Guidelines for the conservation of Bonelli’s eagle populations

This book provides a comprehensive suite of protocols and methods summarized in the form of guidelines to solve Bonelli’s eagle conservation problems applicable at different spatial scales, from territories to populations. The Bonelli's eagle is an endangered raptor of Mediterranean environments in Europe playing a key role as top predator in these natural systems. Chapters are grouped into two general sections that relate to two different stages required to implement conservation actions: (1) Identifying conservation targets, that is, evaluating the problem, and (2) Implementing conservation actions, that is, solving the problem. A decision tree for conservation of Bonelli’s eagle populations is provided and described in the first introductory chapter. By answering the set of questions in order, the reader will end up to one of the chapters of this document. Five ‘methodological’ chapters are included in the first section, (1) Population monitoring, (2) Determining territorial home-ranges and dispersal areas, (3) Population viability analyses, (4) Determining prey consumption and (5) Estimating mortality causes. And three chapters are included in the second section, (1) Legal tools for conservation, (2) Improving food supply and (3) Mitigation of mortality causes, where conservation actions are described to solve particular conservation problems identified in the first section. Overall, these guidelines provide an example of applied research and achievable conservation practice easily exportable to other populations of Bonelli's eagle as well as other endangered raptors

Raptor reintroductions: Cost-effective alternatives to captive breeding.

Reintroductions are becoming a popular tool to prevent extinctions, although their overall success rate is low. Assessing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of different reintroduction strategies may help identify and promote efficient practices. Captive-breeding is widely used in animal reintroductions, although concerns have been raised about relatively high failure rates and economic costs. Here, we compared the effectiveness of two simultaneously used strategies in the reintroduction of the Bonelli's eagle on the island of Mallorca: The release of captive-bred chicks and wild-reared, translocated non-juveniles. To do so, we estimated the main vital rates for individuals released by both strategies and used these to perform population simulations to assess their overall performances. The use of wild-reared nonjuveniles showed a trend with higher numbers of breeding pairs 10 years after the end of releases (14.75 pairs, 95% CI 4-25 vs. 11.21 pairs, 95% CI 2-24) and was the only strategy that prevented extinction in the long term. Following that, based on cost estimations of every strategy and different reintroduction budgets, we assessed the cost-effectiveness of releasing wild-reared non-juveniles compared with two captive-breeding alternatives: Releasing chicks either originally from breeding programmes or extracted from nests in natural populations. Again, releasing wild-reared non-juveniles was the only strategy that prevented long-term extinction in all economic scenarios (i.e. low-budget scenario 21.49 pairs, 95% CI 2-25). The use of chicks sourced from captive-breeding programmes did not guarantee long-term persistence even in high-budget scenarios (14.50 pairs, 95% CI 0- 25). Releasing wild-reared non-juveniles boosts early recruitment to the breeding population and early reproduction, which can be key for reintroduction success. However, in some scenarios, post-release effects can be stronger in wild-reared individuals, especially because of high translocation stress and post-release dispersal. Hence, we recommend undertaking careful evaluation of the pros and cons of every strategy and embracing adaptive management to choose best strategies

Using multi-scale spatial prioritization criteria to optimize non-natural mortality mitigation of target species

Non-natural mortality is a major threat to animal conservation worldwide. Its origins are extremely diverse and include infrastructures that cause animal casualties. Its effects are widely felt and so prioritization criteria are necessary when implementing mitigation actions. Most of the threats causing non-natural mortality have in common the fact that they are distributed unevenly across several spatial scales. Thus, here we present a protocol for prioritizing conservation measures in: (i) population fractions suffering from high levels of non-natural mortality whose demographic effects are the most serious, and in (ii) areas with the highest risk of casualties due to heterogeneities in both spatial use by individuals and the inherent hazards of the infrastructures causing mortality. To do so, the protocol consist of 5 steps: 1) to identify sink populations over large geographical areas; 2) to identify sink areas of high mortality within target populations; 3) to identify areas intensively used by individuals in target areas; 4) to identify spatial points or individual infrastructures showing high mortality risk; and 5) using direct evidence of casualties to complete information on high-risk sites and infrastructures. To show the potential of this protocol, we use as an example the mitigation of mortality due to electrocution in Bonelli's eagle in SW Europe, where this species is of conservation concern. Thanks to the retrofitting of dangerous pylons, we demonstrate that our protocol can help restore Bonelli's eagle territories to levels that will ensure the persistence of the studied population. In addition, we show that our criteria enhance the optimization of resource investment in mortality mitigation as our criteria identify the pylons with the most devastating effects on the population. To summarize, we provide the basis for a framework applicable to many different species and scenarios whose costs in terms of mitigation actions and benefits in terms of population viability prospects can be explicitly calculated

Polymeric films based on blends of 6FDA-6FpDA polyimide plus several copolyfluorenes for CO2 separation

Producción CientíficaThree emitting copolyfluorenes, based on 2,7-(9,9-dihexyl)fluorene and different aryl groups (1,4-bencene, PFH-B; 1,4-bencen-1,2,5-thiadiazole PFH-BT; 1,4-naphthalen- 1,2,5-thiadiazole, PFH-NT), showing diverse acceptor character, in different proportions were blended with a polyimide 6FDA-6FpDA to make a series of films. These copolyfluorene-polyimide blends were prepared and characterized in solid state, using several techniques. The fluorescence of conjugated polymers can be used as a tool to understand the formation of the membrane and also to increase permeability and selectivity in comparison to films without fluorescence. The relationship between the intrinsic fluorescence of conjugated polyfluorenes and their gas separation properties has been explored in order to establish the influence of the composition and the nature of the aryl group, in the conjugated polymer, on the gas separation performances. In all cases, a low proportion of copolyfluorenes (< 1%weight) gives better CO2/CH4 permselectivity properties than the original pure polyimide matrix. The best results were found for the samples that contain PFH-NT. This sample gives 25 % increase in the CO2 permeability with 15 % increase in CO2/CH4 selectivity. Finally, the loss of efficiency in conjugation mechanisms of absorption and emission of the samples could be explained on the basis of the π-staking of the polymer chains produced when a certain low percentage of conjugated polymers in the blend is surpassed. When this π- staking starts, gas permeation properties start to decline too.Junta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación – Ref. VA302U13

Griffon vultures, livestock and farmers: Unraveling a complex socio-economic ecological conflict from a conservation perspective

An unexpected human-wildlife conflict between vultures and livestock has emerged in Europe during the last two decades. Farmers attributed changes in vulture behavior, due to food shortages caused by sanitary regulations, to increasing livestock interactions (‘vulture attacks’). To disentangle this conflict, we analyzed 683 farmer complaints between 1996 and 2020 in Catalonia (northeastern Spain) and investigated the eco-anthropological factors driving their frequency. We also assessed farmers' perception through 127 interviews. Most complaints (80 %) occurred during the birthing season, mainly involving cattle (76.5 %), followed by horses (14.9 %) and sheep/goats (8.6 %). From 2008 to 2020, vulture-livestock conflicts cost the government €192,000 (~22 % of claims compensated). The frequency of complaints was positively associated with extensive livestock density, griffon vulture Gyps fulvus abundance (breeding and non-breeding), shorter distances to landfill sites and, to a lesser extent, to supplementary feeding stations. In contrast, there was a negative relationship between complaints and the number of griffon vulture breeding pairs, suggesting that long-distance foraging movements by both breeding and non-breeding individuals may play a major role in determining the occurrence of conflicts. Farmers (88 %) said that vultures attack livestock and that attacks had increased in recent years because of significant vulture population increases and food shortages due to sanitary regulations. They considered government policies and compensation ineffective. We highlight the critical need for mitigation in areas with high extensive livestock numbers, particularly during birthing times. Scientific assessments and interdisciplinary awareness campaigns on the coexistence of vultures and livestock are necessary to harmonize biodiversity conservation and agro-pastoral practices in rural economies.We thank Ferran Miralles, Ricard Casanovas and Olga Lao (Generalitat de Catalunya), Gabriel Lampreave (Cos d'Agents Rurals), Roser Costa (Unió de Pagesos) for logistical support and all farmers interviewed for accepted to be interviewed and generously sharing their knowledge. R. Baraut, M. Comas, L. Pelayo and J. Subiron helped with the survey.The comments of B. Fisher, I. Zuberogoitia and an anonymous reviewer improved an earlier draft of the manuscript. This study was partially funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya and by the projects RTI2018-099609-B-C22 and PID2020-117909RB-I00 from the I+D+I National Plan funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities . POV and AM were funded within the framework of the project RTI2018-099609-B-C22

Griffon vultures, livestock and farmers: Unraveling a complex socio-economic ecological conflict from a conservation perspective.

An unexpected human-wildlife conflict between vultures and livestock has emerged in Europe during the last two decades. Farmers attributed changes in vulture behavior, due to food shortages caused by sanitary regulations, to increasing livestock interactions ('vulture attacks'). To disentangle this conflict, we analyzed 683 farmer complaints between 1996 and 2020 in Catalonia (northeastern Spain) and investigated the eco-anthropological factors driving their frequency. We also assessed farmers' perception through 127 interviews. Most complaints (80 %) occurred during the birthing season, mainly involving cattle (76.5 %), followed by horses (14.9 %) and sheep/goats (8.6 %). From 2008 to 2020, vulture-livestock conflicts cost the government 192,000 (~22 % of claims compensated). The frequency of complaints was positively associated with extensive livestock density, griffon vulture Gyps fulvus abundance (breeding and non-breeding), shorter distances to landfill sites and, to a lesser extent, to supplementary feeding stations. In contrast, there was a negative relationship between complaints and the number of griffon vulture breeding pairs, suggesting that long-distance foraging movements by both breeding and non-breeding individuals may play a major role in determining the occurrence of conflicts. Farmers (88 %) said that vultures attack livestock and that attacks had increased in recent years because of significant vulture population increases and food shortages due to sanitary regulations. They considered government policies and compensation ineffective. We highlight the critical need for mitigation in areas with high extensive livestock numbers, particularly during birthing times. Scientific assessments and interdisciplinary awareness campaigns on the coexistence of vultures and livestock are necessary to harmonize biodiversity conservation and agro-pastoral practices in rural economies

Relación entre la comunicación interpersonal y el proceso de socialización en los alumnos, docentes, egresados y universidad, para mejorar el servicio educativo a distancia. Caso universidad privada de Argentina

The rise of distance education presents benefits that differentiate it from face-to-face education, such as the flexibility of times and spaces, supported by technological advances regarding information and communication. So: What is the relationship between interpersonal communication and the socialization process in students, teachers, graduates and the University, to improve the distance educational service at the Private University of Argentina? The general objective is to analyze the relationship between interpersonal communication and the socialization process between the mentioned parties, in order to improve the distance educational service. A mixed methodology (quantitative and qualitative) is chosen, the data collection technique being the questionnaire. The main results of this study indicate that distance interpersonal communication is characterized by a constant interrelation mediated by technological resources. The socialization process is carried out through the change of role between teachers and students. There is a relationship between interpersonal communication and the socialization process, since, from the school organization, communication models were incorporated, adapted to current technological advances. Innovative strategies are implemented in order to improve the distance educational service.El auge de la Educación a distancia presenta beneficios que la diferencian de la educación presencial, como la flexibilidad de tiempos y espacios, apoyados en los avances tecnológicos respecto de la información y de la comunicación. Entonces: ¿Cuál es la relación entre la comunicación interpersonal y el proceso de socialización en los alumnos, docentes, egresados y Universidad, para mejorar el servicio educativo a distancia en la Universidad Privada de Argentina?&nbsp; El objetivo general es analizar la relación entre la comunicación interpersonal y el proceso de socialización entre las partes mencionadas, para mejorar el servicio educativo a distancia.&nbsp; Se opta por una metodología mixta (cuantitativa y cualitativa), siendo la técnica de recolección de datos el cuestionario. Los principales resultados de este estudio señalan que la comunicación interpersonal a distancia se caracteriza por una constante interrelación mediada por &nbsp;recursos tecnológicos. Se lleva adelante el proceso de socialización a través del cambio de rol entre docentes y alumnos. Existe una relación entre la comunicación interpersonal y el proceso de socialización, puesto que, desde la organización escolar, se incorporaron modelos, de comunicación, adecuados a los avances tecnológicos actuales. Las estrategias innovadoras se implementan a los fines de mejorar el servicio educativo a distancia

Joint estimation of survival and dispersal effectively corrects the permanent emigration bias in mark‑recapture analyses

Robust and reliable estimates of demographic parameters are essential to understand population dynamics. Natal dispersal is a common process in monitored populations and can cause underestimations of survival and dispersal due to permanent emigration. Here, we present a multistate Bayesian capture-mark-recapture approach based on a joint estimation of natal dispersal kernel and detection probabilities to address biases in survival, dispersal, and related demographic parameters when dispersal information is limited. We implement this approach to long-term data of a threatened population: the Bonelli's eagle in Catalonia (SW Europe). To assess the method's performance, we compare demographic estimates structured by sex, age, and breeding status in cases of limited versus large data scales, with those of classical models where dispersal and detection probabilities are estimated separately. Results show substantial corrections of demographic estimates. Natal dispersal and permanent emigration probabilities were larger in females, and consequently, female non-breeder survival showed larger differences between separate and joint estimation models. Moreover, our results suggest that estimates are sensitive to the choice of the dispersal kernel, fat-tailed kernels providing larger values in cases of data limitation. This study provides a general multistate framework to model demographic parameters while correcting permanent emigration biases caused by natal dispersal

From local monitoring to a broad-scale viability assessment: a case study for the Bonelli’s Eagle in western Europe

Population viability analysis (PVA) has become a basic tool of current conservation practice. However, if not accounted for properly, the uncertainties inherent to PVA predictions can decrease the reliability of this type of analysis. In the present study, we performed a PVA of the whole western European population (France, Portugal, and Spain) of the endangered Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata), in which we thoroughly explored the consequences of uncertainty in population processes and parameters on PVA predictions. First, we estimated key vital rates (survival, fertility, recruitment, and dispersal rates) using monitoring, ringing, and bibliographic data from the period 1990-2009 from 12 populations found throughout the studied geographic range. Second, we evaluated the uncertainty about model structure (i.e., the assumed processes that govern individual fates and population dynamics) by comparing the observed growth rates of the studied populations with model predictions for the same period. Third, using the model structures suggested in the previous step, we assessed the viability of both the local populations and the overall population. Finally, we analyzed the effects of model and parameter uncertainty on PVA predictions. Our results strongly support the idea that all local populations in western Europe belong to a single, spatially structured population operating as a source-sink system, whereby the populations in the south of the Iberian Peninsula act as sources and, thanks to dispersal, sustain all other local populations, which would otherwise decline. Predictions regarding population dynamics varied considerably, and models assuming more constrained dispersal predicted more pessimistic population trends than models assuming greater dispersal. Model predictions accounting for parameter uncertainty revealed a marked increase in the risk of population declines over the next 50 years. Sensitivity analyses indicated that adult and pre-adult survival are the chief vital rates regulating these populations, and thus, the conservation efforts aimed at improving these survival rates should be strengthened in order to guarantee the long-term viability of the European populations of this endangered species. Overall, the study provides a framework for the implementation of multi-site PVAs and highlights the importance of dispersal processes in shaping the population dynamics of long-lived birds distributed across heterogeneous landscapes.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia CGL200-64805/BOS CGL2010-17056 SAB-2006-0014/Roge

On the influence of the proportion of PEO in thermally controlled phase segregation of copoly(ether-imide)s for gas separation

Producción CientíficaA complete series of aliphatic aromatic copoly(etherimide)s, based on an aromatic dianhydride (BPDA), an aromatic diamine (ODA) and a diamino terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO2000) of 2000 g/mol molecular weight, using different PEO contents, has been synthesized. Cast films of these copolymers have been thermally treated and characterized by FTIR-ATR, DSC, TGA and SAXS. It has been found that there is a direct relationship between phase segregation and permeability for increasing treatment temperatures. Results show that permeability is higher when PEO content increases in the copolymer. Selectivity for O2/N2 and CO2/CH4 gas pairs follows the same tendency, while those for CO2/N2, and CH4/N2 give higher selectivities for intermediate (30-40 %) PEO contents. Especially promising are the results for these two pairs of gases because materials with high permeability with high selectivity can be obtained. The Maxwell model has been applied to predict permeability (for CO2, CH4, O2 and N2) from known data for pure BPDA-ODA and neat PEO and it has been found that assuming PEO as the dispersed phase, the use of this equation is adequate for percentages up to approximately a 40 % over which we should assume that it is the aromatic part of the copolymer which plays the role of dispersed phase.Junta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación – Ref. VA302U13