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The Atacama Desert represents the highest levels of mining exploitation in Chile, which inexorably results in high levels of pollution. Raptors, and particularly scavengers, have shown their usefulness to evaluate exposure to environmental contaminants in polluted scenarios. In this study, we used primary feathers from a local avian scavenger, turkey vulture Cathartes aura, to evaluate the exposure to cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in two locations from the southern Atacama Desert (coastal and inland) and a third location from the bordering semiarid region, in northern Chile. All metals were detected in all analyzed samples (n = 54). Mean concentrations in Coastal Atacama were 0.68 ± 0.84 ppm for Cd; 1.97 ± 2.01 ppm for Pb; 59.11 ± 80.69 ppm for Cu; and 107.96 ± 51.00 ppm for Zn, while mean concentrations in Inland Atacama were 0.55 ± 0.42 ppm for Cd; 3.37 ± 2.61 ppm for Pb; 91.66 ± 77.74 ppm for Cu; and 214.03 ± 99.08 ppm for Zn. Mean concentrations in Coastal Coquimbo were 0.63 ± 0.69 ppm for Cd; 1.57 ± 0.92 ppm for Pb; 18.09 ± 6.12 ppm for Cu; and 149.37 ± 105.56 ppm for Zn. These differences could be explained by differences on abundance of mining settlements among areas. According to the literature, these values are very high for all metals, exceeding in some cases those values referred as responsible of health disorders in birds. We strongly recommend further research looking at potential adverse effects caused by heavy metal pollution on the health of human and wildlife populations in the southern Atacama Desert.
G. López-Berenguer; J. M. Pérez-García; A. J. García-Fernández; E. Martínez-López. High Levels of Heavy Metals detected in Feathers of an Avian Scavenger Warn of a High Pollution Risk in the Atacama Desert (Chile). Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2021, 81, 227 -235.
AMA StyleG. López-Berenguer, J. M. Pérez-García, A. J. García-Fernández, E. Martínez-López. High Levels of Heavy Metals detected in Feathers of an Avian Scavenger Warn of a High Pollution Risk in the Atacama Desert (Chile). Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 2021; 81 (2):227-235.
Chicago/Turabian StyleG. López-Berenguer; J. M. Pérez-García; A. J. García-Fernández; E. Martínez-López. 2021. "High Levels of Heavy Metals detected in Feathers of an Avian Scavenger Warn of a High Pollution Risk in the Atacama Desert (Chile)." Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 81, no. 2: 227-235.
Nature's contributions to people (NCP) are fundamental to human well-being. In particular, non-material NCP, defined as effects on personal perspectives which enhance people's quality of life, are currently the most abstract and least well-defined NCP. Avian scavengers are a globally threatened guild that plays a key role in our society but currently only valued for their NCP of disease control and carcass removal. We describe the first economic valuation of the recreational and educational experiences brought by avian scavenger-based tourism in Spain, concretely, at vulture supplementary feeding sites (SFS) in the Pyrenees and their important contribution to the incomes of the local human population. Between February 2018 and January 2020, we collected information on the management and characteristics of 53 (c. 80%) of the Pyrenean SFS using telephone interviews and questionnaires. We estimated that photography and avian scavenger-watching at SFS produce an average of US $4.90 ± 2.67 million annually, including US $2.53 ± 1.36 million in direct economic benefits to the local population. Using a conservative economic approach, this study is one of only a few to value some of the important non-material contribution provided by avian scavengers to our society. Our study also suggests that further research on non-material NCP provided by avian scavengers at SFS is needed. Finally, we discuss the delicate balance between recreational experiences arising from wildlife-based tourism and biodiversity conservation, contrasting the contribution of SFS to the income of local human populations against the problems they raise for vulture conservation.
Ruth García-Jiménez; Zebensui Morales-Reyes; Juan M. Pérez-García; Antoni Margalida. Economic valuation of non-material contributions to people provided by avian scavengers: Harmonizing conservation and wildlife-based tourism. Ecological Economics 2021, 187, 107088 .
AMA StyleRuth García-Jiménez, Zebensui Morales-Reyes, Juan M. Pérez-García, Antoni Margalida. Economic valuation of non-material contributions to people provided by avian scavengers: Harmonizing conservation and wildlife-based tourism. Ecological Economics. 2021; 187 ():107088.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuth García-Jiménez; Zebensui Morales-Reyes; Juan M. Pérez-García; Antoni Margalida. 2021. "Economic valuation of non-material contributions to people provided by avian scavengers: Harmonizing conservation and wildlife-based tourism." Ecological Economics 187, no. : 107088.
Despite the essential role that vertebrate scavengers play in ecosystems, most studies have been conducted in Europe and North America, and there is a lack of information on vertebrate scavengers in vast regions of the world. Our aim was to describe the functioning and composition of the unknown vertebrate scavenger assemblage in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, and determine how carcass size and habitat type affect species composition and carrion use. We monitored carcasses with camera traps and we also conducted observation points to survey the raptor community and identify the proportion of raptor species making use of the carcasses. We recorded eight vertebrate scavenger species (five birds and three mammals) by camera trap and seven raptors at observation points. Over half of the raptor species recorded at the observation points were also found feeding on carrion. The two most threatened species were only recorded in the mountain habitat. Furthermore, scavenger abundance and consumption rates were higher at large carcasses. This study highlights the importance of scavenging by raptors and other vertebrate scavengers for carrion elimination in ecosystems with extreme climatic conditions.
Adrian Orihuela-Torres; Zebensui Morales-Reyes; Juan M. Pérez-García; Lara Naves-Alegre; José A. Sánchez-Zapata; Esther Sebastián-González. Unravelling the vertebrate scavenger assemblage in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Journal of Arid Environments 2021, 190, 104509 .
AMA StyleAdrian Orihuela-Torres, Zebensui Morales-Reyes, Juan M. Pérez-García, Lara Naves-Alegre, José A. Sánchez-Zapata, Esther Sebastián-González. Unravelling the vertebrate scavenger assemblage in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Journal of Arid Environments. 2021; 190 ():104509.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdrian Orihuela-Torres; Zebensui Morales-Reyes; Juan M. Pérez-García; Lara Naves-Alegre; José A. Sánchez-Zapata; Esther Sebastián-González. 2021. "Unravelling the vertebrate scavenger assemblage in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia." Journal of Arid Environments 190, no. : 104509.
Intentional poisoning is a global wildlife problem and an overlooked risk factor for public health. Managing poisoning requires unbiased and high-quality data through wildlife monitoring protocols, which are largely lacking. We herein evaluated the biases associated with current monitoring programmes of wildlife poisoning in Spain. We compared the national poisoning database for the 1990–2015 period with information obtained from a field experiment during which we used camera-traps to detect the species that consumed non-poisoned baits. Our findings suggest that the detection rate of poisoned animals is species-dependent: Several animal groups (e.g., domestic mammalian carnivores and vultures) tended to be over-represented in the poisoning national database, while others (e.g., corvids and small mammals) were underrepresented. As revealed by the GLMM analyses, the probability of a given species being overrepresented was higher for heaviest, aerial, and cryptic species. In conclusion, we found that monitoring poisoned fauna based on heterogeneous sources may produce important biases in detection rates; thus, such information should be used with caution by managers and policy-makers. Our findings may guide to future search efforts aimed to reach a more comprehensive understanding of the intentional wildlife poisoning problem.
José Gil-Sánchez; Natividad Aguilera-Alcalá; Marcos Moleón; Esther Sebastián-González; Antoni Margalida; Zebensui Morales-Reyes; Carlos Durá-Alemañ; Pilar Oliva-Vidal; Juan Pérez-García; José Sánchez-Zapata. Biases in the Detection of Intentionally Poisoned Animals: Public Health and Conservation Implications from a Field Experiment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 1201 .
AMA StyleJosé Gil-Sánchez, Natividad Aguilera-Alcalá, Marcos Moleón, Esther Sebastián-González, Antoni Margalida, Zebensui Morales-Reyes, Carlos Durá-Alemañ, Pilar Oliva-Vidal, Juan Pérez-García, José Sánchez-Zapata. Biases in the Detection of Intentionally Poisoned Animals: Public Health and Conservation Implications from a Field Experiment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (3):1201.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé Gil-Sánchez; Natividad Aguilera-Alcalá; Marcos Moleón; Esther Sebastián-González; Antoni Margalida; Zebensui Morales-Reyes; Carlos Durá-Alemañ; Pilar Oliva-Vidal; Juan Pérez-García; José Sánchez-Zapata. 2021. "Biases in the Detection of Intentionally Poisoned Animals: Public Health and Conservation Implications from a Field Experiment." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 3: 1201.
In recent decades, global positioning system (GPS) location data and satellite telemetry systems for data transmission have become fundamental in the study of basic ecological traits in wildlife biology. Evaluating GPS location errors is essential in assessing detailed information about the behaviour of an animal species such as migration, habitat selection, species distribution or foraging strategy. While many studies of the influence of environmental and technical factors on the fix errors of solar-powered GPS transmitters have been published, few studies have focussed on the performance of GPS systems in relation to a species' biological traits. Here, we evaluate the possible effects of the biological traits of a large raptor on the frequency of lost fixes-the fix-loss rate (FLR). We analysed 95,686 records obtained from 20 Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus tracked with 17 solar-powered satellite transmitters in the Pyrenees (Spain, France and Andorra), between 2006 and 2019 to evaluate the influence of biological, technical, and environmental factors on the fix-loss rate of transmitters. We show that combined effects of technical factors and the biological traits of birds explained 23% of the deviance observed. As expected, the transmitter usage time significantly increased errors in the fix-loss rate, although the flight activity of birds revealed an unexpected trade-off: the greater the proportion of fixes recorded from perched birds, the lower the FLR. This finding seems related with the fact that territorial and breeding birds spend significantly more time flying than non-territorial individuals. The fix success rate is apparently due to the interactions between a complex of factors. Non-territorial adults and subadults, males, and breeding individuals showed a significantly lower FLR than juveniles-immatures females, territorial birds or non-breeding individuals. Animal telemetry tracking studies should include error analyses before reaching any ecological conclusions or hypotheses about spatial distribution.
Ruth García-Jiménez; Antoni Margalida; Juan M. Pérez-García. Influence of individual biological traits on GPS fix-loss errors in wild bird tracking. 2020, 10, 19621 .
AMA StyleRuth García-Jiménez, Antoni Margalida, Juan M. Pérez-García. Influence of individual biological traits on GPS fix-loss errors in wild bird tracking. . 2020; 10 (1):19621.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuth García-Jiménez; Antoni Margalida; Juan M. Pérez-García. 2020. "Influence of individual biological traits on GPS fix-loss errors in wild bird tracking." 10, no. 1: 19621.
Protected areas are central to the conservation of biodiversity across the globe. However, their performance, especially in relation to highly mobile species, is largely dependent on the socio-ecological characteristics of the landscape that surrounds them. Here, we assess the patterns of avian scavenger distribution, including both obligate (i.e., vultures) and facultative (corvids and other raptors) scavenger species, inside and outside of protected areas. We contrast the situation between an African area, which has protected areas surrounded by mostly subsistence stockbreeding (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa) and a European area, which has protected areas surrounded by commercial farming (Ebro Valley, Spain). We found large differences between the two areas. In the South African area, the richness and abundance of vultures, but not of facultative scavengers, were higher inside than outside of protected areas; as a result, the richness and abundance of vultures were negatively related to the distance to the nearest protected area in South Africa. In contrast, the richness and abundance of vultures in the Spanish area were similar inside and outside of protected areas. We obtained similar results when focusing solely on presence and abundance of Gyps vultures. The contrasting effects of protected areas in the distribution of avian scavengers, especially vultures, in the studied areas may be due to differences in agro-systems and socio-economical models that lead to differential availability of ungulate carcasses. We suggest that carrion shortage in the subsistence farming systems in the South African area, whereby domestic livestock carcasses are generally used by householders and thus rarely become available to vultures, should be considered alongside poisoning prevention to help conserve African vulture populations.
Marcos Moleón; Ainara Cortés-Avizanda; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Jesús Bautista; Claire Geoghegan; Martina Carrete; Arjun Amar; José A. Sánchez-Zapata; José A. Donázar. Distribution of avian scavengers inside and outside of protected areas: contrasting patterns between two areas of Spain and South Africa. Biodiversity and Conservation 2020, 29, 3349 -3368.
AMA StyleMarcos Moleón, Ainara Cortés-Avizanda, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Jesús Bautista, Claire Geoghegan, Martina Carrete, Arjun Amar, José A. Sánchez-Zapata, José A. Donázar. Distribution of avian scavengers inside and outside of protected areas: contrasting patterns between two areas of Spain and South Africa. Biodiversity and Conservation. 2020; 29 (11-12):3349-3368.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarcos Moleón; Ainara Cortés-Avizanda; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Jesús Bautista; Claire Geoghegan; Martina Carrete; Arjun Amar; José A. Sánchez-Zapata; José A. Donázar. 2020. "Distribution of avian scavengers inside and outside of protected areas: contrasting patterns between two areas of Spain and South Africa." Biodiversity and Conservation 29, no. 11-12: 3349-3368.
Lead intoxication is an important threat to human health and a large number of wildlife species. Animals are exposed to several sources of lead highlighting hunting ammunition and lead that is bioavailable in topsoil. Disentangling the role of each in lead exposure is an important conservation issue, particularly for species potentially affected by lead poisoning, such as vultures. The identification of lead sources in vultures and other species has been classically addressed by means of stable-isotope comparisons, but the extremely varied isotope signatures found in ammunition hinders this identification when it overlaps with topsoil signatures. In addition, assumptions related to the exposure of individual vultures to lead sources have been made without knowledge of the actual feeding grounds exploited by the birds. Here, we combine lead concentration analysis in blood, novel stable isotope approaches to assign the origin of the lead and GPS tracking data to investigate the main foraging grounds of two Iberian griffon vulture populations (N = 58) whose foraging ranges differ in terms of topsoil lead concentration and intensity of big game hunting activity. We found that the lead signature in vultures was closer to topsoil than to ammunition, but this similarity decreased significantly in the area with higher big game hunting activity. In addition, attending to the individual home ranges of the tracked birds, models accounting for the intensity of hunting activity better explained the higher blood lead concentration in vultures than topsoil exposure. In spite of that, our finding also show that lead exposure from topsoil is more important than previously thought.
Eneko Arrondo; Joan Navarro; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Rafael Mateo; Pablo R. Camarero; Rosa C.Rodríguez Martin-Doimeadios; María Jiménez-Moreno; Ainara Cortés-Avizanda; Isabel Navas; Antonio Juan García-Fernández; José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata; José Antonio Donázar. Dust and bullets: Stable isotopes and GPS tracking disentangle lead sources for a large avian scavenger. Environmental Pollution 2020, 266, 115022 .
AMA StyleEneko Arrondo, Joan Navarro, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Rafael Mateo, Pablo R. Camarero, Rosa C.Rodríguez Martin-Doimeadios, María Jiménez-Moreno, Ainara Cortés-Avizanda, Isabel Navas, Antonio Juan García-Fernández, José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata, José Antonio Donázar. Dust and bullets: Stable isotopes and GPS tracking disentangle lead sources for a large avian scavenger. Environmental Pollution. 2020; 266 ():115022.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEneko Arrondo; Joan Navarro; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Rafael Mateo; Pablo R. Camarero; Rosa C.Rodríguez Martin-Doimeadios; María Jiménez-Moreno; Ainara Cortés-Avizanda; Isabel Navas; Antonio Juan García-Fernández; José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata; José Antonio Donázar. 2020. "Dust and bullets: Stable isotopes and GPS tracking disentangle lead sources for a large avian scavenger." Environmental Pollution 266, no. : 115022.
The organization of ecological assemblages has important implications for ecosystem functioning, but little is known about how scavenger communities organize at the global scale. Here, we test four hypotheses on the factors affecting the network structure of terrestrial vertebrate scavenger assemblages and its implications on ecosystem functioning. We expect scavenger assemblages to be more nested (i.e. structured): 1) in species‐rich and productive regions, as nestedness has been linked to high competition for carrion resources, and 2) regions with low human impact, because the most efficient carrion consumers that promote nestedness are large vertebrate scavengers, which are especially sensitive to human persecution. 3) We also expect climatic conditions to affect assemblage structure, because some scavenger assemblages have been shown to be more nested in colder months. Finally, 4) we expect more organized assemblages to be more efficient in the consumption of the resource. We first analyzed the relationship between the nestedness of the scavenger assemblages and climatic variables (i.e. temperature, precipitation, temperature variability and precipitation variability), ecosystem productivity and biomass (i.e. NDVI) and degree of human impact (i.e. human footprint) using 53 study sites in 22 countries across five continents. Then, we related structure (i.e. nestedness) with its function (i.e. carrion consumption rate). We found a more nested structure for scavenger assemblages in regions with higher NDVI values and lower human footprint. Moreover, more organized assemblages were more efficient in the consumption of carrion. However, our results did not support the prediction that the structure of the scavenger assemblages is directly related to climate. Our findings suggest that the nested structure of vertebrate scavenger assemblages affects its functionality and is driven by anthropogenic disturbance and ecosystem productivity worldwide. Disarray of scavenger assemblage structure by anthropogenic disturbance may lead to decreases in functionality of the terrestrial ecosystems via loss of key species and trophic facilitation processes.
Esther Sebastián‐González; Zebensui Morales‐Reyes; Francisco Botella; Lara Naves Alegre; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Patricia Mateo‐Tomás; Pedro P. Olea; Marcos Moleón; Jomar Magalhaes Barbosa; Fernando Hiraldo; Eneko Arrondo; José A. Donázar; Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda; Nuria Selva; Sergio A. Lambertucci; Aishwarya Bhattacharjee; Alexis L. Brewer; Erin F. Abernethy; Kelsey L. Turner; James C. Beasley; Travis L. DeVault; Hannah C. Gerke; Olin E. Rhodes Jr; Andrés Ordiz; Camilla Wikenros; Barbara Zimmermann; Petter Wabakken; Christopher C. Wilmers; Justine A. Smith; Corinne J. Kendall; Darcy Ogada; Ethan Frehner; Maximilian L. Allen; Heiko U. Wittmer; James R. A. Butler; Johan T du Toit; Antoni Margalida; Pilar Oliva‐Vidal; David Wilson; Klemen Jerina; Miha Krofel; Rich Kostecke; Richard Inger; Esra Per; Yunus Ayhan; Hasan Ulusoy; Doğanay Vural; Akino Inagaki; Shinsuke Koike; Arockianathan Samson; Paula L. Perrig; Emma Spencer; Thomas M. Newsome; Marco Heurich; José D. Anadón; Evan R. Buechley; José A. Sánchez‐Zapata. Network structure of vertebrate scavenger assemblages at the global scale: drivers and ecosystem functioning implications. Ecography 2020, 43, 1143 -1155.
AMA StyleEsther Sebastián‐González, Zebensui Morales‐Reyes, Francisco Botella, Lara Naves Alegre, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Patricia Mateo‐Tomás, Pedro P. Olea, Marcos Moleón, Jomar Magalhaes Barbosa, Fernando Hiraldo, Eneko Arrondo, José A. Donázar, Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda, Nuria Selva, Sergio A. Lambertucci, Aishwarya Bhattacharjee, Alexis L. Brewer, Erin F. Abernethy, Kelsey L. Turner, James C. Beasley, Travis L. DeVault, Hannah C. Gerke, Olin E. Rhodes Jr, Andrés Ordiz, Camilla Wikenros, Barbara Zimmermann, Petter Wabakken, Christopher C. Wilmers, Justine A. Smith, Corinne J. Kendall, Darcy Ogada, Ethan Frehner, Maximilian L. Allen, Heiko U. Wittmer, James R. A. Butler, Johan T du Toit, Antoni Margalida, Pilar Oliva‐Vidal, David Wilson, Klemen Jerina, Miha Krofel, Rich Kostecke, Richard Inger, Esra Per, Yunus Ayhan, Hasan Ulusoy, Doğanay Vural, Akino Inagaki, Shinsuke Koike, Arockianathan Samson, Paula L. Perrig, Emma Spencer, Thomas M. Newsome, Marco Heurich, José D. Anadón, Evan R. Buechley, José A. Sánchez‐Zapata. Network structure of vertebrate scavenger assemblages at the global scale: drivers and ecosystem functioning implications. Ecography. 2020; 43 (8):1143-1155.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsther Sebastián‐González; Zebensui Morales‐Reyes; Francisco Botella; Lara Naves Alegre; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Patricia Mateo‐Tomás; Pedro P. Olea; Marcos Moleón; Jomar Magalhaes Barbosa; Fernando Hiraldo; Eneko Arrondo; José A. Donázar; Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda; Nuria Selva; Sergio A. Lambertucci; Aishwarya Bhattacharjee; Alexis L. Brewer; Erin F. Abernethy; Kelsey L. Turner; James C. Beasley; Travis L. DeVault; Hannah C. Gerke; Olin E. Rhodes Jr; Andrés Ordiz; Camilla Wikenros; Barbara Zimmermann; Petter Wabakken; Christopher C. Wilmers; Justine A. Smith; Corinne J. Kendall; Darcy Ogada; Ethan Frehner; Maximilian L. Allen; Heiko U. Wittmer; James R. A. Butler; Johan T du Toit; Antoni Margalida; Pilar Oliva‐Vidal; David Wilson; Klemen Jerina; Miha Krofel; Rich Kostecke; Richard Inger; Esra Per; Yunus Ayhan; Hasan Ulusoy; Doğanay Vural; Akino Inagaki; Shinsuke Koike; Arockianathan Samson; Paula L. Perrig; Emma Spencer; Thomas M. Newsome; Marco Heurich; José D. Anadón; Evan R. Buechley; José A. Sánchez‐Zapata. 2020. "Network structure of vertebrate scavenger assemblages at the global scale: drivers and ecosystem functioning implications." Ecography 43, no. 8: 1143-1155.
Capsule: Diet analysis revealed high lead exposure for Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga wintering in southeast Spain. Aims: To describe the diet composition of the endangered Greater Spotted Eagle in a wintering area located in southeast Spain, and determine lead ammunition exposure through analysis of regurgitated pellets and prey remains. Methods: Between 2008 and 2018, a total of 26 pellets, 29 prey remains and 10 direct predation observations were collected in El Hondo Natural Park, Spain. All the pellets and 10 prey remains were analysed with X-ray in order to detect metal from ammunition. Results: Greater Spotted Eagles fed mainly on birds, with 18 different species accounting for 73.1% of prey items and 66.1% of biomass consumed. The most frequent species identified were Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (23.1%), rats Rattus spp. (15.4%) and Common Teal Anas crecca (8.9%). Ammunition was detected in 42.3% of regurgitated pellets and in 40.0% of prey remains analysed. Of those containing ammunition, lead shot was found in 63.9% of pellets and 25.0% of prey remains. Conclusion: High lead shot presence in pellets and prey remains of wintering Greater Spotted Eagles in southeast Spain warns of a high risk of lead poisoning. Factors such as feeding behaviour, the large space–time overlap between the raptor presence and the waterbird hunting season and non-compliance with the ban on the use of lead ammunition are likely contributing to high lead exposure.
Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Jana Marco-Tresserras; Adrian Orihuela-Torres. Winter diet and lead poisoning risk of Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga in southeast Spain. Bird Study 2020, 67, 1 -8.
AMA StyleJuan Manuel Pérez-García, Jana Marco-Tresserras, Adrian Orihuela-Torres. Winter diet and lead poisoning risk of Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga in southeast Spain. Bird Study. 2020; 67 (2):1-8.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJuan Manuel Pérez-García; Jana Marco-Tresserras; Adrian Orihuela-Torres. 2020. "Winter diet and lead poisoning risk of Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga in southeast Spain." Bird Study 67, no. 2: 1-8.
Events of non-natural mortality in human-dominated landscapes are especially challenging for populations of large vertebrates with K strategies. Among birds, vultures are one of the most threatened groups experiencing sharp population declines due to non-natural mortality. Factors causing non-natural mortality are usually studied separately. However, the potential use of an integrated index able to predict large-scale mortality risks of avian scavengers could be especially useful for planning conservation strategies. Here, we used the Human Footprint index to examine the impact of landscape anthropization on the survival rates of 66 GPS-tagged adult Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in two Spanish regions. Foraging in more anthropized areas resulted in a significantly higher individual mortality risk mainly due to collisions with vehicles, poisonings, electrocutions and fatalities with wind turbines. Mean yearly survival rates were estimated at 0.817 ± 0.043 SE and 0.968 ± 0.018 SE for individuals from the more and less anthropized regions, respectively. Additional research should investigate whether some vulture populations could be acting as sinks unnoticed due to metapopulation dynamics. From a broader point of view, our study shows that a straightforward Human Footprint was a useful index to predict the survival of top scavengers and can be highly applicable to planning large-scale conservation measures.
Eneko Arrondo; Ana Sanz-Aguilar; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Ainara Cortés-Avizanda; José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata; José Antonio Donázar. Landscape anthropization shapes the survival of a top avian scavenger. Biodiversity and Conservation 2020, 29, 1411 -1425.
AMA StyleEneko Arrondo, Ana Sanz-Aguilar, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Ainara Cortés-Avizanda, José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata, José Antonio Donázar. Landscape anthropization shapes the survival of a top avian scavenger. Biodiversity and Conservation. 2020; 29 (4):1411-1425.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEneko Arrondo; Ana Sanz-Aguilar; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Ainara Cortés-Avizanda; José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata; José Antonio Donázar. 2020. "Landscape anthropization shapes the survival of a top avian scavenger." Biodiversity and Conservation 29, no. 4: 1411-1425.
This study addresses for the first time the movement patterns of the globally near‐threatened Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus in its most important stronghold, the high‐altitude mountain ranges of Asia. Tracked individuals (n = 8) in the Annapurna Himalayan range (Nepal) foraged over a vast range of 60 715.9 km2 and our results indicated age‐class differences in the use of space. Territorial adults showed very small annual home‐ranges (K90 = 150.3 km2), whereas immatures wandered extensively and covered vast ranges of the mountains (K90 = 23 930.8 km2). For adults and immatures, these values are notably larger than the other two studied populations in the world (Pyrenees and South Africa). This suggests that the studied Annapurna population might exhibit lower breeding density than in the Pyrenees or South Africa, possibly due to lower food availability.
Tulsi R. Subedi; Juan M. Pérez‐García; Shahrul A.M. Sah; Sandesh Gurung; Hem S. Baral; Laxman P. Poudyal; Hansoo Lee; Simon Thomsett; Munir Z. Virani; José D. Anadón. Spatial and temporal movement of the Bearded Vulture using GPS telemetry in the Himalayas of Nepal. Ibis 2019, 162, 563 -571.
AMA StyleTulsi R. Subedi, Juan M. Pérez‐García, Shahrul A.M. Sah, Sandesh Gurung, Hem S. Baral, Laxman P. Poudyal, Hansoo Lee, Simon Thomsett, Munir Z. Virani, José D. Anadón. Spatial and temporal movement of the Bearded Vulture using GPS telemetry in the Himalayas of Nepal. Ibis. 2019; 162 (2):563-571.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTulsi R. Subedi; Juan M. Pérez‐García; Shahrul A.M. Sah; Sandesh Gurung; Hem S. Baral; Laxman P. Poudyal; Hansoo Lee; Simon Thomsett; Munir Z. Virani; José D. Anadón. 2019. "Spatial and temporal movement of the Bearded Vulture using GPS telemetry in the Himalayas of Nepal." Ibis 162, no. 2: 563-571.
We describe the diet of Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii magnus) by pellet analysis collected in an active nest in southwest Ecuador in May 2018. Reptiles were the most consumed taxonomic group both in frequency of occurrence (FO = 46.4%) and in biomass (B = 59.8%), followed by birds (FO = 33.9% and B = 38.3%) and insects (FO = 19.6% and B = 1.8%). Our results showed Pearl Kite as a generalist raptor but with a higher consumption of reptiles, which is according with previous studies in other areas where other subspecies inhabit, despite this subspecies showed a higher consumption of birds. Despite the low sample size, this study is interesting as it is the first one on the diet of the Pearl Kite for Ecuador and also for this subspecies. Basic studies on the trophic ecology of Neotropical raptors such as this are needed. For this reason we encourage further studies to fill existing gaps in knowledge and improve effective long-term conservation strategies.
Adrian Orihuela-Torres; Jorge Brito; Juan Manuel Pérez-García. First observations of the diet of the Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii magnus) in southwestern Ecuador. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 2019, 27, 195 -198.
AMA StyleAdrian Orihuela-Torres, Jorge Brito, Juan Manuel Pérez-García. First observations of the diet of the Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii magnus) in southwestern Ecuador. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia. 2019; 27 (3):195-198.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdrian Orihuela-Torres; Jorge Brito; Juan Manuel Pérez-García. 2019. "First observations of the diet of the Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii magnus) in southwestern Ecuador." Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27, no. 3: 195-198.
Intensification of agricultural practices has caused several negative effects to the environment. The use of fertilizers and pesticides may alter geochemical cycles or cause direct wildlife intoxication. Detrimental effects of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have forced the authorities to ban or restrict its use. This study evaluates the variation in levels of OCPs in a sentinel species in relation to changes in government regulations and the spatial configuration of agricultural practices around the nests. Between 2003 and 2007, we analysed OCP levels in 256 blood samples of Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) chicks nesting in area of intensive commercial agriculture with historical frequent use of pesticides, in South-eastern Spain. We studied year-to-year variations in OCP concentrations and their relation with land use configuration around raptor nests by Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM). OCPs were detected in 100% samples surveyed in 2003 and 2004, while dropped to 27% in 2005, 6.8% in 2006 and 6.3% in 2007, coinciding with the ban of OCPs. The presence of the main OCPs was related to agricultural practices. In particular, endosulfan and lindane were related to irrigated crops and urban areas, while DDT-related compounds and dieldrin were associated with dry land farming. OCP concentrations in blood samples of Eurasian Eagle-owls may respond quickly to the implementations of new regulations about the use of agricultural products. This raptor was confirmed as a good sentinel species allowing rapid detection of changes in pesticides use.
Pilar Gómez-Ramírez; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Mario León-Ortega; José Enrique Martínez; José Francisco Calvo; José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata; Francisco Botella; Pedro María-Mojica; Emma Martínez-Lopez; Antonio J. García-Fernández. Spatiotemporal variations of organochlorine pesticides in an apex predator: Influence of government regulations and farming practices. Environmental Research 2019, 176, 108543 .
AMA StylePilar Gómez-Ramírez, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Mario León-Ortega, José Enrique Martínez, José Francisco Calvo, José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata, Francisco Botella, Pedro María-Mojica, Emma Martínez-Lopez, Antonio J. García-Fernández. Spatiotemporal variations of organochlorine pesticides in an apex predator: Influence of government regulations and farming practices. Environmental Research. 2019; 176 ():108543.
Chicago/Turabian StylePilar Gómez-Ramírez; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Mario León-Ortega; José Enrique Martínez; José Francisco Calvo; José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata; Francisco Botella; Pedro María-Mojica; Emma Martínez-Lopez; Antonio J. García-Fernández. 2019. "Spatiotemporal variations of organochlorine pesticides in an apex predator: Influence of government regulations and farming practices." Environmental Research 176, no. : 108543.
Understanding the distribution of biodiversity across the Earth is one of the most challenging questions in biology. Much research has been directed at explaining the species latitudinal pattern showing that communities are richer in tropical areas; however, despite decades of research, a general consensus has not yet emerged. In addition, global biodiversity patterns are being rapidly altered by human activities. Here, we aim to describe large‐scale patterns of species richness and diversity in terrestrial vertebrate scavenger (carrion‐consuming) assemblages, which provide key ecosystem functions and services. We used a worldwide dataset comprising 43 sites, where vertebrate scavenger assemblages were identified using 2,485 carcasses monitored between 1991 and 2018. First, we evaluated how scavenger richness (number of species) and diversity (Shannon diversity index) varied among seasons (cold vs. warm, wet vs. dry). Then, we studied the potential effects of human impact and a set of macroecological variables related to climatic conditions on the scavenger assemblages. Vertebrate scavenger richness ranged from species‐poor to species rich assemblages (4–30 species). Both scavenger richness and diversity also showed some seasonal variation. However, in general, climatic variables did not drive latitudinal patterns, as scavenger richness and diversity were not affected by temperature or rainfall. Rainfall seasonality slightly increased the number of species in the community, but its effect was weak. Instead, the human impact index included in our study was the main predictor of scavenger richness. Scavenger assemblages in highly human‐impacted areas sustained the smallest number of scavenger species, suggesting human activity may be overriding other macroecological processes in shaping scavenger communities. Our results highlight the effect of human impact at a global scale. As species‐rich assemblages tend to be more functional, we warn about possible reductions in ecosystem functions and the services provided by scavengers in human‐dominated landscapes in the Anthropocene.
Esther Sebastián‐González; Jomar Magalhães Barbosa; Juan M. Pérez‐García; Zebensui Morales-Reyes; Francisco Botella; Pedro P Olea; Patricia Mateo‐Tomás; Marcos Moleón; Fernando Hiraldo; Eneko Arrondo; José Antonio Donázar; Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda; Nuria Selva; Sergio A. Lambertucci; Aishwarya Bhattacharjee; Alexis Brewer; José D. Anadón; Erin Abernethy; Olin E. Rhodes; Kelsey Turner; James C. Beasley; Travis L. DeVault; Andrés Ordiz; Camilla Wikenros; Barbara Zimmermann; Petter Wabakken; Christopher C. Wilmers; Justine A. Smith; Corinne J. Kendall; Darcy Ogada; Evan R. Buechley; Ethan Frehner; Maximilian L. Allen; Heiko U. Wittmer; James R. A. Butler; Johan T. du Toit; John Read; David Wilson; Klemen Jerina; Miha Krofel; Rich Kostecke; Richard Inger; Arockianathan Samson; Lara Naves‐Alegre; José A. Sánchez‐Zapata. Scavenging in the Anthropocene: Human impact drives vertebrate scavenger species richness at a global scale. Global Change Biology 2019, 25, 3005 -3017.
AMA StyleEsther Sebastián‐González, Jomar Magalhães Barbosa, Juan M. Pérez‐García, Zebensui Morales-Reyes, Francisco Botella, Pedro P Olea, Patricia Mateo‐Tomás, Marcos Moleón, Fernando Hiraldo, Eneko Arrondo, José Antonio Donázar, Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda, Nuria Selva, Sergio A. Lambertucci, Aishwarya Bhattacharjee, Alexis Brewer, José D. Anadón, Erin Abernethy, Olin E. Rhodes, Kelsey Turner, James C. Beasley, Travis L. DeVault, Andrés Ordiz, Camilla Wikenros, Barbara Zimmermann, Petter Wabakken, Christopher C. Wilmers, Justine A. Smith, Corinne J. Kendall, Darcy Ogada, Evan R. Buechley, Ethan Frehner, Maximilian L. Allen, Heiko U. Wittmer, James R. A. Butler, Johan T. du Toit, John Read, David Wilson, Klemen Jerina, Miha Krofel, Rich Kostecke, Richard Inger, Arockianathan Samson, Lara Naves‐Alegre, José A. Sánchez‐Zapata. Scavenging in the Anthropocene: Human impact drives vertebrate scavenger species richness at a global scale. Global Change Biology. 2019; 25 (9):3005-3017.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsther Sebastián‐González; Jomar Magalhães Barbosa; Juan M. Pérez‐García; Zebensui Morales-Reyes; Francisco Botella; Pedro P Olea; Patricia Mateo‐Tomás; Marcos Moleón; Fernando Hiraldo; Eneko Arrondo; José Antonio Donázar; Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda; Nuria Selva; Sergio A. Lambertucci; Aishwarya Bhattacharjee; Alexis Brewer; José D. Anadón; Erin Abernethy; Olin E. Rhodes; Kelsey Turner; James C. Beasley; Travis L. DeVault; Andrés Ordiz; Camilla Wikenros; Barbara Zimmermann; Petter Wabakken; Christopher C. Wilmers; Justine A. Smith; Corinne J. Kendall; Darcy Ogada; Evan R. Buechley; Ethan Frehner; Maximilian L. Allen; Heiko U. Wittmer; James R. A. Butler; Johan T. du Toit; John Read; David Wilson; Klemen Jerina; Miha Krofel; Rich Kostecke; Richard Inger; Arockianathan Samson; Lara Naves‐Alegre; José A. Sánchez‐Zapata. 2019. "Scavenging in the Anthropocene: Human impact drives vertebrate scavenger species richness at a global scale." Global Change Biology 25, no. 9: 3005-3017.
Coccidians infect the intestines and other organs in vertebrates, causing pathogenicity ranging from asymptomatic infections to death. However, knowledge about coccidian infections is lacking for most free-living raptor species. Gathering basic information on coccidian infection would allow a better understanding of the basic ecology of raptors and would improve conservation actions. In this study, we assessed the prevalence and parasitic loads of coccidians in several free-ranging and rehabilitating wild raptor species in recovery centres in Spain and Belgium from 2015 to 2017. Faecal samples from 129 individuals of 17 different raptor species were collected. Coccidian oocysts were found in nine species. Significant differences were found in the prevalence of coccidians between the two countries, with higher rates in Belgium (45.0%) than in Spain (20.2%), as well as between age categories, with nestlings and juveniles showing a higher prevalence (30.5%) than adults (11.4%). Three different coccidian genera were identified. Caryospora spp. and Eimeria spp. were found in diurnal raptors and owls with medium/high loads (median ranging from 75-91344 ooc/g), while Isospora spp. was found only in Griffon Gyps fulvus and Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus at low infection intensities (62-170 ooc/g). We present the first case of Isospora spp. in European vultures, although it is unclear if this is a true intestinal parasitisation or a pseudo-parasitisation with oocysts from livestock on which the vultures fed. Despite the limited sample size in our study, our results contribute to filling a gap in the knowledge of coccidian infections in wild birds.—Crespo-Ginés, R., López, D.S, Berriatua, E., Blanco, G., Candela, M.G. & Pérez-García, J.M. (2019). Coccidian prevalence and intensity in free-ranging and rehabilitating wild raptors. Ardeola, 66: XX-XX. Los coccidios infectan el intestino y otros órganos en los vertebrados, causando patogenicidades variables que van desde infecciones asintomáticas hasta la muerte. Sin embargo, el conocimiento de cómo estas infecciones afectan a las diferentes especies de rapaces silvestres es escaso. La obtención de información básica sobre infecciones por coccidios permitiría comprender mejor la ecología básica de las rapaces y mejorar sus programas de conservación. En este estudio evaluamos la prevalencia y la carga parasitaria de coccidios en varias especies de aves rapaces en libertad y en proceso de rehabilitación en centros de recuperación en España y Bélgica entre 2015 y 2017. Se recogieron muestras fecales de 129 individuos pertenecientes a 17 especies distintas de rapaces. Se encontraron ooquistes de coccidios en 9 especies. Diferencias significativas en la prevalencia de coccidios fueron encontradas entre ambos países, siendo más alta en Bélgica (45,0%) que en España (20,2%), y también mayor entre pollos y juveniles (30,5%) que en adultos (11,4%). Se identificaron tres géneros de coccidios diferentes. Caryospora spp. e Eimeria spp. fueron encontradas con cargas medias / altas (mediana de 75-91344 ooc/g) en rapaces diurnas y búhos, mientras que Isospora spp. se encontró solo en buitre leonado Gyps fulvus y alimoche Neophron percnopterus a una intensidad de infección baja (62–170 ooc/g). Presentamos el primer caso de presencia de Isospora spp. en buitres europeos, aunque no podemos determinar si se trata de una verdadera parasitación intestinal o de una pseudoparasitación con ooquistes de las especies de ganado de las que se alimentan. A pesar de que el tamaño de muestra en este estudio es limitado, nuestros resultados contribuyen a llenar un vacío en el conocimiento de las infecciones por coccidios en aves silvestres.—Crespo-Ginés, R., López, D. S., Berriatua, E., Blanco, G., Candela, M. G. & Pérez-García, J. M. (2019). Prevalencia e intensidad de coccidios en rapaces silvestres de vida libre y en rehabilitación. Ardeola, 66: XX-XX.
Raquel Crespo-Ginés; David S. López; Eduardo Berriatua; Guillermo Blanco; Mónica G. Candela; Juan Manuel Pérez-García. Coccidian Prevalence and Intensity in Free-Ranging and Rehabilitating Wild Raptors. Ardeola 2019, 66, 1 .
AMA StyleRaquel Crespo-Ginés, David S. López, Eduardo Berriatua, Guillermo Blanco, Mónica G. Candela, Juan Manuel Pérez-García. Coccidian Prevalence and Intensity in Free-Ranging and Rehabilitating Wild Raptors. Ardeola. 2019; 66 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRaquel Crespo-Ginés; David S. López; Eduardo Berriatua; Guillermo Blanco; Mónica G. Candela; Juan Manuel Pérez-García. 2019. "Coccidian Prevalence and Intensity in Free-Ranging and Rehabilitating Wild Raptors." Ardeola 66, no. 1: 1.
In the last two decades, more than 35% of coastal wetlands in the tropics and subtropics have been destroyed, mangrove forest being the most affected habitat. However, mangroves have been poorly studied around the world, particularly in the Neotropics. The spatio-temporal diversity of the mangrove bird community in the Jambelí archipelago, in southwestern Ecuador, was studied. Between 2 August 2015 and 25 July 2016, a total of 118 species (35 migratory and 83 resident species) belonging to 44 families were documented. Nine of the 83 resident species are endemic to the coasts of Ecuador and northwestern Peru; six are threatened species. The most abundant species in the archipelago were Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) and Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), while the best represented family was Laridae (n = 12 species). No spatial or temporal differences in bird diversity were detected (P > 0.35). The Jambelí archipelago has a high diversity of bird species, particularly as a wintering and stopover site for boreal migratory species. A long-term monitoring program for bird populations in the area has been proposed as an effective tool to assess the conservation status of this important and threatened ecosystem.
Adrian Antonio Torres; Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado; Fausto López-Rodríguez; Carlos Iñiguez-Armijos; Juan Manuel Pérez-García. Spatio-Temporal Avian Diversity in the Jambelí Archipelago, Southwestern Ecuador. Waterbirds 2018, 41, 457 -468.
AMA StyleAdrian Antonio Torres, Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado, Fausto López-Rodríguez, Carlos Iñiguez-Armijos, Juan Manuel Pérez-García. Spatio-Temporal Avian Diversity in the Jambelí Archipelago, Southwestern Ecuador. Waterbirds. 2018; 41 (4):457-468.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdrian Antonio Torres; Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado; Fausto López-Rodríguez; Carlos Iñiguez-Armijos; Juan Manuel Pérez-García. 2018. "Spatio-Temporal Avian Diversity in the Jambelí Archipelago, Southwestern Ecuador." Waterbirds 41, no. 4: 457-468.
Diversionary feeding (i.e. supplementary feeding used to mitigate damage to human activities) is a management tool widely employed to avoid human-wildlife conflicts, which could alter the spatial behaviour of target species and can also affect other species present in the area, among other effects. We evaluated the effect of diversionary feeding in the spatial behaviour of the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), an exotic ungulate associated with crop damage in the area, and we assessed the use of diversionary feeding stations (DFS) by non-target species. Nine aoudads were tracked with GPS/GSM collars. We compared their core home ranges and number of GPS locations in the DFS before and meanwhile food was available on them. Eight DFS were monitored with cameras to identify which species used the feeding sites. The home ranges changed for some individuals, but this variation was not related to supplementary feeding. Just five out of the nine tracked aoudads used DFS, and the number of GPS locations in the DFS by aoudad increased when food was available. DFS were used by fifteen non-target species of birds and mammals, and especially by the wild boar. Aoudads and wild boars segregated temporally but not spatially in their use of the DFS. Our study suggests that diversionary feeding had a limited effect on the spatial behaviour of the aoudad, suggesting that its effectiveness to reduce crop damage may be restricted.
Roberto Pascual-Rico; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Esther Sebastián-González; Francisco Botella; Andrés Giménez; Sergio Eguía; Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata. Is diversionary feeding a useful tool to avoid human-ungulate conflicts? A case study with the aoudad. European Journal of Wildlife Research 2018, 64, 67 .
AMA StyleRoberto Pascual-Rico, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Esther Sebastián-González, Francisco Botella, Andrés Giménez, Sergio Eguía, Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata. Is diversionary feeding a useful tool to avoid human-ungulate conflicts? A case study with the aoudad. European Journal of Wildlife Research. 2018; 64 (6):67.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoberto Pascual-Rico; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Esther Sebastián-González; Francisco Botella; Andrés Giménez; Sergio Eguía; Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata. 2018. "Is diversionary feeding a useful tool to avoid human-ungulate conflicts? A case study with the aoudad." European Journal of Wildlife Research 64, no. 6: 67.
The development of satellite tracking technology enables the gathering of huge amounts of accurate data on animal movements over measured time intervals, to reveal essential information about species' patterns of spatial use. This information is especially important in optimizing the design of conservation and management strategies for endangered species. In this study, we analysed the main drivers of daily patterns in the flight activity of the threatened Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus. We studied 19 Bearded Vultures tagged with solar-powered GPS transmitters from 2006 to 2016 in the Pyrenees (Spain). We assessed the relative influence of external factors (season and daylight time) and internal factors (sex, breeding season and territorial status) on their daily activity behaviour by computing mean hourly distance travelled, maximum displacement and cumulative distance travelled per hour. Our findings showed a clear difference in all the estimators between territorial and non-territorial (floating) members of the population, showing that non-territorial individuals spent much longer in flight and travelled larger distances per day. We detected an important influence of daylight time and season on the daily rhythms of Bearded Vultures; flight activity increased during the last three quarters of daylight and was greatest in the spring. Breeding period and sex had also an effect on the maximum displacement and cumulative distance travelled. Individuals flew more during the breeding period and females tended to exhibit greater cumulative and maximum distances per hour than males regardless of breeding season. Pyrenean Bearded Vultures flight daily activity was strongly influenced by daylight time, season, and territorial status, while individual sex and breeding season showed a milder effect on the birds' movement behaviour. This study gives a novel insight into how external factors act as main drivers of the daily flight activity pattern of a long-lived avian scavenger.
Ruth García-Jiménez; Juan M. Pérez-García; Antoni Margalida. Drivers of daily movement patterns affecting an endangered vulture flight activity. BMC Ecology 2018, 18, 39 .
AMA StyleRuth García-Jiménez, Juan M. Pérez-García, Antoni Margalida. Drivers of daily movement patterns affecting an endangered vulture flight activity. BMC Ecology. 2018; 18 (1):39.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuth García-Jiménez; Juan M. Pérez-García; Antoni Margalida. 2018. "Drivers of daily movement patterns affecting an endangered vulture flight activity." BMC Ecology 18, no. 1: 39.
The adverse effects of wind farms on wildlife, mainly the mortality of flying animals at turbines, should be carefully studied to reconcile renewable energy production and biodiversity conservation. The growing consensus about the aggregated pattern of this mortality at particular turbines suggests that the identification of high-mortality turbines can decisively aid in the implementation of effective management actions. Here, taking advantage of a long-term monitoring program of animal mortality at wind farms (10,017 fatalities of 170 bird and bat species between 1993 and 2016) in two Spanish regions, we demonstrate the utility of network analysis in identifying species indicative of high-risk turbines whose stoppage could significantly reduce the mortality of other species. Our protocol can be easily applied to any region with available data on animal mortality to help managers reduce the negative impacts of wind farms.
Esther Sebastián-González; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Martina Carrete; José Antonio Donázar; Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata. Using network analysis to identify indicator species and reduce collision fatalities at wind farms. Biological Conservation 2018, 224, 209 -212.
AMA StyleEsther Sebastián-González, Juan Manuel Pérez-García, Martina Carrete, José Antonio Donázar, Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata. Using network analysis to identify indicator species and reduce collision fatalities at wind farms. Biological Conservation. 2018; 224 ():209-212.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsther Sebastián-González; Juan Manuel Pérez-García; Martina Carrete; José Antonio Donázar; Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata. 2018. "Using network analysis to identify indicator species and reduce collision fatalities at wind farms." Biological Conservation 224, no. : 209-212.
The interaction between wildlife and power lines has collateral effects that include wildfires and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, currently available information is scarce and so new approaches are needed to increase our understanding of this issue. Here, we present the first analysis of wildfires and their incidence as a result of this interaction in Spain during the period 2000–2012. Amongst the 2788 Power-Line Mediated Wildfires (PLMW recorded) during this period, 30 records of Fauna Mediated Wildfires (FMW) were found, with an average affected vegetation cover of 9.06 ha. Our findings suggest that no significant differences were observed between the amount of affected surface area due to fauna mediated wildfires and power-line mediated wildfires. In both cases, a space-grouping trend was observed. In terms of changing trends over time, after the first incident detected in 2005, the number of incidents increased until 2008, year in which the percentage of wildfires caused by wildlife stabilized at approximately 2.4% of all power-line-induced wildfires. Population density and road abundance were variables that better explained PLMW whereas for FMW, the models that included land use and raptor abundance. In the multivariate model, FMW emergence was positively related with population density, percentage of grazing areas and Natura 2000 cover, and predatory abundance; and negatively with the percentage of forested area. No significant differences were observed between the species of birds that caused wildfires and the species of ringed birds killed by electrocution. The economic and environmental impact due to necessary repairs, the loss of biodiversity and CO2 emissions represent an estimated net value of €7.6–12.4 M for the period 2000–2012, which indicates the importance of the economic and environmental costs associated with wildfires.
Francisco Guil; Mª. Ángeles Soria; Antoni Margalida; Juan M. Pérez-García. Wildfires as collateral effects of wildlife electrocution: An economic approach to the situation in Spain in recent years. Science of The Total Environment 2018, 625, 460 -469.
AMA StyleFrancisco Guil, Mª. Ángeles Soria, Antoni Margalida, Juan M. Pérez-García. Wildfires as collateral effects of wildlife electrocution: An economic approach to the situation in Spain in recent years. Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 625 ():460-469.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancisco Guil; Mª. Ángeles Soria; Antoni Margalida; Juan M. Pérez-García. 2018. "Wildfires as collateral effects of wildlife electrocution: An economic approach to the situation in Spain in recent years." Science of The Total Environment 625, no. : 460-469.