A5051870398- Avian ecology and behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Marine animal studies overview
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Forest ecology and management
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
Estación Biológica de Doñana
2022-2024
Universidad de Extremadura
2024
Universidad de Sevilla
2005-2024
Gulls ingest plastic and other litter while foraging in open landfills, because organic matter is mixed with debris. Therefore, gulls are potential biovectors of pollution into natural habitats, especially when they concentrate wetlands for roosting. We quantified, the first time, flow anthropogenic debris from landfills to a lake via movement gulls. focused on Fuente de Piedra, an inland closed-basin Spain that internationally important biodiversity. In 2022, we sampled gull pellets...
Connections between habitats are key to a full understanding of anthropic impacts on ecosystems. Freshwater especially biodiverse, yet depend exchange with terrestrial habitats. White storks (Ciconia ciconia) widespread opportunists that often forage in landfills and then visit wetlands, among other It is well known white ingest contaminants at (such as plastics antibiotic resistant bacteria), which can be deposited through their faeces regurgitated pellets.We characterized the role habitat...
Blood parasites such as malaria and related haemosporidians commonly infect vertebrate species including birds. Understanding age‐specific patterns of parasite infections is crucial for quantifying the fitness consequences parasitism hosts understanding transmission dynamics. We analyzed longitudinal cross‐sectional infection data in house martins Delichon urbica , a migratory bird suffering from intense haemosporidian infection. separated within‐ among‐individual effects age on prevalence....
Synanthropic bird species in human, poultry or livestock environments can increase the spread of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria between wild domestic animals. We present first telemetry-based spatial networks for a small songbird. quantified landscape connectivity exerted by spotless starling movements, aimed to determine if patterns were related carriage potential pathogens. captured 28 starlings on partridge farm 2020 tested them Avian influenza virus, West Nile virus WNV,...
Abstract The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) poses a number of fascinating scientific questions, including the taxonomic status postulated subspecies. Here, we obtained and assessed sequence variation 411 complete mitogenomes, mainly from European H. r. rustica, but other subspecies as well. In almost every case, observed subspecies-specific haplogroups, which employed together with estimated radiation times to postulate model for geographical temporal worldwide spread species. female...
Research into plastic pollution has extensively focused on abiotic vectors, overlooking transport by animals. Opportunistic birds, such as white storks (Ciconia ciconia) often forage landfills, where abounds. We assess loading ingestion and regurgitation of landfill in Cadiz Bay, a major stopover area for migratory south-west Spain. On average, we counted 599 per day moving between complex salt ponds marshes, they regurgitated pellets that each contained mean 0.47 g debris, dominated...
Previous studies have linked winter habitat with subsequent breeding phenology and physical condition of migratory birds, but few found delayed effects on reproductive success. The aim this study was to test if African is related success house martins (Delichon urbicum) at a colony in Spain. We measured stable isotope (δ2H, δ13C, δ15N) values from feathers moulted West Africa used confirmatory path analysis isotopic winter-grown were through the mediation body condition. conducted separate...
Understanding connections between breeding, stopover and wintering grounds for long‐distance migratory birds can provide important insight into factors influencing demography the strength of carry‐over effects among various periods annual cycle. Using previously described, multi‐isotope (δ 13 C, δ 15 N, 2 H) feather isoscapes Africa, we identified most probable areas house martins Delichon urbica breeding at Badajoz in southwestern Spain. We two most‐probable differing isotopic signature...
Pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and malaria related haemosporidians provoke negative effects on the fitness of their hosts. Animals have developed a range defensive mechanisms to resist or eliminate these parasitic infections costs. The uropygial gland secretion has been proposed act barrier skin plumage in fight against bacteria fungi, may prevent birds from acquiring haemosporidian infections. Thus, glands favour survival individuals. However, whether influence remains unknown. Here we...
Abstract Natal and breeding dispersal represents an important component of animal demography metapopulation theory. This phenomenon also has implications for conservation management because understanding movements individuals potentially allows the identification key habitats that may be acting as population sources or sinks. Intrinsic markers such stable isotope abundance in tissues can associated with provenance provide a coarse but pragmatic solution to movements. Different methodologies...
Abstract Recently, population declines have been reported for many migratory birds. Because of complex life cycles, determining the causes such is often difficult. Thus, birds are special conservation interest. We studied behavior Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow) tagged with solar geolocators and determined carryover effects during entire annual cycle from one breeding season to next. used a partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) disentangle events that occur in chronological order. In...
The effects of climate change on organisms are now being extensively studied in many different taxa. However, the variation body size, usually shrinkage response to increasing temperature, has received little attention regarding reptiles. During past periods global warming, shrank and current evidence experiments manipulating temperature have shown a biomass decrease some with temperatures. Here we test whether size Montpellier snake Malpolon monspessulanus from southeastern Iberian...
Migratory birds usually respond to climate change by modifying breeding and/or wintering areas, as well reproducing earlier. In addition, changes in winter habitat use or phenology could have important carry-over effects on subsequent success. Here, we studied age- and sex-dependent from the stage of a small aerial insectivorous long-distance migratory bird, barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) Denmark during 1984-2013. First, used stable isotope analyses combined with ringing recoveries identify...
Many populations of migratory bird species are rapidly declining. As a requisite for targeting effective conservation efforts it is essential to determine the whereabouts migrants year-round. However, our knowledge routes and spatial-temporal occurrence across periods annual cycle still limited most species. We used light-level geolocators describe in detail migration system Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica breeding southwestern Spain wintering West Africa. were able successfully retrieve...
According to classical prediction of aerodynamic theory, birds and other powered fliers that migrate over long distances should have longer more pointed wings than those less. However, the association between wing morphology migratory behavior can be masked by contrasting selective pressures related foraging behavior, habitat selection predator avoidance, possibly at cost lower flight energetic efficiency. We studied handwing Eurasian barn swallows Hirundo rustica from four populations...
In migratory species breeding in temperate zones and wintering tropical areas, the prevalence of blood parasites may be affected by strategies winter habitat choice. We explored whether African was linked to probability haemosporidian infection House Martin Delichon urbicum Spain, tested for potential differences between age‐classes. As a proxy features, we analysed stable isotope (δ 2 H, δ 13 C 15 N) values winter‐grown feathers moulted Africa. Rainfall at grounds related being infected...
Synanthropic bird species found in human, poultry or livestock environments can increase the spread of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria between wild domestic animals. We aimed to determine if connectivity among habitat patches, exerted by spotless starling movements, is related prevalence livestock/human pathogens. captured 28 starlings on a partridge farm 2020 sampled them for (Avian influenza virus, West Nile virus WNV, Avian orthoavulavirus 1, Coronavirus, Salmonella spp....