PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA

Intelligent energy-efficient GNSS-assisted and LoRa-based positioning for wildlife tracking

Enlace mardeaves Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,

López-Escobar, J.J., Fondo-Ferreiro, P., González-Castaño, F.J., Gil-Castiñeira, F., Piorno-González, V., Munilla-Rumbao, I. and Gil-Carrrera, A., 2025. Intelligent energy-efficient GNSS-assisted and LoRa-based positioning for wildlife tracking. IEEE Sensors Journal.

ABSTRACT

The Internet of Things (IoT), together with Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies, have revolutionized wildlife monitoring and tracking systems. The research in this paper has been motivated by the need of an adequate tracking solution based on LoRaWAN technology to study the population of the yellow-legged gull at Sálvora Island, Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park. The main contribution is an intelligent approach that estimates the positions from LoRa signal features (RSSI and SNR) and trajectory information from previous positions, combined with as less frequent GNSS information as possible. By doing so, we achieve a good compromise between energy consumption, sampling rate, and application-level estimation accuracy. The results show that the approach achieves satisfactory performance with frequent samples according to the biological problems of interest, minimizing recharging cycles and, thus maximizing the duration of monitoring sessions. Specifically, the combination of previous GNSS positions and LoRa radio indicators within an intelligent framework can improve energy efficiency for extended periods with sporadic power-intensive GNSS position updates.

StoX: Stochastic multistage recruitment model for seed dispersal effectiveness

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Martín-Herrero, J. and Calviño-Cancela, M., 2024. StoX: Stochastic multistage recruitment model for seed dispersal effectiveness. Software Impacts, p.100673.

ABSTRACT

Seed dispersal effectiveness measures the number of new plants effectively produced by the services of seed disperser agents. This depends on a complex process involving multiple stages and actors, and has profound implications for conservation. StoX is a distribution agnostic multistage stochastic model that differentiates among dispersers in their contribution to seed rain and recruitment. It can be parameterized with quantity and quality components of dispersal measured in the field. It preserves the inherent stochastic nature of the recruitment process and can be validated by statistical comparison between its predictions and recruitment patterns in the field. StoX has already been used in several successful studies, at both population and community levels.

Assessing the delivery of ecosystem services and benefits to human well-being of three contrasting MPAs in Spain

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Pita, P., Castro, A.J., De Santiago-Meijide, J.A., Expósito-Granados, M., García-Allut, A., Méndez-Martínez, G., Molina-Urruela, J., Seijo, J., Tubío, A. and Villasante, S., 2024. Assessing the delivery of ecosystem services and benefits to human well-being of three contrasting MPAs in Spain. Ecology and Society, 29(4).

ABSTRACT

Marine and coastal ecosystems are indispensable for life on Earth, providing vital functions and serving as a significant source of prosperity for humanity. These ecosystems contribute to the generation of Marine Ecosystem Services (MES), encompassing the benefits derived from marine environments, which are pivotal for economic prosperity and societal well-being. Nonetheless, these valuable ecosystems are facing severe degradation due to various human-induced pressures. In response to this challenge, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have emerged as crucial tools advocated by numerous international policies to counteract the adverse impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems. Despite the diverse array of MPAs characterized by varying levels of protection, there remains a dearth of understanding regarding their disparities in providing all forms of MES and their implications for human well-being. Through a comprehensive analysis involving scientific literature, gray literature, and press news, this research scrutinizes the role of MPAs in generating benefits and addressing conflicts arising from MES provision. The main disciplines involved, text orientation, methodologies, and key results of the publications were assessed. Moreover, benefits to people, conflicts between stakeholders, and emotions and sentiments related to MES supply in three selected Spanish MPAs (the Atlantic Islands of Galicia Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, the Os Miñarzos Marine Reserve of Fishing Interest, and the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park) were identified and analyzed. This allowed for comparisons with their respective levels of protection. The findings reveal that conservation efforts within MPAs contribute significantly to scientific knowledge generation while concurrently supporting human well-being through food security, economic growth, and employment opportunities, particularly in the tourism and fisheries sectors. However, these sectors also engender conflicts concerning conservation policies and resource utilization. The study underscores that the level of protection is a crucial feature, alongside the governance structure and proximity to population centers and tourism hotspots, in determining the delivery of MES by MPAs and their influence on human welfare. The adoption of co-management strategies and the promotion of ecotourism initiatives within MPAs emerge as viable approaches to mitigate conflicts and optimize the provision of high-quality MES, thereby enhancing human well-being. The insights gleaned from this research offer valuable guidance for scientists, managers, and policymakers in fostering the conservation of marine biodiversity through the strategic management and design of MPA networks geared towards maximizing the distribution of benefits for human well-being.

Biochemical effects of Heavy Metals and Organochlorine Compounds accumulated in different tissues of Yellow-Legged Gulls (Larus michahellis)

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,,,,,,,
Vizuete, J., Pérez-López, M., López-Beceiro, A., Fidalgo, L.E., Soler, F., Míguez-Santiyán, M.P. and Hernández-Moreno, D., 2023. Biochemical Effects of Heavy Metals and Organochlorine Compounds Accumulated in Different Tissues of Yellow-Legged Gulls (Larus michahellis). Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 110(5), p.89.

Livers, kidneys and adipose tissue of Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) were collected. Samples were used to determine relationships between heavy metals/metalloids in liver and kidneys (Hg, Cd, Pb, Se and As) or persistent organic pollutants in adipose tissue (7 PCBs and 11 organochlorine pesticides) with biomarkers of oxidative stress (CAT, GPx, GR, GSH, GST, MDA) analysed in both internal organs. Three possible influencing variables have been studied: age, sex and sampling area. As a result, statistically significant differences (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) were only found according to the sampling area, with differences among the three studied areas found in both organs. Significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) were found in liver (Hg vs. GST; Se vs. MDA) and in kidney (As vs. GR; As vs. GPx; PCB52 vs. CAT; PCB138 vs. CAT). The scarcity in correlations suggests that the levels of pollutants found in animals were not high enough to trigger an effect at the oxidative level.s.

Las gaviotas patiamarillas del Mediterráneo no sólo son más grandes que las cántabro-atlánticas sino que además tienen alas alométricamente más largas

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,,,,
Marcos Pacheco, M.L., Tavecchia, G., Igual, J.M., Alonso-Álvarez, C., Arizaga, J., Galarza, A., Oro, D. y Martínez-Abraín, A. (2023). Las gaviotas patiamarillas del Mediterráneo no sólo son más grandes que las cántabro-atlánticas sino que además tienen alas alométricamente más largas. Ardeola, 70: 225-240.

La variabilidad en la morfología y el tamaño del cuerpo es común entre poblaciones de la misma especie y puede verse influenciada por las condiciones ambientales o por estrategias migratorias diferenciales. En este trabajo nos centramos en analizar las diferencias de tamaño corporal entre las gaviotas patiamarillas Larus michahellis del Mediterráneo y de las colonias ibéricas cántabro-atlánticas, ya que estudios previos sugirieron un tamaño más pequeño de las gaviotas del Cantábrico/Atlántico en comparación con las gaviotas mediterráneas. Sin embargo, esos análisis se realizaron empleando tamaños de muestra pequeños o no tuvieron en cuenta el gran dimorfismo sexual de la especie. Aquí, analizamos un extenso conjunto de datos biométricos (> 1,500 individuos adultos), separando machos y hembras, de nueve sitios diferentes en cada una de las dos regiones. Nuestros resultados revelaron una diferencia del 7% (mediana) tanto entre regiones como entre sexos, para la mayoría de las variables morfométricas, teniendo las gaviotas mediterráneas patas (tarsos) y cabezas (cráneo-pico) más largos y picos (altura de pico) más gruesos. Esta diferencia entre regiones fue aún mayor en el peso, siendo las gaviotas mediterráneas un 11% (machos) y un 20% (hembras) más pesadas que las gaviotas cántabroatlánticas. Es importante destacar que los individuos de las poblaciones mediterráneas tuvieron alas alométricamente más largas que sus contrapartes del norte. Sugerimos que esta alometría alar puede estar relacionada con el sedentarismo de las gaviotas cantábrico-atlánticas, frente a la estrategia parcialmente migratoria de las gaviotas mediterráneas, tras descartar otros factores. También sugerimos que el mayor tamaño corporal de las gaviotas mediterráneas podría ayudarles a competir mejor con las gaviotas residentes por la adquisición de alimento, una vez coinciden en la región cántabro-atlántica. Finalmente, también se encontró que las hembras de ambas poblaciones tuvieron alas proporcionalmente más largas que los machos. Proponemos que esa diferencia podría permitir que las hembras (más pequeñas) viajen distancias más largas a nivel local en busca de alimento o hagan uso de diferentes tipos de hábitat, evitando la competencia de forrajeo con los machos más grandes.

Microplastics in feces and pellets from yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in the Atlantic Islands National Park of Galicia (NW Spain)

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,
Senes, G.P., Barboza, L.G.A., Nunes, L.M. and Otero, X.L., 2023. Microplastics in feces and pellets from yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in the Atlantic Islands National Park of Galicia (NW Spain). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 195, p.115531.

The Atlantic Islands National Park (AINP) in Galicia (NW of Spain) are host to large colonies of yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis). Here, we aimed to provide baseline data for the presence of microplastics (MP) in feces and pellets regurgitated of these resident yellow-legged gulls within this unique ecosystem. MP particles found in the samples were of five shapes (fiber, fragment, foam, film and rubber) and the predominant color was blue. The main plastic polymers identified by Raman spectroscopy were polypropylene and cellulose. The average size of the MP particles in the regurgitations was larger than that in the feces. Considering the population of Larus michahellis in the AINP, our estimates suggested an annual deposition of approximately 32.2 million of MP particles from feces and regurgitated pellets in the area..

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Gut microbiome and telomere length in gull hatchlings

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,
Velando, A., Noguera, J.C., Aira, M. and Domínguez, J., 2021. Gut microbiome and telomere length in gull hatchlings. Biology Letters, 17(10), p.20210398.

In many animals, recent evidence indicates that the gut microbiome may be acquired during early development, with possible consequences on newborns’ health. Thus, it has been hypothesized that a healthy microbiome protects telomeres and genomic integrity against cellular stress. However, the link between the early acquired microbiome and telomere dynamics has not hitherto been investigated. In birds, this link may also be potentially modulated by the transfer of maternal glucocorticoids, since these substances dysregulate microbiome composition during postnatal development. Here, we examined the effect of the interplay between the microbiome and stress hormones on the telomere length of yellow-legged gull hatchlings by using a field experiment in which we manipulated the corticosterone content in eggs. We found that the hatchling telomere length was related to microbiome composition, but this relationship was not affected by the corticosterone treatment. Hatchlings with a microbiome dominated by potential commensal bacteria (i.e. Catellicoccus and Cetobacterium) had larger telomeres, suggesting that an early establishment of the species-specific microbiome during development may have important consequences on offspring health and survival.

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Distribution and ten-year temporal trends (2009–2018) of perfluoroalkyl substances in gull eggs from Spanish breeding colonies

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Colomer-Vidal, P., Bertolero, A., Alcaraz, C., Garreta-Lara, E., Santos, F. J., & Lacorte, S. (2022). Distribution and ten-year temporal trends (2009–2018) of perfluoroalkyl substances in gull eggs from Spanish breeding colonies. Environmental Pollution, 293, 118555.

Gull eggs are excellent bioindicators of environmental pollution as reflect the contamination levels of coastal areas, especially of persistent and bioacumulative compounds such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study aims to evaluate the geographical distribution and 10-year temporal trends (2009–2018) of 17 PFAS in eggs of two gull species (Larus michahellis and Larus audouinii) from 5 main Spanish colonies. ∑PFAS ranged from 13.7 ± 5.9 to 164 ± 17 ng g−1 wet weight and higher concentrations were observed in L. audouinii than in L. michahellis. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the predominant compound in all samples, followed by perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTriDA). Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFNA) were also found in all studied areas but at lower concentrations, while perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was only detected in the Medes Islands. Principal Component Analysis revealed the co-occurrence of the 6 detected PFAS, and differentiated samples from Ebro Delta and Medes Islands, both located in the North-Eastern Mediterranean Sea, with high contribution of all PFAS, from Chafarinas and Atlantic Islands with lower concentration levels and variability. Also, different patterns were observed among colonies, suggesting the fish-based diet plays an important role in PFAS bioaccumulation. In all colonies, except for the Medes Islands, ∑PFAS decreased through the 10-year study period, with PFOS, PFUnA, and PFTriDA showing a significant concentration reduction in a colony-specific manner. This study demonstrates the usefulness and importance of continuous systematic long-term monitoring to determine the geographical distribution and temporal variations of PFAS in marine protected areas using gull eggs as bioindicators of environmental pollution.

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Faeces of marine birds and mammals as substrates for microbial plankton communities

Enlace mardeaves ESPECIES,Larus michahellis,PUBLICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA,REPOSITORIO ,,,,
Alba-González, P., Álvarez-Salgado, X.A., Cobelo-García, A., Kaal, J. and Teira, E., 2022. Faeces of marine birds and mammals as substrates for microbial plankton communities. Marine Environmental Research, 174, p.105560.

The chemical composition of the seawater soluble fraction (WSF) of yellow-legged gulls and harbour seal faeces and their impact on microbial plankton communities from an eutrophic coastal area have been tested. After characterisation of the C:N:P stoichiometry, trace metals content and organic molecular composition of the faeces, significant differences between species have been observed in all parameters. Seagull faeces present about three times larger N content than seal faeces and are also richer in trace elements except for Cu and Zn. Organic nitrogen in seagull faeces is dominated by uric acid, while the proteins are the main N source in seal faeces. It is remarkable that seagull faeces are five times more soluble in seawater than seal faeces and present a much higher N content (48.0 versus 3.5 mg N in the WSF per gram of dry faeces), >85% of which as dissolved organic nitrogen, with C:N molar ratios of 2.4 and 13 for seagull and seal faeces, respectively. Based on this contrasting N content, large differences were expected in their impact on microbial populations. To test this hypothesis, a 3-day microcosm incubation experiment was performed, in which coastal seawater was amended with realistic concentrations of the WSF of seagull or seal faeces. A significant and similar increase in bacterial biomass occurred in response to both treatments. In the case of phytoplankton, the impact of the treatment with seagull faeces was significantly larger that the effect of the treatment with seal faeces. Our data suggest that the distinct competitive abilities of phytoplankton and bacteria largely influence the potential impact of distinct animal faeces on primary productivity in coastal ecosystems. Impacts on the microbial plankton communities do not affect only this trophic level, but the whole trophic chain, contributing to nutrient recycling in coastal areas where large populations of these species are settled.

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The Rapid Effects of Yellow-Legged Gull (Larus michahellis) Colony on Dune Habitats and Plant Landscape in the Atlantic Islands National Park (NW Spain)

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Peña-Lastra, S.D.L., Torre, F., Carballeira, R., Santiso, M.J., Pérez-Alberti, A. and Otero, X.L., 2022. The Rapid Effects of Yellow-Legged Gull (Larus michahellis) Colony on Dune Habitats and Plant Landscape in the Atlantic Islands National Park (NW Spain). Land, 11(2), p.258.

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The Atlantic Islands of Galicia Maritime/Terrestrial National Park hosts one of the largest breeding colonies of yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in the world. In 2002, a new yellow-legged gull breeding colony was established on the Punta Muxieiro dune complex, which also harbors rare and threatened plant species and habitat types of community interest according to Directive 92/43/EEC. This study assesses the effect of this colony on two habitats of community interest: white dunes and grey dunes. For this purpose, plant cover and soil properties, composition, and nutrient content were monitored in plots with different gull densities. Moreover, historic aerial images were compiled to observe changes in the plant landscape of the dune system. The results showed that, despite the recentness of the occupation of the dune system by yellow-legged gull species, significant changes in acidic–alkaline processes and nutrient availability were already observed in soils. Soils in plots with higher gull density showed more acidic pH values and a higher content of the most labile N and P fractions. Moreover, a decrease in plant cover and number of species was also demonstrated in plots with higher gull densities. Finally, the presence of ruderal and alien species such as Urtica membranacea and Parietaria judaica was also observed..

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