Hydro-physical responses of gypseous and non-gypseous soils to livestock grazing in a semi-arid region of NE Spain

20 Pag., 4 Figs., 1 Tabl. The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03783774Pasture productivity depends on soil hydro-physical properties, which in turn are deeply affected by livestock grazing. However, the comparative response of different soil types, and particularly gypseous soil types, to grazing has hardly been studied before. This paper compares the effect of grazing on the soil hydro-physical properties of silty gypseous (Gy) and non-gypseous (NGy) soils located in a semi-arid region (Middle Ebro Valley, NE, Spain). Two different soil managements were selected: ungrazed natural shrubland (N) and grazed shrubland (GR) soils. The gypsum, CaCO3 and organic matter content (OM), soil texture, soil bulk density ( b), penetration resistance (PR), saturated sorptivity (S), hydraulic conductivity (K), and the water retention curve (WRC) for undisturbed soil samples from 1 to 10 cm depth soil layer were measured. The b and PR in NGy soils were significantly higher than those observed in the Gy ones. Soil compaction due to grazing treatment tended to increase b and decrease the K and S values. While no differences in PR were observed in the Gy soils between grazing treatments, the PR measured in the NGy soils under GR was significantly higher than the corresponding values observed under N. Differences in K and S between GR and N treatments were only significant (p < 0.05) in NGy soils, where K and S values under the N treatment were almost four times greater than the corresponding values measured under GR. Overall, no differences in the WRCs were observed between soil types and grazing treatments. While the WRCs of NGy soils were not significantly affected by the grazing treatment, Gy soils under N treatment present a significantly higher level of soil macropores than under GR treatment. The hydro-physical features of Gy soils tended to be less affected by grazing than those of the NGy soils. These results suggest that livestock grazing, in both Gy and NGy soils, has a negative effect on the physical soil properties, which should be taken into account by land managers of these semi-arid regions where silty gypseous and non-gypseous areas coexist.This research was supported by Aragón regional government and La Caixa (Grants: GA-LC020/2010; GA-LC-010/2008) and the CSIC (Grant: PIE-200930I145).Peer reviewe

Plant-plant interactions scale up to produce vegetation spatial patterns: The influence of long- and short-term process

Vegetation spatial patterns emerge in response to feedback interactions between organisms and their environment, because of the redistribution of water and nutrients around the plant canopy or as a consequence of facilitation/competition interactions at the plant level, even in the absence of pre-existing substratum heterogeneities. It has been suggested that changes in vegetation spatial patterns are a signal of transition shift in ecosystems. Understanding the factors that lead to aggregated spatial patterns and control the transition to random distributions requires that environmental and species information is taken into account. In this study, we investigated the relative contributions of aridity (a long-term process), to which vegetation is adapted, and the area covered by bare soil (short-term process) to plant-plant associations and their contribution to aggregated spatial patterns. The study was conducted in a gradient of aridity ranging from that in subalpine grassland habitats in the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada mountains to that in the semiarid steppes of Cabo de Gata and the middle Ebro Valley in Spain. We compared sites that differed in aridity and a geophysical feature (north- vs. south-facing slope). We observed that the relative contribution of aridity and bare soil to plant-plant facilitation and vegetation aggregation differed in subalpine and semiarid areas. Facilitation in subalpine habitats had a marked effect on aggregated spatial patterns, while aridity contributed to disruption of these patterns. Conversely, in semiarid habitats, the disruption of aggregated patterns was mainly promoted by an increase in bare soil area rather than in aridity. In semiarid habitats, the higher level of stress on south-facing slopes increased facilitation interactions relative to north-facing slopes, although this did not enhance the persistence of aggregated spatial patterns. We conclude that the use of aggregated spatial patterns as an indicator of ecosystem shift must distinguish and separately take account of long-term processes to which vegetation adapt, and short-term process

Splitting or lumping? A conservation dilemma exemplified by the critically endangered Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama)

Managers of threatened species often face the dilemma of whether to keep populations separate to conserve local adaptations and minimize the risk of outbreeding, or whether to manage populations jointly to reduce loss of genetic diversity and minimise inbreeding. In this study we examine genetic relatedness and diversity in three of the five last remaining wild populations of dama gazelle and a number of captive populations, using mtDNA control region and cytochrome b data. Despite the sampled populations belonging to the three putative subspecies, which are delineated according to phenotypes and geographical location, we find limited evidence for phylogeographical structure within the data and no genetic support for the putative subspecies. In the light of these data we discuss the relevance of inbreeding depression, outbreeding depression, adaptive variation, genetic drift, and phenotypic variation to the conservation of the dama gazelle and make some recommendations for its future conservation management. The genetic data suggest that the best conservation approach is to view the dama gazelle as a single species without subspecific divisions

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Catálogo descriptivo de los anfibios y reptiles de CubaEvolución estacional de la comunidad de aves en un robledal de Sierra NevadaComposición de la comunidad de aves en pinares del Parque Nacional de Doñana (suroeste de España).Alimentación de la pagaza piconegra (Gelochelidon nilotica) en las marismas del GuadalquivirContaminación xenobiótica del Parque Nacional de Doñana. III. Residuos de insecticidas organoclorados, bifenilos policlorados y metales pesados en ciconiformesAlimentación de la lechuza común Tyto alba en la cuenca del Duero, EspañaEstudio de una población rural de (Mus musculus L.) I. La probabilidad de captura y la estima numéricLa reproducción en Gazella dorcasIncidencia del Nemátodo parásito Skrjabingylus Leuckart, 1842 sobre el Mustela en España.Desplazamientos de ungulados silvestres a través de una zona de ecotono en Doñana.Etograma de la cabra montés (Capra pyrenaica) y comparación con otras especies.Sobre comportamiento agresivo de Triturus marmoratus en época de celoEmbarrancamiento masivo de ejemplares de tortuga lad (Dermochelys coriacea L.) en las costas de Ceuta (España, norte de África)Sobre un ejemplar melánico de Podarcis hispanica (Steindachner, 1870)Nuevos datos sobre la distribución de cuatro especies de reptiles en la provincia de Cádiz.Algunos datos sobre la nidificación de Ciconia nigra L. en sierra Morena (S. España)Observación del halcón de Eleonor (Falco eleonorae) en el centro de EspañaNueva localidad de cría del pájaro moscón (Remiz pendulinus) en la Península IbéricaRegistro de aves en el sur de BoliviaNidificación del paiño de Madeira Oceanodroma castro (Harcourt, 1851) en las Islas Canarias.Observación primaveral de Phalaropus fulicarius L. en el SO de EspañaNuevos datos sobre la presencia del nóctulo gigante Nyctalus lasiopterus (Chiroptera, vespertilionidae) en EspañaNote sur l'alimentation de Martes martes a Menorca (Baleares).Peer reviewe

Remote sensing of lunar aureole with a sky camera: Adding information in the nocturnal retrieval of aerosol properties with GRASP code

The use of sky cameras for nocturnal aerosol characterization is discussed in this study. Two sky cameras are configured to take High Dynamic Range (HDR) images at Granada and Valladolid (Spain). Some properties of the cameras, like effective wavelengths, sky coordinates of each pixel and pixel sensitivity, are characterized. After that, normalized camera radiances at lunar almucantar points (up to 20° in azimuth from the Moon) are obtained at three effective wavelengths from the HDR images. These normalized radiances are compared in different case studies to simulations fed with AERONET aerosol information, giving satisfactory results. The obtained uncertainty of normalized camera radiances is around 10% at 533 nm and 608 nm and 14% for 469 nm. Normalized camera radiances and six spectral aerosol optical depth values (obtained from lunar photometry) are used as input in GRASP code (Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol and Surface Properties) to retrieve aerosol properties for a dust episode over Valladolid. The retrieved aerosol properties (refractive indices, fraction of spherical particles and size distribution parameters) are in agreement with the nearest diurnal AERONET products. The calculated GRASP retrieval at night time shows an increase in coarse mode concentration along the night, while fine mode properties remained constant.This work was supported by the Andalusia Regional Government (project P12-RNM-2409) and by the “Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León” (project VA100U14).Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER funds under the projects CGL2013-45410-R, CMT2015-66742-R, CGL2016-81092-R.“Juan de la Cierva-Formación” program (FJCI-2014-22052).European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through project ACTRIS-2 (grant agreement No 654109)

Doñana. Acta vertebrata. vol 12(1)

Contribución a la biometría y biología de la Bermejuela Rutilus arcasii (Steindch., 1866) del embalse de PinillaSistemática de iguanidae, sensu lato y de anolinae en Cuba (Repitilia, sauria)Nueva subespecie de Anolis isolepis (Lacertilia: Iguanidae) para CubaAlimentación del ratonero común (Buteo buteo,L. 1758) en el norte de España.Censo y datos sobre la biología del Halcón de Eleonor (Falco eleonorae Gené, 1839) en las Islas Canarias. Agosto-septiembre 1983Selección de hábitat en un grupo de aves forestales del norte de la Península Ibérica:Importancia de la estructura de la vegetación y competencia interespecíficaThe intersexual differentiation in the foraging behaviour of Oenanthe hispanica L. during the breeding seasonEtograma de Gazella dorcasAlgunos datos sobre el crecimiento y las dimorfometrías sexuales del esqueleto postcraneal de Mus spretus Lataste, 1883 (Rodentia: muridaeDistribución y taxonomía de Molossops temminckii (Chiroptera, Molossidae) en Venezuela.Estudio de una población rural de ratones (Mus musculus L.) II. Análisis comparativo de once estimadores del tamaño poblacional.Distribución de Hyla arborea L. (AMPHIBIA, ANURA, HYLIDAE) en el macizo ibérico septentrionaPresencia y nidificación de gavilán (Accipiter nisus granti Sharpe 1890) en la isla de el Hierro.Autumn food of the ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus Montin, 17776 in the spanish central pyreneesPollo atípico en nido de Hirundo rustica.Primera cita del chorlito social (Vanellus gragarius) en las marismas del GuadalquivirPeer reviewe

Hydro-physical responses of gypseous and non-gypseous soils to livestock grazing in a semi-arid region of NE Spain

20 Pag., 4 Figs., 1 Tabl. The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03783774Pasture productivity depends on soil hydro-physical properties, which in turn are deeply affected by livestock grazing. However, the comparative response of different soil types, and particularly gypseous soil types, to grazing has hardly been studied before. This paper compares the effect of grazing on the soil hydro-physical properties of silty gypseous (Gy) and non-gypseous (NGy) soils located in a semi-arid region (Middle Ebro Valley, NE, Spain). Two different soil managements were selected: ungrazed natural shrubland (N) and grazed shrubland (GR) soils. The gypsum, CaCO3 and organic matter content (OM), soil texture, soil bulk density ( b), penetration resistance (PR), saturated sorptivity (S), hydraulic conductivity (K), and the water retention curve (WRC) for undisturbed soil samples from 1 to 10 cm depth soil layer were measured. The b and PR in NGy soils were significantly higher than those observed in the Gy ones. Soil compaction due to grazing treatment tended to increase b and decrease the K and S values. While no differences in PR were observed in the Gy soils between grazing treatments, the PR measured in the NGy soils under GR was significantly higher than the corresponding values observed under N. Differences in K and S between GR and N treatments were only significant (p < 0.05) in NGy soils, where K and S values under the N treatment were almost four times greater than the corresponding values measured under GR. Overall, no differences in the WRCs were observed between soil types and grazing treatments. While the WRCs of NGy soils were not significantly affected by the grazing treatment, Gy soils under N treatment present a significantly higher level of soil macropores than under GR treatment. The hydro-physical features of Gy soils tended to be less affected by grazing than those of the NGy soils. These results suggest that livestock grazing, in both Gy and NGy soils, has a negative effect on the physical soil properties, which should be taken into account by land managers of these semi-arid regions where silty gypseous and non-gypseous areas coexist.This research was supported by Aragón regional government and La Caixa (Grants: GA-LC020/2010; GA-LC-010/2008) and the CSIC (Grant: PIE-200930I145).Peer reviewe

Las perturbaciones de jabalí en los pastos alpinos del Pirineo Central: una aproximación multiescalar

El generalizado incremento de las poblaciones de jabalí durante las últimas décadas, ha propiciado un notable aumento de sus perturbaciones en casi todos los hábitats donde reside. Las consecuencias de sus perturbaciones, fundamentalmente hozaduras, no son bien conocidas en muchos de esos hábitats, incluyendo los hábitats alpinos que son además muy sensibles a ese tipo de perturbaciones. Por otra parte el delicado momento de la ganadería extensiva, en cambio y declive, hace que las mencionadas perturbaciones puedan ser a su vez un potencial problema para el pastoreo extensivo remanente. Entender la distribución, afección y alcance de estas perturbaciones es por tanto esencial para valorar su importancia en la dinámica de los pastos alpinos, su uso pastoral y su conservación. El objetivo de este trabajo doctoral fue describir, conocer y evaluar en términos eco-pastorales, la afección de las hozaduras del jabalí a los pastos alpinos pirenaicos a tres niveles de organización diferenciados: paisaje, comunidad y especie. Las hozaduras de jabalí afectaron notablemente a la extensión, composición y estructura de los pastos alpinos pirenaicos, produciendo un aumento de fertilidad temporal, estimulando los bancos de semillas existentes, y alterando los patrones de distribución de su diversidad vegetal, de forma variable según la escala. Desde el punto de vista de la gestión y conservación de los pastos alpinos, las hozaduras tuvieron un impacto moderado en sus valores ecológicos, siendo grave en los valores pastorales, pudiendo incluso, de seguir las tendencias actuales, llegar a comprometerlos en un futuro cercano

Intense Saharan Dust Outbreak over the Iberian Peninsula in springtime 2021: Monitoring and Characterization of Transported Dust Particles

In spring 2021 an intense Saharan dust outbreak reached the Iberian Peninsula (IP), lasting from 26 March until 5 April. It was monitored at six lidar stations, belonging to either MPLNET or ACTRIS/EARLINET networks, covering thus almost all the IP extension. Polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar measurements were carried out at El Arenosillo/Huelva (ARN, Spain; 37.1ºN, 6.7ºW, 40 m a.s.l.), Torrejón de Ardoz (TRJ, Spain; 40.5º N, 3.5º W, 568 m a.s.l, which is not within MPLNET yet), and Barcelona (BCN, Spain; 41.4ºN, 2.1ºE, 125 m a.s.l.); and multi-wavelength Raman lidars measurements were performed at Granada (GRA, Spain; 37.1ºN, 3.6ºW, 680 m a.s.l.), Évora (EVO, Portugal; 38.6ºN, 7.9º W, 293 m a.s.l.), and Madrid (MAD, Spain; 40.5ºN, 3.7ºW, 680 m a.s.l.). Both particle backscatter coefficient (βp) and particle linear depolarization ratio (δp) profiles are retrieved for all the stations under cloud-free conditions. The optical properties (backscatter and extinction coefficients at 532 nm) for both the fine (Df) and coarse (Dc) dust components are separately derived by applying the POLIPHON (POlarisation LIdar PHOtometer Networking; Mamouri and Ansmann, 2014) approach. Additionally, the mass concentration profiles, the mass extinction efficiency and the height of the centre-of-mass for both fine and coarse-modes are also calculated for the overall period. Results are compared along with the evolution of the dust intrusion as it crosses the IP