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Articles publicats en revistes (Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals)

URI permanent per a aquesta col·leccióhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/16743

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    New insights into social and space use behaviour of the endangered Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)
    (Springer Verlag, 2012-02-01) Melero Cavero, Yolanda; Aymerich i Boixader, Pere; Luque-Larena, Juan Jose; Gosàlbez i Noguera, Joaquim
    We describe novel aspects of the social organisation of the Pyrenean desman, Galemys pyrenaicus, by studying home range and shelter use behaviour in a local population. A total of 45 individuals were trapped of which 20 provided informative radiotracking data. In contrast to the currently accepted hypothesis [Stone RD. The social organization of the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) as revealed by radiotelemetry. J Zool 212:117–129; 1987b; Stone RD, Gorman ML. Social organization of the European mole (Talpa europaea) and the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus). Mammal Rev 15 (1):35–42; 1985] individuals were not strictly territorial. Notably, there was no aggression between conspecifics, with simultaneous use of resting sites (shelters used for more than one hour). Resting sites were not permanent or exclusive for any individual. Individuals shared resting sites simultaneously, regardless of sex or age. Our observations recall for a new evaluation of the social structure and organisation of this species based on the new evidence that reveals higher frequency of social interactions than previously described. Resting sites may play an important role in the social organisation of the species, for instance by allowing direct and indirect communicative interactions among neighbouring individuals. This finding is of significance for the management (e.g. census and population monitoring) and conservation (e.g. habitat suitability to allow social interactions) of this endemic and seriously threatened unique mammal.
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    Evaluating the effect of American mink, an alien invasive species, on the abundance of a native community: is coexistence possible?
    (Springer Science + Business Media, 2012-06-01) Melero Cavero, Yolanda; Plaza, Mireia; Santulli Sanzo, Giulia; Saavedra, Deli; Gosàlbez i Noguera, Joaquim; Ruiz-Olmo, Jordi, 1961-; Palazón, Santiago
    Loss of biodiversity due to biological invasions is one of the most critical issues our society is facing. American mink is one of the most nefarious invasive non-native species and has major consequences for diversity, ecosystems and economics. A project to evaluate the impact of American mink has been carried out in Catalonia since 2000 under the aegis of regional and national government and a European LIFE programme. In this study, we tested whether temporal variations in the relative abundance of native species were related to American mink. In addition, we compared the abundance of natives before and after mink arrival. Among the competitors spotted genet and European polecat, mink abundance and arrival had a significant negative effect on their populations. However, among black rat and fish prey only three native fish species had a negative temporal relation with the abundance of mink and three fish species showed a significant difference in their abundance before and after mink arrival. The effect of mink was significant among species with a higher niche overlap (polecat and genet versus mink). The persistence and coexistence of the alien and native species seems to depend on heterogeneity, in terms of the based on niche segregation among these species.
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    Morphological variation of introduced species: the case of American mink (Neovison vison) in Spain
    (Elsevier, 2012-09-01) Melero Cavero, Yolanda; Santulli Sanzo, Giulia; Gómez, Asun; Gosàlbez i Noguera, Joaquim; Rodriguez-Refojos, Cristina; Palazón, Santiago
    We studied the morphology of American mink Neovison vison in five out of the six introduced populations in Spain. The spatial and temporal variation of body weight (BW), body length (BL), tail length, hind-foot length and ear length were analysed. Temporal trends in BW and BL in relation to years since mink introduction were also analyzed. In addition, we tested the effect of sex, age (juvenile, subadult and adult) and age–sex interaction, on each parameter. Morphological parameters differed between populations, illustrating the high variability of body size of American mink in different environments, and the phenotypic plasticity of the species. Annual variations were synchronized between populations, suggesting a large-scale effect on all of them. BW and BL showed a decreasing trend in both males and females in relation to years since introduction. This decrease may be related to mink's diet. Differences in sex and age were found, pointing to sexual dimorphism in adults, subadults and juveniles. The dimorphism in non-adult individuals suggests that subadult males may have a competitive advantage from subadult females in feeding and/or hunting on bigger prey from an early age (resource partitioning hypothesis).
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    Causes and patterns of human-­induced mortality in the Critically Endangered European mink Mustela lutreola in Spain
    (Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2012-10-04) Palazón, Santiago; Melero Cavero, Yolanda; Gómez, Asun; López de Luzuriaga, Javier; Podra, Madis; Gosàlbez i Noguera, Joaquim
    Human intervention is the main cause of the decline of the Critically Endangered European mink Mustela lutreola. In this study we analysed the main causes of direct human-caused mortality of the species in Spain. A total of 47 mortality records were obtained for the period 1950–1989, and 145 for 1990–2008. There was temporal variation in the cause of death, with trapping and shooting being the most common causes of mortality in 1950–1989 and road-kills in 1990–2008. In the case of road-kills there was variation related to road type. Males were more affected by road-kills than females, especially during the mating season when they range more widely. Our results indicate that there has been a change in human social behaviour and in people's awareness of the species, with a reduction in European mink captured and shot but an increase in mortality on roads.
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    Exploring the genetics of lithium response in bipolar disorders.
    (Springer Open, 2024-06-12) Cichon, Sven; Clark, Scott R.; Colom, Francesc; Cruceanu, Cristiana; Czerski, Piotr M.; Dalkner, Nina; Degenhardt, Franziska; Del Zompo, Maria; Herrera-Rivero, Marisol; Adli, Mazda; Akiyama, Kazufumi; Akula, Nirmala; Amare, Azmeraw T.; Ardau, Raffaella; Arias Sampériz, Bárbara; Aubry, Jean‑Michel; Backlund, Lena; Bellivier, Frank; Benabarre Hernandez, Antonio; Bengesser, Susanne; Bhattacharjee, Abesh Kumar; Biernacka, Joanna M.; Birner, Armin; Cearns, Micah; Cervantes, Pablo; Chen, Hsi‑Chung; Chillotti, Caterina; DePaulo JR; Etain B; Falkai P; Ferensztajn-Rochowiak E; Forstner AJ; Frank, Josef; Frisén L; Frye MA; Fullerton JM; Gallo C; Gard S; Garnham JS; Goes FS; Grigoroiu-Serbanescu M; Grof P; Hashimoto R; Hasler R; Hauser J; Heilbronner U; Herms S; Hoffmann P; Hou L; Hsu YH; Jamain S; Jimenez, Esther; Kahn JP; Kassem L; Kato T; Kelsoe J; Kittel-Schneider S; Kuo PH; Kusumi I; König B; Laje G; Landén M; Lavebratt C; Leboyer M; Leckband SG; Maj M; Manchia M; Marie-Claire C; Martinsson L; McCarthy MJ; McElroy SL; Millischer V; Mitjans Niubo, Marina; Mondimore FM; Monteleone P; Nievergelt CM; Novák T; Nöthen MM; O'Donovan C; Ozaki N; Papiol, Sergi; Pfennig A; Pisanu C; Potash JB; Reif A; Reininghaus E; Richard-Lepouriel H; Roberts G; Rouleau GA; Rybakowski JK; Schalling M; Schofield PR; Schubert KO; Schulte EC; Schweizer BW; Severino G; Shekhtman T; Shilling PD; Shimoda K; Simhandl C; Slaney CM; Squassina A; Stamm T; Stopkova P; Streit F; Tekola-Ayele F; Thalamuthu A; Tortorella A; Turecki G; Veeh J; Vieta Pascual, Eduard; Viswanath B; Witt SH; Zandi PP; Alda M; Bauer M; McMahon FJ; Mitchell PB; Rietschel M; Schulze TG; Baune BT
    Background: Lithium (Li) remains the treatment of choice for bipolar disorders (BP). Its mood-stabilizing effects help reduce the long-term burden of mania, depression and suicide risk in patients with BP. It also has been shown to have beneficial effects on disease-associated conditions, including sleep and cardiovascular disorders. However, the individual responses to Li treatment vary within and between diagnostic subtypes of BP (e.g. BP-I and BP-II) according to the clinical presentation. Moreover, long-term Li treatment has been linked to adverse side-effects that are a cause of concern and non-adherence, including the risk of developing chronic medical conditions such as thyroid and renal disease. In recent years, studies by the Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen) have uncovered a number of genetic factors that contribute to the variability in Li treatment response in patients with BP. Here, we leveraged the ConLiGen cohort (N = 2064) to investigate the genetic basis of Li effects in BP. For this, we studied how Li response and linked genes associate with the psychiatric symptoms and polygenic load for medical comorbidities, placing particular emphasis on identifying differences between BP-I and BP-II. Results: We found that clinical response to Li treatment, measured with the Alda scale, was associated with a diminished burden of mania, depression, substance and alcohol abuse, psychosis and suicidal ideation in patients with BP-I and, in patients with BP-II, of depression only. Our genetic analyses showed that a stronger clinical response to Li was modestly related to lower polygenic load for diabetes and hypertension in BP-I but not BP-II. Moreover, our results suggested that a number of genes that have been previously linked to Li response variability in BP differentially relate to the psychiatric symptomatology, particularly to the numbers of manic and depressive episodes, and to the polygenic load for comorbid conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and hypothyroidism. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings suggest that the effects of Li on symptomatology and comorbidity in BP are partially modulated by common genetic factors, with differential effects between BP-I and BP-II.
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    Systematic revision of the speciose sea slug genus Doto (Heterobranchia: Nudibranchia) − from the Mediterranean to South America
    (Springer Verlag, 2026-02-01) Vázquez-Alcaide, Diego; Salvador, Xavier; Giribet, Gonzalo; Hooker, Yuri; Schrödl, Michael; Moles, Juan
    The genus Doto Oken, 1815 is, taxonomically, one of the most complex genera of nudibranchs due to the cryptic nature of its species, their small body size, and the homogeneity among their internal and external features. Here, an extensive molecular analysis of Mediterranean, Northeastern Atlantic, and South American specimens sheds light on the species-level taxonomy of the group. Our multilocus analyses include 171 specimens, 59 of which are newly sequenced, corresponding to 20 species. Ten species are included in a molecular phylogeny for the first time, two being new species. Here, we provide detailed morphological and ecological descriptions of three Atlantic species, 11 Mediterranean species, and one from the Pacific, complemented by live photographs evidencing their chromatic variation. The phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses suggest that coloration and external morphology are often unreliable for differentiating among species. Molecular evidence corroborates and expands the geographical distribution of Doto species, some of which have never been included in molecular studies. The Mediterranean species currently recognized as D. coronata (Gmelin, 1791) and D. dunnei Lemche, 1976 correspond to D. millbayana Lemche, 1976. Consequently, we suggest the junior synonymy with D. dunnei syn. nov. Nevertheless, we found evidence for a restricted distribution of D. coronata in the western Mediterranean, coexisting in sympatry with D. cavernicola sp. nov. An additional new species from the Chilean Patagonia is also described as D. vrenifossorum sp. nov. Considering the present phylogenetic scenario, there is a highlighted need for further new morphological and genetic evidence, expanding the number of taxa and species to further unravel the taxonomy of Doto.
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    Molecular evidence for the intermediate disturbance hypothesis in an acidified marine system
    (Springer Verlag, 2025-10-01) González-Delgado, Sara; Pérez Portela, Rocío; Hernández, José Carlos
    The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH), postulated by Connell (1978), suggests that ecosystems exhibit higher species diversity when disturbances occur at intermediate scales. In this study, the applicability of the IDH at the intraspecific scales (organismal) was investigated using molecular data. As an experimental perturbation framework, a naturally acidified system located in La Palma Island, Canary Island (Spain) with a sharp fluctuating pH gradient was sampled. Molecular data were obtained from sequences of a fragment of the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit I gene in two sea urchin species (Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus) to explore genetic diversity at the organism level. These data were compared with previous metabarcoding results of taxonomic benthic diversity at the community level. Both sea urchin species showed the highest levels of haplotype and nucleotide diversity at the intermediate pH fluctuation zone, mirroring metabarcoding data that revealed the highest levels of taxonomic diversity at the same zone. The results support the validity of the IDH in marine ecosystems affected by strong pH fluctuations and across different levels of biological organization (from organisms to communities).
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    The role of fire in terrestrial vertebrate richness patterns
    (John Wiley & Sons, 2023-04-01) Moritz, Max A.; Batllori Presas, Enric; Bolker, Benjamin M.
    Productivity is strongly associated with terrestrial species richness patterns, although the mechanisms underpinning such patterns have long been debated. Despite considerable consumption of primary productivity by fire, its influence on global diversity has received relatively little study. Here we examine the sensitivity of terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity (amphibians, birds, and mammals) to fire, while accounting for other drivers. We analyze global data on terrestrial vertebrate richness, net primary productivity, fire occurrence (fraction of productivity consumed), and additional influences unrelated to productivity (i.e., historical phylogenetic and area effects) on species richness. For birds fire is associated with higher diversity, rivaling the effects of productivity on richness, and for mammals fire’s positive association with diversity is even stronger than productivity; for amphibians, in contrast, there are few clear associations. Our findings suggest an underappreciated role for fire in the generation of animal species richness and the conservation of global biodiversity.
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    Framework for deep learning diagnosis of plant disorders in horticultural crops: From data collection tools to user-friendly web and mobile apps
    (Elsevier B.V., 2024-12-01) Araus Ortega, José Luis; Kefauver, Shawn Carlisle; Buchaillot, Ma. Luisa; Fernández Gallego, José A.; Mahmoudi, Henda; Thushar, Sumitha; Aljanaahi, Amna Abdulnoor; Kosimov, Sherzod; Hammami, Zied; Al Jabri, Ghazi; Cruz Puente, Alexandra la; Akl, Alexi; Trillas Gay, M. Isabel
    Food security is a pressing global concern, particularly highlighted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which focuses on enhancing the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, horticultural crops are increasingly threatened by pests and diseases, exacerbated by climate change. Local farmers often lack the necessary expertise to effectively manage these issues, resulting in significant reductions in both yield and quality of their crops. This study seeks to develop an accessible mobile crop diagnosis application. By utilizing machine learning and deep learning technologies, the app is designed to help MENA farmers quickly and accurately identify and treat crop disorders. We used Open Data Kit (ODK) to gather a large dataset of crop images required to train deep learning models. These models, built on open-source deep learning architectures, were designed to classify 21 different leaf disorders, including diseases, pests, and nutritional deficiencies. The system was implemented in both a web app and an Android mobile app. Our deep learning models demonstrated an overall accuracy of 94 % in diagnosing plant disorders. The app, Doctor Nabat, includes a decision support system that offers treatment options in the three primary languages spoken in the MENA region. Doctor Nabat is an effective and scalable tool for enhancing crop management in the MENA region, promoting food security by minimizing crop losses through improved pest and disease diagnosis and treatment strategies.
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    Face-brain correlates as potential sex-specific biomarkers for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
    (Elsevier B.V., 2024) Martínez Abadías, Neus, 1978-; Fatjó-Vilas Mestre, Mar; Hostalet, Noemí; González, Alejandro; González Colom, Rubèn; Salgado Pineda, Pilar; Canales-Rodríguez, Erick J.; Aguirre, Candibel; Guerrero Pedraza, Amalia; Llanos Torres, María; Salvador, Raymond; Pomarol-Clotet, Edith; Sevillano, Xavier
    Given the shared ectodermal origin and integrated development of the face and the brain, facial biomarkers emerge as potential candidates to assess vulnerability for disorders in which neurodevelopment is compromised, such as schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). The sample comprised 188 individuals (67 SZ patients, 46 BD patients and 75 healthy controls (HC)). Using a landmark-based approach on 3D facial reconstructions, we quantified global and local facial shape differences between SZ/BD patients and HC using geometric morphometrics. We also assessed correlations between facial and brain cortical measures. All analyses were performed separately by sex. Diagnosis explained 4.1 % - 5.9 % of global facial shape variance in males and females with SZ, and 4.5 % - 4.1 % in BD. Regarding local facial shape, we detected 43.2 % of significantly different distances in males and 47.4 % in females with SZ as compared to HC, whereas in BD the percentages decreased to 35.8 % and 26.8 %, respectively. We detected that brain area and volume significantly explained 2.2 % and 2 % of facial shape variance in the male SZ - HC sample. Our results support facial shape as a neurodevelopmental marker for SZ and BD and reveal sex-specific pathophysiological mechanisms modulating the interplay between the brain and the face.
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    Buccal dental-microwear and feeding ecology of Early Pleistocene Theropithecus oswaldi from Cueva Victoria (Spain)
    (Elsevier B.V., 2020-03-17) Martínez, L.M.; Estebaranz, F.; Ferràndez i Cañadell, Carles; Romero, Ad.; Ribot, F.; Galbany i Casals, Jordi; Gibert Beotas, Lluís; Martínez Pérez-Pérez, Alejandro
    Despite the scarcity of fossil specimens of Theropithecus oswaldi in Eurasia, its presence out of Africa attests to the great dispersal of this Papionini genus during the Early Pleistocene. In the present study, we analyze the buccal dental microwear of T. oswaldi (T. o. leakeyi) fossil specimens from Cueva Victoria (Southeastern Spain). This analysis is the first characterization of the feeding ecology of T. oswaldi in Europe. The buccal microwear pattern of the molar and premolar teeth of T. oswaldi from Cueva Victoria shows great similarities to that observed for the extant frugivorous forest-dwelling Mandrillus sphinx and mangabeys (Cercocebus sp.)—both species adapted to durophagous dietary habits—while significantly different from that observed for the gramnivorous Theropithecus gelada. These results suggest that T. oswaldi from Cueva Victoria could have exploited both hard-shelled fruits or seeds and succulent fruits from open and forested Mediterranean ecosystems.
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    Contrasting vital rate contributions across interconnected populations of a highly vagile avian scavenger: A multisite modelling approach
    (Elsevier B.V., 2025-11-01) Arévalo-Ayala, Diego José; Real, Joan; Margalida, Antoni; Badia-Boher, Jaume A.; Mañosa, Santi; Durà, Carles; Aymerich, Joan; Jiménez, Juan; Martínez, José María; Hernández Matías, Antonio, 1974-
    Identifying the key drivers of population dynamics in long-lived species is critical for understanding their life history and guiding conservation. However, dispersal processes like immigration and emigration are often overlooked in long-term studies of highly vagile, transboundary species such as vultures, despite their role on population trends. Additionally, estimating often-neglected population fractions like non-breeders is essential to assess trends accurately, especially in species of conservation concern. Using the Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) as a model species, we assessed the dynamics of three neighbouring populations in northeastern Iberia (Catalonia -CAT-, Aragon -ARA-, Valencian Community -VAL-) over 14 years using a Bayesian multisite Integrated Population Model (ms-IPM), explicitly incorporating movements between regions. Results showed distinct trends: steady growth (CAT), stabilization (VAL), and decline followed by stabilization (ARA). Adult survival was the key driver of population growth in ARA, despite being the lowest (0.94 vs. 0.97 in VAL and 0.98 in CAT), likely due to mortality from windfarms and electrocution. In contrast, the floater (non-breeder)-to-breeder ratio and immigration were more influential in CAT and VAL, but both were negatively correlated with population size across regions, indicating density dependence. In VAL density dependence suggested that the population was approaching its carrying capacity, increasing dispersal. Our study highlights the importance of ms-IPM for understanding complex demographic processes, such as the role of dispersal and non-breeders, in population dynamics of wide-ranging species. We provide a comprehensive framework to account for spatial and demographic heterogeneity, aimed at improving vulture conservation at both local and transboundary scales.
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    A comprehensive spatial analysis of invertebrate diversity within intermittent stream networks: Responses to drying and land use
    (Elsevier B.V., 2024-07-20) Viza, Aida; Burgazzi, Gemma; Menéndez López, Margarita; Schäffer, Ralf B.; Muñoz Gràcia, Isabel
    Freshwater ecosystems are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which affect both diversity and ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, these ecosystems face additional threats from human activities, such as changes in land use, leading to water pollution and habitat degradation. Intermittent streams represent nearly half of all fluvial systems and support a rich diversity adapted to cope with drying. This study examines the impact of drying and different land uses on the taxonomic and functional diversity of aquatic invertebrates in a Mediterranean intermittent stream network. By sampling 16 reaches seasonally, we hypothesised that longer dry-phase duration and agriculture would both reduce α-diversity, with drying dominating impacts on β-diversity over agricultural practices. We anticipated that drying and agriculture would alter species and trait compositions, favouring desiccation-tolerant and generalist taxa. Drying adversely affected the taxonomic and functional α-diversity of aquatic invertebrates, while it positively influenced β-diversity. Land use only affected α-diversity. Specifically, habitat heterogeneity and increased water nutrient levels within the stream network correlated positively with invertebrate diversity. However, the negative effects of drying were less pronounced in upstream forested regions with high habitat heterogeneity compared to downstream areas influenced by agriculture. Our research highlights the importance of preserving natural and forested streams in intermittent networks, particularly in headwater regions, thus facilitating recolonization when flow is restored throughout the stream network.
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    Filling the gap: The unique isotopic niche of medium-sized and large sharks in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea
    (Elsevier , 2024-04-01) Nuez, Ignasi; Gazo i Pérez, Manel; Borrell Thió, Assumpció; Aguilar, Àlex; Barría, Claudio; Navarro Cid, José; Cardona Pascual, Luis
    The Mediterranean Sea is considered a biodiversity hotspot and hosts a broad diversity of shark species. Unfortunately, many shark populations have suffered a long story of overexploitation and their abundance has strongly declined over the last decades. A few studies have addressed the trophic role of sharks in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, yet little is known about their isotopic niches. In this study, the isotopic niches of six shark species (Alopias vulpinus, Galeorhinus galeus, Hexanchus griseus, Isurus oxyrinchus, Prionace glauca and Squalus acanthias) from the northwestern Mediterranean Sea were determined and compared with those of sympatric predatory teleosts and marine mammals. Overall, δ13C and δ15N values were similar amongst all the shark species except for the three individuals of G. galeus, whose high δ15N values indicate recent immigration from a distinct area with a different isotopic baseline and hence were excluded from further analysis. The mixing models identified cephalopods as the dominant prey of the other five shark species and revealed that the medium-sized and large shark species studied here filled unique isotopic niches. Their trophic positions were similar to those of predatory teleosts and small dolphins but lower than those of larger dolphins, pilot whales and beaked whales. The high contribution of cephalopods to the diet of sharks in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea might be indicative of fish scarcity and deserves further research in the context of potential ontogenetic diet changes.
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    Chlorination Cessation Alters Greenhouse Gas Dynamics in Artificial Urban Ponds
    (Wiley, 2025-08-05) Montes-Pérez, Jorge Juan; Irusta, Paula; Cañas, Lídia; Mejía, Fernanda; Pinaud-Brageot, Näel; Obrador Sala, Biel; Puigserver Cuerda, Diana; Millán Martos, Alberto; Schiller Calle, Daniel von
    Cities are facing an ecological challenge, and international policies are increasingly focused on implementing nature-based solutions to support this transition. In this context, the naturalization of artificial urban ponds (AUP) is a promising approach with proved benefits for biodiversity and human well-being. However, the naturalization of AUP may be accompanied by increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here, we evaluated the effect of chlorination cessation, an essential step in the naturalization process, on GHG dynamics in AUP. Partial pressures of CO2 (pCO2), CH4 (pCH4), and N2O (pN2O) were measured in 41 artificial urban ponds (28 non-chlorinated and 13 chlorinated) in the city of Barcelona during winter and summer to assess: (a) the effect of chlorination treatment, (b) the effect of seasonality, and (c) the main drivers behind the partial pressures of these GHGs. Results show that although chlorination cessation increased pCH4, it reduced pN2O and had no significant effect on pCO2. The main drivers of these patterns were naturalization, with factors related to primary production playing a major role; seasonality, with temperature as a key environmental variable; and groundwater legacy. Importantly, the net global warming potential (GWP), expressed as CO2 equivalents, was not significantly higher in non-chlorinated ponds. These findings suggest that the naturalization of artificial water bodies could be a viable strategy to create more resilient cities without significantly increasing GHG emissions.
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    Learning the syntax of plant assemblages
    (2025-10-13) Leblanc, César; Bonnet, Pierre; Servajean, Maximilien; Thuiller, Wilfried; Chytrý, Milan; Aćić, Svetlana; Argagnon, Olivier; Biurrun, Idoia; Bonari, Gianmaria; Bruelheide, Helge; Campos, Juan Antonio; Čarni, Andraž; Ćušterevska, Renata; De Sanctis, Michele; Dengler, Jürgen; Dziuba, Tetiana; Garbolino, Emmanuel; Jandt, Ute; Jansen, Florian; Lenoir, Jonathan; Moeslund, Jesper Erenskjold; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Pielech, Remigiusz; Sibik, Jozef; Stančić, Zvjezdana; Uogintas, Domas; Wohlgemuth, Thomas; Joly, Alexis
    To address the urgent biodiversity crisis, it is crucial to understand the nature of plant assemblages. The distribution of plant species is shaped not only by their broad environmental requirements but also by micro-environmental conditions, dispersal limitations, and direct and indirect species interactions. While predicting species composition and habitat type is essential for conservation and restoration purposes, it remains challenging. In this study, we propose an approach inspired by advances in large language models to learn the ‘syntax’ of abundance-ordered plant species sequences in communities. Our method, which captures latent associations between species across diverse ecosystems, can be fine-tuned for diverse tasks. In particular, we show that our methodology is able to outperform other approaches to (1) predict species that might occur in an assemblage given the other listed species, despite being originally missing in the species list (16.53% higher accuracy in retrieving a plant species removed from an assemblage than co-occurrence matrices and 6.56% higher than neural networks), and (2) classify habitat types from species assemblages (5.54% higher accuracy in assigning a habitat type to an assemblage than expert system classifiers and 1.14% higher than tabular deep learning). The proposed application has a vocabulary that covers over 10,000 plant species from Europe and adjacent countries and provides a powerful methodology for improving biodiversity mapping, restoration and conservation biology. As ecologists begin to explore the use of artificial intelligence, such approaches open opportunities for rethinking how we model, monitor and understand nature.
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    Compost from forest cleaning green waste and Trichoderma asperellum strain T34 reduced incidence of Fusarium circinatum in Pinus radiata seedlings
    (Elsevier, 2016-04-01) López-López, Noelia; Segarra Braunstein, Guillem; Vergara Díaz, Omar; López-Fabal, Adolfo; Trillas Gay, M. Isabel
    Fusarium circinatum is a quarantine pathogen in numerous countries that causes important economic losses in forest nurseries and mature pine trees. Alternatives to chemical control of plant diseases such as suppressive composts and the use of biological control agents in growth media can reduce the incidence and spread of disease. In this work, four gorse composts obtained from forest cleaning green wastes and reference compost prepared from the organic fraction of solid urban waste were studied as environmentally sustainable peat substitutes. Their ability to suppress the effects of mating types M1 and M2 of the pathogen F. circinatum on Pinus radiata was evaluated in the presence or absence of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma asperellum strain T34. One of the gorse composts was more suppressive than the reference compost (15% and 55% of disease incidence, respectively). The former had a low EC, moderate amounts of P, Ca, Mg and K, and high levels of NH4+, as well as moderate levels of Ca, B and oligotrophic actinomycetes, the highest levels of total fungi, moderate levels of Trichoderma spp. and the lowest levels of Fusarium spp. Adding T34 to the moderately suppressive and non-suppressive composts decreased pre- and post-emergence incidence of the disease by up to 50%. In conclusion, one gorse compost decreased the incidence of F. circinatum disease when used as a growth medium for P. radiata seedlings. T. asperellum strain T34 further reduced the incidence of disease and improved the health of pine seedlings grown in moderately non-suppressive composts.
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    An experimental study to assess resistance and resilience strategies of freshwater diatoms to cope with drying in Mediterranean temporary rivers
    (Springer Verlag, 2024-06-01) Quevedo Ortiz, Guillermo; Fernández Calero, José María; Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel; Schiller Calle, Daniel von; Fortuño Estrada, Pau; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Gomà Martínez, Joan
    Temporary rivers are aquatic ecosystems that alternate periods of water flow with dry periods. Diatoms are a group of unicellular microalgae with a high colonizing ability, but little is known about their responses to drying. We carried out different resist- ance and resilience experiments to evaluate temporal and spatial dispersal capacity of diatoms during the dry period. The resistance was tested experimen- tally by rehydrating dried biofilms and sediments from temporary rivers, whereas resilience was tested by installing artificial mesocosms along a dry river section. Disconnected pools were also sampled to evaluate their propagule emission capacity. In turn, dogs from the area were sampled to test potential zoochory dispersal capacity. In the resistance experi- ment, we found living diatoms in all the rehydrated sediments but not in biofilms. Diatoms with mobility traits, high ecological plasticity, and resistance spores presented high, along with typical soil diatoms. In the resilience experiment, all mesocosms hosted liv- ing diatoms, which were low-profile, pioneering, and small species. Diatoms found in the mesocosms were also common in the disconnected pools, underscoring the potential role of the latter as a propagule emission zone. Dogs’ paws also had living diatoms, which evi- dences that wild fauna could potentially act as passive diatom vectors.
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    Annual Vegetation of Saline Seasonal Wetlands (Crypsietea aculeatae) in Europe
    (Wiley, 2025-11-07) Iemelianova, Svitlana; Dítě, Daniel; Dítě, Zuzana; Willner, Wolfgang; Bergmeier, Erwin; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Dziuba, Tetiana; Aćić, Svetlana; Ćuk, Mirjana; Ćušterevska, Renata; Dubyna, Dmytro; Vassilev, Kiril; Chytrý, Milan
    Aims: The class Crypsietea aculeatae comprises pioneer ephemeral dwarf-graminoid vegetation occurring in periodically flooded saline habitats. Although numerous regional studies have described this vegetation, a unified classification across Europe has been lacking. This study aims to establish a formalized, continent-wide classification at the association level, identify its biogeographical patterns, and assess relationships between species composition and environmental gradients. Location: Europe (except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia). Methods: We compiled a dataset of 2538 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA), private databases, and literature. A hierarchical expert system was developed using formal definitions of syntaxa based on species cover. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was applied to evaluate compositional differences and reveal biogeographical patterns. Distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) and unweighted community means of Ellenberg-type indicator values (EIVs) were used to assess environmental drivers. Results: We present a revised syntaxonomic framework for the class Crypsietea aculeatae and propose updates to the EuroVegChecklist. One alliance (Cypero-Spergularion marinae) and four associations (Crypsietum aculeatae, Crypsietum schoenoidis, Cyperetum pannonici, and Oxybasio chenopodioidis-Crypsietum aculeatae) were formally defined, with basic descriptions of their species composition, ecological characteristics, and geographical distribution. The main gradients in vegetation variability within the class Crypsietea aculeatae are driven by climatic gradient and edaphic factors, including soil moisture, soil acidity, salinity, and nutrient availability. Conclusions: We established the first formal classification of annual vegetation in European saline seasonal wetlands. The syntaxonomic nomenclature was revised, and modifications to the EuroVegChecklist were proposed. The resulting classification system, accompanied by an expert system, enables consistent application in nature conservation and ecological research.
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    Crossing the polar front—Antarctic species discovery in the nudibranch genus Tritoniella (Gastropoda)
    (Springer Verlag, 2022-06-01) Schächinger, Peter M.; Schrödl, Michael; Wilson, Nerida G.; Moles, Juan
    Tritoniella belli is the only valid species of a nudibranch genus endemic to the Southern Ocean. Recent exhaustive sampling and molecular analyses led to the discovery of several new lineages. A total of 69 specimens were collected from 25 sites across the Weddell and Scotia Seas, from 5 to 751 m depth. In this study, we provide morphological and anatomical characters to describe five new Tritoniella species, namely T. gnocchi n. sp., T. prinzess n. sp., T. gnathodentata n. sp., T. schoriesi n. sp., T. heideae n. sp. Detailed descriptions of colouration, external morphology, digestive and reproductive organs, distribution, and ecology are presented in a systematic context. These are compared to the type material from the Ross Sea of T. belli and its synonym T. sinuata, whose status requires additional sampling to be solved. Discrete differences in external characters, including the shape of dorsal notum ridge and mantle edges, support the species hypotheses delimited by Moles, Berning et al. (2021). Moreover, detailed scanning electron microscopy images of the masticatory border of the jaws, radula teeth, and penial papilla were provided and their differences discussed. The gut content of all species revealed sclerites of Primnoidae gorgonians as their preferred prey. Pseudo-cryptic radiations along the Scotia Arc, explained by the combination of distribution reduction due to glacial cycles and the existence of refugia, and enhanced by their direct development, could explain the allopatric speciation events in Tritoniella species.