determining population growth rates, but the low productivity levels over the last few decades seems to be the most probable cause of population declines. The negative population growth rates require immediate conservation actions to preserve adult survival and increase the extremely low productivity in western and northern European populations to values above 0.68 fledglings per pair per year. We hope our synthesis on the demographic status of Curlew in Europe will encourage the collection of more demographic data and allow concrete management goals at the flyway scale to be established in order to recover the global population of this iconic species.Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs (Grant/Award Number: "FNC-PSN-PR11B-2013")

Notas corológicas levantinas. II

Se relacionan algunos táxones cuya presencia en el levante español es importante desde el punto de vista corológico, ecológico y fitosociológico.There are cited some taxa whose location in the spanish levantine area is considered of chorological, ecological and phytosociological [email protected] ; jbperis(a)uv.e

Immune Response to Newcastle Disease Virus Vaccination in a Wild Passerine

We studied the immune response of wild House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) experimentally challenged with different doses of inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine. We evaluated within-individual cell-mediated and humoral responses in birds kept in outdoor aviaries, over a 6-wk period. Nonbreeding adult House Sparrows developed a significant humoral response to NDV experimental vaccination within 1 wk postchallenge, as measured by hemagglutination inhibition assay; values increased until week 4 and persisted until week 6. Differences among treatments appeared by week 1, with individuals challenged with the highest dose (0.2 mL) eliciting a higher humoral response than the rest (n = 18). By week 4, all individuals vaccinated displayed an increased humoral response, with individuals challenged with the highest dose remaining significantly above responses of individuals vaccinated with the middle dose (0.1 mL, n = 14), but not the lowest dose (0.05 mL, n = 15). The middle and lowest dose responded similarly and significantly different from controls (n = 23). Differences persisted through week 6 postchallenge. Cell-mediated responses were independent of the experimental treatment. All individuals experienced a rise in granulocyte concentration, whereas lymphocyte and monocyte concentrations decreased, most likely as a result of captivity. Adult wild House Sparrows immunochallenged with inactivated NDV vaccine developed a specific humoral response, highlighting the utility of this technique in immunologic and evolutionary ecology studies in wild birds.Peer reviewe

On the study of the transmission networks of blood parasites from SW Spain: diversity of avian haemosporidians in the biting midge Culicoides circumscriptus and wild birds

Abstract Background Blood-sucking flying insects play a key role in the transmission of pathogens of vector-borne diseases. However, at least for the case of avian malaria parasites, the vast majority of studies focus on the interaction between parasites and vertebrate hosts, but there is a lack of information regarding the interaction between the parasites and the insect vectors. Here, we identified the presence of malaria and malaria-like parasite lineages harbored by the potential vector Culicoides circumscriptus (Kieffer). Also, we identified some nodes of the transmission network connecting parasite lineages, potential insect vectors and avian hosts by comparing Haemoproteus and Plasmodium lineages isolated from insects with those infecting wild birds in this and previous studies. Methods Using a molecular approach, we analysed the presence of blood parasites in a total of 97 biting midges trapped in the Doñana National Park (SW Spain) and surrounding areas. Also, 123 blood samples from 11 bird species were analyzed for the presence of blood parasite infections. Blood parasites Haemoproteus and Plasmodium were identified by amplification of a 478 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gen. Results Thirteen biting midges harboured blood parasites including six Haemoproteus and two Plasmodium lineages, supporting the potential role of these insects on parasite transmission. Moreover, ten (8.1%) birds carried blood parasites. Seven Plasmodium and one Haemoproteus lineages were isolated from birds. Overall, six new Haemoproteus lineages were described in this study. Also, we identified the transmission networks of some blood parasites. Two Haemoproteus lineages, hCIRCUM03 and GAGLA03, were identical to those isolated from Corvus monedula in southern Spain and Garrulus glandarius in Bulgaria, respectively. Furthermore, the new Haemoproteus lineage hCIRCUM05 showed a 99% similarity with a lineage found infecting captive penguins in Japan. Conclusions The comparison of the parasite lineages isolated in this study with those previously found infecting birds allowed us to identify some potential nodes in the transmission network of avian blood parasite lineages. These results highlight the complexity of the transmission networks of blood parasites in the wild that may involve a high diversity of susceptible birds and insect vectors.This study was funded by projects CGL2009-11445 and CGL2012-30759 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and co-financed by P07-RNM-02511 and P11-RNM-7038 of the Junta de Andalucía, European Regional Development Funds and by EU grant FP7-261391 EuroWestNile EU grant HEALTH.2010.2.3.3-3 and grant FP7-261504 EDENext. This article is catalogued by the EDENext Steering Committee as EDENext143. The authors also thank the Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI-CSIC) for the co-financing of this publication in Open Access.the authors also thank the Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI-CSIC) for the co-financing of this publication in Open AccessPeer Reviewe