New Publication (and Cover !) on Cinereous Vulture distribution

García‐Barón I, Cortés‐Avizanda A, Verburg PH, et al. 2018 How to fit the distribution of apex scavengers into land‐abandonment scenarios? The Cinereous vulture in the Mediterranean biome. Divers Distrib. 2018;24:1018–1031. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12743

Abstract: Aim: Farmland abandonment or “ecological rewilding” shapes species distribution and ecological process ultimately affecting the biodiversity and functionality of ecosystems. Land abandonment predictions based on alternative future socioeconomic scenarios allow foretell the future of biota in Europe. From here, we predict how these forecasts may affect large‐scale distribution of the Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), an apex scavenger closely linked to Mediterranean agro‐grazing systems. 

Location: Iberian Peninsula.

Methods: Firstly, we modelled nest‐site and foraging habitat selection in relation to variables quantifying physiography, trophic resources and human disturbance. Secondly, we evaluate to what extent land abandonment may affect the life traits of the species and finally we determined how potential future distribution of the species would vary according to asymmetric socioeconomic land‐abandonment predictions for year 2040.

Results: Cinereous vultures selected breeding areas with steep slopes and low human presence whereas foraging areas are characterized by high abundance of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and wild ungulates. Liberalization of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could potentially transform positively 66% of the current nesting habitat, favouring the recovery of mature forest. Contrarily, land abandonment would negatively affect the 63% of the current foraging habitat reducing the availability of preferred food resources (wild European rabbit). On the other hand, the maintenance of the CAP would determine lower frequencies (24%–22%) of nesting and foraging habitat change.

Main conclusions: Land abandonment may result into opposite effects on the focal species because of the increase in nesting habitats and wild ungulates populations and, on the other hand, lower availability of open areas with poorer densities of European rabbits. Land‐abandonment models’ scenarios are still coarse‐grained; the apparition of new human uses in natural areas may take place at small‐sized and medium‐sized scales, ultimately adding complexity to the prediction on the future of biota and ecosystems.

New Publication on Egyptian vulture and stakeholders perceptions

Cortés-Avizanda, A., Martin-Lopez, B., Ceballos, O. and Pereira, H. M. 2018 Stakeholders perceptions of the endangered Egyptian vulture: Insights for conservation. Biological Conservation 2018: 173-180, doi. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.09.028

Photo: M. de la Riva

 Abstract: The inclusion of perceptions, interests and needs of stakeholders in biodiversity conservation is critical for the long-term protection of endangered species. Yet, the social dimensions of endangered species conservation are often overlooked. We examined the social perceptions of the conservational importance of the globally endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in one of the most important breeding areas worldwide: the Bardenas Reales Protected Area, northern Spain. We assessed the factors that influence the stakeholders' views of its conservation importance and identified the management strategies that would have social support. We found that the understandings of the Egyptian vulture differed among stakeholders. Hunters had the highest level of knowledge about its presence, threatened status and role as provider of ecosystem services. Livestock keepers recognized the worth of the Egyptian vulture for carcass removal, whereas other regulating services (e.g. biological control) were frequently acknowledged by tourists. Hunters and livestock keepers were more critical about the effectiveness of ongoing conservation strategies for preserving the Egyptian vulture than tourists. Moreover, each stakeholder group identified different actions for the conservation of the Egyptian vulture in the area. The consideration of the diversity of conservation actions suggested by stakeholders could catalyze broader support for the preservation of the Egyptian vulture

  
An overview of the study has been published (in Spanish) in the popular science magazine Quercus  here

GEDA at the I National Symposium on Raptors and their habitats

GEDA has participated to the I National Symposim on Raptors and their Habitats in Guara last week.

 Ana Sanz-Aguilar, Ainara Cortés-Avizanda and Jaume Badia-Boher have contributed with their work to the Symposium.

The Cory's Shearwaters began to breed !

Photo: A. Sanz-Aguilar

The Cory's Shearwater campaign has just started. The first birds are on their egg. This year all seabirds have slightly changed the phenology, we will see whether Shearwaters do the same.

GEDA at "Meteo y Natura"

Ana Sanz-Aguilar explains the results from a meta-analysis investigating whether seabirds adapt their breeding phenology to the recent warming of the sea temperature. The study used the long-term data of nearly 200 seabird populations. Among them those studied by the GEDA. The full interview can be viewed here (at min 4:30)

Yellow-legged gull spring campaign just began

Photo M Gomila.

The 2018 spring campaign of Yellow legged gull at Dragonera natural park is getting to its peak. Today we set traps, measured eggs and search for marked individuals. This year, thank to M. Gomila, we are going to add some extra readings by using a digital zoom (and great skills!)
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Yellow-legged gulls on Air

Saturday 07/04/2018 at 12h15, speaking about Yellow-Legged Gulls, their movements and their ecology, at "Balears fa Ciència" (min 19).  Here

New publication on seabird phenology and climate change !

Keogan, K., Daunt, F. [...], Igual, J.M. [...], Sanz-Aguilar, A. [...], Lewis, S. 2018. Global phenological insensitivity to shifting ocean temperatures among seabirds. Nature Climatre Change 8,313–318 doi:10.1038/s41558-018-0115-z

Photo: from CEHseabirds

Abstract: Reproductive timing in many taxa plays a key role in determining breeding productivity, and is often sensitive to climatic conditions. Current climate change may alter the timing of breeding at different rates across trophic levels, potentially resulting in temporal mismatch between the resource requirements of predators and their prey. This is of particular concern for higher-trophic-level organisms, whose longer generation times confer a lower rate of evolutionary rescue than primary producers or consumers. However, the disconnection between studies of ecological change in marine systems makes it difficult to detect general changes in the timing of reproduction. Here, we use a comprehensive meta-analysis of 209 phenological time series from 145 breeding populations to show that, on average, seabird populations worldwide have not adjusted their breeding seasons over time (−0.020 days yr⁻¹) or in response to sea surface temperature (SST) (−0.272 days °C⁻¹) between 1952 and 2015. However, marked between-year variation in timing observed in resident species and some Pelecaniformes and Suliformes (cormorants, gannets and boobies) may imply that timing, in some cases, is affected by unmeasured environmental conditions. This limited temperature-mediated plasticity of reproductive timing in seabirds potentially makes these top predators highly vulnerable to future mismatch with lower-trophic-level resources.