El futuro de las revistas científicas españolas: un esfuerzo científico, social e institucional

In spite of the increasingly high level of scientific production by Spanish researchers on terrestrial vertebrate biology, Spanish journals on this topic are, paradoxically, in a delicate situation that seriously threatens their future. This paper surnrnarises the results obtained in an analysis of the current situation of these journals and their perspectives for the near future: Such results are fully applicable to most scientific journals edited both in Spain and in countries in a similar situation. The international status of a journal determines the quality and quantity of original works that receives and publishes. The quality of the published papers was, in turn, the rnain deterrnining factor of this international status until the appearance of the "impact factors" elaborated by a private company, the North American lnstitute for Scientific lnformation (ISI), The ISI also elaborates a list of journals classified according to their irnpact factors, as well as to a nurnber of inclusion criteria. In spite of the fact that both the irnpact factors and the criteria for inclusion of journals are now under close scrutiny by the scientific cornrnunity, journals not included on this list are considered "non-prestigious". The future of such journals is thus threatened as this " label" prevents scientists frorn subrnitting their good quality papers to thern. Few Spanish scientific journals are included on the list, and the ISI is reluctant to lengthen it unless the journals are new, published in English and, usually, supported by the major publishing houses which monopolise the international rnarket of scientific publications. Most Spanish scientific journals, especially those focused on terrestrial vertebrates, are published by scientific societies integrated by both professional scientists and naturalists interested in the study of these organisrns. The Spanish Administration partially supported some of them in the past through specific funding. In addition, sorne journals were fully supported by public funds, but they have either disappeared or are not published periodically. This situation contradicts the governrnent's objectives to prornote the Spanish language and to obtain returns on the investment in training high-level scientists. On this basis, one way to ensure the long-term rnaintenance of Spanish journals would be to enhance alternatives such as the publication of local studies or the support and training of novel scientists. This option may be carried out by scientific societies thernselves without institutional aid by means of ¡.e. reducing the subscription cost, as far as some disagreernents between the scientific and non-scientific partners were solved properly. However, this would limit the international projection of the Spanish journals. The only alternative would be a social, institutional and political agreement aimed at promoting those Spanish journals, either already established or new, with the best perspectives for international diffusion. The final goal should be the inclusion of these journals on the ISI list. The co-ordinated efforts of scientists, scientific societies and the administration would thus eventually reach the objective of maintaining high-quality scientific journals, one of the main mid-term returns on the investment in science. Key words: Problems for long-term maintenance, Scientific journals, Scientific policy, Scientific societies, Social and institutional support, Terrestrial vertebrates.In spite of the increasingly high level of scientific production by Spanish researchers on terrestrial vertebrate biology, Spanish journals on this topic are, paradoxically, in a delicate situation that seriously threatens their future. This paper surnrnarises the results obtained in an analysis of the current situation of these journals and their perspectives for the near future: Such results are fully applicable to most scientific journals edited both in Spain and in countries in a similar situation. The international status of a journal determines the quality and quantity of original works that receives and publishes. The quality of the published papers was, in turn, the rnain deterrnining factor of this international status until the appearance of the "impact factors" elaborated by a private company, the North American lnstitute for Scientific lnformation (ISI), The ISI also elaborates a list of journals classified according to their irnpact factors, as well as to a nurnber of inclusion criteria. In spite of the fact that both the irnpact factors and the criteria for inclusion of journals are now under close scrutiny by the scientific cornrnunity, journals not included on this list are considered "non-prestigious". The future of such journals is thus threatened as this " label" prevents scientists frorn subrnitting their good quality papers to thern. Few Spanish scientific journals are included on the list, and the ISI is reluctant to lengthen it unless the journals are new, published in English and, usually, supported by the major publishing houses which monopolise the international rnarket of scientific publications. Most Spanish scientific journals, especially those focused on terrestrial vertebrates, are published by scientific societies integrated by both professional scientists and naturalists interested in the study of these organisrns. The Spanish Administration partially supported some of them in the past through specific funding. In addition, sorne journals were fully supported by public funds, but they have either disappeared or are not published periodically. This situation contradicts the governrnent's objectives to prornote the Spanish language and to obtain returns on the investment in training high-level scientists. On this basis, one way to ensure the long-term rnaintenance of Spanish journals would be to enhance alternatives such as the publication of local studies or the support and training of novel scientists. This option may be carried out by scientific societies thernselves without institutional aid by means of ¡.e. reducing the subscription cost, as far as some disagreernents between the scientific and non-scientific partners were solved properly. However, this would limit the international projection of the Spanish journals. The only alternative would be a social, institutional and political agreement aimed at promoting those Spanish journals, either already established or new, with the best perspectives for international diffusion. The final goal should be the inclusion of these journals on the ISI list. The co-ordinated efforts of scientists, scientific societies and the administration would thus eventually reach the objective of maintaining high-quality scientific journals, one of the main mid-term returns on the investment in science. Key words: Problems for long-term maintenance, Scientific journals, Scientific policy, Scientific societies, Social and institutional support, Terrestrial vertebrates.In spite of the increasingly high level of scientific production by Spanish researchers on terrestrial vertebrate biology, Spanish journals on this topic are, paradoxically, in a delicate situation that seriously threatens their future. This paper surnrnarises the results obtained in an analysis of the current situation of these journals and their perspectives for the near future: Such results are fully applicable to most scientific journals edited both in Spain and in countries in a similar situation. The international status of a journal determines the quality and quantity of original works that receives and publishes. The quality of the published papers was, in turn, the rnain deterrnining factor of this international status until the appearance of the "impact factors" elaborated by a private company, the North American lnstitute for Scientific lnformation (ISI), The ISI also elaborates a list of journals classified according to their irnpact factors, as well as to a nurnber of inclusion criteria. In spite of the fact that both the irnpact factors and the criteria for inclusion of journals are now under close scrutiny by the scientific cornrnunity, journals not included on this list are considered "non-prestigious". The future of such journals is thus threatened as this " label" prevents scientists frorn subrnitting their good quality papers to thern. Few Spanish scientific journals are included on the list, and the ISI is reluctant to lengthen it unless the journals are new, published in English and, usually, supported by the major publishing houses which monopolise the international rnarket of scientific publications. Most Spanish scientific journals, especially those focused on terrestrial vertebrates, are published by scientific societies integrated by both professional scientists and naturalists interested in the study of these organisrns. The Spanish Administration partially supported some of them in the past through specific funding. In addition, sorne journals were fully supported by public funds, but they have either disappeared or are not published periodically. This situation contradicts the governrnent's objectives to prornote the Spanish language and to obtain returns on the investment in training high-level scientists. On this basis, one way to ensure the long-term rnaintenance of Spanish journals would be to enhance alternatives such as the publication of local studies or the support and training of novel scientists. This option may be carried out by scientific societies thernselves without institutional aid by means of ¡.e. reducing the subscription cost, as far as some disagreernents between the scientific and non-scientific partners were solved properly. However, this would limit the international projection of the Spanish journals. The only alternative would be a social, institutional and political agreement aimed at promoting those Spanish journals, either already established or new, with the best perspectives for international diffusion. The final goal should be the inclusion of these journals on the ISI list. The co-ordinated efforts of scientists, scientific societies and the administration would thus eventually reach the objective of maintaining high-quality scientific journals, one of the main mid-term returns on the investment in science. Key words: Problems for long-term maintenance, Scientific journals, Scientific policy, Scientific societies, Social and institutional support, Terrestrial vertebrates

Increased individual homozygosity is correlated with low fitness in a fragmented lizard population

Isolation owing to anthropogenic habitat fragmentation is expected to increase the homozygosity of individuals, which might reduce their fitness as a result of inbreeding depression. Using samples from a fragmented population of the lizard Psammodromus algirus, for which we had data about two correlates of fitness, we genotyped individuals for six microsatellite loci that correctly capture genome-wide individual homozygosity of these lizards (as validated with an independent sample of lizards genotyped for both these microsatellites and > 70 000 single nucleotide polymorphisms). Our data revealed genetic structure at a very small geographical scale, which was compatible with restricted gene flow among populations disconnected in a matrix of inhospitable habitat. Lizards from the same fragment were genetically more related to one another than expected by chance, and individual homozygosity was greater in small than in large fragments. Within fragments, individual homozygosity was negatively associated with adult body size and clutch mass, revealing a link among reduced gene flow, increased homozygosity and lowered fitness that might reduce population viability deterministically. Our results contribute to mounting evidence of the impact of the loss of genetic diversity on fragmented wild populations

El futuro de las revistas científicas españolas: un esfuerzo científico, social e institucional

In spite of the high and growing level of scientific production by the Spanish researchers on terrestrial vertebrate biology, the Spanish journals on this topic are, paradoxically, in a delicate situation that seriously threatens their future. This paper summarises the results obtained in an analysis of the current situation of these journals and their perspectives for the future. Such results are fully applicable to most scientific journals edited both in Spain and in similar countries. The international status of a journal determines the quality and quantity of original works that it receives and publishes. The quality of the published papers was, in turn, the main determining factor of this international status until the appearance of the ‘impact factors’ elaborated by a private company, the North American Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). This Institute also elaborates a list of journals ranked according to their impact factors, as well as a number of criteria for the inclusion of journals in that list. Despite the fact that both the impact factors and the criteria for inclusion of journals are now under close scrutiny by the scientific community, the journals which are not included in this list are considered as ‘non-prestigious’. This threatens the future of these journals because this ‘label’ prevents scientists from sending their good quality papers to them. Most Spanish scientific journals are not in the list, and the ISI is reluctant to enlarge it unless the journals were new, published in English and, usually, supported by the big publishers that monopolise the international market of scientific publications. Most Spanish scientific journals, especially those focused on terrestrial vertebrates, are published by scientific societies integrated by both professional scientists and naturalists interested in the study of these organisms. The Spanish Administration partially supported some of them in the past by means of specific funds. In addition, there are/were some journals fully supported by public funds, but they have disappeared or are not published periodically. This situation contradicts the government’s objectives to promote the Spanish language and to obtain returns from the investment in training high-level scientists. On this basis, a way to ensure the long-term maintenance of the Spanish journals would be to enhance alternatives such as the publication of local studies or the support and training of novel scientists. This option may be carried out by the scientific societies without institutional aid by means of i.e. reducing the subscription assuming that some disagreements between the scientific and non-scientific partners were solved properly. However, this would limit the international projection of the Spanish journals. The only alternative would be a social, institutional and political agreement aimed at promoting the Spanish journals with the best perspectives of international diffusion, either already established or new. The final goal should be the inclusion of these journals in the ISI list. In this way, the co-ordinated efforts of scientists, scientific societies and the Administration would eventually reach the objective of maintaining highquality scientific journals, one of the main medium-term returns of the investment in science.A pesar del elevado y creciente nivel y producción científica de los investigadores españoles sobre biología de vertebrados terrestres, las revistas españolas dedicadas a estos organismos se encuentran, paradójicamente, en una delicada situación que compromete seriamente su futuro. En este trabajo se resumen las conclusiones obtenidas al analizar la situación actual y las perspectivas futuras de estas revistas, que son plenamente aplicables a la mayor parte de las revistas científicas de países como el nuestro. El prestigio internacional de una revista determina en gran medida la calidad y cantidad de los trabajos originales que recibe, los cuales a su vez determinaban dicho prestigio internacional hasta la aparición de los índices de impacto elaborados por una empresa privada, el Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) norteamericano, y de la lista de revistas ordenadas según impacto. Las revistas que no están en esta lista se consideran, de modo un tanto artificial, como exentas de prestigio, lo cual compromete su futuro al recibir cada vez menos trabajos originales y de menor calidad, pues los científicos intentan publicar sus resultados en las revistas que se consideran prestigiosas. La mayor parte de las revistas científicas españolas no están en la lista, y el ISI es reacio a ampliarla a no ser que se trate de revistas nuevas, publicadas en inglés y, normalmente, respaldadas por las grandes editoriales que acaparan el mercado internacional de publicaciones científicas. Las revistas científicas españolas, y en especial las dedicadas a los vertebrados terrestres, son editadas por sociedades científicas integradas tanto por científicos profesionales y en formación como por socios aficionados al estudio de estos organismos. La Administración apoyó en el pasado a algunas de ellas mediante convocatorias públicas de fondos específicos, y ha editado y edita algunas otras que o bien han acabado por desaparecer o se publican de modo irregular. Esta situación se deriva de la precariedad del apoyo institucional a la investigación científica en España y está en contradicción con los objetivos de potenciación del idioma español, así como de la obtención de retornos de las inversiones en formación de científicos de alto nivel en forma de publicaciones científicas. Un modo de asegurar el futuro de estas revistas sería potenciar sus funciones alternativas de publicación de resultados de interés local o apoyo a científicos noveles, una labor que podrían realizar las sociedades científicas abaratando costes de suscripción y resolviendo los conflictos de intereses existentes entre sus socios científicos y no científicos. Esta opción, sin embargo, limita inevitablemente la proyección internacional de nuestras revistas, con lo que sería necesario además establecer un pacto social, institucional y político que potencie revistas científicas con alto potencial de impacto internacional, ya constituidas o nuevas, de cara a su cobertura por el ISI. Mientras se alcanza este objetivo, se debería valorar objetiva e institucionalmente la utilidad científica de estas revistas a la hora de evaluar curricula de investigación. De este modo, la Administración estaría un poco más a la altura de los esfuerzos e inversiones personales realizados por los socios de las sociedades científicas españolas, unos esfuerzos que han sido hasta el momento los únicos que han mantenido y potenciado la ciencia española a través de uno de sus principales medios de difusión: las revistas científicas

El futuro de las revistas científicas españolas: un esfuerzo científico, social e institucional

In spite of the high and growing level of scientific production by the Spanish researchers on terrestrial vertebrate biology, the Spanish journals on this topic are, paradoxically, in a delicate situation that seriously threatens their future. This paper summarises the results obtained in an analysis of the current situation of these journals and their perspectives for the future. Such results are fully applicable to most scientific journals edited both in Spain and in similar countries. The international status of a journal determines the quality and quantity of original works that it receives and publishes. The quality of the published papers was, in turn, the main determining factor of this international status until the appearance of the ‘impact factors’ elaborated by a private company, the North American Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). This Institute also elaborates a list of journals ranked according to their impact factors, as well as a number of criteria for the inclusion of journals in that list. Despite the fact that both the impact factors and the criteria for inclusion of journals are now under close scrutiny by the scientific community, the journals which are not included in this list are considered as ‘non-prestigious’. This threatens the future of these journals because this ‘label’ prevents scientists from sending their good quality papers to them. Most Spanish scientific journals are not in the list, and the ISI is reluctant to enlarge it unless the journals were new, published in English and, usually, supported by the big publishers that monopolise the international market of scientific publications. Most Spanish scientific journals, especially those focused on terrestrial vertebrates, are published by scientific societies integrated by both professional scientists and naturalists interested in the study of these organisms. The Spanish Administration partially supported some of them in the past by means of specific funds. In addition, there are/were some journals fully supported by public funds, but they have disappeared or are not published periodically. This situation contradicts the government’s objectives to promote the Spanish language and to obtain returns from the investment in training high-level scientists. On this basis, a way to ensure the long-term maintenance of the Spanish journals would be to enhance alternatives such as the publication of local studies or the support and training of novel scientists. This option may be carried out by the scientific societies without institutional aid by means of i.e. reducing the subscription assuming that some disagreements between the scientific and non-scientific partners were solved properly. However, this would limit the international projection of the Spanish journals. The only alternative would be a social, institutional and political agreement aimed at promoting the Spanish journals with the best perspectives of international diffusion, either already established or new. The final goal should be the inclusion of these journals in the ISI list. In this way, the co-ordinated efforts of scientists, scientific societies and the Administration would eventually reach the objective of maintaining highquality scientific journals, one of the main medium-term returns of the investment in science.A pesar del elevado y creciente nivel y producción científica de los investigadores españoles sobre biología de vertebrados terrestres, las revistas españolas dedicadas a estos organismos se encuentran, paradójicamente, en una delicada situación que compromete seriamente su futuro. En este trabajo se resumen las conclusiones obtenidas al analizar la situación actual y las perspectivas futuras de estas revistas, que son plenamente aplicables a la mayor parte de las revistas científicas de países como el nuestro. El prestigio internacional de una revista determina en gran medida la calidad y cantidad de los trabajos originales que recibe, los cuales a su vez determinaban dicho prestigio internacional hasta la aparición de los índices de impacto elaborados por una empresa privada, el Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) norteamericano, y de la lista de revistas ordenadas según impacto. Las revistas que no están en esta lista se consideran, de modo un tanto artificial, como exentas de prestigio, lo cual compromete su futuro al recibir cada vez menos trabajos originales y de menor calidad, pues los científicos intentan publicar sus resultados en las revistas que se consideran prestigiosas. La mayor parte de las revistas científicas españolas no están en la lista, y el ISI es reacio a ampliarla a no ser que se trate de revistas nuevas, publicadas en inglés y, normalmente, respaldadas por las grandes editoriales que acaparan el mercado internacional de publicaciones científicas. Las revistas científicas españolas, y en especial las dedicadas a los vertebrados terrestres, son editadas por sociedades científicas integradas tanto por científicos profesionales y en formación como por socios aficionados al estudio de estos organismos. La Administración apoyó en el pasado a algunas de ellas mediante convocatorias públicas de fondos específicos, y ha editado y edita algunas otras que o bien han acabado por desaparecer o se publican de modo irregular. Esta situación se deriva de la precariedad del apoyo institucional a la investigación científica en España y está en contradicción con los objetivos de potenciación del idioma español, así como de la obtención de retornos de las inversiones en formación de científicos de alto nivel en forma de publicaciones científicas. Un modo de asegurar el futuro de estas revistas sería potenciar sus funciones alternativas de publicación de resultados de interés local o apoyo a científicos noveles, una labor que podrían realizar las sociedades científicas abaratando costes de suscripción y resolviendo los conflictos de intereses existentes entre sus socios científicos y no científicos. Esta opción, sin embargo, limita inevitablemente la proyección internacional de nuestras revistas, con lo que sería necesario además establecer un pacto social, institucional y político que potencie revistas científicas con alto potencial de impacto internacional, ya constituidas o nuevas, de cara a su cobertura por el ISI. Mientras se alcanza este objetivo, se debería valorar objetiva e institucionalmente la utilidad científica de estas revistas a la hora de evaluar curricula de investigación. De este modo, la Administración estaría un poco más a la altura de los esfuerzos e inversiones personales realizados por los socios de las sociedades científicas españolas, unos esfuerzos que han sido hasta el momento los únicos que han mantenido y potenciado la ciencia española a través de uno de sus principales medios de difusión: las revistas científicas

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

La reproducción de Hyla meridionalis en el suroeste de EspañaAlimentación y relaciones tróficas entre larvas de Triturus marmoratus, T. alpestris y T. helveticus (Amphibia: CaudataOrganization of behaviour in isolated lizards (Gallotia galloti galloti) as revealed by multivariate analyseComposición y estructura de las comunidades de aves a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal en tres medios arbustivos del macizo de Ayllón(Sistema Central)La comunidad de aves de un acebuchar del sur de España durante el periodo invernal y de cria.Alimentación del buho chico (Asio otus) en la isla de Tenerife y análisis comparativo con la dieta de Tyto albaAlimentación del zorzal charlo (Turdus viscivoros) en la sierra de Cazorla, SE de España.La migración en España del verderón común (Carduelis chloris, L.) según los resultados de anillamientoIdentificación de los principales quirópteros ibéricos a partir de sus dientes aislados. Valor sistemático de los caracteres morfológicos y métricos dentariosRitmo de actividad en Gazella dorcasSobre la sistemática y biología de Eliomys quercinus en la Cordillera Cantábrica.Primeras citas de Barbus microcephalus Almaça, 1967 (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae) en EspañaSobre la presencia de Lampetra planeri BLOCH, 1784 en España.Sobre el status taxonómico del género Valencia Myers, 1928 en el suroeste de IberiaNuevas localidades de Chondrostroma polypis Steindachner, 1865 (Ostariophysi, Cyprinidae) en España.Sobre la distribución Gobio gobio (L., 1758)(OSTAOPHYSI, CIPRINIDAE) en EspañaNotas sobre la alimentación de larvas de anfibios: 2. Salamandra salamandra de CazorlaNuevos datos sobre la permanencia de caracteres larvarios en individuos adultos de una población de tritón pirenaico (Euproctus asper) en el valle de AránLa variación del diseño natural como método de reconocimiento individual en Triturus boscaiPresencia de Triturus boscai en la provincia de Córdoba.Datos sobre la alimentación de Athene cunicularia en la Reserva de fauna altoandina de Ulla-Ulla, Bolivia.Falco peregrinus cassini en BoliviaAlgunos datos sobre quirópteros de Galicia.Notas sobre la alimentación de la nutria (Lutra lutra) en el embalse de Matavacas, HuelvaPeer reviewe

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Clave preliminar de las escamas de los peces de agua dulce de España, a nivel de familiaExito reproductor del Buitre leonado (Gyps fulvus) en NavarraAlimentación del Gavilán (Accipiter nisus) en la Isla de TenerifeEl Verdecillo (Serinus serinus): Tendencias en la estación de nidificación, en el tamaño del huevo y en la supervivencia.las batidas como método de censo en especiesde caza mayor: aplicación al caso del Jabalí (Sus scrofa L.) en la provincia de Burgos (Norte de España)La adquisición de madurez sexual en el camaleón común (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)Nuevas citas de Hemidactylus turcicus en la provincia de CáceresLa focha común (Fulica atra) en la isla de Gran Canaria: nueva especie nidificante en el archipiélago CanarioTraslado de huevos en incubación por la urraca (Pica pica)Predación de Falco peregrinus sobre Oryctolagus cuniculusCuatro nuevas especies de aves para Bolivia.Sobre la utilización de nidos de golondrina común abandonados.Parasitismo múltiple del críalo (Clamator glandarius)Predación del topo de rio (Galemys pyrenaicus, Geoffroy 1811) por parte de la lechuza común (Tyto alba, Scopoli 1769)Predación del zorro (Vulpes vulpes) sobre un pollo de buitre leonado (Gyps fulvus).Vulpes vulpes L. criando en una colonia de marmota (Marmota marmota L.) en el pirineo de LéridaObservaciones sobre la incidencia de Rattus (Fischer, 1803) en los cultivos ibéricos de caña de azúcaSituación actual de la jutiita de la tierra Capromys sanfelipensis (Rodentia, Mammalia)Notas sobre la intraducción y expansión de la ardilla común en Sierra Nevada, sureste de EspañaPeer reviewe

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Dietary α‐Linolenic Acid, Marine ω‐3 Fatty Acids, and Mortality in a Population With High Fish Consumption: Findings From the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) Study

Background: Epidemiological evidence suggests a cardioprotective role of α‐linolenic acid (ALA), a plant‐derived ω‐3 fatty acid. It is unclear whether ALA is beneficial in a background of high marine ω‐3 fatty acids (long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) intake. In persons at high cardiovascular risk from Spain, a country in which fish consumption is customarily high, we investigated whether meeting the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids recommendation for dietary ALA (0.7% of total energy) at baseline was related to all‐cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. We also examined the effect of meeting the society's recommendation for long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (≥500 mg/day). Methods and Results: We longitudinally evaluated 7202 participants in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) trial. Multivariable‐adjusted Cox regression models were fitted to estimate hazard ratios. ALA intake correlated to walnut consumption (r=0.94). During a 5.9‐y follow‐up, 431 deaths occurred (104 cardiovascular disease, 55 coronary heart disease, 32 sudden cardiac death, 25 stroke). The hazard ratios for meeting ALA recommendation (n=1615, 22.4%) were 0.72 (95% CI 0.56–0.92) for all‐cause mortality and 0.95 (95% CI 0.58–1.57) for fatal cardiovascular disease. The hazard ratios for meeting the recommendation for long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n=5452, 75.7%) were 0.84 (95% CI 0.67–1.05) for all‐cause mortality, 0.61 (95% CI 0.39–0.96) for fatal cardiovascular disease, 0.54 (95% CI 0.29–0.99) for fatal coronary heart disease, and 0.49 (95% CI 0.22–1.01) for sudden cardiac death. The highest reduction in all‐cause mortality occurred in participants meeting both recommendations (hazard ratio 0.63 [95% CI 0.45–0.87]). Conclusions: In participants without prior cardiovascular disease and high fish consumption, dietary ALA, supplied mainly by walnuts and olive oil, relates inversely to all‐cause mortality, whereas protection from cardiac mortality is limited to fish‐derived long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.Controlled-trials.com/. Unique identifier: ISRCTN35739639

Habitat fragmentation and biodiversity in Spanish plateaus: a long-term perspective

El estudio a largo plazo de los efectos de la fragmentación del hábitat en un mismo territorio tiene dos ventajas: facilita la comprensión de procesos no siempre evidentes en aproximaciones puntuales y permite incorporar con rapidez nuevas ideas y metodologías en un laboratorio natural bien conocido. En este artículo describimos la progresión de nuestros estudios en un paisaje castellano de bosques fragmentados donde hemos trabajado durante las dos últimas décadas. Aprovechamos esta perspectiva histórica para comentar los planteamientos imperantes en cada momento y la forma en que los adaptamos a nuestros intereses. En ese camino hemos basculado entre el estudio de los patrones (distribución de especies, condición corporal o éxito reproductivo) y el estudio de los procesos (efectos de la abundancia, estructura del hábitat, dispersión, depredación, gregarismo y comportamiento), utilizando diferentes modelos (árboles, aves, reptiles y mamíferos) y metodologías (observaciones, manipulación del hábitat, reintroducciones o marcadores moleculares).The benefits of conducting long-term studies of the effects of habitat fragmentation in a single locality are twofold: such studies improve our knowledge of processes that are not always evident in snapshot approaches, plus they allow researchers to rapidly update their ideas and methods in a well-known natural laboratory. In this paper, we describe the progression of our research in a landscape of fragmented forests located in northern Spain, where we have worked during the last two decades. We take advantage of a historical perspective to comment on the scientific paradigms that framed habitat fragmentation research at different times, and the way we fitted our own research interests to such paradigms. Along this path, we have hopped between the description of patterns (from species’ distributions to variation in individual body condition or breeding success) and the analysis of processes (effects of abundance, habitat structure, dispersal, predation, sociality and other aspects of behaviour), for which we have used different model species (trees, birds, reptiles and mammals) and methods, including observation, habitat manipulation, reintroductions or molecular markers