The Tree Biodiversity Network (BIOTREE-NET): prospects for biodiversity research and conservation in the Neotropics

Long Database Report.-- et al.Biodiversity research and conservation efforts in the tropics are hindered by the lack of knowledge of the assemblages found there, with many species undescribed or poorly known. Our initiative, the Tree Biodiversity Network (BIOTREE-NET), aims to ad-dress this problem by assembling georeferenced data from a wide range of sources, making these data easily accessible and easily que-ried, and promoting data sharing. The database (GIVD ID NA-00-002) currently comprises ca. 50,000 tree records of ca. 5,000 species (230 in the IUCN Red List) from >2,000 forest plots in 11 countries. The focus is on trees because of their pivotal role in tropical for-est ecosystems (which contain most of the world's biodiversity) in terms of ecosystem function, carbon storage and effects on other species. BIOTREE-NET currently focuses on southern Mexico and Central America, but we aim to expand coverage to other parts of tropical America. The database is relational, comprising 12 linked data tables. We summarise its structure and contents. Key tables contain data on forest plots (including size, location and date(s) sampled), individual trees (including diameter, when available, and both recorded and standardised species name), species (including biological traits of each species) and the researchers who collected the data. Many types of queries are facilitated and species distribution modelling is enabled. Examining the data in BIOTREE-NET to date, we found an uneven distribution of data in space and across biomes, reflecting the general state of knowledge of the tropics. More than 90% of the data were collected since 1990 and plot size varies widely, but with most less than one hectare in size. A wide range of minimum sizes is used to define a 'tree'. The database helps to identify gaps that need filling by further data collection and collation. The data can be publicly accessed through a web application at http://portal.biotreenet.com. Researchers are invited and encouraged to contribute data to BIOTREE-NET.BIOTREE-NET development has been supported primarily by Fundación BBVA (project BIOCON08_044).Peer Reviewe

A review of the multifunctional key role of European rabbits in the Iberian Mediterranean scrubland

[ES]: En este trabajo se presenta una revisión del papel del conejo como especie clave en algunos ecosistemas mediterráneos de la Península Ibérica. Por un lado, el conejo constituye una presa importante para más de 40 depredadores, entre los que destacan el lince ibérico (Lynx pardinus) y el águila imperial ibérica (Aquila adalberti). Por otro lado, los conejos, a través del pastoreo y la dispersión de semillas, alteran la composición de especies vegetales, creando áreas abiertas en el matorral y contribuyendo a la diversidad de plantas. Además, las madrigueras de conejo sirven de refugio para numerosas especies de vertebrados e invertebrados y ejercen una notable influencia sobre la composición florística de la vegetación herbácea. Por último, las letrinas de los conejos no sólo tienen un efecto considerable en la fertilidad del suelo y, por tanto, en el crecimiento de la vegetación, sino que también sirven de áreas de alimentación para numerosos invertebrados. Esta multiplicidad de facetas relevantes convierten al conejo en una especie clave, cuya recuperación debería ser una prioridad para la conservación de la biodiversidad en la Península Ibérica.[EN]: This review addresses the role of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a multifunctional keystone species in the Iberian Peninsula.Rabbits serve as prey for > 40 predators, including the critically endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). Moreover, they conspicuously alter plant species composition and vegetation structure through grazing and seed dispersal, creating open areas and contributing to plant species diversity. Additionally, rabbit burrows provide nest sites and shelter for several vertebrates and invertebrates, and can have significant effects on herbaceous species composition. Finally, rabbit latrines have a demonstrable effect on soil chemical fertility and plant growth, and provide new feeding resources for many invertebrate species. Rabbits exert a multifunctional influence on ecosystem processes and have a key role in the maintenance of biodiversity, so the recovery of their populations should be a conservation priority in the western Mediterranean Basin Hotspot.Peer Reviewe

El conejo europeo ("Oryctolagus cuniculus") como especie ingeniera de ecosistemas

En esta tesis doctoral se aborda el papel de un herbívoro excavador, el conejo europeo, Oryctolagus cuniculus, como especie ingeniera de ecosistemas. El objetivo principal fue explorar sus relaciones no-tróficas, especialmente las derivadas de su actividad excavadora y sus efectos sobre el banco de semillas. Para llevar a cabo esta investigación se seleccionó como zona de estudio una dehesa de 300 ha. en el suroeste de Madrid. La exploración de los efectos del conejo se hizo a varias escalas. Por un lado se estudió la densidad y distribución de los vivares a escala de finca. A una escala intermedia, se investigó la influencia de las madrigueras del conejo sobre varios parámetros de la comunidad de lagartijas de la dehesa. Los efectos de los conejos sobre la comunidad herbácea se abordaron comparando la vegetación asociada a determinados elementos dentro del dominio vital del conejo. A una escala más pequeña se investigaron los efectos del conejo sobre el banco de semillas. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de relevancia la capacidad de los conejos para modular la disponibilidad de recursos y demuestran que son capaces de actuar como ingenieros de ecosistemas en un ambiente mediterráneo de dehesa

El conejo europeo ("Oryctolagus cuniculus") como especie ingeniera de ecosistemas

En esta tesis doctoral se aborda el papel de un herbívoro excavador, el conejo europeo, Oryctolagus cuniculus, como especie ingeniera de ecosistemas. El objetivo principal fue explorar sus relaciones no-tróficas, especialmente las derivadas de su actividad excavadora y sus efectos sobre el banco de semillas. Para llevar a cabo esta investigación se seleccionó como zona de estudio una dehesa de 300 ha. en el suroeste de Madrid. La exploración de los efectos del conejo se hizo a varias escalas. Por un lado se estudió la densidad y distribución de los vivares a escala de finca. A una escala intermedia, se investigó la influencia de las madrigueras del conejo sobre varios parámetros de la comunidad de lagartijas de la dehesa. Los efectos de los conejos sobre la comunidad herbácea se abordaron comparando la vegetación asociada a determinados elementos dentro del dominio vital del conejo. A una escala más pequeña se investigaron los efectos del conejo sobre el banco de semillas. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de relevancia la capacidad de los conejos para modular la disponibilidad de recursos y demuestran que son capaces de actuar como ingenieros de ecosistemas en un ambiente mediterráneo de dehesa

Identification of critical areas for mammal conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve

Herein we identified the geographic location of protected areas (PAs) critical for strengthening mammalian conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve (RMBA) by assessing sites of particular importance for mammal diversity using different biodiversity criteria (richness, rarity, vulnerability) and a connectivity index. Although 95% of mammal species were represented by PAs, most of them had less than 10% of their distribution range protected by these areas. A total of 94 critical areas for mammal conservation-representing 49.60% of the total PAs were identified. Most of these areas were located at endangered ecoregions. We recommend that conservationists and policy makers should identify critical areas in order to guarantee biodiversity fluxes among landscapes, and enhance the connectivity between PAs to increase biodiversity protection and conservation. Knowledge about the location of critical areas may encourage managers and policy makers to develop specific programs to strengthen mammal biodiversity protection, especially for threatened species.This study was supported by BIOTREE-net - project funded by BBVA Foundation and M.J.T. Assunção-Albuquerque was supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Education, through CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) Doctorate scholarship.Peer Reviewe

Habitat quality affects the condition of Luciobarbus sclateri in the Guadiamar River (SW Iberian Peninsula): Effects of disturbances by the toxic spill of the Aznalcóllar mine

This study analyzes the somatic condition of southern Iberian barbel Luciobarbus sclateri (Günther, 1868) in the Guadiamar River (SW Iberian Peninsula). This river was seriously affected by a toxic spill of about 4 million cubic meters of acidic water and 2 million cubic meters of mud rich in heavy metals. Once the spill removal works concluded, sites affected and unaffected by the accident were sampled to study its effects on the fish fauna. The ecological variables registered were related to water quality, physical state of reaches, ecological quality, resources exploited by fish, and potential intra-specific interactions. From an initial 15 ecological variables, seasonal water flow and pH explained most of the variation in barbel condition. This study shows that the Guadiamar River, 56 months after the accident, is still undergoing a recovery process where, beyond ecological variables, proximity to the affected area is the most influential factor for fish condition. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

The Tree Biodiversity Network (BIOTREE-NET): prospects for biodiversity research and conservation in the Neotropics

Biodiversity research and conservation efforts in the tropics are hindered by the lack of knowledge of the assemblages found there, with many species undescribed or poorly known. Our initiative, the Tree Biodiversity Network (BIOTREE-NET), aims to address this problem by assembling georeferenced data from a wide range of sources, making these data easily accessible and easily queried, and promoting data sharing. The database (GIVD ID NA-00-002) currently comprises ca. 50,000 tree records of ca. 5,000 species (230 in the IUCN Red List) from \u3e2,000 forest plots in 11 countries. The focus is on trees because of their pivotal role in tropical forest ecosystems (which contain most of the world\u27s biodiversity) in terms of ecosystem function, carbon storage and effects on other species. BIOTREE-NET currently focuses on southern Mexico and Central America, but we aim to expand coverage to other parts of tropical America. The database is relational, comprising 12 linked data tables. We summarise its structure and contents. Key tables contain data on forest plots (including size, location and date(s) sampled), individual trees (including diameter, when available, and both recorded and standardised species name), species (including biological traits of each species) and the researchers who collected the data. Many types of queries are facilitated and species distribution modelling is enabled. Examining the data in BIOTREE-NET to date, we found an uneven distribution of data in space and across biomes, reflecting the general state of knowledge of the tropics. More than 90% of the data were collected since 1990 and plot size varies widely, but with most less than one hectare in size. A wide range of minimum sizes is used to define a \u27tree\u27. The database helps to identify gaps that need filling by further data collection and collation. The data can be publicly accessed through a web application at http://portal.biotreenet.com. Researchers are invited and encouraged to contribute data to BIOTREE-NET

La Red Internacional de Inventarios Forestales (BIOTREE-NET) en Mesoamérica: avances, retos y perspectivas futuras

Conservation efforts in Neotropical regions are often hindered by lack of data, since for many species there is a vacuum of information, and many species have not even been described yet. The International Network of Forest Inventory Plots (BIOTREE-NET) gathers and facilitates access to tree data from forest inventory plots in Mesoamerica, while encouraging data exchange between researchers, managers and conservationists. The information is organised and standardised into a single database that includes spatially explicit data. This article describes the scope and objectives of the network, its progress, and the challenges and future perspectives. The database includes above 50000 tree records of over 5000 species from more than 2000 plots distributed from southern Mexico through to Panama. Information is heterogeneous, both in nature and shape, as well as in the geographical coverage of inventory plots. The database has a relational structure, with 12 inter-connected tables that include information about plots, species names, dbh, and functional attributes of trees. A new system that corrects typographical errors and achieves taxonomic and nomenclatural standardization was developed using The Plant List (http://theplantlist.org/) as reference. Species distribution models have been computed for around 1700 species using different methods, and they will be publicly accessible through the web site in the future (http://portal.biotreenet.com). Although BIOTREE-NET has contributed to the development of improved species distribution models, its main potential lies, in our opinion, in studies at the community level. Finally, we emphasise the need to expand the network and encourage researchers willing to share data and to join the network and contribute to the generation of further knowledge about forest biodiversity in Neotropical regions

¿Qué queda de mí?

Este libro es una reclamación a quienes hemos sido, somos o seremos docentes. A quienes no hemos respetado a las personas que se han puesto junto a nosotros y nosotras, confiando su bien más preciado: la libertad. Estas páginas denuncian cada vez que convertimos una visión en la visión, una emoción en la emoción, un saber en el saber, un comportamiento en el comportamiento. Es un grito contra la imposición, la normalización, la neutralización y la universalización de una perspectiva particular. Una pugna contra cada proceso que no se ha conectado con las vidas de los aprendices. Un texto colaborativo realizado por alumnado de Educación y Cambio Social en el Grado en Educación Infantil de la Universidad de Málaga y coordinado por Ignacio Calderón Almendros

Conejo – Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Mamíferos - Orden Lagomorpha - Familia Leporidae en la Enciclopedia Virtual de Vertebrados Españoles, http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/. Versiones anteriores: 20-06-2011A comprehensive review of the natural history of the European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus in Spain.Peer reviewe