Home range and habitat use of a bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus L., 1758 along the western border of its Pyrenean distribution area

The region of Gipuzkoa is used on a permanent basis by the bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus L., 1758, but the colonization process is slow, apparently due to the difficulty of finding a permanent mate. This article aims to contribute to evaluating the role of Gipuzkoa, which forms the western border of the Pyrenean population of bearded vulture, in the expansion and conservation of the species. We used data from a territorial adult male which was captured and GPS-tracked. GPS data revealed a habitual home range area of 235 km2 within the Aralar mountains and its surroundings, although this bird also made “excursions” to the western-central Pyrenees, probably in search of social interactions.Our results thus suggest that Gipuzkoa presents a good foraging environment although this is offset by a poor, deficient, social environment. Consequently, compared to zones in the eastern Pyrenees, the colonization of Gipuzkoa and other regions along the west of the Pyrenees is slow, due seemingly to the very high proportion of transients and the difficulties that settled individuals experience in finding a permanent mate

Reforzamiento poblacional del Águila de Bonelli (Aquila fasciata) en Álava-Araba: patrones de dispersión, tasas de mortalidad y retornos filopátricos

Entre 2015 y 2022 se han introducido en Álava-Araba (Kanpezu y Rioja alavesa) mediante hacking un total de 36 pollos volantones de Águila de Bonelli marcados con GPS (Aquila fasciata)procedentes de cría en cautividad y de extracciones de la población natural de Andalucía. Los individuos reintroducidos se dispersaron preferentemente hacia el valle del Ebro (La Rioja, Navarra y Aragón), otros siguiendo el río Duero hacia Castilla-León, Extremadura, Portugal y Andalucía, y algunos cruzando la Meseta norte hasta la cuenca del río Tajo (Toledo). La distancia media de dispersión juvenil fue de 286 Km (0-773 km). El proceso de dispersión no fue lineal sino itinerante realizando sucesivas sedimentaciones temporales en zonas ricas en alimento y sin población reproductora. Las altas tasas de mortalidad fueron similares a las observadas para la población silvestre, con una tasa de supervivencia del 64.7 % durante el primer año, 87.5 % en el segundo y 90.0 % a partir del tercer año de vida. La electrocución en tendidos eléctricos de distribución fue la principal causa de mortalidad (27.3 %), seguida de la predación y competencia con el Águila real (27.3 %) y de la colisión (13.6 %). A pesar de proceder de cría en cautividad las águilas mostraron una fuerte filopatría hacia las zonas de liberación, regresando todas ellas en el 2º y 3eraño, preferentemente en los meses de febrero-marzo de cada temporada. Gracias al reforzamiento poblacional se han formado tres nuevos territorios en el Alto valle del Ebro. ABSTRACT: Between 2015 and 2022, a total of 36 fledglings of Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)bred in captivity (n=28) and extractions from the Andalusian population (n=8), were released by hacking in Álava-Araba (Kanpezu and Rioja Alavesa). All of them were radio-tracked by GPS so that the dispersal patterns, mortality rates and the place and causes of deaths are known. The GPS signal of five of these fledglings was lost (n=4) or the transmitter was lost (n=1) and their current destination is unknown. These juvenile birds dispersed preferentially towards the Ebro valley (La Rioja, Navarra and Aragón), others following the Duero river towards Castilla-León, Extremadura, Portugal and Andalusia, and some crossed the Northern Meseta to the Tajo basin (Toledo). The distance of juvenile dispersal ranged from 0 to 773 km from the release site, with an average of 286 km (n=23). The dispersal process was not linear but rather itinerant, successive temporary settlements occuring in areas rich in food and without a breeding population. The high mortality rates found among the released juveniles were similar to those observed for the wild population, with a survival rate of 64.7 % during the first year, 87.5 % in the second and 90.0 % from the third year of life. We know the cause of death or recovery of 19 birds (n= 22 events). Electrocution in distribution power lines was the main cause of mortality (27.3%), followed by predation and competition with the Golden Eagle (27.3%) and collision (13.6%). Despite being bred in captivity, the eagles showed a strong philopatric tendency towards the release zones, all of them returning in the 2nd and 3rd year, mainly in the months of February-March of each season. Through population reinforcement, three new territories have been formed in the Upper Ebro Valley: one in Kanpezu, which already obtained a juvenile in 2021, another in the Ribera de Navarra, still without breeding, and another in Rioja Alavesa occupied at this time by a single female

Density-dependent effects on productivity in the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus: The role of interference and habitat heterogeneity

Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus in northern Spain were studied between 1969 and 1994. The number of breeding pairs increased from 221 in 1969-1975 to 1395 in 1994. The annual population growth rate decreased in the last 5 years, and this may reflect population regulation through density-dependent phenomena. Breeding success was monitored in 1994 and examined in relation to colony size, density of breeding pairs within a radius of 25 km (regional density), climate, human disturbance and food availability. We also recorded whether the year of first occupation of each nest site was before 1989 or after 1989 and whether or not the nest had a rocky shelter. The probability of successfully raising young declined as the regional density increased, which suggests that resource limitation would take place at foraging sites because the Griffon Vulture scavenges socially and no permanent feeding hierarchies are established. The other significant variable was the year of occupation of the nest; nests occupied after 1989 had a lower probability of raising a chick. The increase in the regional density of Griffon Vultures produced a decrease in the productivity at both optimal and suboptimal nest sites. This suggests that density-dependent regulation of breeding success operates through interference and that all the individuals in a colony are similarly affected. In birds of prey, prevalence of interference or habitat heterogeneity may be dependent on the social strategy of each species in space exploitation.Peer Reviewe

Assessment of a New ROS1 Immunohistochemistry Clone (SP384) for the Identification of ROS1 Rearrangements in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma : the ROSING Study

Altres ajuts: Funding for this study was provided bythe iLUNG Program (B2017/BMD-3884) from the Comunidad de Madrid.Introduction: The ROS1 gene rearrangement has become an important biomarker in NSCLC. The College of American Pathologists/International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/Association for Molecular Pathology testing guidelines support the use of ROS1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a screening test, followed by confirmation with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or a molecular test in all positive results. We have evaluated a novel anti-ROS1 IHC antibody (SP384) in a large multicenter series to obtain real-world data. Methods: A total of 43 ROS1 FISH-positive and 193 ROS1 FISH-negative NSCLC samples were studied. All specimens were screened by using two antibodies (clone D4D6 from Cell Signaling Technology and clone SP384 from Ventana Medical Systems), and the different interpretation criteria were compared with break-apart FISH (Vysis). FISH-positive samples were also analyzed with next-generation sequencing (Oncomine Dx Target Test Panel, Thermo Fisher Scientific). Results: An H-score of 150 or higher or the presence of at least 70% of tumor cells with an intensity of staining of 2+ or higher by the SP384 clone was the optimal cutoff value (both with 93% sensitivity and 100% specificity). The D4D6 clone showed similar results, with an H-score of at least 100 (91% sensitivity and 100% specificity). ROS1 expression in normal lung was more frequent with use of the SP384 clone (p < 0.0001). The ezrin gene (EZR)-ROS1 variant was associated with membranous staining and an isolated green signal FISH pattern (p = 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Conclusions: The new SP384 ROS1 IHC clone showed excellent sensitivity without compromising specificity, so it is another excellent analytical option for the proposed testing algorithm

Assessment of a new ROS1 immunohistochemistry clone (SP384) for the identification of ROS1 rearrangements in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma: the ROSING study

Introduction: The ROS1 gene rearrangement has become an important biomarker in NSCLC. The College of American Pathologists/International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/Association for Molecular Pathology testing guidelines support the use of ROS1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a screening test, followed by confirmation with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or a molecular test in all positive results. We have evaluated a novel anti-ROS1 IHC antibody (SP384) in a large multicenter series to obtain real-world data. Methods: A total of 43 ROS1 FISH-positive and 193 ROS1 FISH-negative NSCLC samples were studied. All specimens were screened by using two antibodies (clone D4D6 from Cell Signaling Technology and clone SP384 from Ventana Medical Systems), and the different interpretation criteria were compared with break-apart FISH (Vysis). FISH-positive samples were also analyzed with next-generation sequencing (Oncomine Dx Target Test Panel, Thermo Fisher Scientific). Results: An H-score of 150 or higher or the presence of at least 70% of tumor cells with an intensity of staining of 2+ or higher by the SP384 clone was the optimal cutoff value (both with 93% sensitivity and 100% specificity). The D4D6 clone showed similar results, with an H-score of at least 100 (91% sensitivity and 100% specificity). ROS1 expression in normal lung was more frequent with use of the SP384 clone (p < 0.0001). The ezrin gene (EZR)-ROS1 variant was associated with membranous staining and an isolated green signal FISH pattern (p = 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Conclusions: The new SP384 ROS1 IHC clone showed excellent sensitivity without compromising specificity, so it is another excellent analytical option for the proposed testing algorithm