Solving Man-Induced Large-Scale Conservation Problems: The Spanish Imperial Eagle and Power Lines

[Background] Man-induced mortality of birds caused by electrocution with poorly-designed pylons and power lines has been reported to be an important mortality factor that could become a major cause of population decline of one of the world rarest raptors, the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). Consequently it has resulted in an increasing awareness of this problem amongst land managers and the public at large, as well as increased research into the distribution of electrocution events and likely mitigation measures.[Methodology/Principal Findings] We provide information of how mitigation measures implemented on a regional level under the conservation program of the Spanish imperial eagle have resulted in a positive shift of demographic trends in Spain. A 35 years temporal data set (1974–2009) on mortality of Spanish imperial eagle was recorded, including population censuses, and data on electrocution and non-electrocution of birds. Additional information was obtained from 32 radio-tracked young eagles and specific field surveys. Data were divided into two periods, before and after the approval of a regional regulation of power line design in 1990 which established mandatory rules aimed at minimizing or eliminating the negative impacts of power lines facilities on avian populations. Our results show how population size and the average annual percentage of population change have increased between the two periods, whereas the number of electrocuted birds has been reduced in spite of the continuous growing of the wiring network.[Conclusions] Our results demonstrate that solving bird electrocution is an affordable problem if political interest is shown and financial investment is made. The combination of an adequate spatial planning with a sustainable development of human infrastructures will contribute positively to the conservation of the Spanish imperial eagle and may underpin population growth and range expansion, with positive side effects on other endangered species.P. López-López was supported by FPU grant of the Spanish Ministerio de Educación (reference AP2005-0874) and wrote this paper during a pre-doctoral stay at Doñana Biological Station (CSIC) in Sevilla, Spain. The funders of this study (Spanish Ministry of Education, Natural Research Ltd. and Junta de Andalucía) had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

Human disturbance and the conservation of the Spanish imperial eagle: a response to Gonzalez et al. (2006)

Peer reviewe

Asentamiento y reproducción con éxito de águilas imperiales ibéricas Aquila adalberti reintroducidas en la provincia de Cádiz (España)

En 2002 comenzó un proyecto de reintroducción del águila imperial ibérica en la provincia de Cádiz (Andalucía, España) con el fin de recuperar un antiguo núcleo reproductor, favorecer la conexión entre subpoblaciones e incrementar la persistencia de la metapoblación de esta especie endémica de la península Ibérica. Del mismo modo, en 2005 se puso en marcha un programa de refuerzo en el entorno de Doñana (Andalucía, España) para mejorar la viabilidad de esta amenazada subpoblación. En total, entre 2002 y 2010, 73 jóvenes águilas imperiales se soltaron en cuatro zonas mediante crianza campestre. En 2010 un macho reintroducido crió con éxito con una hembra no reintroducida y sacaron adelante dos pollos, siendo el primer nido exitoso que se registra en la provincia de Cádiz desde 1960. Otra pareja territorial se instaló también en la zona de suelta en 2010 y otros cuatro ejemplares reintroducidos han hecho intentos de reproducción desde 2006 en otras subpoblaciones cercanas fuera del área de reintroducción. El asentamiento y reproducción de individuos reintroducidos supone el punto de partida para una futura población y constituye un importante indicador para la evaluación del proyectoPeer Reviewe

Location of Andalucía and Doñana National Park within the Iberian Peninsula.

<p>Location of Andalucía and Doñana National Park within the Iberian Peninsula.</p

Annual recorded electrocution mortality of Spanish Imperial eagles.

<p>Data are shown as a percentage of population in Doñana and Andalucía in relation to population trends in the two areas. The black arrow shows when mitigation measures were implemented in Andalucía (Regulation 194/1990, June 19^th of the Junta de Andalucía).</p

Ibero–American Consensus on Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners: Safety, Nutritional Aspects and Benefits in Food and Beverages

International scientific experts in food, nutrition, dietetics, endocrinology, physical activity, paediatrics, nursing, toxicology and public health met in Lisbon on 2&ndash;4 July 2017 to develop a Consensus on the use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) as substitutes for sugars and other caloric sweeteners. LNCS are food additives that are broadly used as sugar substitutes to sweeten foods and beverages with the addition of fewer or no calories. They are also used in medicines, health-care products, such as toothpaste, and food supplements. The goal of this Consensus was to provide a useful, evidence-based, point of reference to assist in efforts to reduce free sugars consumption in line with current international public health recommendations. Participating experts in the Lisbon Consensus analysed and evaluated the evidence in relation to the role of LNCS in food safety, their regulation and the nutritional and dietary aspects of their use in foods and beverages. The conclusions of this Consensus were: (1) LNCS are some of the most extensively evaluated dietary constituents, and their safety has been reviewed and confirmed by regulatory bodies globally including the World Health Organisation, the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority; (2) Consumer education, which is based on the most robust scientific evidence and regulatory processes, on the use of products containing LNCS should be strengthened in a comprehensive and objective way; (3) The use of LNCS in weight reduction programmes that involve replacing caloric sweeteners with LNCS in the context of structured diet plans may favour sustainable weight reduction. Furthermore, their use in diabetes management programmes may contribute to a better glycaemic control in patients, albeit with modest results. LNCS also provide dental health benefits when used in place of free sugars; (4) It is proposed that foods and beverages with LNCS could be included in dietary guidelines as alternative options to products sweetened with free sugars; (5) Continued education of health professionals is required, since they are a key source of information on issues related to food and health for both the general population and patients. With this in mind, the publication of position statements and consensus documents in the academic literature are extremely desirable