Jose Antonio Martinez - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Jose Antonio Martinez
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2006
We have monitored the distribution, population status, breeding success, turnover rate and diet o... more We have monitored the distribution, population status, breeding success, turnover rate and diet of a Peregrine Falcon population in Bizkaia (North of Spain) since 1997. On the 13th November 2002, the tanker Prestige sunk off La Coruña (NW Spain) causing an oil spill that affected the whole of the Cantabrian Coast and the Southwest of France. The total number of birds affected by the Prestige oil spill was expected to be between 115,000 and 230,000, some of them raptors. The loss of clutches during the incubation period increased significantly and was correlated with the loss of females. Moreover, the turnover rate of the population increased from 21% to 30%. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the eggs, collected from five nests after they were deserted, ranged from 21.20 ng/g to 461.08 ng/g, values which are high enough to cause the death of the embryos and poisoning of adult birds. The effects of pollution reached inland since some inland-breeding falcons prey on shorebirds that use rivers during their migratory flights. As the Prestige oil spill has clearly resulted in increased rates of adult mortality and reduced fertility, we suggest that the environmental authorities urgently undertake measures aimed at protecting the Peregrine Falcon in Bizkaia.
Ringing & Migration, 2005
In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in south... more In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in southern Europe, 115 birds from a wildlife rehabilitation centre and 43 trapped birds were measured, sexed and aged over four years (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003). Dead birds were sexed by examining their gonads, and live birds by the presence of a brood patch. Wing length, minimum tarsus width and body weight were the only variables which differed significantly between the sexes, although there was much overlap for the wing length and weight. Buzzards with less than 7 mm minimum tarsus width were male and those greater than 7.9 mm were female. Birds did not complete moult in one year, moulting less than 60% of the flight feathers in one season. The first and the second moult followed a pattern, but afterwards moult was unpredictable and totally asymmetric. Also, half the females and 33% of males had started to moult within 30 days of their chicks hatching. These results differ from those published for Buzzards from northern Europe. The size and moult pattern depend on factors such as prey availability and migratory status, which in turn vary between areas. We therefore suggest caution when considering the moult strategies, ageing criteria and sexing criteria published for other countries.
Journal of Ornithology, 2001
The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a generalist predator that in Mediterranean areas feeds mainly on Ra... more The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a generalist predator that in Mediterranean areas feeds mainly on Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) At the end of 1997, a local outbreak of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) decimated Rabbit populations in the area of Alicante (eastern Spain) so that Rabbit numbers in 1998 crashed to almost nil. Prior to the outbreak we had found 19 occupied Eagle Owl territories, and the owls had been feeding mainly on Rabbits. After the RHD epidemic, we found only six occupied territories and the owls were still feeding mainly on Rabbits. Diet composition was very similar between the periods, indicating that the owls did not diversify their diet in response to main prey scarcity. No significant differences in the proportion of Rabbit in the diet were found between the periods, suggesting that the impact of predation on Rabbits may be independent of the density of Rabbit populations (type I functional response). This response is not typically associated with generalist predators. In the territories that were still occupied after the outbreaks, the owls took substantial numbers of Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and Red-legged Partridges (Alectoris rufa). Rats (Rattus spp), a common alternative prey, were not taken in the study area. Six breeding attempts were recorded before the RHD, and none after the RHD. This leads a to believe that only the combination of Hedgehog and Red-legged Partridge availability with the readier availability of sick Rabbits allowed a small population of owls to survive in the area, but did not allowed breeding. The predator-prey system formed by Eagle Owls and Rabbits in Mediterranean regions is more fragile than previously thought. Der Uhu (Bubo bubo) ist ein wenig spezialisierter Greifvogel, der sich im Mittelmeerraum hauptsächlich von Kaninchen ernährt. Ende 1997 wurde die Kaninchenpopulation im Gebiet von Alicante (Ostspanien) durch einen Ausbruch der hämorrhagischen Krankheit (RHD) so stark dezimiert, dass der Kaninchenbestand 1998 nahezu zusammengebrochen war. Vor dem Ausbruch der Krankheit waren 19 Uhu-Reviere besetzt, und die Uhus lebten hauptsächlich von Kaninchen. Nach dem RHD-Ausbruch zählten wir nur noch sechs besetzte Reviere; die Uhus ernährten sich aber immer noch hauptsächlich von Kaninchen. Die Zusammensetzung der Nahrung war in beiden Perioden sehr ähnlich, was darauf hinweist, dass Uhus ihr Beutespektrum nicht erweitern, wenn ihr hauptsächliches Beutetier knapp wird. Dies legt nahe, dass die Anzahl geschlagener Kaninchen unabhängig von deren Populationsdichte ist (Typ I funktionelle Reaktion). Diese Reaktion ist untypisch für nicht spezialisierte Greifvögel. In den Revieren, die nach dem Ausbruch der Seuche noch bewohnt waren, fraßen die Uhus eine beträchtliche Anzahl Igel (Erinaceus europaeus) und Rebhühner (Alectoris rufa). Auf gewöhnliche alternative Beutetiere wie Ratten (Rattus spp) wurde im untersuchten Gebiet nicht zurückgegriffen. Sechs Brutversuche waren vor dem RHD-Ausbruch verzeichnet worden, danach kein einziger. Demzufolge lässt sich vermuten, dass nur der vereinte Effekt eines Igel- und Rebhuhnvorrats und darüber hinaus ein größeres Vorhandenseins kranker Kaninchen einer kleinen Anzahl der Uhus das Überleben in dem Gebiet ermöglichte, das Brüten jedoch nicht zuließ. Das im Mittelmeergebiet aus Uhu und Kaninchen bestehende Raubtier-Opfer-System ist anfälliger als bisher angenommen wurde.
Ecography, 2003
Habitat preference of eagle owls Bubo bubo were examined through comparing habitat composition ar... more Habitat preference of eagle owls Bubo bubo were examined through comparing habitat composition around 51 occupied cliffs and 36 non-occupied cliffs in Alicante (E Spain). We employed Generalized Linear Models to examine patterns of habitat preference at three different spatial scales: nest site (7 km2), home range (25 km2), and landscape (100 km2). At the nest site scale, occupied cliffs were more rugged, had a greater proportion of forest surface in the surroundings, and were further from the nearest paved road than unoccupied cliffs. Additionally, probability of having an occupied cliff increased when there was another occupied territory in the surroundings. At both the home range scale and the landscape scale, high probabilities of presence of eagle owls were related to high percentages of Mediterranean scrubland around the cliffs, which are the preferred habitat of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, the main prey of the owls. We suggest a hierarchical process of habitat selection in the eagle owl concerning suitable trophic resources at the broadest scales and adequate sites for breeding and roosting at the smallest scale. However, it should be noted that some structural features such as the proximity of roads were not necessarily avoided by the owls, but their presence were possibly constrained by systematic killing of individuals. Our paper provides new evidence for the requirement of multi-scale approaches to gain insight into both the different limiting factors for the persistence of populations and the role of individual perception of the environment in the evolution of habitat selection.
Ardea, 2008
. Social interactions between two owl species sometimes associated with intraguild predation. Ard... more . Social interactions between two owl species sometimes associated with intraguild predation. Ardea 96(1): 109-113. Species may act simultaneously as competitor and predator for other species at the same trophic level. This is known as Intraguild Predation (IGP). Most research on this topic describes the final steps of this phenomenon, when one species suffers lost progeny or decreased numbers due to predation and competition by another species. However, little is known about the mechanism that regulates this interaction in previous steps. In this work two species of the same guild (Little Owl Athene noctua and Barn Owl Tyto alba) were selected to test the hypothesis that the hunting and social behaviour of the Little Owl would be conditioned by the presence of Barn Owls. Nine Little Owls were radio-tracked and monitored for nine months. 1223 fixes were obtained and 250 hours of listening were recorded. Moreover, during this time Barn Owls were detected 66 times screeching, hunting or flying in the same areas as the monitored Little Owls. The subsequent activity (movements and voices) of tagged and untagged Little Owls was observed during 30-minute periods. The results show that Little Owl behaviour was affected by Barn Owl presence. When Little Owls noted the presence of Barn Owls, they stayed quiet and silent, or alternatively, sought refuge in the branches of trees or in secure holes in buildings, resuming their activities minutes later, when the risk of predation was presumably lower. This behaviour may have enabled survival and successful breeding of Little Owl in close proximity to Barn Owls.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2006
We have monitored the distribution, population status, breeding success, turnover rate and diet o... more We have monitored the distribution, population status, breeding success, turnover rate and diet of a Peregrine Falcon population in Bizkaia (North of Spain) since 1997. On the 13th November 2002, the tanker Prestige sunk off La Coruña (NW Spain) causing an oil spill that affected the whole of the Cantabrian Coast and the Southwest of France. The total number of birds affected by the Prestige oil spill was expected to be between 115,000 and 230,000, some of them raptors. The loss of clutches during the incubation period increased significantly and was correlated with the loss of females. Moreover, the turnover rate of the population increased from 21% to 30%. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the eggs, collected from five nests after they were deserted, ranged from 21.20 ng/g to 461.08 ng/g, values which are high enough to cause the death of the embryos and poisoning of adult birds. The effects of pollution reached inland since some inland-breeding falcons prey on shorebirds that use rivers during their migratory flights. As the Prestige oil spill has clearly resulted in increased rates of adult mortality and reduced fertility, we suggest that the environmental authorities urgently undertake measures aimed at protecting the Peregrine Falcon in Bizkaia.
Ringing & Migration, 2005
In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in south... more In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in southern Europe, 115 birds from a wildlife rehabilitation centre and 43 trapped birds were measured, sexed and aged over four years (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003). Dead birds were sexed by examining their gonads, and live birds by the presence of a brood patch. Wing length, minimum tarsus width and body weight were the only variables which differed significantly between the sexes, although there was much overlap for the wing length and weight. Buzzards with less than 7 mm minimum tarsus width were male and those greater than 7.9 mm were female. Birds did not complete moult in one year, moulting less than 60% of the flight feathers in one season. The first and the second moult followed a pattern, but afterwards moult was unpredictable and totally asymmetric. Also, half the females and 33% of males had started to moult within 30 days of their chicks hatching. These results differ from those published for Buzzards from northern Europe. The size and moult pattern depend on factors such as prey availability and migratory status, which in turn vary between areas. We therefore suggest caution when considering the moult strategies, ageing criteria and sexing criteria published for other countries.
Journal of Ornithology, 2001
The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a generalist predator that in Mediterranean areas feeds mainly on Ra... more The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a generalist predator that in Mediterranean areas feeds mainly on Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) At the end of 1997, a local outbreak of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) decimated Rabbit populations in the area of Alicante (eastern Spain) so that Rabbit numbers in 1998 crashed to almost nil. Prior to the outbreak we had found 19 occupied Eagle Owl territories, and the owls had been feeding mainly on Rabbits. After the RHD epidemic, we found only six occupied territories and the owls were still feeding mainly on Rabbits. Diet composition was very similar between the periods, indicating that the owls did not diversify their diet in response to main prey scarcity. No significant differences in the proportion of Rabbit in the diet were found between the periods, suggesting that the impact of predation on Rabbits may be independent of the density of Rabbit populations (type I functional response). This response is not typically associated with generalist predators. In the territories that were still occupied after the outbreaks, the owls took substantial numbers of Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and Red-legged Partridges (Alectoris rufa). Rats (Rattus spp), a common alternative prey, were not taken in the study area. Six breeding attempts were recorded before the RHD, and none after the RHD. This leads a to believe that only the combination of Hedgehog and Red-legged Partridge availability with the readier availability of sick Rabbits allowed a small population of owls to survive in the area, but did not allowed breeding. The predator-prey system formed by Eagle Owls and Rabbits in Mediterranean regions is more fragile than previously thought. Der Uhu (Bubo bubo) ist ein wenig spezialisierter Greifvogel, der sich im Mittelmeerraum hauptsächlich von Kaninchen ernährt. Ende 1997 wurde die Kaninchenpopulation im Gebiet von Alicante (Ostspanien) durch einen Ausbruch der hämorrhagischen Krankheit (RHD) so stark dezimiert, dass der Kaninchenbestand 1998 nahezu zusammengebrochen war. Vor dem Ausbruch der Krankheit waren 19 Uhu-Reviere besetzt, und die Uhus lebten hauptsächlich von Kaninchen. Nach dem RHD-Ausbruch zählten wir nur noch sechs besetzte Reviere; die Uhus ernährten sich aber immer noch hauptsächlich von Kaninchen. Die Zusammensetzung der Nahrung war in beiden Perioden sehr ähnlich, was darauf hinweist, dass Uhus ihr Beutespektrum nicht erweitern, wenn ihr hauptsächliches Beutetier knapp wird. Dies legt nahe, dass die Anzahl geschlagener Kaninchen unabhängig von deren Populationsdichte ist (Typ I funktionelle Reaktion). Diese Reaktion ist untypisch für nicht spezialisierte Greifvögel. In den Revieren, die nach dem Ausbruch der Seuche noch bewohnt waren, fraßen die Uhus eine beträchtliche Anzahl Igel (Erinaceus europaeus) und Rebhühner (Alectoris rufa). Auf gewöhnliche alternative Beutetiere wie Ratten (Rattus spp) wurde im untersuchten Gebiet nicht zurückgegriffen. Sechs Brutversuche waren vor dem RHD-Ausbruch verzeichnet worden, danach kein einziger. Demzufolge lässt sich vermuten, dass nur der vereinte Effekt eines Igel- und Rebhuhnvorrats und darüber hinaus ein größeres Vorhandenseins kranker Kaninchen einer kleinen Anzahl der Uhus das Überleben in dem Gebiet ermöglichte, das Brüten jedoch nicht zuließ. Das im Mittelmeergebiet aus Uhu und Kaninchen bestehende Raubtier-Opfer-System ist anfälliger als bisher angenommen wurde.
Ecography, 2003
Habitat preference of eagle owls Bubo bubo were examined through comparing habitat composition ar... more Habitat preference of eagle owls Bubo bubo were examined through comparing habitat composition around 51 occupied cliffs and 36 non-occupied cliffs in Alicante (E Spain). We employed Generalized Linear Models to examine patterns of habitat preference at three different spatial scales: nest site (7 km2), home range (25 km2), and landscape (100 km2). At the nest site scale, occupied cliffs were more rugged, had a greater proportion of forest surface in the surroundings, and were further from the nearest paved road than unoccupied cliffs. Additionally, probability of having an occupied cliff increased when there was another occupied territory in the surroundings. At both the home range scale and the landscape scale, high probabilities of presence of eagle owls were related to high percentages of Mediterranean scrubland around the cliffs, which are the preferred habitat of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, the main prey of the owls. We suggest a hierarchical process of habitat selection in the eagle owl concerning suitable trophic resources at the broadest scales and adequate sites for breeding and roosting at the smallest scale. However, it should be noted that some structural features such as the proximity of roads were not necessarily avoided by the owls, but their presence were possibly constrained by systematic killing of individuals. Our paper provides new evidence for the requirement of multi-scale approaches to gain insight into both the different limiting factors for the persistence of populations and the role of individual perception of the environment in the evolution of habitat selection.
Ardea, 2008
. Social interactions between two owl species sometimes associated with intraguild predation. Ard... more . Social interactions between two owl species sometimes associated with intraguild predation. Ardea 96(1): 109-113. Species may act simultaneously as competitor and predator for other species at the same trophic level. This is known as Intraguild Predation (IGP). Most research on this topic describes the final steps of this phenomenon, when one species suffers lost progeny or decreased numbers due to predation and competition by another species. However, little is known about the mechanism that regulates this interaction in previous steps. In this work two species of the same guild (Little Owl Athene noctua and Barn Owl Tyto alba) were selected to test the hypothesis that the hunting and social behaviour of the Little Owl would be conditioned by the presence of Barn Owls. Nine Little Owls were radio-tracked and monitored for nine months. 1223 fixes were obtained and 250 hours of listening were recorded. Moreover, during this time Barn Owls were detected 66 times screeching, hunting or flying in the same areas as the monitored Little Owls. The subsequent activity (movements and voices) of tagged and untagged Little Owls was observed during 30-minute periods. The results show that Little Owl behaviour was affected by Barn Owl presence. When Little Owls noted the presence of Barn Owls, they stayed quiet and silent, or alternatively, sought refuge in the branches of trees or in secure holes in buildings, resuming their activities minutes later, when the risk of predation was presumably lower. This behaviour may have enabled survival and successful breeding of Little Owl in close proximity to Barn Owls.
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2012
Medicina (Ribeirao Preto. Online), 1998
JAB. Doenças intersticiais pulmonares. Medicina, Ribeirão Preto, 31: 247-256, abr./jun. 1998.
Medicina (Ribeirao Preto. Online), 1998
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2006
... Sonho dos Mil Gatos"!(3) Quando assumimos o Jornal no final de 2004 procuramos dar conti... more ... Sonho dos Mil Gatos"!(3) Quando assumimos o Jornal no final de 2004 procuramos dar continuidade ao trabalho que já vinha sendo feito ... Grande atenção vem sendo dada a as-pectos formais da revista, tais como a qualidade da diagramação e impressão, obediência dos ma ...
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2005
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2005
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2005
Sao Paulo Medical Journal, 2000
Sources of funding: SBG was supported by CAPES (nº 132.276/95-0) Conflict of interest: Not declar... more Sources of funding: SBG was supported by CAPES (nº 132.276/95-0) Conflict of interest: Not declared Last publishing in f o r m a t i o n Sao Paulo Med J/Rev Paul Med 2000; 118(4):93-8.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2006
We have monitored the distribution, population status, breeding success, turnover rate and diet o... more We have monitored the distribution, population status, breeding success, turnover rate and diet of a Peregrine Falcon population in Bizkaia (North of Spain) since 1997. On the 13th November 2002, the tanker Prestige sunk off La Coruña (NW Spain) causing an oil spill that affected the whole of the Cantabrian Coast and the Southwest of France. The total number of birds affected by the Prestige oil spill was expected to be between 115,000 and 230,000, some of them raptors. The loss of clutches during the incubation period increased significantly and was correlated with the loss of females. Moreover, the turnover rate of the population increased from 21% to 30%. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the eggs, collected from five nests after they were deserted, ranged from 21.20 ng/g to 461.08 ng/g, values which are high enough to cause the death of the embryos and poisoning of adult birds. The effects of pollution reached inland since some inland-breeding falcons prey on shorebirds that use rivers during their migratory flights. As the Prestige oil spill has clearly resulted in increased rates of adult mortality and reduced fertility, we suggest that the environmental authorities urgently undertake measures aimed at protecting the Peregrine Falcon in Bizkaia.
Ringing & Migration, 2005
In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in south... more In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in southern Europe, 115 birds from a wildlife rehabilitation centre and 43 trapped birds were measured, sexed and aged over four years (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003). Dead birds were sexed by examining their gonads, and live birds by the presence of a brood patch. Wing length, minimum tarsus width and body weight were the only variables which differed significantly between the sexes, although there was much overlap for the wing length and weight. Buzzards with less than 7 mm minimum tarsus width were male and those greater than 7.9 mm were female. Birds did not complete moult in one year, moulting less than 60% of the flight feathers in one season. The first and the second moult followed a pattern, but afterwards moult was unpredictable and totally asymmetric. Also, half the females and 33% of males had started to moult within 30 days of their chicks hatching. These results differ from those published for Buzzards from northern Europe. The size and moult pattern depend on factors such as prey availability and migratory status, which in turn vary between areas. We therefore suggest caution when considering the moult strategies, ageing criteria and sexing criteria published for other countries.
Journal of Ornithology, 2001
The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a generalist predator that in Mediterranean areas feeds mainly on Ra... more The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a generalist predator that in Mediterranean areas feeds mainly on Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) At the end of 1997, a local outbreak of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) decimated Rabbit populations in the area of Alicante (eastern Spain) so that Rabbit numbers in 1998 crashed to almost nil. Prior to the outbreak we had found 19 occupied Eagle Owl territories, and the owls had been feeding mainly on Rabbits. After the RHD epidemic, we found only six occupied territories and the owls were still feeding mainly on Rabbits. Diet composition was very similar between the periods, indicating that the owls did not diversify their diet in response to main prey scarcity. No significant differences in the proportion of Rabbit in the diet were found between the periods, suggesting that the impact of predation on Rabbits may be independent of the density of Rabbit populations (type I functional response). This response is not typically associated with generalist predators. In the territories that were still occupied after the outbreaks, the owls took substantial numbers of Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and Red-legged Partridges (Alectoris rufa). Rats (Rattus spp), a common alternative prey, were not taken in the study area. Six breeding attempts were recorded before the RHD, and none after the RHD. This leads a to believe that only the combination of Hedgehog and Red-legged Partridge availability with the readier availability of sick Rabbits allowed a small population of owls to survive in the area, but did not allowed breeding. The predator-prey system formed by Eagle Owls and Rabbits in Mediterranean regions is more fragile than previously thought. Der Uhu (Bubo bubo) ist ein wenig spezialisierter Greifvogel, der sich im Mittelmeerraum hauptsächlich von Kaninchen ernährt. Ende 1997 wurde die Kaninchenpopulation im Gebiet von Alicante (Ostspanien) durch einen Ausbruch der hämorrhagischen Krankheit (RHD) so stark dezimiert, dass der Kaninchenbestand 1998 nahezu zusammengebrochen war. Vor dem Ausbruch der Krankheit waren 19 Uhu-Reviere besetzt, und die Uhus lebten hauptsächlich von Kaninchen. Nach dem RHD-Ausbruch zählten wir nur noch sechs besetzte Reviere; die Uhus ernährten sich aber immer noch hauptsächlich von Kaninchen. Die Zusammensetzung der Nahrung war in beiden Perioden sehr ähnlich, was darauf hinweist, dass Uhus ihr Beutespektrum nicht erweitern, wenn ihr hauptsächliches Beutetier knapp wird. Dies legt nahe, dass die Anzahl geschlagener Kaninchen unabhängig von deren Populationsdichte ist (Typ I funktionelle Reaktion). Diese Reaktion ist untypisch für nicht spezialisierte Greifvögel. In den Revieren, die nach dem Ausbruch der Seuche noch bewohnt waren, fraßen die Uhus eine beträchtliche Anzahl Igel (Erinaceus europaeus) und Rebhühner (Alectoris rufa). Auf gewöhnliche alternative Beutetiere wie Ratten (Rattus spp) wurde im untersuchten Gebiet nicht zurückgegriffen. Sechs Brutversuche waren vor dem RHD-Ausbruch verzeichnet worden, danach kein einziger. Demzufolge lässt sich vermuten, dass nur der vereinte Effekt eines Igel- und Rebhuhnvorrats und darüber hinaus ein größeres Vorhandenseins kranker Kaninchen einer kleinen Anzahl der Uhus das Überleben in dem Gebiet ermöglichte, das Brüten jedoch nicht zuließ. Das im Mittelmeergebiet aus Uhu und Kaninchen bestehende Raubtier-Opfer-System ist anfälliger als bisher angenommen wurde.
Ecography, 2003
Habitat preference of eagle owls Bubo bubo were examined through comparing habitat composition ar... more Habitat preference of eagle owls Bubo bubo were examined through comparing habitat composition around 51 occupied cliffs and 36 non-occupied cliffs in Alicante (E Spain). We employed Generalized Linear Models to examine patterns of habitat preference at three different spatial scales: nest site (7 km2), home range (25 km2), and landscape (100 km2). At the nest site scale, occupied cliffs were more rugged, had a greater proportion of forest surface in the surroundings, and were further from the nearest paved road than unoccupied cliffs. Additionally, probability of having an occupied cliff increased when there was another occupied territory in the surroundings. At both the home range scale and the landscape scale, high probabilities of presence of eagle owls were related to high percentages of Mediterranean scrubland around the cliffs, which are the preferred habitat of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, the main prey of the owls. We suggest a hierarchical process of habitat selection in the eagle owl concerning suitable trophic resources at the broadest scales and adequate sites for breeding and roosting at the smallest scale. However, it should be noted that some structural features such as the proximity of roads were not necessarily avoided by the owls, but their presence were possibly constrained by systematic killing of individuals. Our paper provides new evidence for the requirement of multi-scale approaches to gain insight into both the different limiting factors for the persistence of populations and the role of individual perception of the environment in the evolution of habitat selection.
Ardea, 2008
. Social interactions between two owl species sometimes associated with intraguild predation. Ard... more . Social interactions between two owl species sometimes associated with intraguild predation. Ardea 96(1): 109-113. Species may act simultaneously as competitor and predator for other species at the same trophic level. This is known as Intraguild Predation (IGP). Most research on this topic describes the final steps of this phenomenon, when one species suffers lost progeny or decreased numbers due to predation and competition by another species. However, little is known about the mechanism that regulates this interaction in previous steps. In this work two species of the same guild (Little Owl Athene noctua and Barn Owl Tyto alba) were selected to test the hypothesis that the hunting and social behaviour of the Little Owl would be conditioned by the presence of Barn Owls. Nine Little Owls were radio-tracked and monitored for nine months. 1223 fixes were obtained and 250 hours of listening were recorded. Moreover, during this time Barn Owls were detected 66 times screeching, hunting or flying in the same areas as the monitored Little Owls. The subsequent activity (movements and voices) of tagged and untagged Little Owls was observed during 30-minute periods. The results show that Little Owl behaviour was affected by Barn Owl presence. When Little Owls noted the presence of Barn Owls, they stayed quiet and silent, or alternatively, sought refuge in the branches of trees or in secure holes in buildings, resuming their activities minutes later, when the risk of predation was presumably lower. This behaviour may have enabled survival and successful breeding of Little Owl in close proximity to Barn Owls.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2006
We have monitored the distribution, population status, breeding success, turnover rate and diet o... more We have monitored the distribution, population status, breeding success, turnover rate and diet of a Peregrine Falcon population in Bizkaia (North of Spain) since 1997. On the 13th November 2002, the tanker Prestige sunk off La Coruña (NW Spain) causing an oil spill that affected the whole of the Cantabrian Coast and the Southwest of France. The total number of birds affected by the Prestige oil spill was expected to be between 115,000 and 230,000, some of them raptors. The loss of clutches during the incubation period increased significantly and was correlated with the loss of females. Moreover, the turnover rate of the population increased from 21% to 30%. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the eggs, collected from five nests after they were deserted, ranged from 21.20 ng/g to 461.08 ng/g, values which are high enough to cause the death of the embryos and poisoning of adult birds. The effects of pollution reached inland since some inland-breeding falcons prey on shorebirds that use rivers during their migratory flights. As the Prestige oil spill has clearly resulted in increased rates of adult mortality and reduced fertility, we suggest that the environmental authorities urgently undertake measures aimed at protecting the Peregrine Falcon in Bizkaia.
Ringing & Migration, 2005
In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in south... more In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in southern Europe, 115 birds from a wildlife rehabilitation centre and 43 trapped birds were measured, sexed and aged over four years (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003). Dead birds were sexed by examining their gonads, and live birds by the presence of a brood patch. Wing length, minimum tarsus width and body weight were the only variables which differed significantly between the sexes, although there was much overlap for the wing length and weight. Buzzards with less than 7 mm minimum tarsus width were male and those greater than 7.9 mm were female. Birds did not complete moult in one year, moulting less than 60% of the flight feathers in one season. The first and the second moult followed a pattern, but afterwards moult was unpredictable and totally asymmetric. Also, half the females and 33% of males had started to moult within 30 days of their chicks hatching. These results differ from those published for Buzzards from northern Europe. The size and moult pattern depend on factors such as prey availability and migratory status, which in turn vary between areas. We therefore suggest caution when considering the moult strategies, ageing criteria and sexing criteria published for other countries.
Journal of Ornithology, 2001
The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a generalist predator that in Mediterranean areas feeds mainly on Ra... more The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is a generalist predator that in Mediterranean areas feeds mainly on Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) At the end of 1997, a local outbreak of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) decimated Rabbit populations in the area of Alicante (eastern Spain) so that Rabbit numbers in 1998 crashed to almost nil. Prior to the outbreak we had found 19 occupied Eagle Owl territories, and the owls had been feeding mainly on Rabbits. After the RHD epidemic, we found only six occupied territories and the owls were still feeding mainly on Rabbits. Diet composition was very similar between the periods, indicating that the owls did not diversify their diet in response to main prey scarcity. No significant differences in the proportion of Rabbit in the diet were found between the periods, suggesting that the impact of predation on Rabbits may be independent of the density of Rabbit populations (type I functional response). This response is not typically associated with generalist predators. In the territories that were still occupied after the outbreaks, the owls took substantial numbers of Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and Red-legged Partridges (Alectoris rufa). Rats (Rattus spp), a common alternative prey, were not taken in the study area. Six breeding attempts were recorded before the RHD, and none after the RHD. This leads a to believe that only the combination of Hedgehog and Red-legged Partridge availability with the readier availability of sick Rabbits allowed a small population of owls to survive in the area, but did not allowed breeding. The predator-prey system formed by Eagle Owls and Rabbits in Mediterranean regions is more fragile than previously thought. Der Uhu (Bubo bubo) ist ein wenig spezialisierter Greifvogel, der sich im Mittelmeerraum hauptsächlich von Kaninchen ernährt. Ende 1997 wurde die Kaninchenpopulation im Gebiet von Alicante (Ostspanien) durch einen Ausbruch der hämorrhagischen Krankheit (RHD) so stark dezimiert, dass der Kaninchenbestand 1998 nahezu zusammengebrochen war. Vor dem Ausbruch der Krankheit waren 19 Uhu-Reviere besetzt, und die Uhus lebten hauptsächlich von Kaninchen. Nach dem RHD-Ausbruch zählten wir nur noch sechs besetzte Reviere; die Uhus ernährten sich aber immer noch hauptsächlich von Kaninchen. Die Zusammensetzung der Nahrung war in beiden Perioden sehr ähnlich, was darauf hinweist, dass Uhus ihr Beutespektrum nicht erweitern, wenn ihr hauptsächliches Beutetier knapp wird. Dies legt nahe, dass die Anzahl geschlagener Kaninchen unabhängig von deren Populationsdichte ist (Typ I funktionelle Reaktion). Diese Reaktion ist untypisch für nicht spezialisierte Greifvögel. In den Revieren, die nach dem Ausbruch der Seuche noch bewohnt waren, fraßen die Uhus eine beträchtliche Anzahl Igel (Erinaceus europaeus) und Rebhühner (Alectoris rufa). Auf gewöhnliche alternative Beutetiere wie Ratten (Rattus spp) wurde im untersuchten Gebiet nicht zurückgegriffen. Sechs Brutversuche waren vor dem RHD-Ausbruch verzeichnet worden, danach kein einziger. Demzufolge lässt sich vermuten, dass nur der vereinte Effekt eines Igel- und Rebhuhnvorrats und darüber hinaus ein größeres Vorhandenseins kranker Kaninchen einer kleinen Anzahl der Uhus das Überleben in dem Gebiet ermöglichte, das Brüten jedoch nicht zuließ. Das im Mittelmeergebiet aus Uhu und Kaninchen bestehende Raubtier-Opfer-System ist anfälliger als bisher angenommen wurde.
Ecography, 2003
Habitat preference of eagle owls Bubo bubo were examined through comparing habitat composition ar... more Habitat preference of eagle owls Bubo bubo were examined through comparing habitat composition around 51 occupied cliffs and 36 non-occupied cliffs in Alicante (E Spain). We employed Generalized Linear Models to examine patterns of habitat preference at three different spatial scales: nest site (7 km2), home range (25 km2), and landscape (100 km2). At the nest site scale, occupied cliffs were more rugged, had a greater proportion of forest surface in the surroundings, and were further from the nearest paved road than unoccupied cliffs. Additionally, probability of having an occupied cliff increased when there was another occupied territory in the surroundings. At both the home range scale and the landscape scale, high probabilities of presence of eagle owls were related to high percentages of Mediterranean scrubland around the cliffs, which are the preferred habitat of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, the main prey of the owls. We suggest a hierarchical process of habitat selection in the eagle owl concerning suitable trophic resources at the broadest scales and adequate sites for breeding and roosting at the smallest scale. However, it should be noted that some structural features such as the proximity of roads were not necessarily avoided by the owls, but their presence were possibly constrained by systematic killing of individuals. Our paper provides new evidence for the requirement of multi-scale approaches to gain insight into both the different limiting factors for the persistence of populations and the role of individual perception of the environment in the evolution of habitat selection.
Ardea, 2008
. Social interactions between two owl species sometimes associated with intraguild predation. Ard... more . Social interactions between two owl species sometimes associated with intraguild predation. Ardea 96(1): 109-113. Species may act simultaneously as competitor and predator for other species at the same trophic level. This is known as Intraguild Predation (IGP). Most research on this topic describes the final steps of this phenomenon, when one species suffers lost progeny or decreased numbers due to predation and competition by another species. However, little is known about the mechanism that regulates this interaction in previous steps. In this work two species of the same guild (Little Owl Athene noctua and Barn Owl Tyto alba) were selected to test the hypothesis that the hunting and social behaviour of the Little Owl would be conditioned by the presence of Barn Owls. Nine Little Owls were radio-tracked and monitored for nine months. 1223 fixes were obtained and 250 hours of listening were recorded. Moreover, during this time Barn Owls were detected 66 times screeching, hunting or flying in the same areas as the monitored Little Owls. The subsequent activity (movements and voices) of tagged and untagged Little Owls was observed during 30-minute periods. The results show that Little Owl behaviour was affected by Barn Owl presence. When Little Owls noted the presence of Barn Owls, they stayed quiet and silent, or alternatively, sought refuge in the branches of trees or in secure holes in buildings, resuming their activities minutes later, when the risk of predation was presumably lower. This behaviour may have enabled survival and successful breeding of Little Owl in close proximity to Barn Owls.
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2012
Medicina (Ribeirao Preto. Online), 1998
JAB. Doenças intersticiais pulmonares. Medicina, Ribeirão Preto, 31: 247-256, abr./jun. 1998.
Medicina (Ribeirao Preto. Online), 1998
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2006
... Sonho dos Mil Gatos"!(3) Quando assumimos o Jornal no final de 2004 procuramos dar conti... more ... Sonho dos Mil Gatos"!(3) Quando assumimos o Jornal no final de 2004 procuramos dar continuidade ao trabalho que já vinha sendo feito ... Grande atenção vem sendo dada a as-pectos formais da revista, tais como a qualidade da diagramação e impressão, obediência dos ma ...
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2005
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2005
Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 2005
Sao Paulo Medical Journal, 2000
Sources of funding: SBG was supported by CAPES (nº 132.276/95-0) Conflict of interest: Not declar... more Sources of funding: SBG was supported by CAPES (nº 132.276/95-0) Conflict of interest: Not declared Last publishing in f o r m a t i o n Sao Paulo Med J/Rev Paul Med 2000; 118(4):93-8.