Distribution modelling of wild rabbit hunting yields in its original area (S Iberian Peninsula)

In this work we used the information of the Annual Hunting Reports (AHRs) to obtain a high-resolution model of the potential favourableness for wild rabbit harvesting in Andalusia (southern Spain), using environmental and land-use variables as predictors. We analysed 32,134 AHRs from the period 1993/2001 reported by 6049 game estates to estimate the average hunting yields of wild rabbit in each Andalusian municipality (n5771). We modelled the favourableness for obtaining good hunting yields using stepwise logistic regression on a set of climatic, orographical, land use, and vegetation variables. The favourability equation was used to create a downscaled image representing the favourableness of obtaining good hunting yields for the wild rabbit in 161 km squares in Andalusia, using the Idrisi Image Calculator. The variables that affected hunting yields of wild rabbit were altitude, dry wood crops (mainly olive groves, almond groves, and vineyards), temperature, pasture, slope, and annual number of frost days. The 161 km squares with high favourableness values are scattered throughout the territory, which seems to be caused mainly by the effect of vegetation. Finally, we obtained quality categories for the territory by combining the probability values given by logistic regression with those of the environmental favourability function

Sistema de medida automatizado y de bajo costo para caracterización de módulos fotovoltaicos

En este trabajo se presenta un sistema automático de medida que permite caracterizar un módulo fotovoltaico. Este sistema automático de medidas, puede ser usado ya sea a cielo abierto o bien en un banco de pruebas, el mismo está compuesto por una computadora, un software elaborado específicamente para tal fin, un sistema de toma de datos y control, y un circuito eléctrico que tiene como carga para el panel un banco de capacitores y controlado electrónicamente por dos FET (transistores de efecto de campo). La característica fundamental del sistema, es que a través del circuito de carga capacitiva, el panel pasa por todos los estados posibles de carga y lo hace en un tiempo relativamente corto de tal forma que con esto se logra que no haya cambios en las condiciones a la que se encuentra sometido. Por otra parte, la toma de datos está construida de tal forma que se dispone de muchos puntos para mejorar el trazado de la curva tensión-corriente (I-V) y encontrar con una mayor precisión el punto de máxima potencia.In this work one presents an automatic system of measure that allows to characterize a photovoltaic module. This automatic system of measure, can be used already be to sky opened or in a test bench, the same one it is composed by a computer, a software elaborated specifically for such an end; a system of capture of information and control, and an electrical circuit that takes a bank as a load for the panel of capacitors and controlled electrically for two FET (transistors of field effect). The fundamental characteristic of the system, is that across the circuit of load capacity, the panel happens for all the possible conditions of load and does it in a relatively short time in such a way that with this it achieves that there are no changes in the conditions the one that is submitted. Also on the other hand, the capture this of information constructed in such a way that it prepares of many points to improve the tracing of the curve and also to find the point of maxim promotes.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Sistema de medida automatizado y de bajo costo para caracterización de módulos fotovoltaicos

En este trabajo se presenta un sistema automático de medida que permite caracterizar un módulo fotovoltaico. Este sistema automático de medidas, puede ser usado ya sea a cielo abierto o bien en un banco de pruebas, el mismo está compuesto por una computadora, un software elaborado específicamente para tal fin, un sistema de toma de datos y control, y un circuito eléctrico que tiene como carga para el panel un banco de capacitores y controlado electrónicamente por dos FET (transistores de efecto de campo). La característica fundamental del sistema, es que a través del circuito de carga capacitiva, el panel pasa por todos los estados posibles de carga y lo hace en un tiempo relativamente corto de tal forma que con esto se logra que no haya cambios en las condiciones a la que se encuentra sometido. Por otra parte, la toma de datos está construida de tal forma que se dispone de muchos puntos para mejorar el trazado de la curva tensión-corriente (I-V) y encontrar con una mayor precisión el punto de máxima potencia.In this work one presents an automatic system of measure that allows to characterize a photovoltaic module. This automatic system of measure, can be used already be to sky opened or in a test bench, the same one it is composed by a computer, a software elaborated specifically for such an end; a system of capture of information and control, and an electrical circuit that takes a bank as a load for the panel of capacitors and controlled electrically for two FET (transistors of field effect). The fundamental characteristic of the system, is that across the circuit of load capacity, the panel happens for all the possible conditions of load and does it in a relatively short time in such a way that with this it achieves that there are no changes in the conditions the one that is submitted. Also on the other hand, the capture this of information constructed in such a way that it prepares of many points to improve the tracing of the curve and also to find the point of maxim promotes.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Sistema de medida automatizado y de bajo costo para caracterización de módulos fotovoltaicos

En este trabajo se presenta un sistema automático de medida que permite caracterizar un módulo fotovoltaico. Este sistema automático de medidas, puede ser usado ya sea a cielo abierto o bien en un banco de pruebas, el mismo está compuesto por una computadora, un software elaborado específicamente para tal fin, un sistema de toma de datos y control, y un circuito eléctrico que tiene como carga para el panel un banco de capacitores y controlado electrónicamente por dos FET (transistores de efecto de campo). La característica fundamental del sistema, es que a través del circuito de carga capacitiva, el panel pasa por todos los estados posibles de carga y lo hace en un tiempo relativamente corto de tal forma que con esto se logra que no haya cambios en las condiciones a la que se encuentra sometido. Por otra parte, la toma de datos está construida de tal forma que se dispone de muchos puntos para mejorar el trazado de la curva tensión-corriente (I-V) y encontrar con una mayor precisión el punto de máxima potencia.In this work one presents an automatic system of measure that allows to characterize a photovoltaic module. This automatic system of measure, can be used already be to sky opened or in a test bench, the same one it is composed by a computer, a software elaborated specifically for such an end; a system of capture of information and control, and an electrical circuit that takes a bank as a load for the panel of capacitors and controlled electrically for two FET (transistors of field effect). The fundamental characteristic of the system, is that across the circuit of load capacity, the panel happens for all the possible conditions of load and does it in a relatively short time in such a way that with this it achieves that there are no changes in the conditions the one that is submitted. Also on the other hand, the capture this of information constructed in such a way that it prepares of many points to improve the tracing of the curve and also to find the point of maxim promotes.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Updating known distribution models for forecasting climate change impact on endangered species

To plan endangered species conservation and to design adequate management programmes, it is necessary to predict their distributional response to climate change, especially under the current situation of rapid change. However, these predictions are customarily done by relating de novo the distribution of the species with climatic conditions with no regard of previously available knowledge about the factors affecting the species distribution. We propose to take advantage of known species distribution models, but proceeding to update them with the variables yielded by climatic models before projecting them to the future. To exemplify our proposal, the availability of suitable habitat across Spain for the endangered Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) was modelled by updating a pre-existing model based on current climate and topography to a combination of different general circulation models and Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. Our results suggested that the main threat for this endangered species would not be climate change, since all forecasting models show that its distribution will be maintained and increased in mainland Spain for all the XXI century. We remark on the importance of linking conservation biology with distribution modelling by updating existing models, frequently available for endangered species, considering all the known factors conditioning the species’ distribution, instead of building new models that are based on climate change variables only.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and FEDER (project CGL2009-11316/BOS

Daños: Evaluación de un problema

Mientras hay zonas en las que el conejo prácticamente ha desaparecido debido a enfermedades como la RHD, en otras sus desproporcionadas poblaciones causan grandes daños en los cultivos. En el artículo que publicamos a continuación, un equipo de investigadores analiza estadísticamente este fenómeno mediante las quejas de los agricultores aparecidas en internet comparadas con otros datos, una forma original y operativa de entender el problema a escala nacional

A large-scale assessment of European rabbit damage to agriculture in Spain

BACKGROUND: Numerous small and medium-sized mammal pests cause widespread and economically significant damage to crops all over the globe. However, most research on pest species has focused on accounts of the level of damage. There are fewer studies concentrating on the description of crop damage caused by pests at large geographical scales, or on analysing the ecological and anthropogenic factors correlated with these observed patterns. We investigated the relationship between agricultural damage by the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and environmental and anthropogenic variables throughout Spain. RESULTS: Rabbit damage was mainly concentrated within the central-southern regions of Spain. We found that rabbit damage has increased significantly between the early 2000s and 2013. Greater losses were typical of those areas where farming dominated and natural vegetation was scarce, where main railways and highways were present, and where environmental conditions were generally favourable for rabbit populations to proliferate. CONCLUSIONS: From our analysis we suggest that roads and railway lines act as potential corridors along which rabbits can spread. The recent increase in Spain of such infrastructure may explain the rise in rabbit damage reported in this study. Our approach is valuable as a method for assessing drivers of wildlife pest damage at large spatial scales, and can be used to propose methods to reduce human-wildlife conflict

Árboles del Santuario Histórico de Machu Picchu: Monitoreo de diversidad y carbono a largo plazo

Understanding how the richness, diversity, and carbon monitoring vary and are distributed through altitudinal gradients in Andean montane forests is essential to understand how these forests are adapting to global warming effects. Botanical explorations and general collections were carried out within the limits of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in an altitude gradient of 1600 to 4200 m.a.s.l. Two permanent plots of 1.0 ha were established in the sectors of Intipunku (SHM – 01) at an altitude of 2,653 m.a.s.l and Kantupata (SHM-02) at an altitude of 3,200 m.a.s.l., with the standardized methodology of RAINFOR in 2013 and remedied in 2016. We updated the number of tree species for the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, 364 species are reported so far, this catalog includes all wild and cultivated species but also tree ferns and palm trees. In recent years, four new tree species have been described whose TYPE collections come from SHM forests: Ocotea alveatavan der Werff, Ocotea mollivillosavan der Werff (Lauraceae), Bunchosia cuscanaW.R. Anderson (Malpighiaceae), Ficus machupicchuensisC.C. Berg (Moraceae). In the two permanent plots, a total of 69 species were recorded in 1286 individuals. Individually in the SHM – 01 plot, 26 families, 36 genera and 45 species were recorded in 682 individuals; and in the SHM – 02 plot: 22 families, 28 genera and 31 species in 604 individuals. Stored aerial biomass was higher in the Intipunku sector (146 Mg ha-1) compared to Kantupata sector (101 Mg ha-1). Our research shows that the Andean forests of Machu Picchu provide important ecosystem services, and there is still much to do in terms of scientic research. The continued discovery of new tree species in the locality demonstrates the need for conservation to protect forests that support some of the highest levels of endemism in the world

THINK Back: KNowledge-based Interpretation of High Throughput data

Results of high throughput experiments can be challenging to interpret. Current approaches have relied on bulk processing the set of expression levels, in conjunction with easily obtained external evidence, such as co-occurrence. While such techniques can be used to reason probabilistically, they are not designed to shed light on what any individual gene, or a network of genes acting together, may be doing. Our belief is that today we have the information extraction ability and the computational power to perform more sophisticated analyses that consider the individual situation of each gene. The use of such techniques should lead to qualitatively superior results