A5088313901- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Study of Mite Species
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
Universidad de Alcalá
2015-2025
Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia
2021
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
1993
Biological control in integrated pest management (IPM) often overlooked avian predators until the emergence of ecosystem services approach. Birds are now recognized as key regulators populations agroforestry landscapes due to their high mobility. The invasive yellow-legged hornet, introduced into Europe 2004, threatens agriculture, beekeeping and native pollinators. We aimed determine whether European honey buzzard attacks on hornet nests reduce densities individuals (workers) summer...
This study evaluates the hypothesis that biological grazing refuges have an important role in plant‐grazer interactions of grasslands with a long history grazing. We assessed clumps spiny cactus Opuntia polyacantha provide from cattle grazing, affecting cover and seedhead production associated vascular plants shortgrass steppe North America. The was based on sampling inside outside eight long‐term moderately grazed pastures established 60 yr ago their respective ungrazed controls. provided...
1. Some plant functional traits evolved with high temporal resource variability and disturbance in ecosystems where these factors are prevalent. Persistence of characteristics may depend on continued disturbance, which turn promote diversity. In Mediterranean ecosystems, experiments that eliminate needed to detect trait dependence factors. 2. The purpose this study was experimentally assess how interannual rainfall variability, summer drought seasonal grazing modify the (life span, flowering...
While natural forests have decreased globally, forest plantations expanded highlighting the need for studies on plantations' capacity to sustain biodiversity and provide ecosystem services within agroforestry mosaics. This study examined breeding habitat preferences of European honey buzzards Pernis apivorus (a native predator invasive yellow-legged hornet) their relationship with reproductive performance in exotic Eucalyptus southwestern Europe. We expected better preferred habitats....
Most forest ecosystems contain a diverse community of top‐level predators. How these predator species interact, and how their interactions influence spatial distribution is still poorly understood. Here we studied among top predators in guild diurnal raptors order to test the hypothesis that predation competing (intraguild predation) significantly affects species, causing subordinate nest farther away from dominant ones. The study analyzed southwestern Europe comprising three raptor species....
Forest plantations are increasingly recognized for their role in providing ecosystem services agroforestry systems. Understanding the habitat preferences of potentially beneficial birds supports effective forest management. Our study focused on identifying breeding a raptor guild and assessing exotic eucalypt as potential sites. We explored at various spatial scales considering vegetation features, intraspecific territorial behaviour, interspecific interactions within to determine...
Diet studies present numerous methodological challenges. We evaluated the usefulness of commercially available trail-cameras for analyzing diet Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) as a model nesting raptors during period 2007–2011. compared estimates obtained by direct camera monitoring 80 nests with four indirect analyses prey remains collected from and surroundings (pellets, bones, feather-and-hair remains, feather-hair-and-bone combined). In addition, we performance whether affected...
Abstract. Can the interaction of episodic and chronic disturbances explain maintenance savanna‐like patterns? We explored morphological spatial patterns leguminous shrub Retama sphaerocarpa in a Mediterranean environment relation to disturbance. Various variables R. shrubland were found be determined by combination two types disturbance: (1) mechanical cutting: an episodic, heavy, short‐term disturbance anthropogenic origin for management purposes, (2) herbivore activity primarily rabbits:...
A small‐scale field study was conducted to explain seedling emergence and recruitment of reproductive individuals in a four‐year‐old Mediterranean annual plant community. The analyzed levels were populations, functional types, total number the We hypothesized that germinable seeds positively affects emerged seedlings, which individuals. as well litter mass, biomass established adults, non‐conspecific seedlings negatively affect numbers results supported our multivariate causal explanation...
Knowledge on the effects of land use community composition and species abundance is crucial for designing realistic conservation strategies, particularly in highly dynamic systems such as Mediterranean agricultural mosaics that are subjected to intensive cultivation. We investigated these nocturnal bird occurring study area (Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruflcollis, Barn Owl Tyto alba, Eurasian Scops Otus scops, Little Athene noctua, Tawny Strix aluco,...
Abstract Aim Wild biodiversity and agrobiodiversity are affected by challenges such as agricultural intensification. However, it is unknown whether or not both components of respond similarly to environmental factors these challenges. Here, we examine the spatial relationships between distributions wild agrobiodiversity, quantify how where they covary across geography. Location Mainland Spain, a European region that harbours high values agro‐ biodiversity. Methods We used geographically...
Abstract Oak regeneration and the expansion of forested sites in Eurasia rely on acorn dispersal by animals, especially Eurasian jay ( Garrulus glandarius ). However, open agroforestry systems where jays are absent, such as old fields far from sources, oak recruitment still occurs. We hypothesize that magpie Pica pica ), an abundant corvid this system, substitutes its seed function. By ringing 169 magpies, video recording >7500 removal events with trail cameras, radio‐tagging 337 acorns,...
The response of semiarid grasslands to small, non‐colonial herbivores has received little attention, focusing primarily on the effects granivore assemblages annual plant communities. We studied long‐term both small and large vegetation structure species diversity shortgrass steppe, a perennial grassland considered marginal habitat for mammalian herbivores. hypothesized that 1) generalist would affect more abundant proportions litter‐bare ground‐vegetation cover through non‐selective...
Abstract. Question: Which factors influence the effectiveness of biotic refuges for harbouring grazing‐sensitive species in pastures with a long history grazing by large herbivores? Previous research showed that spiny clumps cactus Opuntia polyacantha provided from cattle plants and inflorescence production on short‐grass steppe. In this paper, seven may have potential positive refuge effects at landscape scale were assessed. Location: Short‐grass steppe Great Plains North America. Methods:...