DigitalUM :: Browsing by browse.metadata.contributordepartment "Ecología e Hidrología"

Browsing by browse.metadata.contributordepartment "Ecología e Hidrología"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 100

Open Access
A conceptual framework for understanding the biogeochemistry of dry riverbeds through the lens of soil science
(Elsevier, 2019) Arce, María Isabel; Mendoza Lera, Clara; Almagro, María; Catalán, Nuria; Romaní, Anna M.; Martí, Eugenia; Gómez Cerezo, Rosa María; Bernal, Susana; Foulquier, Arnaud; Mutz, Michael; Marcé, Rafael; Zoppini, AnnaMaria; Gionchetta, Giulia; Weigelhofer, Gabriele; Campo, Rubén del; Robinson, Christopher T.; Gilmer, Alan; Rulik, Martin; Obrador, Biel; Shumilova, Oleksandra; Zlatanović, Sanja; Arnon, Shai; Baldrian, Petr; Singer, Gabriel; Datry, Thibault; Skoulikidis, Nikos; Tietjen, Britta; Schiller, Daniel von; Ecología e Hidrología
Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) encompass fluvial ecosystems that eventually stop flowing andrun dry at some point in space and time. During the dry phase, channels of IRES consist mainly of dry riverbeds(DRBs), prevalent yet widely unexplored ecotones between dry and wet phases that can strongly influence thebiogeochemistry of fluvial networks. DRBs are often overlooked because they do not strictly belong to eitherdomain of soil or freshwater science. Due to this dual character of DRBs, we suggest that concepts and knowledgefrom soil science can be used to expand the understanding of IRES biogeochemistry. Based on this idea, wepropose that DRBs can be conceptually understood as early stage soils exhibiting many similarities with soilsthrough two main forces: i) time since last sediment transport event, and ii) the development status of stabilizingstructures (e.g. soil crusts and/or vascular plants). Our analysis suggests that while DRBs and soils may differ inmaster physical attributes (e.g. soil horizons vs fluvial sedimentary facies), they become rapidly comparable interms of microbial communities and biogeochemical processes. We further propose that drivers of DRBs biogeochemistry are similar to those of soils and, hence, concepts and methods used in soil science are transferableto DRBs research. Finally, our paper presents future research directions to advance the knowledge of DRBs and tounderstand their role in the biogeochemistry of intermittent fluvial networks.
Open Access
Acoustic telemetry and accelerometers: a field comparison of different proxies for activity in the marine environment
(Oxford University Press, 2022-11-11) Venerus, L. A.; Abecasis, D.; Ciancio, J. E.; Gutiérrez Cánovas, C.; Jiménez Montalbán, Pedro Javier; García Charton, José Antonio; Pereñíguez López, José Manuel; Ecología e Hidrología
Different proxies for activity are used in the field of acoustic telemetry, a leading technology for the study of behaviour in the aquatic environment. Acoustic telemetry poses some shortcomings that may condition data interpretation. Here, we assessed some approaches commonly used to infer activity from acoustic telemetry data using acceleration biologgers as a benchmark. Specifically, we assessed (1) the performance of internal acceleration transmitters, (2) the consequences of averaging acceleration data into increasing time bins, (3) the occurrence of sampling bias in telemetry data acquisition, and (4) the performance of the number of detections and the depth range as proxies for activity. Despite some constraints of acoustic telemetry, acceleration transmitters had a good performance. Conversely, the number of detections and the depth range did not match well the activity estimates provided by acceleration biologgers. Besides, our results pointed to some issues in models concerning the predictive power of acceleration transmitters (linear predictor) over acceleration biologgers, warned about potential sampling bias associated with data acquisition with acoustic telemetry, and highlighted the relevance of considering inter-individual differences in behavioural studies. Finally, we provided some methodological perspectives that should be considered to plan fieldwork, analyse data, and interpret results on animal activity obtained with acoustic telemetry.
Open Access
Algunas consideraciones para un modelo ecológico de gestión del agua en España
(2010-07-27) Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario; Suárez Alonso, María Luisa; Ecología e Hidrología
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An integrative and participatory coastal habitat mapping framework for sustainable development actions in the United Arab Emirates
(Elsevier, 2021-09-15) Mateos Molina, Daniel; Pittman, S. J.; Baldwin, R.; Chakraborty, A.; Antonopoulou, M.; García Charton, José Antonio; Taylor, O. J. S.; Ecología e Hidrología
Coastal habitat mapping is a potentially powerful enabling tool to inform the design of strategies and actions in coastal zone planning and management, biodiversity conservation and more recently for blue carbon accounting. Habitat mapping is typically carried out by experts in remote sensing and geographical information systems, and rarely integrates stakeholders’ local ecological knowledge. To address a key knowledge gap in a previously unmapped coastal region of the Arabian Gulf, we applied a mixed-methods habitat mapping framework that integrates conventional remote sensing methods with shared knowledge from participatory mapping with local stakeholders. Using methodological pluralism, an accurate and cost-effective coastal habitat map was produced that had local relevance, facilitated knowledge exchange, considered socio-ecological factors, and incorporated spatial details that would have been absent or under-represented with conventional remote sensing methods. We demonstrate the relevance of the coastal habitat map as an enabler of actions that address multiple local and global sustainable development and biodiversity conservation policy targets for the Arabian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates.
Open Access
Análisis descriptivo de las ramblas de la Región de Murcia (SEd e España)
(2010-07-30) García García, Victoria; Fichtelmann, Thomas; Gómez, Rosa; Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario; Suárez Alonso, María Luisa; Ecología e Hidrología
Open Access
Application of photographic ‘capture–recapture' modelling to estimate recruitment and apparent survival in a long-lived territorial raptor
(Wiley : Oikos Editorial Office, 2025-10-21) Martínez, José Enrique; Álvarez, Mario; Calvo Sendín, José F.; Jiménez Franco, María Victoria; Ecología e Hidrología; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Biología
Survival is a life history trait that contributes most to population dynamics in long-lived birds, and the study of individual characteristics is relevant for population conservation. Here we provide information on territorial recruitment and individual replacement in a population of Bonelli's eagle Aquila fasciata in southeastern Spain based on a long-term photographic capture–recapture 19-year dataset. We also investigated how individual factors such as sex, age, experience and age at first breeding influence the apparent survival of breeding Bonelli's eagles using Cormack–Jolly–Seber models. An increase in recruitment rates and a decrease in age at first breeding were observed in the breeding population over time. The apparent survival was high and the reproductive dispersal was very low. The improvement in apparent survival was age-related and higher in females (0.90 for non-adults and 0.92 for adults) than males (0.87 for non-adults and 0.89 for adults). These findings can be explained by age-related improvements and differences in movement behaviour between sexes during the breeding season, with females being exposed to lower risks from anthropogenic or natural causes. We also found a positive relationship between territorial experience and the probability of apparent survival, with inexperienced female breeding birds having a higher survival than males. Our results showed that immature breeders had a similar survival to experienced or older birds breeding for the first time, suggesting that age at first reproduction is controlled by reproductive restraint. Our results provide demographic information that improves the understanding of the population dynamics of the long-lived territorial species, and their estimation has important implications for the management and conservation of Bonelli's eagle populations. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Avian Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Society Oikos.
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Are the endemic water beetles of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands effectively protected?
(Elsevier, 2008-05-27) Sánchez Fernández, David; Bilton, David T.; Abellán, Pedro; Ribera, Ignacio; Velasco, Josefa; Milán, Andrés; Ecología e Hidrología
One of the most serious environmental problems is the current acceleration in the rate of species extinction associated with human activities, which is occurring particularly rapidly in freshwaters. Here we examine whether endemic water beetles are effectively protected by existing conservation measures in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, a region of high diversity and intense human pressure. We used an exhaustive database for aquatic beetles in the region to address such issues. Firstly, we identify the most threatened endemic taxa using a categorization system to rank species according to their conservation priority or vulnerability. Of the 120 endemic species of water beetles used in the analysis, only two (Ochthebius ferroi and Ochthebius javieri) were identified as being extremely vulnerable, 71 were highly vulnerable and 46 moderately vulnerable, with only a single species identified as having low vulnerability status. Since no Iberian species of aquatic Coleoptera has legal protection, the only conservation measure available for these species is the extent to which they occur in protected areas. Here we identify distributional hotspots for threatened endemic species, and evaluate the extent to which these are already included in the Natura 2000 network in Spain and Portugal. Despite a high degree of concordance between hotspots and Natura 2000 sites, the distribution of four species falls completely outside the network. The analysis also reveals that Natura 2000 fails to protect saline water bodies, despite their high conservation interest and narrow global distribution. The picture revealed here with water beetles is likely to be similar for others groups of freshwater macroinvertebrates, since Coleoptera are known to be good surrogates of aquatic biodiversity in the region. Finally, the degree of protection provided via Natura 2000, and the utility of red lists are discussed.
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Assessing the contribution to overfishing of small- and large-scale fisheries in two marine regions as determined by the weight of evidence approach
(Elsevier, 2021-09-15) Cánovas Molina, Almudena; García Charton, José Antonio; García Frapolli, Eduardo; Ecología e Hidrología
Overfishing is taking place all over the world threatening marine ecosystems’ health and associated livelihoods. Correctly identifying the drivers of overexploitation are crucial to guide effective fishery measures. In the present study the distinct contribution to overfishing of large-scale fisheries (LSF) and small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the Gulf of California and in the Mediterranean Sea has been compared. To accomplish the task, a weight of evidence approach has been applied based on a thorough literature review documenting overfishing. Results showed that both SSF and LSF shared responsibilities in overfishing in the two geographical locations considered, albeit with different contributions. In the Gulf of California, the weight of evidence revealed that overfishing was mainly driven by fishers engaged in SSF whereas in the Mediterranean, overfishing was mainly driven by LSF. In the Mediterranean, bycatch by LSF played a greater role than in the Gulf of California where, instead, a higher number of endemic overfished species were recorded. In order to attain fisheries sustainability some recommendations are given. In the Mediterranean, selective fishing practices and fishery policies that include input controls and catch limits are highly desirable. In the Gulf of California, the presence of governmental agencies and their services together with participatory management schemes should be reinforced in the region.
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Assessment of mercury exposure and maternal-foetal transfer in Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae) from southeastern Iberian Peninsula
(Springer, 2016-12-27) Espín, Silvia ; Aroca, Bárbara ; José Francisco Calvo; Lisón Gil, Fulgencio; Calvo Sendín, José F.; García Fernández, Antonio Juan; Ecología e Hidrología
Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic and widely distributed metal that is bioaccumulated in insectivorous mammals and may cause adverse effects on the reproductive system. Bats are considered excellent Hg bioindicators due to their wide distribution, life span, trophic position, metabolic rate and food intake. However, few studies have analysed Hg residues in bats, and to the best of our knowledge, no studies have been made in the Iberian Peninsula. The main aim of this study was to undertake the first ever assessment of Hg exposure in Schreiber’s bent-winged bats inhabiting a natural cave in the southeast of Spain. The findings suggest that Schreiber’s bent-winged bats in the sampling area are chronically exposed to low levels of Hg. The Hg concentrations found in different tissues (fur, kidney, liver, muscle and brain) were below the threshold levels associated with toxic effects in mammals. Non-gestating females showed Hg concentrations in the brain and muscle that doubled those found in gestating females. This could be due to Hg mobilization from the mother to the foetus in gestating females, although other factors could contribute to explain this result such as variations in hunting areas and the insect-prey consumed and/or different energetic needs and average food consumption during the breeding season. Hg levels were 1.7 times higher, although not significant, in foetus’ brains than in the maternal brains, and Hg concentration in foetus’ brain was significantly correlated with levels in the corresponding mothers’ kidney. These results suggest that there could be an active mother-to-foetus transfer of Hg in bats, which would be of special relevance in a scenario of higher Hg exposure than that found in this study. However, further research is needed to support this view due to the limited number of samples analysed. Given the scarce ecotoxicological data available for bats and their protected status, we encourage further opportunistic studies using carcasses found in the field, the validation of non-destructive samples such as fur and guano for Hg monitoring, and new modelling approaches that will increase the data needed for proper ecological risk assessment in bat populations.
Open Access
Bat ecology and conservation in semi-arid and arid landscapes: a global systematic review
(Wiley, 2019-11-22) Altamirano, Adison; Haz, Ángeles; Calvo, José Francisco; Jones, Gareth; Lisón Gil, Fulgencio; Jiménez Franco, María Victoria; Ecología e Hidrología
1. Semi-arid and arid landscapes (dry-lands) cover 41% of the Earth’s land surface over five continents. These areas are home to 55% of mammal spe cies. Bats have the second highest species richness among mammals, and, although many species are adapted to arid conditions, they are particularly sensitive in these habitats and require conservation priority.2. Information on bats in arid and semi-arid landscapes is scattered, patchy and focused on small-scale studies; therefore, we undertook a systematic re view using the PRISMA protocol to identify the current knowledge status, detect knowledge gaps and propose future research priorities. 3. We analysed 346 published articles and evaluated 40 topics within five topic categories (taxa studied, methodologies used, biology, ecology and conserva tion). The most commonly studied topic categories were ecology and biology. However, we found a gap in the topic category conservation (including topics such as conservation status and roost conservation). Our network analysis of topics within the categories showed that most ecology papers were focused on distribution, species richness and habitat use. 4. When we analysed keywords, we found that phylogeny, taxonomy and dis tribution demonstrated relatively high presence. Moreover, comparison of the percentage of studies conducted in dry-lands and the percentage of land surface area covered by dry-lands in the continents revealed that dry-lands in Africa and Australia were especially under-represented. Our review shows that knowledge of bats in semi-arid and arid landscapes is biased towards new records of the distribution of species, as well as covering systematic/taxonomic and morphological aspects of bat biology 5. We suggest that research on conservation measures and guidelines to protect the bat species found in semi-arid and arid landscapes should be prioritised, together with the sharing of knowledge with local practitioners and the de velopment of citizen science programmes.
Open Access
Bias in freshwater biodiversity sampling : the case of Iberian water beetles
(Wiley, ) Sánchez Fernández, David; Lobo, Jorge M.; Abellán, Pedro; Ribera, Ignacio; Millán, Andrés; Ecología e Hidrología
Extensive distributional data bases are key tools in ecological research, and good-quality data are required to provide reliable conservation strategies and an understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes. Although the evaluation of data bases requires the incorporation of estimates of sampling effort and bias, no studies have focused on these aspects for freshwater biodiversity data. We used here a comprehensive data base of water beetles from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, and examine whether these data provide an unbiased, reliable picture of their diversity and distribution in the study area. Based on theoretical estimates using the Clench function on the accumulated number of records as a surrogate of sampling effort, about a quarter of the Iberian and Balearic 50 × 50 km Universal Transverse Mercator grid cells can be considered well prospected, with more than 70% of the theoretical species richness actually recorded. These well-surveyed cells are not evenly distributed across biogeographical and physicoclimatic subregions, reflecting some geographical bias in the distribution of sampling effort. Our results suggest that recording was skewed by relatively simple variables affecting collector activity, such as the perceived ‘attractiveness’ of mountainous landscapes and protected areas with recently described species, and accessibility of sampling sites (distance from main research centres). We emphasize the importance of these evaluation exercises, which are useful to locate areas needed of further sampling as well as to identify potential biases in the distribution of current biodiversity patterns.
Open Access
La calidad de las aguas del canal del desagüe de El Reguerón (Río Guadalentín: Cuenca del Segura)
(Universidad de Murcia, 1983) Suárez Alonso, María Luisa; Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario; Montes, Carlos; Soler, Agustín; Ecología e Hidrología
Open Access
Calidad ecológica de la zona de protección especial "Los Chorros del Río Mundo" (Albacete). Aplicación de la Directiva Marco del Agua
(2010-07-27) Gómez, Rosa; Guerrero, Cristina; Mellado, Andrés; Sánchez Montoya, María del Mar; Hurtado, Isabel; Espinosa, María Isabel; Moreno, J. Luís; Suárez Alonso, María Luisa; Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario; Ecología e Hidrología
Open Access
Can the European abalone Haliotis tuberculata survive on an invasive algae? A comparison of the nutritional value of the introduced Grateloupia turuturu and the native Palmaria palmata, for the commercial European abalone industry
(2015) Garcia Bueno, N.; Marín Atucha, Arnaldo Aitor; Turpin, Vincent; Cognie, Bruno; Dumay, Justine; Morançais, Michèle; Amat, Mireille; Pédron, Jean-Marie; Fleurence, Joël; Decottignies, Priscilla; Ecología e Hidrología
Open Access
Caracterización ecológica y ambiental del Arroyo Blanco como espacio natural para definir las condiciones de referencia en aplicación de la Directiva Marco del Agua
(2010-07-27) Mellado, Andrés; Sánchez Montoya, María del Mar; García García, Victoria; Suárez Alonso, María Luisa; Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario; Gómez, Rosa; Ecología e Hidrología
Open Access
Caracterización morfométrica de la cuenca del Río Segura: estudio cuantitativo de las formas de las subcuencas.
(1987) Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario; Montes, Carlos; Suárez Alonso, María Luisa; Ramírez Díaz, Luis; Ecología e Hidrología
Open Access
Climatic stability, not average habitat temperature, determines thermal tolerance of subterranean beetles
(2021-10-08) Colado Manero, Raquel; Pallares Párraga, S.; Fresneda, J.; Mammola, S.; Rizzo, V.; Sánchez Fernández, David; Ecología e Hidrología
The climatic variability hypothesis predicts the evolution of species with wide thermal tolerance ranges in environments with variable temperatures, and the evolution of thermal specialists in thermally stable environments. In caves, the extent of spatial and temporal thermal variability experienced by taxa decreases with their degree of specialization to deep subterranean habitats. We use phylogenetic generalized least squares to model the relationship among thermal tolerance (upper lethal limits), subterranean specialization (estimated using ecomorphological traits), and habitat temperature in 16 beetle species of the tribe Leptodirini (Leiodidae). We found a significant, negative relationship between thermal tolerance and the degree of subterranean specialization. Conversely, habitat temperature had only a marginal effect on lethal limits. In agreement with the climatic variability hypothesis and under a climate change context, we show that the specialization process to live in deep subterranean habitats involves a reduction of upper lethal limits, but not an adjustment to habitat temperature. Thermal variability seems to exert a higher evolutionary pressure than mean habitat temperature to configure the thermal niche of subterranean species. Our results provide novel insights on thermal physiology of species with poor dispersal capabilities and on the evolutionary process of adaptation to subterranean environments. We further emphasize that the pathways determining vulnerability of subterranean species to climate change greatly depend on the degree of specialization to deep subterranean environments.
Open Access
Combined wildlife passages and ecological corridors best mitigate highway impacts on a threatened species
(Elsevier, 2026-07-21) Graciá, Eva; Rodríguez Caro, Roberto C.; Bruno, Daniel; Valdivieso Ros, M. Carmen; Anadón, José D.; Wiegand, Thorsten; Giménez, Andrés; Jiménez Franco, María Victoria; Ecología e Hidrología; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Biología
Habitat loss and fragmentation are two of the main threats to biodiversity. These processes can generate isolation of animal populations and cause local extinctions. Biodiversity management requires an evaluation of the effects of landscape connectivity loss and of potential mitigation measures on the long-term viability of terrestrial vertebrate populations. Our objectives are to: 1) assess the impact of habitat fragmentation caused by linear transport infrastructures, such as highways, on the viability and functional connectivity of terrestrial vertebrate populations; 2) analyse whether different mitigation measures, individually or combined, such as wildlife passages and ecological corridors, improve population viability. We used Testudo graeca, a threatened reptile that inhabits a fragmented area of southeastern Spain, as a real study context. We conducted simulation experiments using STEPLAND (an individual-based model for T. graeca movement and demography) in a Before-After-Control-Impact design. We modelled population dynamics in a real landscape scenario impacted by a highway, and we simulated scenarios involving different mitigation measures. Our results showed that the highway significantly decreased the area with viable population densities of T. graeca. In isolation, the scenario with wildlife passages and the scenario with ecological corridor could not fully mitigate the effects of the highway, whereas their combination produced a complementary effect that was more than twice the sum of their individual effects, thereby fully mitigating the effect of the highway. Our approach can support informed decision-making for the management and conservation of T. graeca. Moreover, our general insights can be extrapolated to other species with similar demographic characteristics.
Open Access
Comparación entre grupos de vegetación obtenidos mediante métodos multivariantes y sintáxones en la descripción de comunidades vegetales halófilas
(Murcia: Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de Publicaciones, 2002) Esteve Selma, Miguel A.; Calvo Sendín, José Francisco; Caballero Fernández-Rufete, José María; Ecología e Hidrología; Facultad de Biología
En los saladares del Guadalentín (Murcia) se definieron, mediante métodos multivariantes, seis grupos de vegetación (A-F), cada uno de ellos caracterizado por la dominancia de determinadas especies halófilas o subhalófilas. En el presente trabajo, se utilizan técnicas de ordenación (análisis de correspondencias y análisis de correspondencias canónicas) para comparar cuatro de estos grupos (A-D) con sintáxones: asociaciones o subasociaciones descritas para el sureste ibérico o para la región mediterránea en general. Se exponen y se discuten las afinidades y discrepancias de cada grupo con los sintáxones supuestamente relacionados. En términos generales, la correspondencia entre grupos de vegetación y sintáxones no es buena, especialmente en el caso de los grupos B (caracterizado por la dominancia de Frankenia corymbosa o Limonium caesium) y D (caracterizado por la dominancia de Halocnemum strobilaceum). Las diferencias se pueden atribuir a las condiciones específicas de los saladares del Guadalentín, a los cambios de vegetación que tienen lugar en ellos o a la presencia de determinadas especies ausentes o escasas en otros saladares mediterráneos. En ocasiones, un grupo de vegetación se puede vincular a una asociación, pero, dentro del rango de variación de la misma, representa una determinada forma, asociada a circunstancias locales o particulares. Esto pone de manifiesto que la variación que se da dentro de las asociaciones o subasociaciones puede ser muy relevante ecológicamente, y que existen dificultades para extrapolar valores de parámetros ambientales entre distintas representaciones de una misma asociación.
Open Access
Composición y estructura de una comunidad de larvas de odonatos (Zygoptera & Anisoptera) en un río del S.E de España:Cuenca del Río Mula (Río Segura)
(1986) Suárez Alonso, María Luisa; Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario; Soler, Agustín; Montes, Carlos; Ecología e Hidrología