Lean Pattern in an Altitude Range Shift of a Tree Species: Abies pinsapo Boiss

Organisms modify their geographical distributions in response to changes in environmental conditions, or modify their affinity to such conditions, to avoid extinction. This study explored the altitudinal shift of Abies pinsapo Boiss. in the Baetic System. We analysed the potential distribution of the realised and reproductive niches of A. pinsapo populations in the Ronda Mountains (Southern Spain) by using species distribution models (SDMs) for two life stages within the current populations. Then, we calculated the species’ potential altitudinal shifts and identified the areas in which the processes of persistence and migration predominated. The realised and reproductive niches of A. pinsapo are different to one another, which may indicate a displacement in its altitudinal distribution owing to changes in the climatic conditions of the Ronda Mountains. The most unfavourable conditions for the species indicate a trailing edge (~110 m) at the lower limit of its distribution and a leading edge (~55 m) at the upper limit. Even though the differences in the altitudinal shifts between the trailing and leading edges will not cause the populations to become extinct in the short term, they may threaten their viability if the conditions that are producing the contraction at the lower limit persist in the long term.This research was funded by (i) Spanish government, State R&D Program Oriented to the Challenges of the Society: MED-REFUGIA Research Project (RTI2018-101714-B-I00); (ii) Andalusian Plan for Research, Development and Innovation: OROMEDREFUGIA Research Project (P18-RT4963); (iii) ERDF Operational Programme in Andalusia (EU regional programme): RELIC-FLORA 2 Research Project (B-RNM-404-UGR18); and (iv) State Program for the Promotion of Scientific Research and Excellence Technique: PALEOPINSAPO Research Project (CSO2017-83576-P). The APC was funded by (i) Spanish government, State R&D Program Oriented to the Challenges of the Society: MED-REFUGIA Research Project (RTI2018-101714-B-I00); and (ii) Andalusian Plan for Research, Development and Innovation: OROMEDREFUGIA Research Project (P18-RT-4963)

Studying community assembly drivers and its past dynamics incorporating phylogenetic and functional data to the fossil record.

Estudiando los determinantes de la composición de comunidades y sus dinámicas en el pasado incorporando información filogenética y funcional al registro fósil. El registro fósil contiene información sobre la composición relativa de especies en un momento concreto, aportando información de la dinámica de comunidades a lo largo de intervalos temporales extensos, siendo el Pleistoceno y el Holoceno los periodos mejor representados. Sin embargo, estos datos son rara vez considerados en las hipótesis y modelos que se han desarrollado recientemente para explicar la composición de comunidades. El papel de las variables abióticas (i.e., climáticas) en el ensamblaje de comunidades está bien documentado tanto en el registro fósil como por datos ecológicos actuales. Sin embargo, el papel de las interacciones bióticas es más controvertido, aunque el uso de información filogenética y de rasgos funcionales está ayudando a comprender su papel relativo en las comunidades actuales. La creciente popularidad de herramientas ecoinformáticas de modelización junto con un mayor volumen de datos paleoecológicos disponibles online facilita su integración con la teoría y los modelos de ecología de comunidades. Sin embargo, su uso en el estudio de las interacciones bióticas es todavía escaso y su integración con datos funcionales y filogenéticos es prácticamente inexistente. Con el objetivo de fomentar nuevos estudios, revisamos los avances en la integración de paleoecología con la teoría y modelos de la ecología de comunidades, analizamos las principales incertidumbres asociadas a los datos fósiles, para asegurar un análisis serio y riguroso y finalmente sugerimos futuras líneas de trabajo.Studying community assembly drivers and its past dynamics incorporating phylogenetic and functional data to the fossil record. The fossil record provides information on species relative abundances at specific times, which in turns can inform about community dynamics over long time periods, being the Pleistocene and the Holocene the best represented. However, palaeoecological data are rarely incorporated in hypothesis and models recently developed to explain community composition. The role of abiotic variables (i.e., climate) to drive community assembly is well documented both in contemporary ecology and the fossil record. Although the role of biotic interactions in community assembly remains controversial, phylogenetic and functional traits information are contributing to clarify its importance on contemporary communities. The growing popularity of ecoinformatic modelling tools along with an increasing availability of palaeoecological data in online databases facilitates the integration of palaeoecological data to inform theory and models of community ecology. However, such integration remains largely unexplored. Aiming to boost such sort of studies, we review here advances in palaeoecological studies to inform community ecology, we also provide a guide on common uncertainties associated with fossil records to ensure a rigorous use of them, and propose further working lines in such integration

Time to better integrate paleoecological research infrastructures with neoecology to improve understanding of biodiversity long-term dynamics and to inform future conservation

Anthropogenic pressures are causing a global decline in biodiversity. Successful attempts at biodiversity conservation requires an understanding of biodiversity patterns as well as the drivers and processes that determine those patterns. To deepen this knowledge, neoecologists have focused on studying present-day or recent historical data, while paleoecologists usually study long-term data through the composition of various biological proxies and environmental indicators. By establishing standard protocols or gathering databases, research infrastructures (RIs) have been instrumental to foster exchange and collaboration among scientists within neoecology (e.g. Global Information Biodiversity Facility or National Ecological Observatory Network) and paleoecology (e.g. Paleobiology Database, Neotoma Paleoecology Database or European Pollen Database). However, these two subdisciplines (and their RIs) have traditionally remained segregated although both provide valuable information that combined can improve our understanding of biodiversity drivers and underlying processes, as well as our predictions of biodiversity responses in the future. For instance, integrative studies between paleo- and neoecology have addressed the global challenge of biodiversity loss by validating climate and ecological models, estimating species fundamental niches, understanding ecological changes and trajectories, or establishing baseline conditions for restoration. Supporting and contributing to research infrastructures from both paleo- and neoecology, as well as their further integration, could boost the amount and improve the quality of such integrative studies. We argue this will enable improved capabilities to anticipate the impacts of global change and biodiversity losses. To boost such integration and illustrate our arguments, we (1) review studies integrating paleo- and neoecology to advance in the light of global changes challenge, (2) describe RIs developed in paleoecology, and (3) discuss opportunities for further integration of RIs from both disciplines (i.e. paleo- and neoecology).publishedVersio

Aerobiological and allergenic analysis of Cupressaceae pollen in Granada (Southern Spain)

Cupressaceae pollen has been cited in recent years as one of the major airborne allergens of the Mediterranean region, prompting us to conduct an exhaustive analysis on the aerobiological behaviour of this pollen in the Iberian Peninsula and the repercussion that it has had on the atopic population. The aerobiological study, performed from 1996 to 2003 in the city of Granada (S. Spain), used a volumetric Hirst collector. The results indicate that this pollen is present in the air most of the year, registering a high incidence during the winter months. This type of pollen behaved irregularly in the air, fluctuating yearly, seasonally, and within the same day. Temperature and humidity were the parameters that most directly influence the variability of this allergen, while rainfall prior to flowering increased pollen production. The predictive models used estimated a high percentage of the levels reached over the short term by this pollen in the atmosphere of Granada. The clinical study performed with atopic patients showed that some 30% of the population with pollinosis are sensitive to Cupressaceae pollen, affecting people of both genders equally. On the other hand, the most sensitive age group was 21-40 years of age, while children and the elderly registered almost negligible values. Most of the sensitive subjects resided within the city or in the metropolitan area, where environmental pollution reached high levels, while the pathology was found to be less frequent in rural zones. The most frequent symptoms were upper-respiratory ailments and an asthmatic profile.En los últimos años el polen de Cupressaceae se ha considerado uno de los principales alérgenos aéreos de la región Mediterránea, lo que motivó la realización de un análisis exhaustivo del comportamiento aerobiológico de este polen en la Península Ibérica y de la repercusión que tenía en la población atópica. En el estudio aerobiológico, llevado a cabo entre 1996 y 2003 en la ciudad de Granada (sur de España), se utilizó un captador volumétrico tipo Hirst. Los resultados indican que este polen se encuentra presente en el aire la mayor parte del año, pero registra una alta incidencia en los meses de invierno. Este tipo de polen mostró un comportamiento irregular en el aire, con fluctuaciones anuales, estacionales y en un mismo día. La temperatura y la humedad fueron los parámetros que influyeron más directamente en la variabilidad de este alérgeno, mientras que la lluvia antes de la floración incrementó la producción de polen. Los modelos predictivos utilizados estimaron un porcentaje elevado de los niveles alcanzados a corto plazo por este polen en la atmósfera de Granada. El estudio clínico realizado con pacientes atópicos mostró que un 30% de la población con polinosis es sensible al polen de Cupressaceae, afectando a ambos sexos por igual. Por otra parte, el grupo de edad más sensible fue el de 21 a 40 años, mientras que los niños y los ancianos registraron valores casi insignificantes. La mayoría de los sujetos sensibles residían en el núcleo urbano o en el área metropolitana, donde la contaminación ambiental alcanza niveles elevados, mientras que la patología fue menos frecuente en la zona rural. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron afecciones de las vías respiratorias altas y un perfil asmático.The authors wish to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology for financing this study with the “Análisis de la actividad alergénica de la atmósfera” project (BOS2002-03474)

Assessing the effects of complexity in cross-temporal transferability of species distribution modelling predictions using palaeobotanical data

Valoración de la transferencia temporal de los modelos de distribución de especies para su aplicación en nuestros días utilizando datos paleobotánicos Corilus avellana y Alnus glutinosa

Persistence of tree relicts in the Spanish Central System through the Holocene

Persistence of relict tree species in Mediterranean environments is becoming increasingly unlikely in view of ongoing and future global change. The variability in the Holocene climate and more recent anthropogenic impacts have driven many populations to fragmentation and isolation, and even to extinction. However, some have persisted to the present day. The understanding of their evolution requires long-term studies, in which pollen analysis is a key approach both for formulating hypotheses and supporting results from other disciplines. Mountain ranges have played and still play an essential role as both glacial and interglacial refugia during the Quaternary. The Spanish Central System harbors an exceptional diversity due to its geographical location and complex topography. Some cold-adapted species have survived here with significant proportions of their southernmost populations, often displaying striking adaptations to their changing environments. This work contains a comprehensive review of the palynological investigations conducted in the Spanish Central System, and reveals the distribution of genera such as Taxus, Betula, Fagus, Carpinus and Tilia throughout the Holocene. We also highlight the scarcity of well-dated and high-resolution works, which may contribute to a better understanding of their recent and future evolution.This paper is part of the research carried our within the project "Dinámicas socio-ecológicas, resiliencia y vulnerabilidad en un paisaje de montaña: el Sistema Central (9000 cal. BC-1850 cal. AD) " (R&D National Plan of the Spanish Government, HAR2013-43701-P)

Estudio aerobiológico de la zona costera de la provincia de Granada (Motril): evolución de las concentraciones de polen y esporas

Tesis Univ. Granada. Departamento de Botánica. Leída el 12 de diciembre de 200

Using species distribution modelling (SDM) in palaeoecological and conservation studies

In recent years, a research agenda has emerged that focuses on the combined use of biological/palaeoenvironmental data and dynamic simulation models based on mathematical expressions for biological and abiotic processes. Among these, it bears mentioning Species Distribution Modelling (SDM), recently adopted in palaeoecological and species conservation studies because these offer a more objective and independent perspective than do traditional methods. With the intention of displaying the species spatial distribution, the information systems are used to provide the geographical framework.Peer Reviewe

Living on the brink of extinction. Declive de las poblaciones de Argán en Marruecos (21,000 BP-2100 AD)

Ponencia presentada en el XVII International A.P.L.E. Symposium of Palynology celebrado en Vigo (España) del 7 al 10 de julio de 2010Peer Reviewe

Biological Interaction as a Possible Ultimate Driver in the Local Extinction of <i>Cedrus atlantica</i> in the Iberian Peninsula

The presence of Cedrus atlantica on the European continent, including, especially, the determination of the time of its disappearance from the Iberian Peninsula, is one of the most controversial issues in recent decades regarding the successive extinction of conifers in the Western Mediterranean. This work propounds the possibility that C. atlantica and Pinus nigra could have co-habited in the past, mutually excluding each other in the areas with suitable conditions for both species, where, ultimately, the one that was the most competitive would have remained. The niche overlap in the two-dimensional ecological space was analyzed. In addition, the potential distribution of both species in the Western Mediterranean today and two past periods (Last Glacial Maximum and Mid-Holocene) was modeled to identify their common geographic area of distribution. The species showed very well differentiated niches and a distribution of their habitats virtually segregated by continents since the Mid-Holocene (P. nigra in Europe and C. atlantica in Africa), which responds to differences in climatic affinities. However, the contact of the bordering areas of their distributions in the Baetic mountain range suggests that C. atlantica could have maintained its presence in the Iberian Peninsula until recent times. P. nigra would have displace it in later stages due to its greater prevalence on the continent, so it would have had greater opportunities to occupy the available space