Diversity of marine benthic algae from Cantabria (Eastern Cantabrian, Spain): a historical overview of research and publications

The macroalgal flora of Cantabria (north of Spain) has attracted the interest of many researchers on past occasions. Currently published information only reflects occasional collections from sporadic field visits to this region of the Spanish Atlantic coast. To overcome this, a historical overview of research and publications, encompassing collections and presence data recording, has been undertaken. This work lists the resultant taxonomic records and provides information about macroalgal flora of Cantabria. A total of 425 species (25 Cyanobacteria, 55 Chlorophyta, 81 Ochrophyta, and 264 Rhodophyta) were identified. The number of specific, infraspecific taxa, and stages is 437: 25 Cyanobacteria, 57 Chlorophyta, 89 Ochrophyta, and 266 Rhodophyta. The floristic character of flora from the Cantabrian coast is compared over time and with nearby regions applying Cheney’s ratio [(Rhodophyta+Chlorophyta)/ Ochrophyta, or (R+C)/O]. The present paper aims to provide an overview of the research that has been conducted in the Cantabrian coast, not only found in international publications but also in local publications as well as unpublished theses.

The Influence of the Interaction between Climate and Competition on the Distributional Limits of European Shrews

It is known that species’ distributions are influenced by several ecological factors. Nonetheless, the geographical scale upon which the influence of these factors is perceived is largely undefined. We assessed the importance of competition in regulating the distributional limits of species at large geographical scales. We focus on species with similar diets, the European Soricidae shrews, and how interspecific competition changes along climatic gradients. We used presence data for the seven most widespread terrestrial species of Soricidae in Europe, gathered from GBIF, European museums, and climate data from WorldClim. We made use of two Joint Species Distribution Models to analyse the correlations between species’ presences, aiming to understand the distinct roles of climate and competition in shaping species’ distributions. Our results support three key conclusions: (i) climate alone does not explain all species’ distributions at large scales; (ii) negative interactions, such as competition, seem to play a strong role in defining species’ range limits, even at large scales; and (iii) the impact of competition on a species’ distribution varies along a climatic gradient, becoming stronger at the climatic extremes. Our conclusions support previous research, highlighting the importance of considering biotic interactions when studying species’ distributions, regardless of geographical scale.

Temperature and soils predict the distribution of plant species along the Himalayan elevational gradient

Tropical montane systems are characterized by a high plant species diversity and complex environmental gradients. Climate warming may force species to track suitable climatic conditions and shift their distribution upward, which may be particularly problematic for species with narrow elevational ranges. To better understand the fate of montane plant species in the face of climate change, we evaluated a) which environmental factors best predict the distribution of 277 plant species along the Himalayan elevational gradient in Nepal, and b) whether species elevational ranges increase with increasing elevation. To this end, we developed ecological niche models using MaxEnt by combining species survey and presence data with 19 environmental predictors. Key environmental factors that best predicted the distribution of Himalayan plant species were mean annual temperature (for 54.5% of the species) followed by soil clay content (10.2%) and slope (9.4%). Although temperature is the best predictor, it is associated with many other covariates that may explain species distribution, such as irradiance and potential evapotranspiration. Species at both ends of the Himalayan elevational gradient had narrower elevational ranges than species in the middle. Our results suggest that with further global warming, most Himalayan plant species have to migrate upward, which is especially critical for upland species with narrow distribution ranges.

Human-Altered Landscapes and Climate To Predict Human Infectious Disease Hotspots

Background Zoonotic diseases account for more than 70% of emerging infectious diseases. Due to their increasing incidence, and impact on global health and economy, anticipating the emergence of zoonoses is a major public health challenge. Here, we use a biogeographic approach to predict future hotspots and determine the factors influencing disease emergence. We have focused on three viral disease groups of concern: Filoviridae, Coronaviridae, and Henipaviruses. Methods We modelled presence-absence data in spatially explicit binomial and zero-inflation binomial logistic regression with and without autoregression. Presence data were extracted from published studies for the three EID groups. Various environmental and demographical rasters were used to explain the distribution of EIDs. True Skill Statistic and deviance parameters were used to compare the accuracy of the different models. Results For each group of viruses, we were able to identify and map areas at high risk of disease emergence based on the spatial distribution of disease reservoirs and hosts, as well as data on the distribution of each disease. Common influencing drivers are climatic covariates (minimum temperature and rainfall) and human-induced land modifications. Conclusions Using topographical, climatic and previous disease outbreaks reports, we show that we can identify and predict future high-risk areas for disease emergence, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, and their specific underlying human and environmental drivers. We suggest that such a predictive approach to EIDs should be carefully considered in the development of active surveillance systems for pathogen emergence and epidemics at local and global scales.

A Validation Procedure for Ecological Corridor Locations

Connectivity conservation analysis is based on a wide range of approaches designed to pinpoint key ecological corridors in order to maintain multispecies flows. However, the lack of validation procedures with accessible data prevents one from evaluating the accuracy of ecological corridor locations. We propose a new validation procedure to evaluate the accuracy of ecological corridor locations in landscape connectivity approaches. The ability of the procedure to properly rank the accuracy of different landscape connectivity approaches was illustrated in a study case. Maxent model and circuit theory were used to locate ecological corridors for forest bird species, following three approaches based on land cover, umbrella species and multispecies presence data. The validation procedure was used to compare the three approaches. Our validation procedure ranked the three approaches as expected, considering that accuracy in locating ecological corridors is related to the biological realism of calibration data. The corridors modelled were more accurate with species presence data (umbrella and multispecies approaches) compared to land cover proxy (habitat-based approach). These results confirm the quality of the validation procedure. Our validation procedure can be used to: (1) evaluate the accuracy of the location of ecological corridors; (2) select the best approach to locate ecological corridors, and (3) validate the underlying assumptions of landscape connectivity approaches (e.g., dispersal and matrix resistance values).

Modeling the Wintering Habitat Distribution of Oriental Honey Buzzards in West Java Indonesia with Satellite Tracking Data Using Logistic Regression

Oriental honey buzzards (OHBs, Pernis ptilorhynchus) are one of migratory raptor from Japan to Indonesia which is widely recognized as indicator species reflecting the conditions of their habitat. Since 2003, OHBs have been satellite-tracked in their wintering grounds in Indonesia. Less information available on wintering areas in the west Java, which hampers the OHB conservation efforts. This paper proposes a new approach for predicting the probability models of the wintering habitat distribution of OHBs with the presence data derived from satellite tracking using logistic regression analysis coupled with RAMAS GIS. This spatial model was locally constructed from the data concerning Talaga Bodas and its surrounding areas and extrapolated for the entire West Java region. The best predicted probability model successfully characterized the distribution of the OHB wintering habitat using slope (25–40%), elevation (0–300 m and >1,000 m), and land cover (forest, paddy field, and water body). The extrapolation model generated potential areas of the wintering habitat distribution covering an area of 3013.13 km2 (8.11% of West Java). These areas were predominantly located outside the protected areas (94.04%). The modeling approach proposed herein may be used to study other migratory species that are tracked using satellite or other navigation technologies.

The update and optimization of an eDNA assay to detect the invasive rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus)

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is nuclear or mitochondrial DNA shed into the environment, and amplifying this DNA can serve as a reliable, noninvasive way to monitor aquatic systems for the presence of an invasive species. Assays based on the collection of eDNA are becoming increasingly popular, and, when optimized, can aid in effectively and efficiently tracking invasion fronts. We set out to update an eDNA assay to detect the invasive rusty crayfish, Faxonius rusticus. We tested for species specificity compared to other stream crayfish and field tested the assay at sites with known presence (N = 3) and absence (N = 4) in the Juniata River watershed in central Pennsylvania, USA. To maximize sensitivity, we field tested different storage buffers (Longmire’s buffer and ethanol), DNA extraction methods (Qiagen’s DNEasy and PowerWater kits), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) chemistries (TaqMan and SYBR green). Our assay confirmed the presence data and performed optimally when filter samples were stored in Longmire’s buffer, DNA was extracted with DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit, and TaqMan qPCR chemistry was utilized. With proper sample processing, our assay allows for accurate, noninvasive detection of F. rusticus in streams.

Not only pond sliders: freshwater turtles in the water bodies of the Milan northern urban area (Italy)

Freshwater turtles represent one of the most common pets released in urban water bodies. In Europe, after the ban on the import of Trachemys scripta, other non-native turtle species now dominate the legal pet trade. Some of these species have high invasive potential, such as the well-known slider turtle, but their diffusion outside their native range is poorly known. This work summarises presence data about non-native freshwater turtles, different from slider turtles T. scripta, into two urban parks located at the northern boundary of the Milan outskirts (Italy, Lombardy). Turtle detections were obtained merging field surveys conducted from 2014 to 2020, with sparse pictures taken by occasional observers. The situation depicted shows, in addition to the ubiquitous spread of slider turtle subspecies and hybrids in both parks, the frequent presence of other multiple genera such as Pseudemys and Graptemys. Isolated individuals of Apalone spinifera, Graptemys ouachitensis, Mauremys sinensis, Pelomedusa subrufa and Sternotherus carinatus were also found. I also detected one Emys orbicularis, probably escaped or released.

Range contractions of the Broad-winged Hawk in the Northeast United States

The Broad-winged Hawk (BWHA, Buteo platypterus) is a small, secretive hawk with distinguishing broad black tail bands that breeds in northeastern North America. The hawk nests in deciduous or mixed forest, often near water, and close to clearings or forest edges. Land conversion and fragmentation alters the landscape and reduces the area of contiguous forest used by BWHA. This study seeks to determine the landscape characteristics influencing the apparent breeding range declines of the BWHA at the landscape scale. Landscape characteristics and BWHA presence data from 18,684 Breeding Bird Atlas blocks (each about 25km2) from Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York for two atlas period (1st Atlas: 1980s, 2nd Atlas: 2000s) were analyzed. Bayesian latent Gaussian models were fitted using INLA to determine best fit model for predicting the landscape characteristics associated with BWHA presence. The best models included landscape changes in land cover, including forest, water, urban, barren, farmland, and wetland and fragmentation of the landscape. Trends in loss were especially prevalent around the region's largest cities: New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC. Loss of BWHA at the block-level was associated with areas with less forest in the 2000s, a decline in size of largest forest patches, lower elevations and lower latitudes. We suggest that both habitat loss and climate change may be contributing to the range contraction of the Broad-winged Hawk in the northeast United States.

Use of distribution models in the conservation of a Mexican endemic lagomorph

The volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi), endemic to the central-eastern Transmexican Volcanic Belt, is one of the most threatened lagomorphs worldwide. Several factors threaten to decrease its geographical distribution, which is already restricted to the Pelado, Tláloc, Iztaccíhuatl, and Popocatépetl volcanoes. Our study aimed to propose priority areas for the conservation of this rabbit within Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park (IPNP) based on species distribution models. Volcano rabbit presence data were collected through different field sampling techniques and public and private databases. The environmental predictors used to model suitability were obtained from both open-access remote sensors and topographic information. The models’ performance was adjusted by evaluating different sets of variables and data to improve the certainty of the results. We obtained an area of 132.5 km2 within the IPNP potentially occupied by the volcano rabbit and a high suitability area of 7 km2. In addition, four priority conservation polygons for the volcano rabbit were identified within the National Park. We showed that the suitability and potential distribution are not uniform in the park, being the alpine meadow dominated by Muhlenbergia sp., the most suitable area for R. diazi. Therefore, the conservation strategies should focus on preserving these meadows in the prioritized polygons, avoiding tourist and unskilled personnel’s access. This work represents a contribution to the conservation of the volcano rabbit and a theoretical and practical tool for use in the IPNP.