Recovering a keystone species in a biodiversity hotspot: the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Sierra Morena (Spain)

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a multifunctional keystone species in Mediterranean ecosystems, with an additional high economical value as a consequence of the hunting activities. However, the rabbit population in Iberia has undergone a sharp decline as a consequence of habitat loss, over-harvesting, and the outbreak of myxomatosis in the 1950’s decade and rabbit haemorrhagic disease in the late 1980’s. A huge conservation effort has therefore been made to boost wild rabbit populations, notwithstanding no method for the widespread recovery of wild rabbit populations in the long-term has yet been developed. This is a major concern in these areas in which the wild populations remain at very low densities and their endangered predators still coexist (such as in Sierra Morena, sourthen Spain), and the development of a management tool that will permit the recovery of wild rabbit populations in these areas is therefore urgent. In the light of these considerations, the principal aim of this thesis is to assess wether the restocking of rabbits in extensive enclosures combined with habitat management around them for further colonisation can be considered as effective tools to promote new wild rabbit populations on a large-scale, both temporally and spatially. As a previous step, the scientific knowledge on rabbit restocking was reviewed with the aim of summarising all the factors that affect restocking success, highlighting those that improve overall success and establishing future research perspectives in accordance with the IUCN guidelines for re-introduction. The first two experimental works attempt to identify which factors enhance the abundance of wild rabbits in these restocking enclosures. In this respect, this thesis shows that rabbit abundance in the first weeks after release can be improved by excluding aerial predation through the use of roofed enclosures. Over a longer period, the rabbit...El conejo europeo o conejo de monte es una especie clave en los ecosistemas mediterráneos, a lo cual se le añade un gran valor económico proveniente de la actividad cinegética. Sin embargo, las poblaciones de conejo en la Península Ibérica han sufrido un acusado declive como consecuencia de la pérdida de su hábitat óptimo, la sobreexplotación cinegética y la aparición de la mixomatosis en la década de los 50 y posteriormente la enfermedad hemorrágico vírica a finales de los 80. Por lo tanto, un gran esfuerzo conservacionista se está llevando a cabo para mejorar las poblaciones de conejo, a pesar de la cual no hay un método que permita la recuperación del conejo a gran escala. Esto es uno de los mayores problemas de conservación en aquellas áreas en las cuales las poblaciones de conejo permanecen a bajas densidades y sus depredadores amenazados todavía existen (como es el caso de Sierra Morena, sur de España), y por lo tanto es necesario el desarrollo de una herramienta de gestión que permita la recuperación del conejo en estas regiones. De acuerdo con esto, el principal objetivo de esta tesis es evaluar si las repoblaciones de conejo en los cercados combinado con el manejo del hábitat alrededor de los mismos para favorecer la colonización por parte de los conejos podría ser una medida efectiva para promover nuevas poblaciones de conejo a gran escala y a largo plazo. Como paso previo, el conocimiento científico sobre las repoblaciones de conejo fue revisado con el propósito de resumir todos los factores que influyen en el éxito de las repoblaciones, destacando todos aquellos que mejoran la supervivencia de los animales liberados. Además se establecieron las nuevas perspectivas de la investigación sobre esta materia de acuerdo a las directrices de la UICN. Los dos primeros experimentos versan sobre los factores que mejoran la abundancia de conejo en los cercados de repoblación. En primer lugar, esta tesis muestra que la abundancia de conejo durante las primeras..

Effect of Three Post-Harvest Methods at Different Altitudes on the Organoleptic Quality of C. canephora Coffee

C. canephora (syn. C. robusta) is distinctive due to its rising industrial value and pathogen resistance. Both altitude and post-harvest methods influence coffee cup quality; however, modest information is known about this coffee species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between four different altitudes and post-harvest processes (dry, honey, and wet) to the improvement of the organoleptic quality of the C. canephora congolensis and conilon drink. For dry processing, congolensis and conilon showed the lowest scores in terms of fragrance/aroma, flavour, aftertaste, salt–acid, bitter–sweet, and body. Above 625 m, coffees from dry, honey, and wet processes increased scores in their sensory attributes, but there was no difference at such high altitudes when comparing post-harvest samples. Dry-processed coffee samples had total scores over 80 points at high altitudes. Conilon was perceived to have the best sensory attributes at high altitudes using honey processing. In general, the wet-processed congolensis and conilon samples had a tastier profile than dry-processed ones

Factores que afectan a la abundancia de la perdiz roja Alectoris rufa en cotos de caza mayor: implicaciones para la gestión y conservación

[EN]: The red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa is not only the most important bird game species but also an important prey species for many predators in Iberia. However, its populations have significantly declined in recent decades, principally as the result of agricultural intensification on arable land. Its abundance has also undergone a significant decline in forested areas over the last few decades, where wild ungulate management and abundance have increased. In this scenario, we aimed to test the factors that affect red-legged partridge abundance in relation to high wild ungulate (wild boar and red deer) abundance in south-central Spain. The factors included as predictors were carnivore, wild boar and red deer abundances, vegetation features, nest predation rate and invertebrate availability. Red deer abundance showed a negative relationship with partridge abundance in spring (non-significant negative trends were also evident for carnivore and wild boar), whereas variables related to food availability (grass biomass, Hemipteran abundance and total invertebrate mass) had a positive effect in the same season. Moreover, deer and carnivore abundances and spring nest predation rate were negatively associated with partridge abundance in autumn. Plant biomass and Hemipteran abundance were negatively correlated with wild boar abundance, whereas maximum pasture height was negatively related to red deer and wild boar abundance. Overall, our results show that high ungulate densities may negatively affect partridge abundance, which may be mediated by (i) a reduction in food availability (invertebrate and herbaceous plant biomass) and (ii) nest predation by wild boar. This research has shown that current intensive big-game hunting management schemes in south-central Spain are often incompatible with red-legged partridge conservation, and that these effects should be taken into account when defining big-game management and conservation policies.[ES]: La perdiz roja Alectoris rufa no solo es el ave de caza más importante, sino que también es una importante presa para muchos depredadores en Iberia. Sin embargo, sus poblaciones han disminuido significativamente en las últimas décadas, principalmente como resultado de la intensificación de la agricultura en zonas agrícolas. Sus abundancias también han sufrido un descenso significativo en zonas forestales durante los últimos decenios donde la gestión de ungulados silvestres y sus abundancias se han incrementado. En este escenario, nuestro objetivo ha sido evaluar los factores que afectan a la abundancia de perdiz roja en un contexto de alta abundancia de ungulados silvestres (jabalí y ciervo) en el centro-sur de España. Los factores incluidos como predictores fueron la abundancia de carnívoros, jabalí y ciervo, las características de la vegetación, la proporción de nidos depredados y la disponibilidad de invertebrados. La abundancia de ciervo mostró una relación negativa con la abundancia de perdiz en primavera (también se evidenciaron tendencias negativas no significativas para carnívoros y jabalí), mientras que las variables relativas a la disponibilidad de alimento (biomasa herbácea, abundancia de hemípteros y el peso total de los invertebrados) tuvieron un efecto positivo en la misma estación. Por otra parte, en otoño, la abundancia de ciervos y carnívoros, y la tasa de depredación de nidos en primavera se asociaron negativamente con la abundancia de perdiz. La biomasa de herbáceas y la abundancia de hemípteros se correlacionaron negativamente con la abundancia de jabalíes, mientras que la altura máxima del pasto estuvo negativamente asociada con la abundancia de ciervo y jabalí. En general, nuestros resultados muestran que las altas densidades de ungulados podrían afectar negativamente a la abundancia de perdiz mediado por (i) una reducción en la disponibilidad de alimento (invertebrados y biomasa de herbáceas) y (ii) la depredación de nidos por el jabalí. Esta investigación ha puesto de manifiesto que los actuales sistemas intensivos de gestión de la caza mayor en el centro-sur de España no son compatibles con la conservación de la perdiz roja, y que por lo tanto, estos efectos deben ser considerados a la hora de definir las políticas para la gestión de la caza mayor y la conservación.To the Environmental Council of the Andalusian Autonomous Government for financing this work via a project to improve the habitat of the black vulture Aegypius monachus in Córdoba province.Peer Reviewe

Genetic Counseling in Renal Masses

All urologists have faced patients suffering a renal cancer asking for the occurrence of the disease in their offspring and very often the answer to this question has not been well founded from the scientific point of view, and only in few cases a familial segregation tree is performed. The grate shift seen in the detection of small renal masses and renal cancer in the last decades will prompt us to know the indications for familial studies, which and when are necessary, and probably to refer those patients with a suspected familial syndrome to specialized oncological centers where the appropriate molecular and familial studies could be done. Use of molecular genetic testing for early identification of at-risk family members improves diagnostic certainty and would reduce costly screening procedures in at-risk members who have not inherited disease-causing mutations. This review will focus on the molecular bases of familial syndromes associated with small renal masses and the indications of familial studies in at-risk family members

Activity Patterns of Stenocercus iridescens in an Ecuadorian Coastal Agroecosystem: Is Temperature Important?

Circadian rhythms of Neotropical lizards have been poorly studied, which represents a problem when designing ecological studies or monitoring such species based on direct observations. In this work, 1000 m-long transects were established in an agroecosystem area of the Ecuadorian coast region to study the activity patterns of Stenocercus iridescens. The number of individuals (as a response variable) was correlated with local weather conditions: temperature, precipitation, and heliophany (duration of the solar brightness). We carried out the study in both dry and rainy seasons, and during different time ranges. The time range in which the transects were performed was the most important predictor, and the activity peak was established between 16:00 h and 18:00 h. Heliophany negatively affected lizard activity, but only on the days with higher heliophany during the dry season, whereas temperature was not a significant predictor. Our results suggest that in an area where temperature is relatively constant and the solar radiation is high, particularly during the dry season, the heliophany (an indirect measure of solar radiation) can affect ectotherm activity patterns more than temperature, particularly in open habitats such as agroecosystems

Synthesis and characterisation of ETS-10/acetate-based ionic liquid/chitosan mixed matrix membranes for CO2/N2 permeation

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared by incorporating organic surfactant-free hydrothermally synthesised ETS-10 and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ionic liquid (IL) to chitosan (CS) polymer matrix. The membrane material characteristics and permselectivity performance of the two-component membranes were compared with the three-component membrane and the pure CS membrane. The addition of IL increased CO2 solubility of the polymer, and, thus, the CO2 affinity was maintained for the MMMs, which can be correlated with the crystallinity, measured by FT-IR, and void fraction calculations from differences between theoretical and experimental densities. The mechanical resistance was enhanced by the ETS-10 nanoparticles, and flexibility decreased in the two-component ETS-10/CS MMMs, but the flexibility imparted by the IL remained in three-component ETS-10/IL/CS MMMs. The results of this work provide insight into another way of facing the adhesion challenge in MMMs and obtain CO2 selective MMMs from renewable or green chemistry materials

Synergistic effect of combining titanosilicate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate in mixed matrix membranes for efficient C02 separation

The separation and capture of CO2 from these sources is becoming important for greenhouse emission. The membrane-based separation process use to remove CO2 takes advantages in energy efficient and environmentally friendly aspects and has been recognized as an important technology for CO2 capture and gas separation. The novel mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated by incorporating microporous titanosilicate ETS-10 and a highly CO2 absorbent ionic liquid, [EMIM][Ac] into a Chitosan (CS) matrix to improve CO2 separation performance, and were prepared, characterized and tested for CO2 and N2. The solubility values show that the CO2 solubility increases upon addition of ETS-10 particles. The N2 solubility in the ETS-10/[EMIM][Ac]/CS was reduced, while CO2 solubility remained constant. FT-IR spectra revealed a good interaction between the components in the MMMs. Subtle differences in the intensity and position of all individual bands, were observed in the region between 3600 and 2700 cm-1 and 1700 and 900 cm-1. These indicated bonding of the components in the film, confirming the good interaction existing among the components, and that may account for the higher flexibility of the hybrid membrane materials imparted to both CS and ETS-10/CS MMMs, due to the singular interaction between CS and [EMIM][Ac]

Assessment and Distribution of Damages Caused by the Trunk-Boring Insects Coraebus undatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and Reticulitermes grassei Clément (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) in Mediterranean Restored Cork-Oak Forests

This work assesses damage caused by Coraebus undatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and Reticulitermes grassei Clément (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) in managed cork oak forests from the southern Iberian Peninsula. Lesions were diagnosed and quantified in relation to the following features: height and orientation in the trunk, diameter at breast height, solar exposure, understory presence and orography. The distribution patterns of lesions in the study area across 12 plots and in the trunk of the trees were also analyzed. The study was performed in “Sa de Hornachuelos” Natural Park (Córdoba, Spain) and the research area encompassed 12 environmentally-restored sampling plots. Data were recorded from 2007 to 2014, with yearly sampling from late June to mid-September, corresponding to the cork extraction period, since lesions caused by these insects are well distinguishable promptly after bark removal. The results reveal that C. undatus has low population levels and a non-uniform distribution pattern in the study area as well as in the trunk of the tree. It shows preference for medium height but not by any trunk orientation. R. grassei also shows low infestation levels and a preference to affect the trunk’s base. Comparatively, C. undatus showed higher infestation levels than R. grassei. The location of damage was also different, since galleries made by C. undatus predominated at intermediate trunk heights while those of R. grassei were more frequent at lower heights. Our results further showed a low co-occurrence of both species in the same tree trunks, which could be explained in terms of overlapping in the distribution areas of both species. These results provide background information that will enable natural resources managers to detect changes and trends of these species and inform future management decisions

The high abundance of wild ungulates in a mediterranean region: is this compatible with the European rabbit?

This is an Open Access article.The landscape in southern Iberia has, over the last four decades, altered as a result of the land abandonment, while the abundance of wild boar Sus scrofa and red deer Cervus elaphus has simultaneously increased, and some key prey species such as the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus have declined. In this work we explore: 1) the relationships between big game species (red deer and wild boar) and rabbit abundance, and 2) whether these relationships could have effects on food quality (total nitrogen available in the pasture and percentage of leguminosae) and food availability of (herbaceous cover). We therefore selected nine big game estates with a range of abundance as regards ungulates and similar Mediterranean habitat. Wild boar abundance was statistically negative in relation to rabbit abundance, while no significant statistical relationships between rabbit abundance and habitat structure and forage quality were evidenced. However, wild boar abundance, but not that of red deer, was negatively associated with leguminosae cover, and the percentage of surface rooted by wild boar was negatively associated with the percentage of herbaceous cover. Overall, our results suggest that the abundance of wild boar is negatively related to that of rabbits, and could have a negative effects on rabbit abundances by food competition as a result of: 1) a decrease in herbaceous coverage and leguminosae in the pasture and 2) an increase in the total percentage of soil disturbed as a result of rooting.We should like to thank to the Andalucía Autonomous Government’s Environmental Council for financing this work via a project to improve the habitat of the black vulture in Córdoba province.Peer Reviewe

Producción de revistas científicas en América Latina y El Caribe en Scopus, Journal Citation Reports y Latindex en el área de los recursos naturales: su relación con variables económicas, ambientales y de inversión en investigación

The objective of this study is characterize the Latin American journals indexed in Scopus, Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and Latindex within the field of natural resources, and explain the observed differences between countries through economical, environmental, and research investment variables. As a result, we found that the number of Latin American journals indexed in Scopus and JCR has increased considerably during the last decade, although these journals have a low impact factor. The fact that a country has journals indexed in Scopus, and a greater number of journals in Latindex, is associated with economic variables and investment in research, and not with the richness in natural resources of each country.Los objetivos de este estudio son caracterizar las revistas latinoamericanas indexadas en Scopus, Journal Citation Reports (JCR), y Latindex dentro del área de los recursos naturales, y explicar las diferencias observadas entre países a través de variables económicas, de inversión en investigación y medio ambientales. Como resultado se obtiene que el número de revistas latinoamericanas indexadas tanto en Scopus como en JCR se ha incrementado considerablemente durante la última década, aunque estas revistas tienen un índice de impacto bajo. El hecho de que un país tenga revistas indexadas en Scopus, y un mayor número de revistas en Latindex está relacionado con variables económicas y no con la riqueza de los recursos naturales que alberga un país