The Iberian Peninsula is,nowadays,the main producer of roofing slate of the world.Most of the outcrops are located in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula,in the regions of Galicia,Leon,and in Portugal.The technique of wor...The Iberian Peninsula is,nowadays,the main producer of roofing slate of the world.Most of the outcrops are located in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula,in the regions of Galicia,Leon,and in Portugal.The technique of working and roofing with slate was brought from Flanders by King Felipe II by the second half of the XVI century.The most representative building from this period is the Monastery of El Escorial,N Madrid.However,the Spanish slate industry remained incipient until the 1960s,when Galicia and Leon suffered an accelerated industrialization process which greatly enhanced the volume of production.Additionally,the Portuguese slate industry was well developed by the second half of the XIX century.Most of the Portuguese production was exported,mainly to the United Kingdom.By the second half of the XX century,the Spanish,and in a lesser extent,the Portuguese roofing slate spread all over Europe,forcing most of the existing European quarries to close.Nowadays,different varieties of roofing slates are quarried,mainly in Spain,being used indistinctly in new residential construction and for restoration of historical buildings.The main importing countries are France,Germany and the United Kingdom.This work presents an overview of the history and main varieties of the Iberian roofing slate,in order to propose its inclusion as a Global Heritage Stone Province.展开更多
Rhenium is a very scarce element, occurring in the Earth's crust mainly carried by molybdenite (MoS2). Due to a very low availability comparative to actual industrial demand, rhenium is nowadays one of the most ex...Rhenium is a very scarce element, occurring in the Earth's crust mainly carried by molybdenite (MoS2). Due to a very low availability comparative to actual industrial demand, rhenium is nowadays one of the most expensive mineral commodities and an increased interest is focused on ex- ploring residues resulting from a long-term mining, particularly of sulphide ore deposits. It is therefore noteworthy to assign the presence of rhenium (in a concentration up to 3 ppm) in the waste materials from the old sulphur factory at the abandoned mine of Sao Domingos (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Southeast Portugal), exploited since the Roman occupation of Iberia. Aiming at a potential sustainable recovery of rhenium as a by-product, X-ray near-edge absorption spectroscopy (XANES) was applied to clarify the Re-binding and mode of occurrence by comparing Re L3-edge XANES spectra obtained from mine waste samples (previously fully characterized by X-ray laboratory techniques) with similar spectra collected from Re-rich molybdenites (Mo1-xRexS2) and from Re-O model compounds configuring various valences and coordination environments of rhenium ions. Obtained results are commented, ruling out a possible Re-S binding and rather conforming with the binding of rhenium to oxygen in the analysed mine waste materials.展开更多
The conversion of subalpine forests into grasslands for pastoral use is a well-knownphenomenon, although for most mountain areas the timing of deforestation has not been determined. The presence of charcoal fragments ...The conversion of subalpine forests into grasslands for pastoral use is a well-knownphenomenon, although for most mountain areas the timing of deforestation has not been determined. The presence of charcoal fragments in soil profiles affected by shallow landsliding enabled us to date the occurrence of fires and the periods of conversion ofsubalpine forest into grasslands in the Urbión Mountains, Iberian Range, Spain. We found that the treeline in the highest parts of the northwestern massifs of the Iberian Range(the Urbión, Demanda, Neila, and Cebollera massifs) is currently between 1500 and 1600 m a.s.l., probably because of pastoral use of the subalpine belt, whereas in the past it would have reached almost the highest divides(at approximately 2100–2200 m a.s.l.). The radiocarbon dates obtained indicate that the transformation of the subalpine belt occurred during the Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Middle Ages. Forest clearing was probably moderate during fires prior to the Middle Ages, as the small size of the sheep herds and the local character of the markets only required small clearings, and therefore more limited fires. Thus, it is likely that the forest recovered burnt areas in a few decades; this suggests the management of the forest and grasslands following a slash-andburn system. During the Middle and Modern Ages deforestation and grassland expansion affected most of the subalpine belt and coincided with the increasing prevalence of transhumance, as occurred in other mountains in the Iberian Peninsula(particularly the Pyrenees). Although the occurrence of shallow landslides following deforestation between the Neolithic and the Roman Period cannot be ruled out, the most extensive shallow landsliding processes would have occurred from the Middle Ages until recent times.展开更多
The taxonomy of the genus Quercus is the subject of ongoing scientific interest at the present time. Classically the scanning electron microscope is and has been used for the study of leaf surfaces, particularly to ch...The taxonomy of the genus Quercus is the subject of ongoing scientific interest at the present time. Classically the scanning electron microscope is and has been used for the study of leaf surfaces, particularly to characterise the trichomes, stomata and epicuticular waxes. In the present work, in addition to using the SEM, histological sections from a group of taxa from the northern Iberian Peninsula are studied under the optical microscope. Specifically, the study concerns the leaves of Quercus robur subsp. robur, Q. orocantabrica, Q. petraea and Q. pyrenaica, and of possible hybrids between Q. orocantabrica and Q. petraea and between Q. orocantabrica and Q. pyrenaica. The results highlight histological differences between Q. robur and Q. orocantabrica, and also differentiate the morphological characteristics of Q. petraea and Q. pyrenaica. Similarities can also be observed between Q. petraea and its possible hybrid with Q. orocantabrica, and between Q. pyrenaica and its hybrid with Q. orocantabrica. The aspects observed under the optical microscope complement the observations obtained by means of the scanning electron microscope, and as a consequence of this, two new nothospecies are described: Q. xpuentei (Q. orocantabrica × Q. petraea) and Q. xpenasii (Q. orocantabrica × Q. pyrenaica).展开更多
To clarify the species status of sturgeon from rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, eight molecular markers (4 nuclear and 4 mitochondrial) have been analysed in different specimens from historical museum samples and preh...To clarify the species status of sturgeon from rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, eight molecular markers (4 nuclear and 4 mitochondrial) have been analysed in different specimens from historical museum samples and prehistoric samples from archaeological sites. These analyses indicate that one of these specimens (UGP captured in the Guadalquivir River in the 19th century) is A. sturio, based on all the eight molecular markers, four of them used from the first time in this study. In previous analyses based on 5 genetic markers, our group assigned two specimens captured in this river in the 1970-80s (EBD8173 and EBD8401) to the species A. naccarii, suggesting the presence of this species in the Iberian Peninsula. In this work, this conclusion is drawn after successfully obtaining a mitochondrial marker in a very old scute from a prehistoric site (Acinipo, about 1500 BC, from the Guadalquivir River basin). On the other hand, in the specimen EBD8174 captured in the Guadalquivir in 1975, we have obtained two new mitochondrial markers confirming that it can be considered A. sturio for all the mitochondrial markers, but nuclear ones identify it as A. naccarii. Finally, two very old samples (Nerja E-VI and Nerja N/62-63) were not successfully characterized by any molecular markers. Some aspects and consequences of our results are discussed, such as the origin of the “mosaic” specimen EBD8174 and, above all, the native status of A. naccarii in historic and prehistoric times in the southern Iberian Peninsula.展开更多
Five castrated male Iberian pigs (100 ± 2 kg b.w.) fitted with T-shaped ileal cannulas at the terminal ileum were used to determine the effects of legume feeding on intestinal microbiota composition. The diets we...Five castrated male Iberian pigs (100 ± 2 kg b.w.) fitted with T-shaped ileal cannulas at the terminal ileum were used to determine the effects of legume feeding on intestinal microbiota composition. The diets were based on defatted soybean (Glycine max), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) or chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seed meals and contained similar amounts of digestible energy (14.2 - 15.1 MJ·kg-1) and protein (107 g·kg-1). A hydrolyzed casein diet was used to determine the bacterial counts in pigs fed on a vegetable-free diet. The composition of the intestinal microbiota at the terminal ileum was analysed by q-PCR. Higher (P 10 number of copies was determined in the ileal contents of pigs fed on lupin- or chickpea-based diets with respect to those fed on the soybean-based diet. Bacteroides and the Clostridium coccoides/Eubacterium rectale group log10 number of copies was lower (P < 0.01) than that of soybean in the ileal contents of chickpea-fed pigs. Enterobacteria and the Escherichia/Shigella group log10 number of copies was lower (P < 0.01) than that of soybean in pigs fed on diets based on lupin or chickpea. The number of copies of the different bacterial groups in animals fed on the casein-based diet was lower (P < 0.01) than that of soybean for lactobacilli and bacteroides, but was higher than that of soybean for bifidobacteria, enterobacteria and the Escherichia/Shigella group. This information suggests that lupin or chickpea feeding might induce a benefit in the microbiota composition of Iberian pigs in their final productive stages.展开更多
We present a regional climate simulation for the Iberian Peninsula for a 60-year period (1950-2009) using the WRF-ARW model with a focus on the simulation of summer maximum temperatures and associated extreme heat wav...We present a regional climate simulation for the Iberian Peninsula for a 60-year period (1950-2009) using the WRF-ARW model with a focus on the simulation of summer maximum temperatures and associated extreme heat waves. The WRF model was designed at a 5 km horizontal resolution on a 5-month (May-September) seasonal scale, for every year, during the study period with initial/boundary conditions derived from NCEP 2.5 degree reanalysis. The comparison of simulated mean summer seasonal maximums and mean maximums of June, July, and August months with the corresponding E-OBS data sets indicates that the model is able to characterize the spatial variation of magnitudes of temperature change over the Iberian Peninsula. The mean extreme heat wave conditions during the climate period 1950-2009 are well simulated and match the observations well. The regional scale simulations clearly show the propagation of intense heat waves from the south west to north east of Iberia. The WRF-ARW model also simulated well the general trend of increase in heat waves over most parts of the Iberian Peninsula during the study period 1950-2009. The characteristics of the most severe heat waves years 2003 and 2006 are also well simulated by the model.展开更多
The Iberian hare(Lepus granatensis)is a widely distributed endemic species in the Iberian Peninsula.To improve our knowledge of its population dynamics,the relative abundance and population trends of the Iberian hare ...The Iberian hare(Lepus granatensis)is a widely distributed endemic species in the Iberian Peninsula.To improve our knowledge of its population dynamics,the relative abundance and population trends of the Iberian hare were studied in the autumns of 1995-2012 in a protected area(Doñana National Park)by spotlighting in 2 different habitats:marshland and ecotones.The average relative abundance was 0.38 hare/km(SD=0.63)in the marshland and 3.6 hares/km(SD=4.09)in ecotones.The Iberian hare population exhibited local interannual fluctuations and a negative population trend during the study period(1995-2012).The results suggest that its populations are in decline.The flooding of parts of the marshland in June,July and October favor hare abundance in the ecotone.Hare abundance in the marshland increases as the flooded surface area increases in October.These effects are more pronounced if the rains are early(October)and partially flood the marsh.By contrast,when marsh grasses and graminoids are very high and thick(as measured using the aerial herbaceous biomass[biomass marshland]as a proxy),the abundance of hares decreases dramatically as does the area of the marsh that is flooded(in November).展开更多
The nymphal biology of a population of Torleya major （Klapalek） in southem Iberian Peninsula was studied. An atypical life cycle pattern is described, with eggs hatching in August producing a fast-developing cohort ...The nymphal biology of a population of Torleya major （Klapalek） in southem Iberian Peninsula was studied. An atypical life cycle pattern is described, with eggs hatching in August producing a fast-developing cohort with adults emerging in autumn and a second slow-developing cohort with adults emerging in spring of the following year. Nymphal growth occurred primarily in summer-autumn （in the first cohort） and in spring （in the second）. The origin of such a life history is discussed. Nymphs were collector-gatherers, consuming mainly detritus. Although ontogenetic shifts on the use of trophic resources were detected, similar food was utilized during the months when both cohorts cohabited, eliminating the possibility that the rapid growth of the first cohort could be related to the utilization of different food resources.展开更多
The Iberian hare(Lepus granatensis)is an endemic species distributed in Spain and Portugal.Myxomatosis outbreaks affecting this species were detected in 2018 in Central and Southern Spain,spreading afterward.Aiming to...The Iberian hare(Lepus granatensis)is an endemic species distributed in Spain and Portugal.Myxomatosis outbreaks affecting this species were detected in 2018 in Central and Southern Spain,spreading afterward.Aiming to evaluate factors affecting the status of hare population after the arrival of myxomatosis,we conducted 108 nocturnal hare counts in Central Spain during two study periods(winter/spring and summer/autumn)in 54 different hunting grounds,covering 1071 km and observing 884 individuals.The mean density in winter/spring was 7.66 hares/100 ha,(range 6.14-9.54/100 ha),while in summer/autumn,it was 3.4 hares/100 ha(range 2.6-4.4/100 ha).Densities of hares were not affected by the dominant habitat and the presence/absence of myxomatosis outbreaks.Hares were more abundant at hunting grounds at a higher altitude and in those conducting targeted management,while detection of myxomatosis was related to lower altitude and higher levels of game management.A MaxEnt model used to generate a risk map for myxomatosis occurrence showed that the temperature annual range was the most important predictor,which suggests that environmental factors affecting myxomatosis vectors(mosquitoes,fleas,and ticks)could play a key role in disease transmission.As myxomatosis in hares is becoming endemic,hare densities may be improved by game management and the monitoring and surveillance of this emerging disease.These surveillance programs could be the basis of effective collaborations between hunters,researchers,and environmental managers.展开更多
Testosterone secretion may regulate the reproductive effort and the development of sexual traits,but it may also involve costs at the immunological and metabolic levels.However,the evidence for this trade-off in wild ...Testosterone secretion may regulate the reproductive effort and the development of sexual traits,but it may also involve costs at the immunological and metabolic levels.However,the evidence for this trade-off in wild populations is scarce.Cortisol also plays an important role in mediating the reproductive and immune functions.In this study,we analyzed whether the endoparasite burden relates to hormonal levels(fecal testosterone and cortisol metabolites)and/or morphological sexual traits(size of the dark ventral patch,a trait that indicates reproductive effort in males)in male Iberian red deer.For this purpose,we sampled male red deer harvested during hunting actions in 2 types of populations in south western Spain that differed in structure,affecting the level of male–male competition for mates.We used coprological analyses to estimate the parasite burden mainly of gastrointestinal and bronchopulmonary nematodes and of protozoa,and assessed testosterone and cortisol metabolite levels from fecal pellets.We found a positive relationship of host parasitation with both testosterone levels and the size of the dark ventral patch,but these relationships depended on the intensity of male–male competition in the population,being only found under the high-competition scenario.These results are discussed under the hypothesis of the testosterone immunocompetence handicap,suggesting a cost at the immunological level,and,therefore,higher susceptibility to parasite infection in males that make a greater reproductive effort.However,this effect seems to be modulated by the social environment(male–male competition)that might lead to different optima in testosterone production and sexual trait development.展开更多
During the Early Triassic,harsh environmental conditions delayed the biotic recovery after the end-Permian life crisis,which is generally related to the massive eruptive event of the Siberian traps.The scarcity of the...During the Early Triassic,harsh environmental conditions delayed the biotic recovery after the end-Permian life crisis,which is generally related to the massive eruptive event of the Siberian traps.The scarcity of the fossil record in many areas of the Earth following this global crisis has been mainly attributed to arid and acid palaeoenvironmental conditions.In the Iberian Peninsula,extensive aeolian and braided fluvial paleoenvironments have been identified,and the presence of secondary minerals,such as kaolinite and aluminium-phosphate-sulfate(APS),has been associated with acid meteoric waters.On Mars,many of these features,such as aeolian facies and minerals like jarosite or hematite,related to acid ground water alteration products,have been previously described on Meridiani Planum.During the Late Noachian,the possible occurrence of liquid water and warm conditions have been reported,being one of the most favourable periods for life development on Mars.However,an increase in aridity and acidity during the Late Noachian–Early Hesperian(probably related to the Tharsis volcanism),together with the internal switches that could have provoked inefficient water recycling,may have hampered the appearance and/or development of favourable habitability conditions on this planet.Therefore,the comparison of extreme palaeoenvironmental conditions of the Early Triassic on Earth with data from Meridiani Planum can sheds some light on the study of habitability on ancient Mars.展开更多
基金grateful to the Foundation for the Scientific Research(FWO)from the Flanders Government,Belgium,for his Pegasus Marie Curie Fellowship.
文摘The Iberian Peninsula is,nowadays,the main producer of roofing slate of the world.Most of the outcrops are located in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula,in the regions of Galicia,Leon,and in Portugal.The technique of working and roofing with slate was brought from Flanders by King Felipe II by the second half of the XVI century.The most representative building from this period is the Monastery of El Escorial,N Madrid.However,the Spanish slate industry remained incipient until the 1960s,when Galicia and Leon suffered an accelerated industrialization process which greatly enhanced the volume of production.Additionally,the Portuguese slate industry was well developed by the second half of the XIX century.Most of the Portuguese production was exported,mainly to the United Kingdom.By the second half of the XX century,the Spanish,and in a lesser extent,the Portuguese roofing slate spread all over Europe,forcing most of the existing European quarries to close.Nowadays,different varieties of roofing slates are quarried,mainly in Spain,being used indistinctly in new residential construction and for restoration of historical buildings.The main importing countries are France,Germany and the United Kingdom.This work presents an overview of the history and main varieties of the Iberian roofing slate,in order to propose its inclusion as a Global Heritage Stone Province.
基金the project MinReMol(Ref.EXPL/AAG-REC/0978/2012),financed by FEDER Funds through the Operational Program on Competitive Factors(COMPETE:FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027516)by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology(FCT-MCTES)support of FCT-MCTES through the Strategic Project LA25-2011-2012(ref.PEst-C/CTM/LA0025/2011).
文摘Rhenium is a very scarce element, occurring in the Earth's crust mainly carried by molybdenite (MoS2). Due to a very low availability comparative to actual industrial demand, rhenium is nowadays one of the most expensive mineral commodities and an increased interest is focused on ex- ploring residues resulting from a long-term mining, particularly of sulphide ore deposits. It is therefore noteworthy to assign the presence of rhenium (in a concentration up to 3 ppm) in the waste materials from the old sulphur factory at the abandoned mine of Sao Domingos (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Southeast Portugal), exploited since the Roman occupation of Iberia. Aiming at a potential sustainable recovery of rhenium as a by-product, X-ray near-edge absorption spectroscopy (XANES) was applied to clarify the Re-binding and mode of occurrence by comparing Re L3-edge XANES spectra obtained from mine waste samples (previously fully characterized by X-ray laboratory techniques) with similar spectra collected from Re-rich molybdenites (Mo1-xRexS2) and from Re-O model compounds configuring various valences and coordination environments of rhenium ions. Obtained results are commented, ruling out a possible Re-S binding and rather conforming with the binding of rhenium to oxygen in the analysed mine waste materials.
基金the projects INDICA(CGL2011-27753-C02-01 and-02)DINAMO2(CGL2012-33063)funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
文摘The conversion of subalpine forests into grasslands for pastoral use is a well-knownphenomenon, although for most mountain areas the timing of deforestation has not been determined. The presence of charcoal fragments in soil profiles affected by shallow landsliding enabled us to date the occurrence of fires and the periods of conversion ofsubalpine forest into grasslands in the Urbión Mountains, Iberian Range, Spain. We found that the treeline in the highest parts of the northwestern massifs of the Iberian Range(the Urbión, Demanda, Neila, and Cebollera massifs) is currently between 1500 and 1600 m a.s.l., probably because of pastoral use of the subalpine belt, whereas in the past it would have reached almost the highest divides(at approximately 2100–2200 m a.s.l.). The radiocarbon dates obtained indicate that the transformation of the subalpine belt occurred during the Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Middle Ages. Forest clearing was probably moderate during fires prior to the Middle Ages, as the small size of the sheep herds and the local character of the markets only required small clearings, and therefore more limited fires. Thus, it is likely that the forest recovered burnt areas in a few decades; this suggests the management of the forest and grasslands following a slash-andburn system. During the Middle and Modern Ages deforestation and grassland expansion affected most of the subalpine belt and coincided with the increasing prevalence of transhumance, as occurred in other mountains in the Iberian Peninsula(particularly the Pyrenees). Although the occurrence of shallow landslides following deforestation between the Neolithic and the Roman Period cannot be ruled out, the most extensive shallow landsliding processes would have occurred from the Middle Ages until recent times.
文摘The taxonomy of the genus Quercus is the subject of ongoing scientific interest at the present time. Classically the scanning electron microscope is and has been used for the study of leaf surfaces, particularly to characterise the trichomes, stomata and epicuticular waxes. In the present work, in addition to using the SEM, histological sections from a group of taxa from the northern Iberian Peninsula are studied under the optical microscope. Specifically, the study concerns the leaves of Quercus robur subsp. robur, Q. orocantabrica, Q. petraea and Q. pyrenaica, and of possible hybrids between Q. orocantabrica and Q. petraea and between Q. orocantabrica and Q. pyrenaica. The results highlight histological differences between Q. robur and Q. orocantabrica, and also differentiate the morphological characteristics of Q. petraea and Q. pyrenaica. Similarities can also be observed between Q. petraea and its possible hybrid with Q. orocantabrica, and between Q. pyrenaica and its hybrid with Q. orocantabrica. The aspects observed under the optical microscope complement the observations obtained by means of the scanning electron microscope, and as a consequence of this, two new nothospecies are described: Q. xpuentei (Q. orocantabrica × Q. petraea) and Q. xpenasii (Q. orocantabrica × Q. pyrenaica).
文摘To clarify the species status of sturgeon from rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, eight molecular markers (4 nuclear and 4 mitochondrial) have been analysed in different specimens from historical museum samples and prehistoric samples from archaeological sites. These analyses indicate that one of these specimens (UGP captured in the Guadalquivir River in the 19th century) is A. sturio, based on all the eight molecular markers, four of them used from the first time in this study. In previous analyses based on 5 genetic markers, our group assigned two specimens captured in this river in the 1970-80s (EBD8173 and EBD8401) to the species A. naccarii, suggesting the presence of this species in the Iberian Peninsula. In this work, this conclusion is drawn after successfully obtaining a mitochondrial marker in a very old scute from a prehistoric site (Acinipo, about 1500 BC, from the Guadalquivir River basin). On the other hand, in the specimen EBD8174 captured in the Guadalquivir in 1975, we have obtained two new mitochondrial markers confirming that it can be considered A. sturio for all the mitochondrial markers, but nuclear ones identify it as A. naccarii. Finally, two very old samples (Nerja E-VI and Nerja N/62-63) were not successfully characterized by any molecular markers. Some aspects and consequences of our results are discussed, such as the origin of the “mosaic” specimen EBD8174 and, above all, the native status of A. naccarii in historic and prehistoric times in the southern Iberian Peninsula.
文摘Five castrated male Iberian pigs (100 ± 2 kg b.w.) fitted with T-shaped ileal cannulas at the terminal ileum were used to determine the effects of legume feeding on intestinal microbiota composition. The diets were based on defatted soybean (Glycine max), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) or chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seed meals and contained similar amounts of digestible energy (14.2 - 15.1 MJ·kg-1) and protein (107 g·kg-1). A hydrolyzed casein diet was used to determine the bacterial counts in pigs fed on a vegetable-free diet. The composition of the intestinal microbiota at the terminal ileum was analysed by q-PCR. Higher (P 10 number of copies was determined in the ileal contents of pigs fed on lupin- or chickpea-based diets with respect to those fed on the soybean-based diet. Bacteroides and the Clostridium coccoides/Eubacterium rectale group log10 number of copies was lower (P < 0.01) than that of soybean in the ileal contents of chickpea-fed pigs. Enterobacteria and the Escherichia/Shigella group log10 number of copies was lower (P < 0.01) than that of soybean in pigs fed on diets based on lupin or chickpea. The number of copies of the different bacterial groups in animals fed on the casein-based diet was lower (P < 0.01) than that of soybean for lactobacilli and bacteroides, but was higher than that of soybean for bifidobacteria, enterobacteria and the Escherichia/Shigella group. This information suggests that lupin or chickpea feeding might induce a benefit in the microbiota composition of Iberian pigs in their final productive stages.
基金funded through the Integrated Program of IC&DT Call No.1/SAESCTN/ALENT-07-0224-FEDER-001755funding by the Geophysics Centre,University of Evora,Portugal,under the contract with Portuguese FCT,and PEst-OE/CTE/UI0078/2011
文摘We present a regional climate simulation for the Iberian Peninsula for a 60-year period (1950-2009) using the WRF-ARW model with a focus on the simulation of summer maximum temperatures and associated extreme heat waves. The WRF model was designed at a 5 km horizontal resolution on a 5-month (May-September) seasonal scale, for every year, during the study period with initial/boundary conditions derived from NCEP 2.5 degree reanalysis. The comparison of simulated mean summer seasonal maximums and mean maximums of June, July, and August months with the corresponding E-OBS data sets indicates that the model is able to characterize the spatial variation of magnitudes of temperature change over the Iberian Peninsula. The mean extreme heat wave conditions during the climate period 1950-2009 are well simulated and match the observations well. The regional scale simulations clearly show the propagation of intense heat waves from the south west to north east of Iberia. The WRF-ARW model also simulated well the general trend of increase in heat waves over most parts of the Iberian Peninsula during the study period 1950-2009. The characteristics of the most severe heat waves years 2003 and 2006 are also well simulated by the model.
文摘The Iberian hare(Lepus granatensis)is a widely distributed endemic species in the Iberian Peninsula.To improve our knowledge of its population dynamics,the relative abundance and population trends of the Iberian hare were studied in the autumns of 1995-2012 in a protected area(Doñana National Park)by spotlighting in 2 different habitats:marshland and ecotones.The average relative abundance was 0.38 hare/km(SD=0.63)in the marshland and 3.6 hares/km(SD=4.09)in ecotones.The Iberian hare population exhibited local interannual fluctuations and a negative population trend during the study period(1995-2012).The results suggest that its populations are in decline.The flooding of parts of the marshland in June,July and October favor hare abundance in the ecotone.Hare abundance in the marshland increases as the flooded surface area increases in October.These effects are more pronounced if the rains are early(October)and partially flood the marsh.By contrast,when marsh grasses and graminoids are very high and thick(as measured using the aerial herbaceous biomass[biomass marshland]as a proxy),the abundance of hares decreases dramatically as does the area of the marsh that is flooded(in November).
文摘The nymphal biology of a population of Torleya major （Klapalek） in southem Iberian Peninsula was studied. An atypical life cycle pattern is described, with eggs hatching in August producing a fast-developing cohort with adults emerging in autumn and a second slow-developing cohort with adults emerging in spring of the following year. Nymphal growth occurred primarily in summer-autumn （in the first cohort） and in spring （in the second）. The origin of such a life history is discussed. Nymphs were collector-gatherers, consuming mainly detritus. Although ontogenetic shifts on the use of trophic resources were detected, similar food was utilized during the months when both cohorts cohabited, eliminating the possibility that the rapid growth of the first cohort could be related to the utilization of different food resources.
基金We are grateful to all hunters and game managers who kindly participated in the study and helped in field work.Special thanks are given to the Hunters’and Coursing Federation of Castilla-La Mancha.We thank anonymous reviewers for their comments.This study was funded by Junta de Castilla-La Mancha and core funds from Fundación Artemisan.We are indebted to L.G.L.for her support,S.P.V.for compiling data of lagomorph hunting in Castilla-La Mancha,and the Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria de Algete for providing the outbreaks’information.
文摘The Iberian hare(Lepus granatensis)is an endemic species distributed in Spain and Portugal.Myxomatosis outbreaks affecting this species were detected in 2018 in Central and Southern Spain,spreading afterward.Aiming to evaluate factors affecting the status of hare population after the arrival of myxomatosis,we conducted 108 nocturnal hare counts in Central Spain during two study periods(winter/spring and summer/autumn)in 54 different hunting grounds,covering 1071 km and observing 884 individuals.The mean density in winter/spring was 7.66 hares/100 ha,(range 6.14-9.54/100 ha),while in summer/autumn,it was 3.4 hares/100 ha(range 2.6-4.4/100 ha).Densities of hares were not affected by the dominant habitat and the presence/absence of myxomatosis outbreaks.Hares were more abundant at hunting grounds at a higher altitude and in those conducting targeted management,while detection of myxomatosis was related to lower altitude and higher levels of game management.A MaxEnt model used to generate a risk map for myxomatosis occurrence showed that the temperature annual range was the most important predictor,which suggests that environmental factors affecting myxomatosis vectors(mosquitoes,fleas,and ticks)could play a key role in disease transmission.As myxomatosis in hares is becoming endemic,hare densities may be improved by game management and the monitoring and surveillance of this emerging disease.These surveillance programs could be the basis of effective collaborations between hunters,researchers,and environmental managers.
基金Financial support was received through projects CGL2013-48122-P and CGL2016-77052-P to JC.
文摘Testosterone secretion may regulate the reproductive effort and the development of sexual traits,but it may also involve costs at the immunological and metabolic levels.However,the evidence for this trade-off in wild populations is scarce.Cortisol also plays an important role in mediating the reproductive and immune functions.In this study,we analyzed whether the endoparasite burden relates to hormonal levels(fecal testosterone and cortisol metabolites)and/or morphological sexual traits(size of the dark ventral patch,a trait that indicates reproductive effort in males)in male Iberian red deer.For this purpose,we sampled male red deer harvested during hunting actions in 2 types of populations in south western Spain that differed in structure,affecting the level of male–male competition for mates.We used coprological analyses to estimate the parasite burden mainly of gastrointestinal and bronchopulmonary nematodes and of protozoa,and assessed testosterone and cortisol metabolite levels from fecal pellets.We found a positive relationship of host parasitation with both testosterone levels and the size of the dark ventral patch,but these relationships depended on the intensity of male–male competition in the population,being only found under the high-competition scenario.These results are discussed under the hypothesis of the testosterone immunocompetence handicap,suggesting a cost at the immunological level,and,therefore,higher susceptibility to parasite infection in males that make a greater reproductive effort.However,this effect seems to be modulated by the social environment(male–male competition)that might lead to different optima in testosterone production and sexual trait development.
基金supported by projects CGL2011-24048 and CGL2014-52699P of the Spanish Ministry of EconomyCSIC Research Group:Sistemas Sedimentarios y Variabilidad Climática(642853)UCMBSCH-GR58/08 Projects:Análisis de Cuencas(910429)and Paleoclimas(910198)。
文摘During the Early Triassic,harsh environmental conditions delayed the biotic recovery after the end-Permian life crisis,which is generally related to the massive eruptive event of the Siberian traps.The scarcity of the fossil record in many areas of the Earth following this global crisis has been mainly attributed to arid and acid palaeoenvironmental conditions.In the Iberian Peninsula,extensive aeolian and braided fluvial paleoenvironments have been identified,and the presence of secondary minerals,such as kaolinite and aluminium-phosphate-sulfate(APS),has been associated with acid meteoric waters.On Mars,many of these features,such as aeolian facies and minerals like jarosite or hematite,related to acid ground water alteration products,have been previously described on Meridiani Planum.During the Late Noachian,the possible occurrence of liquid water and warm conditions have been reported,being one of the most favourable periods for life development on Mars.However,an increase in aridity and acidity during the Late Noachian–Early Hesperian(probably related to the Tharsis volcanism),together with the internal switches that could have provoked inefficient water recycling,may have hampered the appearance and/or development of favourable habitability conditions on this planet.Therefore,the comparison of extreme palaeoenvironmental conditions of the Early Triassic on Earth with data from Meridiani Planum can sheds some light on the study of habitability on ancient Mars.
