The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems... more The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international effort...
The effects of a perturbation gradient on a Patagonian rodent community were assessed over the co... more The effects of a perturbation gradient on a Patagonian rodent community were assessed over the course of a year by comparing the community parameters in natural and different disturbed environments in the central Chilean Patagonia. The studied habitat types were mature forest, second-growth forest, forest plantations, and agricultural grassland. We recorded eight species of sigmodontine rodents (
We present the first records of the Chilean tree mouse (Irenomys tarsalis) and Valdivian long-cla... more We present the first records of the Chilean tree mouse (Irenomys tarsalis) and Valdivian long-clawed mouse (Geoxus valdivianus) in non-native forestry plantations. Despite being characterized as forest species, specimens of I. tarsalis and G. valdivianus were captured within a 30-year-old Pinus contorta plantation in Coyhaique National Reserve. These records show our limited understanding of this fauna and suggest the need for further surveys and monitoring, including disturbed habitats.
The genetic characteristics of introduced populations have a relevant impact on their ability to ... more The genetic characteristics of introduced populations have a relevant impact on their ability to establish and spread. The American mink (Neovison vison), native to North America, is an important invasive species in the Iberian Peninsula. Here, we used mitochondrial DNA sequences data to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of invasive versus native populations of this species. We also evaluated whether genetic diversity in invasive populations could be explained by the genetic characteristics of the native sources from which they derived. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two major lineages in the native range, which indicated a clear separation between western and eastern populations. On the contrary, we found no evidence of genetic structure in the invasive range. This was probably the result of the diverse origins of the released specimens and the rapid expansion and encounters of the introduced populations. We detected spatial mixing of both North American lineages in several sampling localities of the north central area of the Iberian Peninsula, giving rise to high levels of genetic diversity in some areas compared to North American populations. This could potentially lead to higher fitness of these individuals and thus increase the population viability and invasiveness of this species. These results point to the need to better study the populations in which lineages mix and, if necessary, intensify control efforts in them.
We studied the expansion and ecology of the American mink in Catalonia (NE Spain) using 2567 reco... more We studied the expansion and ecology of the American mink in Catalonia (NE Spain) using 2567 records of the species collected between 1974 and 2014 as part of the National Control Project and previous literature data. The species expanded from occupying one 10×10-km cell located in northern Montseny in the 1970s to 159 cells of the same size in 2014. The average expansion rate was 0.39 cells/year at the start of the invasion, but it increased to 0.91 cells per year in the last five years. The species currently occupies more than 2770 km of river and 2 km 2 of wetlands, with an estimated population size of between 5725 and 8390 resident adults. Nevertheless, annual mortality in the population is high (50%) with a high turnover rate (average of 5-6 foetuses per female) and few individuals living to 4-5 years. The distribution of the species is best explained by the availability of prey and resting sites, as well as other environmental factors such as distance to rivers, land-use diversity, summer and annual rainfall and the minimum annual temperature. The diet of the species was composed mainly of small mammals, birds, fish and crayfish, with seasonal differences. American mink poses a serious threat to native biodiversity, such as the European mink and European polecat in Europe and Catalonia, respectively. The control project is still ongoing but more systematic work is needed to increase the effectiveness of the platform traps to reduce the invasive species and safeguard the native ones.
The effects of a perturbation gradient on a Patagonian rodent community were assessed over the co... more The effects of a perturbation gradient on a Patagonian rodent community were assessed over the course of a year by comparing the community parameters in natural and different disturbed environments in the central Chilean Patagonia. The studied habitat types were mature forest, second-growth forest, forest plantations, and agricultural grassland. We recorded eight species of sigmodontine rodents (
(2010) Morphometrics of the tracks of Puma concolor : Is it possible to differentiate the sexes u... more (2010) Morphometrics of the tracks of Puma concolor : Is it possible to differentiate the sexes using measurements from captive animals? Zoological Studies 49(4): 577-582. Studies of felines have attempted to identify individuals by their tracks, since this ability would allow obtaining data such as the presence/absence and abundance of these species, which are difficult to obtain because of their secretive habits. Distinguishing between the sexes is important, because it permits estimation of the sex ratio and the relation of this to population dynamics; however, few studies have attempted to determine the sex of Puma concolor using tracks. This study uses linear, angular, area, and geometric morphometrics to correctly classify individuals by sex using tracks from captive animals. The results indicated that males had greater mean values for many variables, except for the area of internal toe, the area of exterior toe, the length of 3rd toe and the length of the 2nd toe. In the geometric analysis, the shape of male tracks was narrower in the middle than that of females. Although no other methods are available that allow identification of individuals by their tracks, this study demonstrates that the use of different tools may provide favorable results. Finally, it will be necessary to increase the sample size of pumas in the wild, which will allow the inference of the population dynamics of this species in Chile and elsewhere. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/49.4/577.pdf
The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems... more The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international effort...
The effects of a perturbation gradient on a Patagonian rodent community were assessed over the co... more The effects of a perturbation gradient on a Patagonian rodent community were assessed over the course of a year by comparing the community parameters in natural and different disturbed environments in the central Chilean Patagonia. The studied habitat types were mature forest, second-growth forest, forest plantations, and agricultural grassland. We recorded eight species of sigmodontine rodents (
We present the first records of the Chilean tree mouse (Irenomys tarsalis) and Valdivian long-cla... more We present the first records of the Chilean tree mouse (Irenomys tarsalis) and Valdivian long-clawed mouse (Geoxus valdivianus) in non-native forestry plantations. Despite being characterized as forest species, specimens of I. tarsalis and G. valdivianus were captured within a 30-year-old Pinus contorta plantation in Coyhaique National Reserve. These records show our limited understanding of this fauna and suggest the need for further surveys and monitoring, including disturbed habitats.
The genetic characteristics of introduced populations have a relevant impact on their ability to ... more The genetic characteristics of introduced populations have a relevant impact on their ability to establish and spread. The American mink (Neovison vison), native to North America, is an important invasive species in the Iberian Peninsula. Here, we used mitochondrial DNA sequences data to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of invasive versus native populations of this species. We also evaluated whether genetic diversity in invasive populations could be explained by the genetic characteristics of the native sources from which they derived. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two major lineages in the native range, which indicated a clear separation between western and eastern populations. On the contrary, we found no evidence of genetic structure in the invasive range. This was probably the result of the diverse origins of the released specimens and the rapid expansion and encounters of the introduced populations. We detected spatial mixing of both North American lineages in several sampling localities of the north central area of the Iberian Peninsula, giving rise to high levels of genetic diversity in some areas compared to North American populations. This could potentially lead to higher fitness of these individuals and thus increase the population viability and invasiveness of this species. These results point to the need to better study the populations in which lineages mix and, if necessary, intensify control efforts in them.
We studied the expansion and ecology of the American mink in Catalonia (NE Spain) using 2567 reco... more We studied the expansion and ecology of the American mink in Catalonia (NE Spain) using 2567 records of the species collected between 1974 and 2014 as part of the National Control Project and previous literature data. The species expanded from occupying one 10×10-km cell located in northern Montseny in the 1970s to 159 cells of the same size in 2014. The average expansion rate was 0.39 cells/year at the start of the invasion, but it increased to 0.91 cells per year in the last five years. The species currently occupies more than 2770 km of river and 2 km 2 of wetlands, with an estimated population size of between 5725 and 8390 resident adults. Nevertheless, annual mortality in the population is high (50%) with a high turnover rate (average of 5-6 foetuses per female) and few individuals living to 4-5 years. The distribution of the species is best explained by the availability of prey and resting sites, as well as other environmental factors such as distance to rivers, land-use diversity, summer and annual rainfall and the minimum annual temperature. The diet of the species was composed mainly of small mammals, birds, fish and crayfish, with seasonal differences. American mink poses a serious threat to native biodiversity, such as the European mink and European polecat in Europe and Catalonia, respectively. The control project is still ongoing but more systematic work is needed to increase the effectiveness of the platform traps to reduce the invasive species and safeguard the native ones.
The effects of a perturbation gradient on a Patagonian rodent community were assessed over the co... more The effects of a perturbation gradient on a Patagonian rodent community were assessed over the course of a year by comparing the community parameters in natural and different disturbed environments in the central Chilean Patagonia. The studied habitat types were mature forest, second-growth forest, forest plantations, and agricultural grassland. We recorded eight species of sigmodontine rodents (
(2010) Morphometrics of the tracks of Puma concolor : Is it possible to differentiate the sexes u... more (2010) Morphometrics of the tracks of Puma concolor : Is it possible to differentiate the sexes using measurements from captive animals? Zoological Studies 49(4): 577-582. Studies of felines have attempted to identify individuals by their tracks, since this ability would allow obtaining data such as the presence/absence and abundance of these species, which are difficult to obtain because of their secretive habits. Distinguishing between the sexes is important, because it permits estimation of the sex ratio and the relation of this to population dynamics; however, few studies have attempted to determine the sex of Puma concolor using tracks. This study uses linear, angular, area, and geometric morphometrics to correctly classify individuals by sex using tracks from captive animals. The results indicated that males had greater mean values for many variables, except for the area of internal toe, the area of exterior toe, the length of 3rd toe and the length of the 2nd toe. In the geometric analysis, the shape of male tracks was narrower in the middle than that of females. Although no other methods are available that allow identification of individuals by their tracks, this study demonstrates that the use of different tools may provide favorable results. Finally, it will be necessary to increase the sample size of pumas in the wild, which will allow the inference of the population dynamics of this species in Chile and elsewhere. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/49.4/577.pdf
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