New Publication on the multidimensional value of long-term studies !

Tavecchia, G., Oro, D., Sanz-Aguilar, A., and Béchet, A. 2017. The multidimensional value of long-term individual.based studies: more than lots of data. Avocetta 41: 19-21

With the present rate of biodiversity loss and the profound effects of global changes, population and conservation ecologists face new questions. Many of these are related to how fast individuals can adapt to the strength and pace of environmental variability and can only be answered using individual data collected over long-term (Long Terms Individual Based Studies). Beside this undoubted scientific value, a 20 – 30 years study is likely to have trained several generations of scientists, fostered collaborations between a large number of research institutes and promoted public awareness on scientific themes and wildlife conservation problems. With current public systems providing funds for 3 to 4 years, it is increasingly difficult to initiate and maintain a long-term individual based study. As a consequence, many field studies end before time, without reaching the number of years or the amount of data needed to meet current scientific challenges and to demonstrate their educational value.Here, we argue that the value of LTIBS is multidimensional and it grows steadily with time. How and when does a long-term field study become important? [..] continue reading here

This text is in honor of Dr. Alan Roy Johnson (1941-2014, Photo), Dr. Heinz Hafner (1940-2003) and other pioneers of LTIBS. By focusing the attention on the multidimensional value of LTIBS we aimed to pay a tribute to them and to those people who, thanks to their passion, personal sacrifices and tenacity are keeping these projects alive.

 

A. Johnson (photo. H. Hôte)

Storm Petrel Day ended

Photo D. Revenga

Storm Petrel Day at Benidorm Island ended. It ws a good occasion to meet other research teams and set monitoring protocole and collaborative research. Press note (in Spanish) and nice pictures by D. Revenga here. All is ready for the next 25 years!

B Massa & A Sanz (Photo: D. Revenga)

Visiting G.E.P.

Alvaro Luna, from the Estacion Biologica de Doñana (CSIC),  is visiting the GEP lab for few weeks. Alvaro is working in Argentina on a long-term monitoring project on the Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia. Under the direction of A. Sanz-Aguilar, he will compare the natal dispersal patterns of birds born in rural and urban areas. Welcome Alvaro!

The YLG 2016 campaign ended !

Photo: J. Bos

The 2016 Yellow-legged gull campaign at Dragonera Natural Park ended after a survey, egg measuring, birds' trapping and marking.
  

Photo G. Tavecchia:  A gull equipped with a GSM/GPS device

Thanks to T. Muñoz, of the G.O.B., who helped us to equip four birds with a GSM/GPS device to investigate their feeding strategy.

Photo J. Bos.

Photo J. Bos: A gull defending its nest

  

Gulls use to attack intruders, especially near the hatching period. It is a good occasion to make some pictures and read the ring. 

Can you read the ring code?

Photo J. Bos: Gulls behind a trawler

New Publication on the rescue effect in Scopoli's Shearwaters !

Sanz-Aguilar, A.; Igual, J.M.; Tavecchia, G.; Genovart, M; Oro, D. 2016. When immigration mask threats: The rescue effect of a Scopoli’s shearwater colony in the Western Mediterranean as a case study. Biological Conservation, 198, 33–36. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2016.03.034

Photo: M. Gomila

Abstract: Populations of long-lived species are highly sensitive to increases in mortality, but a loss of breeders can be compensated for by recruitment of local individuals or immigrants. Populations maintained through immigration can be sinks, jeopardizing the viability of the metapopulation in the long term when additive mortality from anthropogenic impacts occurs. Thus, the correct identification of whether a breeding population is maintained by local recruitment or by immigration is of special importance for conservation purposes. We developed robust population models to disentangle the importance of local recruitment and immigration in the dynamics of a Western Mediterranean population of Scopoli's shearwater Calonectris diomedea showing low adult survival but stable breeding numbers. Our results show that the shearwater population is not self-maintained but rescued by immigration: yearly immigrants recruiting in the population represents ~ 10–12% of total population size. We believe that this situation may be common to other Western Mediterranean populations, currently acting as sinks. We recommend urgent demographic studies at large core colonies to evaluate the global conservation status of the species.

 
A press release of the publication has just appeared. You can read the spanish version here