A5002803757- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos
2016-2025
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
2007-2024
Tel Aviv University
2024
Universidad de Valladolid
2017-2022
Universität der Bundeswehr München
2022
University of Helsinki
2022
Institut für Mikrobiologie der Bundeswehr
2022
Nova Scotia Health Authority
2022
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
2020
Universidad de Salamanca
2020
Human-induced direct mortality affects huge numbers of birds each year, threatening hundreds species worldwide. Tracking technologies can be an important tool to investigate temporal and spatial patterns bird as well their drivers. We compiled 1704 records from tracking studies across the African-Eurasian flyway for 45 species, including raptors, storks, cranes, covering period 2003 2021. Our results show a higher frequency human-induced causes than natural taxonomic groups, geographical...
Unlike most seabird families, the vast majority of small petrel species are nocturnal on their breeding grounds. Further, they reduce markedly activity when light level increases. Moonlight avoidance might be a consequence reduction in foraging profitability, as bioluminescent prey do not come to sea surface bright nights. Alternatively, petrels may avoid colonies during moonlit nights because increased predation risk. We studied by Brown Skuas Catharacta antarctica lönnbergi at Kerguelen,...
The expression of sexual ornaments has been suggested to reliably indicate individual quality, such as the ability cope with parasites and diseases. Immunocompetence Handicap Hypothesis (IHH) states that testosterone-dependent honestly signal quality because physiological costs associated testosterone, impaired immune function. We tested predictions IHH both correlatively experimentally in red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. Male exhibit supra-orbital combs whose size is...
Extravagant ornaments used as social signals evolved to advertise their bearers' quality. The Immunocompetence Handicap Hypothesis proposes that testosterone-dependent reliably signal health and parasite resistance; however, empirical studies have shown mixed support. Alternatively, immune function resistance may be indirectly or directly related glucocorticoid stress hormones. We propose an understanding of the interplay between individual its environment, particularly how they cope with...
Specialist species, using a narrow range of resources, are predicted to be more efficient when foraging on their preferred food than generalist species consuming wider foods. We tested whether the efficiency pallid harrier Circus macrourus , vole specialist, and sympatric Montagu's harriers C. pygargus closely related generalist, differed in relation inter‐annual variations abundance over five years (including two peak‐ one intermediate low years). show that hunting parameters strongly...
Lipid peroxidation products are widely used as markers of oxidative damage in the organism. To properly interpret information provided by these markers, it is necessary to know potential sources bias and control confounding factors. Here, we investigated relationship between two indicators lipid mobilization (circulating levels triglycerides cholesterol) common (plasma malondialdehyde hydroperoxides; latter estimated from d-ROMs assay kit). The following five avian species were studied:...
Ecologically based rodent pest management using biological control has never been evaluated for vole plagues in Europe, although it successfully tested other systems. The authors report on the first large-scale replicated experiment to study usefulness of nest-box installation increasing breeding density common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and barn owls (Tyto alba) as a potential (Microtus arvalis) abundance agricultural habitats north-western Spain.The results show that: (1) population both...
Animals may perceive humans as a form of predatory threat, disturbance, triggering behavioral changes together with the activation physiological stress responses. These adaptive responses allow individuals to cope stressful stimuli, but repeated or long-term exposure disturbances have detrimental individual- and population-level effects. We studied effects human activities, particularly hunting, on behavior status near-threatened nongame steppe bird, little bustard. Using semiexperimental...
Small rodents are common inhabitants of farmlands where they play key ecosystem roles but can also be major pests when overabundant, causing crop damages and significant economic losses. Agricultural landscapes characterised by high fragmentation with remnant semi-natural habitats being typically restricted to narrow field margins. These linear maintaining local biodiversity, harbour "irruptive pest" species, such as voles. The vole Microtus arvalis, is a main vertebrate pest in continental...
Abstract Farmland bird populations have declined sharply due to agricultural intensification. In Europe, these negative population trends been linked the loss of semi‐natural vegetation types, particularly fallow land. The work Sanz‐Pérez et al. (2019) has far‐reaching implications for conservation farmland biodiversity. We argue that it supports a new paradigm understanding and management fallows should be integrated into forthcoming post‐2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Following...
The reliability of different egg counting methods for estimating the intensity Trichostrongylus tenuis infections in red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scoticus, was investigated autumn, when grouse may harbour high parasite intensities. Possible limitations to use these were also examined. Faecal counts found accurately estimate T. worm intensities, at least up an observed maximum c. 8000 worms. Two (smear and McMaster) gave consistent results, although exact relationship with differed according...
1 Among the commonest sexual signals of birds are red-yellow traits pigmented by carotenoids, but how they reliably advertise individual quality remain poorly understood. Here we tested hypothesis that carotenoid-based signalling is enhanced testosterone reduced parasites, and dual action on ornament expression parasite resistance ensures reliable signalling. 2 Tetraonid such as red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus have bright combs which function in intra- inter-sexual selection. In separate...
Extravagant ornaments evolved to advertise their bearers' quality, the honesty of signal being ensured by cost paid produce or maintain it. The oxidation handicap hypothesis (OHH) proposes that a main testosterone-dependent ornamentation is oxidative stress, condition whereby production reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) overwhelms capacity antioxidant defences. ROS/RNS are unstable, very by-products normal metabolic processes can cause extensive damage key biomolecules (cellular...
SUMMARY In animals yellow-orange-red sexual traits pigmented by carotenoids have been suggested to act as signals of current health. Because important physiological functions, individuals might trade-off allocating these pigments self-maintenance versus coloration. Carotenoids may scavengers free radicals that are released during an immune response. Here, we experimentally assessed whether a local cell-mediated response affects circulating carotenoids, antioxidant status, oxidative damage...
Abstract Vertebrates commonly use carotenoid-based traits as social signals. These can reliably advertise current nutritional status and health because carotenoids must be acquired through the diet their allocation to ornaments is traded-off against other self-maintenance needs. We propose that coloration more generally reveals an individual’s ability cope with stressful conditions. tested this idea by manipulating nematode parasite infection in free-living red grouse (Lagopus lagopus...