Browsing by Author "Alonso, Miguel"
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- Defining the importance of landscape metrics for large branchiopod biodiversity and conservation: the case of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic IslandsPublication . Sala, Jordi; Gascon, Stephanie; Cunillera-Montcusi, David; Alonso, Miguel; Amat, Francisco; Cancela Da Fonseca, Luís; Cristo, M.; Florencio, Margarita; Garcia-de-Lomas, Juan; Machado, Margarida; Rosa Miracle, Maria; Miro, Alexandre; Luis Perez-Bote, Jose; Lluis Pretus, Joan; Prunier, Florent; Ripoll, Javier; Rueda, Juan; Sahuquillo, Maria; Serrano, Laura; Ventura, Marc; Verdiell-Cubedo, David; Boix, DaniThe deficiency in the distributional data of invertebrate taxa is one of the major impediments acting on the bias towards the low awareness of its conservation status. The present study sets a basic framework to understand the large branchiopods distribution in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Since the extensive surveys performed in the late 1980s, no more studies existed updating the information for the whole studied area. The present study fills the gap, gathering together all available information on large branchiopods distribution since 1995, and analysing the effect of human population density and several landscape characteristics on their distribution, taking into consideration different spatial scales (100 m, 1 km and 10 km). In overall, 28 large branchiopod taxa (17 anostracans, 7 notostracans and 4 spinicaudatans) are known to occur in the area. Approximately 30% of the sites hosted multiple species, with a maximum of 6 species. Significant positive co-occurring species pairs were found clustered together, forming 4 different associations of large branchiopod species. In general, species clustered in the same group showed similar responses to analysed landscape characteristics, usually showing a better fit at higher spatial scales.
- How threatened are large branchiopods (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) in the Iberian Peninsula?Publication . Garcia-de-Lomas, Juan; Sala, Jordi; Barrios, Violeta; Prunier, Florent; Camacho, Antonio; Machado, Margarida; Alonso, Miguel; Korn, Michael; Boix, Dani; Hortas, Francisco; Garcia, Carlos M.; Serrano, Laura; Munoz, GonzaloThe Iberian Peninsula harbours 24 taxa of native large branchiopods (LBs). Most of them inhabit Mediterranean temporary ponds, which are priority habitats under the EU Habitats Directive. In this work, Iberian LBs were evaluated using IUCN Red List criteria based on geographic range (extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of locations, habitat fragmentation and expected decline). Our results show that 46% of the Iberian LBs are threatened: four taxa should be considered as Critically Endangered (Linderiella baetica, Triops emeritensis, Cyzicus tetracerus and Leptestheria mayeti), three taxa fall under the category Endangered (Artemia salina, Tanymastigites lusitanica and Triops vicentinus) and four species (Artemia sp. parthenogenetic strains, Branchinecta orientalis, Lepidurus apus and Triops gadensis) are Vulnerable. Two species (Phallocryptus spinosus, and Maghrebestheria maroccana) are considered Near Threatened. Our results highlight the worrying risk of extinction of Iberian LBs at the regional level, mainly related to the disappearance and degradation of their habitats and the relatively low degree of habitat protection. For Iberian endemic species, this evaluation is also valid at the global level and gives strong support for their inclusion in the IUCN Red List.
- Linderiella baetica Alonso & Garcia-de-Lomas 2009 (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca): On the verge of extinction?Publication . Garcia de Lomas, Juan; Garcia, Carlos M.; Hortas, Francisco; Prunier, Florent; Boix, Dani; Sala, Jordi; Leon, David; Serrano, Laura; Prenda, José; Diego Gilbert, Juan; Guerrero, Francisco J.; Marrone, Federico; Sahuquillo, Maria; Camacho, Antonio; Olmo, Carla; Rosa Miracle, Maria; Zamora-Munoz, Carmen; Mura, Graziella; Machado, Margarida; Sanchez, Inigo; Angel Galvez, José; Florencio, Margarita; Luis Perez-Bote, José; Alonso, MiguelThe province of Cadiz (South of Spain) hosts the only known locality in the world of Linderiella baetica Alonso & Garcia-de-Lomas 2009 (Anostraca). In this paper, the geographical distribution of the species based on published sampling data focused on large branchiopods and temporary pools in Andalusia and the entire Iberian Peninsula is assessed. The current situation is summarized based on the threats to their survival, which are mainly related to habitat alteration. In the Iberian Peninsula, at least 1,648 bodies of water (about 720 in Andalusia) have been explored. Prevalence data suggest that L. baetica is a rare species (localities with presence / sample locations = 6.07 . 10-4). The application of the IUCN (2012) criteria suggests that L. baetica is a threatened species, catalogued as "critically endangered". Several emergency solutions such as translocation of individuals or their propagules to newly created ponds and to sustain the efforts of exploration have been proposed. However, conservation of the species in the current circumstances it is not considered viable if the natural habitat remains unprotected. The legal protection of L. baetica is proposed.