Southwest Spain Research Articles

Portus and stationes along the Southwest Iberian Peninsula: Anchorages of the Huelva coast

Research into what is known as the Atlantic Europe of Southwest Spain has highlighted an important network of fluvial coastal anchorages that, in a diachronic way, mark the coastline from the mouth of the Baetis River to the Anas. Most are associated with fishing factories, coastal population settlements, or the port of Onoba itself, and all have meaningful commercial traffic in products that show extensive Mediterranean and Atlantic commercial networks. Based on this context, the aim of this article is to demonstrate that these stationes, besides developing and keeping trade networks, provided a place for boats to shelter as they moved along the southwest coast. To do this, various terrestrial and subaquatic archaeological testimonies will be analyzed, which support the existence and development of a group of ports and anchorage areas with different port and commercial maritime models.

Long-Term Determinants of the Seroprevalence of the Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa).

Simple SummaryThe hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging multi-host pathogen whose main reservoir is suids, and the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans. This study evaluates the main long-term drivers of the exposure to HEV are in the wild boar population from Doñana National Park (southwestern Spain) during a 13-year period (2005–2018). For this purpose, we assay sera from 700 wild boar in which anti-HEV antibodies are widely distributed (46.7 ± 3.8%, 327 out of 700 sampled). The observed marked interannual fluctuations could be explained by the variations in the population control of the wild boar during the study period and its impact on abundance rates. Several factors operating in the medium and long-term (individual, environmental, populational and stochastic) and their interplay explained the exposure to HEV in wild boar. The preferential use of certain areas by wild boar together with its abundance and the meteorological conditions may be behind the level of exposure. Wild boar population control remains a challenge at the international level, and an increase of shared pathogen-related conflicts associated with this species is expected, as exemplified by HEV.The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen whose main reservoir is suids. Most of the ecological and epidemiological aspects of its sylvatic cycle remain unknown. Thus, in this work, we study the drivers of HEV exposure in the wild boar population of Doñana National Park (DNP, southwest Spain) operating in the medium and long-term (2005–2018). Anti-HEV antibodies are widely distributed throughout the wild boar (46.7 ± 3.8%, 327 out of 700 sampled), showing a statistically significant age-increasing pattern. The temporal pattern displayed important interannual fluctuations. This could be mediated by marked variations in the population control of the wild boar, and subsequent changes in abundance rates, and its interplay with climatic conditions; as wet years together with a low abundance of wild boar led to the lowest seroprevalence. The fact that seroprevalence is high during conditions of high abundance, and not affected by rainfall level, is probably due to the increased interactions among the animals, and possibly, the subsequent higher environmental contamination with HEV particles. The proximity to the marshland (the main water body of the study area) is associated with a higher risk of testing positive, which is probably mediated by the preferential use of this area during the dry season and the favourable environmental conditions for the survival of HEV particles. A deeper understanding of the epidemiology of HEV in host communities deserves future research concerning other susceptible species. Most importantly, wild boar population control remains a challenge at the international level, and an increase of shared pathogen-related conflicts associated with this species is expected, as exemplified by HEV. Therefore, surveillance of wild boar diseases, including integrated population monitoring and sustainable population control programmes, will be essential to control the associated risks.

Oldhamia from the Oligocene/Miocene-age deep-marine Algeciras Unit, Campo de Gibraltar Complex, southeast Spain: First record of this characteristic Lower Palaeozoic (mainly Cambrian) ichnofossil from younger strata

The ichnofossil Oldhamia is considered to be characteristic of deep-marine, Cambrian-age successions. Recent work from an Oligocene/Miocene-age sedimentary succession in the southwest of Spain revealed the presence of well-preserved Oldhamia at the base of two beds (which occur close to one another). Oldhamia was associated with a range of other ichnofossils including Belorhaphe, Chondrites, Circulichnis, Cochlichnus, Cosmorhaphe, Desmograpton, Halopoa, Helminthopsis, Nereites, Palaeodictyon, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Protopalaeodictyon, Scolicia, Spirophycus, Teichichnus, Thalassinoides, and Zoophycos. Deposition occurred in a lobe or channel margin environment in a deep-marine setting. This record of Oldhamia extends the range into the Paleogene/Neogene, and as such is of great ichnological and ichnostratigraphic significance.

Unprecedented increase of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, Spain, summer 2020.

Cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) in Spain increased in summer 2020. Here we report on this increase and the local, regional and national public health measures taken in response. We analysed data from regional surveillance networks and the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network, both for human and animal West Nile virus (WNV) infection. During the 2020 season, a total of 77 human cases of WNV infection (median age 65 years; 60% males) were detected in the south-west of Spain; 72 (94%) of these cases developed WNND, presenting as meningoencephalitis, seven of which were fatal. In the previous two decades, only six human cases of WNND were detected in Spain. Reduced activities for vector control this season, together with other factors, might have contributed to the massive increase. Public health measures including vector control, campaigns to raise awareness among physicians and the general population, and interventions to ensure the safety of donations of blood products, organs, cells and tissues were effective to reduce transmission. Going forward, maintenance of vector control activities and an update of the vector-borne diseases response plan in Spain is needed.

Ecology of Oobius rudnevi, egg parasitoid of Cerambyx cerdo and Cerambyx welensii in oak forests

AbstractOobius rudnevi (Nowicki) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a gregarious egg parasitoid of Cerambyx cerdo L. and Cerambyx welensii (Küster) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), two well‐known large oak‐living saproxylic beetles with different pest/legal status: whereas C. cerdo is a protected species, C. welensii is considered an emerging pest. Despite the potential interest of O. rudnevi as a native parasitoid, the knowledge of its biology remains very limited. We used sentinel eggs to assess the distribution of O. rudnevi in Extremadura (southwest Spain) and to explore its ecology, phenology, behavior, parasitism rates, and host preference. More than 13 500 sentinel eggs, housed in 1 030 wood disks, were field‐exposed during 2016–2018 in 147 oak stands over an array of oak forests. Oobius rudnevi was the only egg parasitoid detected, being widespread and relatively abundant over the studied area (90/147 stands, 61.2%) with adults flying in May–July. Parasitoids were detected in both host species, but net parasitism (PN) was significantly higher in C. cerdo (22.4%) than in C. welensii (9.5%). Net parasitism was affected by altitude (it was higher at 600–800 m) and tended to increase in colder aspects; PN was poorly related to host egg density (no. eggs per disk) and unrelated to host population size (no. adults per trap). Most parasitoids overwintered and emerged in the following spring (synchronously with their hosts) but some phenotypes/lineages did not undergo obligate diapause and were bivoltine. Bivoltine wasps were spatially widespread (27/90 stands, 30%), even if their actual prevalence was rather low (60/1641 parasitized eggs, 3.7%). We also found that O. rudnevi was slightly protogynous, the sex ratio was female‐biased, and the mean (± SEM) number of wasps emerging per parasitized egg was 9.3 ± 0.1 (range 1–29). We discuss the potential role of O. rudnevi as a biological control agent from an evolutionary perspective.

Phylogenetic Analysis of the 2020 West Nile Virus (WNV) Outbreak in Andalusia (Spain).

During recent decades West Nile Virus (WNV) outbreaks have continuously occurred in the Mediterranean area. In August 2020 a new WNV outbreak affected 71 people with meningoencephalitis in Andalusia and six more cases were detected in Extremadura (south-west of Spain), causing a total of eight deaths. The whole genomes of four viruses were obtained and phylogenetically analyzed in the context of recent outbreaks. The Andalusian viral samples belonged to lineage 1 and were relatively similar to those of previous outbreaks which occurred in the Mediterranean region. Here we present a detailed analysis of the outbreak, including an extensive phylogenetic study. As part on this effort, we implemented a local Nextstrain server, which has become a constituent piece of regional epidemiological surveillance, wherein forthcoming genomes of environmental samples or, eventually, future outbreaks, will be included.

Vapor flow control in dune sediments under dry bare soil conditions

The study presents daily values of inward and outward vapor flux crossing the soil-atmosphere boundary in dependence on meteorological parameters and soil moisture. Measurements of vapor flux, soil moisture and meteorological parameters were evaluated during days without rainfall between 2015 and 2019. Vapor flux data were obtained at 1 min intervals by a precision lysimeter installed in the Doñana National Park, southwest Spain. Meteorological data were measured on-site at 10-min intervals, including temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity and net radiation. After manual and automatic noise elimination of the lysimeter data, time series of a summer and winter period were generated for selected relevant parameters. Furthermore, daily cumulative data of inward and outward vapor flux were calculated for the entire period and analyzed for their control by meteorological parameters and soil moisture. Results show moderate correlations of daily outward vapor flux on the diurnal amplitudes of temperature and humidity whereas daily inward vapor indicates moderate correlations with temperature and soil moisture. A correction coefficient for potential evaporation to estimate actual evaporation was determined based on soil moisture and air temperature.

Biochemical Characterization of the Amylase Activity from the New Haloarchaeal Strain Haloarcula sp. HS Isolated in the Odiel Marshlands.

Simple SummaryAmylases are a group of enzymes that degrade starch into simple sugars. These proteins are produced by a wide variety of organisms and are supposed to be one of the most valuable industrial enzymes. However, the extreme conditions required for many industrial operations limit the applicability of most amylases found in nature. In this context, halophilic archaea entail an excellent source of novel proteins that tolerate harsh conditions, as they live in environments with high salt concentration and temperature. In this work, a screening of haloarchaea, isolated from Odiel salterns in the southwest of Spain, was carried out to select a new strain with a high amylase activity. This microorganism was identified as Haloarcula sp. HS and showed amylase activities in both, the cellular and the extracellular extracts. Both amylase activities were poly-extremotolerant, as their optimal yields were achieved at 60 °C and 25% NaCl. Additionally, the study of the protein sequences from Haloarcula sp. HS allowed the identification of three different amylases, which conserved the typical structure of the alpha-amylase family. Finally, the applicability of the extracellular amylase to treat bakery wastes under high salinity conditions was demonstrated.Alpha-amylases are a large family of α,1-4-endo-glycosyl hydrolases distributed in all kingdoms of life. The need for poly-extremotolerant amylases encouraged their search in extreme environments, where archaea become ideal candidates to provide new enzymes that are able to work in the harsh conditions demanded in many industrial applications. In this study, a collection of haloarchaea isolated from Odiel saltern ponds in the southwest of Spain was screened for their amylase activity. The strain that exhibited the highest activity was selected and identified as Haloarcula sp. HS. We demonstrated the existence in both, cellular and extracellular extracts of the new strain, of functional α-amylase activities, which showed to be moderately thermotolerant (optimum around 60 °C), extremely halotolerant (optimum over 25% NaCl), and calcium-dependent. The tryptic digestion followed by HPLC-MS/MS analysis of the partially purified cellular and extracellular extracts allowed to identify the sequence of three alpha-amylases, which despite sharing a low sequence identity, exhibited high three-dimensional structure homology, conserving the typical domains and most of the key consensus residues of α-amylases. Moreover, we proved the potential of the extracellular α-amylase from Haloarcula sp. HS to treat bakery wastes under high salinity conditions.

Faecal microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes in migratory waterbirds with contrasting habitat use

Migratory birds may have a vital role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance across habitats and regions, but empirical data remain scarce. We investigated differences in the gut microbiome composition and the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in faeces from four migratory waterbirds wintering in South-West Spain that differ in their habitat use. The white stork Ciconia ciconia and lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus are omnivorous and opportunistic birds that use highly anthropogenic habitats such as landfills and urban areas. The greylag goose Anser anser and common crane Grus grus are herbivores and use more natural habitats. Fresh faeces from 15 individuals of each species were analysed to assess the composition of bacterial communities using 16S rRNA amplicon-targeted sequencing, and to quantify the abundance of the Class I integron integrase gene (intI1) as well as genes encoding resistance to sulfonamides (sul1), beta-lactams (blaTEM, blaKPC and blaNDM), tetracyclines (tetW), fluoroquinolones (qnrS), and colistin (mcr-1) using qPCR. Bacterial communities in gull faeces were the richest and most diverse. Beta diversity analysis showed segregation in faecal communities between bird species, but those from storks and gulls were the most similar, these being the species that regularly feed in landfills. Potential bacterial pathogens identified in faeces differed significantly between bird species, with higher relative abundance in gulls. Faeces from birds that feed in landfills (stork and gull) contained a significantly higher abundance of ARGs (sul1, blaTEM, and tetW). Genes conferring resistance to last resort antibiotics such as carbapenems (blaKPC) and colistin (mcr-1) were only observed in faeces from gulls. These results show that these bird species are reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and suggest that waterbirds may disseminate antibiotic resistance across environments (e.g., from landfills to ricefields or water supplies), and thus constitute a risk for their further spread to wildlife and humans.

Energy Recovery in Pressurized Hydraulic Networks

This paper aims to evaluate the possibility of using non-utilized hydraulic energy in urban water distribution systems. For this purpose, the viability and possible alternatives of installing conventional turbines or pumps working as turbines (PATs = Pumps as Turbines) at the head of pressure hydraulic networks in two towns in the province of Huelva have been studied: Canaveral de Leon and Aracena (Andalucia, southwest Spain). Sensitivity analyses are carried out for: (a) To study the feasibility and efficiency of installing turbines or PATs in the hydraulic networks; (b) To determine the required hydraulic capacity of the turbines or PATs; (c) To analyse the installation points in the pipeline network; and (d) To evaluate the possible generation of electrical energy. The evaluation of the recoverable amount of hydraulic energy in both water distribution systems requires the application of the energy conservation equation, taking into account the calculation of load losses, the Darcy-Weisbach equation. A diagram energy height-flow rate with different working ranges of commercial turbines/PATs was used for the selection of the appropriate hydraulic machine. The results obtained of the Aracena hydraulic network show that the best solution would be the installation of a 2 kW BANKI that could generate an approximate annual energy of 17,52 MWh/year. In the Canaveral de Leon water supply system a 0,75 kW BANKI turbine with an approximate annual energy generation of 6,57 MWh/year is proposed as the best solution.

Radon alpha track counting on solid state nuclear track detector by an ImageJ-based software macro

Radon (222Rn) is a radioactive gas emanating from geological materials. Inhalation of this gas is closely related to an increase in the probability of lung cancer if the levels are high. The usual methodology for the quantification of radon by passive methods is the use of etched solid-state nuclear track detectors, frequently in combination with optical microscopes or image scanning for image acquisition and software-based image processing for track counting. Currently available commercial instrumentation, as the Radosys microscopy system, is quite expensive, so the development of alternative methodologies is desirable.In this work, a simple, fast and low-cost image acquisition system for the determination of tracks in chemically etched CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors to quantify 222Rn alpha tracks has been proposed. The image of the detector surface is obtained by a conventional light stereoscopic microscope, transmitted by a CCD camera into the computer, and analyzed by the ImageJ open-source software. This methodology was employed to analyze 45 samples collected in dwellings and caves located in the region of Extremadura (Southwest Spain). Results show a good correlation coefficient of r2 = 0.98 between the reference and purposed methodology and excellent repeatability, demonstrating that the system enables routine counting tracks for radon measurement as an alternative to the Radosys microscopy instrument.

Wild solitary bees and their use of bee hotels in southwest Spain

There is an increasing interest in preserving and, if possible, increasing wild bee populations as evidenced by increasing investigations into providing supplemental nesting resources, commonly called bee hotels. The study presented here was carried out in 2017 and 2018 with two objectives: a) to understand the role that insect refuges could have on beneficial arthropod fauna, especially bees, and b) to evaluate different materials and which species used them. We present the preliminary results of three constructed refuges in Seville, Spain: Hymenoptera visited the refuges most frequently (88.7% of the visitors), of which the social wasps (Polistes dominula (Christ)) were most common, followed by bees. Bees were observed visiting bamboo canes, Arundo canes, drilled logs, and grooved boards. Drilled logs were the most used material (31.5 and 37.6% occupied in 2017 and 2018, respectively), followed by bamboo canes (14.1 and 17.4% of occupied in 2017 and 2018, respectively). For drilled logs, holes of 4.9–6.5 mm (2017) and 7.0–9.2 mm (2018) were preferred, whilst diameters of 2.6/2.7–4.9/5.0 mm (both 2017 and 2018) were preferred for bamboo canes. For grooved boards, holes of 5.0 mm (only 2018) were preferred. The bee species most frequently nesting in bamboo canes were Ceratina cucurbitina (Rossi) and Ceratina dentiventris Gerstacker, whereas in drilled logs Hoplitis lepeletieri (Pérez) was most common, but Hoplitis adunca (Panzer) was also recorded. Their abundance throughout the study period varied between species, and their role in biodiversity and sustaining wild flora is discussed.

Effects of Different Controlled Temperatures on Spanish-Style Fermentation Processes of Olives.

This work aimed to determine the effect of applying different temperatures during the fermentation process of Spanish-style table olives. ‘Manzanilla de Sevilla’ (southwest of Spain, Badajoz) and ‘Manzanilla Cacereña’ (northwest of Spain, Caceres) olives were processed at an industrial scale in table olive fermenters whose brine was subjected to different thermal treatments. One of the three conducted experiments found that maintaining brine at 20–24 °C over a 3-month period led to optimum firmness, better color indices, and greater free acidity and lactic acid bacteria populations in comparison to an unheated control. Furthermore, raising the temperature of the fermenter to 20–24 °C accelerated the fermentation process, provoking better lactic bacteria and yeast growth without affecting olive firmness. The higher fermentation rate (shorter time to completion) associated with temperature-controlled olives also reduced the marketing time of the final product. Controlling brine temperature led to a better aspect and color, higher acidity, lower bitterness, and better overall assessment of processed olives. In addition, ‘Manzanilla de Sevilla’ olives presented a higher phenolic content than ‘Manzanilla Cacereña’ olives. Preliminary evidence is presented suggesting that ‘Manzanilla Cacereña’ olives appear highly amenable to Sevillian-style processing. The present innovative work demonstrates the importance of applying different thermal treatments to brine to control the temperature during the industrial fermentation of table olives during the cold season.

Spatial variation and biovectoring of metals in gull faeces

We assessed the spatial variation in concentrations of ten metals in faeces of the lesser black-backed gull (LBBG) Larus fuscus wintering at seven localities in South-West Spain. We found high concentrations of metals in gull faeces, with several elements (As, Cu, Mo, Pb, Zn) locally exceeding (by 2 to 11 times) derived Lowest Effect Level (LEL) values. We also found strong spatial variation, related to the main pollution sources associated with the different sites. Faeces from Chipiona Port (Gulf of Cádiz) showed the highest levels of As; Cetina saltpans (Bay of Cádiz) ranked first for Pb, Zn and Mo, which was consistent with historic mining and industrial pollution; Doñana ricefields showed the highest levels of Mn, a highly available element in flooded areas; while landfills ranked first for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu and Ni, potentially associated with electronic waste. Furthermore, we demonstrate how faecal analysis can be used to quantify biovectoring of metals into specific localities, using LBBG movement ecology and census data. At Fuente de Piedra, a shallow, closed-basin lake important for waterbirds, we show that metal inputs by LBBG have increased in recent years, and long-term deposition (e.g., of Pb) may impact aquatic communities and ecological processes in this Ramsar site.

Bioactive Compounds in Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve: A Mediterranean Edible Euhalophyte.

Many halophytes have great nutritional and functional potential, providing chemical compounds with biological properties. Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve is a common euhalophyte from saline Mediterranean territories (Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy). In the present work we quantified for the first time the bioactive compounds in S. patula (total phenolic compounds and fatty acids), from Iberian Peninsula localities: littoral-coastal Tinto River basin areas (southwest Spain, the Huelva province), and mainland continental territories (northwest and central Spain, the Valladolid and Madrid provinces). Five phenolic acids including caffeic, coumaric, veratric, salicylic, and transcinnamic have been found with differences between mainland and coastal saltmarshes. S. patula contain four flavonoids: quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol/luteolin, apigenin 7-glucoside, and pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside. These last two glycosylated compounds are described for the first time in this genus of Chenopodiaceae. The fatty acid profile described in S. patula stems contains palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids in high concentrations, while stearic and long-chain fatty acids were detected in low amounts. These new findings confirm that S. patula is a valuable source of bioactive compounds from Mediterranean area.

Temperature and precipitation regime in LGM human refugia of southwestern Europe inferred from δ13C and δ18O of large mammal remains

The climate shift of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) strongly impacted the vegetation cover and related trophic chains of western Europe. Harsh, cold and dry conditions then prevailed in most regions, strongly impacting migrations and survival of human beings. Nonetheless, environments suitable for mammalian fauna to survive persisted in SW Europe thus providing refugia for hunters. Tooth enamel from large herbivorous mammal remains from archaeological sites located in southwest France and Spain were analyzed for their stable carbon and oxygen isotope compositions for documenting paleotemperatures and paleoprecipitations. These sites were occupied by humans between 25 ky and 16 ky. Skeletal remains of Cervidae, Equidae and Caprinae suggest colder and drier conditions relative to present-day. Paleoprecipitations were reconstructed from a modern-based transfer function using δ13C-values of apatite carbonate, then corrected for the low atmospheric pCO2 value of the LGM. They ranged from ≈250 mm yr−1 on the Mediterranean façade, to ≈550 mm yr−1 on the Atlantic side. Setting the δ18O-value of the northeastern North Atlantic LGM-surface water to +0.8‰, based on Biscay Golf marine core studies, mean air temperatures inferred from 18O-data in apatite calcite were close to 14–15 °C (Mediterranean) and 6 °C–10 °C (Atlantic), i.e., about 4–5 °C and 5–8 °C higher than pre-industrial temperatures, respectively. The two areas thus define distinct clusters of air temperatures and precipitation regimes with strong negative offsets vs the Present. These isotopically-reconstructed climate conditions indicate a strong control from proximal surface ocean/marine waters, in particular of mean annual air temperatures.

Implementation of super high-density systems and suspended harvesting meshes for dried fig production: Effects on agronomic behaviour and fruit quality

The demand for dried figs has increased in recent years. This, together with rising production costs and difficult access to labour for harvesting, has made it necessary to seek alternatives to the traditional systems. The fig tree is a fruit species with a high adaptive capacity. In this work, we studied for 5 consecutive years the adaptation of the Calabacita variety, traditionally used for dried fig production in the southwest of Spain, under high density conditions (1000 trees per hectare with a planting frame of 5 × 2 m). In addition, a suspended mesh netting structure was installed to facilitate the harvesting process. Compared to the traditional system, the results obtained with this system are higher. In addition to improving the harvesting operation, use of the suspended mesh netting may also reduce damage caused by insects. The dried figs obtained were firmer and had a darker brown colour than those using the traditional system, probably because the suspended meshes favour the drying process by facilitating air circulation. Finally, use of the suspended mesh netting also constitutes an important advance from a sanitary perspective, as the lower moisture content of the figs harvested this way impedes the proliferation of mycotoxigenic fungi and, consequently, the possible presence of mycotoxins.

Rainfall decrease and red deer rutting behaviour: Weaker and delayed rutting activity though higher opportunity for sexual selection.

In the last decades, climate change has caused an increase in mean temperatures and a reduction in average rainfall in southern Europe, which is expected to reduce resource availability for herbivores. Resource availability can influence animals' physical condition and population growth. However, much less is known on its effects on reproductive performance and sexual selection. In this study, we assessed the impact of three environmental factors related to climate change (rainfall, temperature and vegetation index) on Iberian red deer Cervus elaphus hispanicus reproductive timing and sexual behaviour, and their effects on the opportunity for sexual selection in the population. We measured rutting phenology as rut peak date, the intensity of male rutting activity as roaring rate, and the opportunity for sexual selection from the distribution of females among harem holding males in Doñana Biological Reserve (Southwest Spain), from data of daily observations collected during the rut over a period of 25 years. For this study period, we found a trend for less raining and hence poorer environmental conditions, which associated with delayed rutting season and decreased rutting intensity, but that appeared to favour a higher degree of polygyny and opportunity for sexual selection, all these relationships being modulated by population density and sex ratio. This study highlights how climate change (mainly rainfall reduction in this area) can alter the conditions for mating and the opportunity for sexual selection in a large terrestrial mammal.

Temporal trends of inorganic elements in a common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) population from south west Spain.

Historical variations (1966-2016) in the exposure to inorganic elements in raptors of South West Spain have been little studied. Therefore, uncertainty exists concerning whether environmental or anthropogenic inputs, as well as dietary strategy shift, may cause changes in exposure patterns. To address this gap, essential and non-essential inorganic elements were measured in Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) feathers from museum specimens and free-living individuals spanning a 50-year period. Moreover, stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N were also measured as proxies of Common kestrel feeding ecology over time. In general, all elements showed significant increasing trends overtime, suggesting changes of inputs from local sources. Moreover, δ15N signatures were correlated to the variations in Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr, Ti, V and Zn concentrations, suggesting trophic changes in this kestrel population as well as possible biomagnification processes. Finally, some values of Cr, Mn and Pb were above the threshold concentrations of potential toxicity.

Ongoing anthropogenic eutrophication of the catchment area threatens the Doñana World Heritage Site (South-west Spain)

Eutrophication is a major cause of wetland degradation worldwide. In recent decades, reductions in nutrient inputs have led to improvements in water quality in many rivers and lakes in central and northern Europe, but long-term trends are less clear in southern Europe. We conducted the first comprehensive study of water quality in Doñana (SW Spain), one of the most important wetland complexes in Europe and the Mediterranean region. The core area of Doñana is a large shallow, seasonal marsh (UNESCO World Heritage Site—WHS) that floods during rainy, cool winter months, then dries out during the summer. The marsh is fed by three main streams whose catchments are within a Biosphere Reserve but are impacted by greenhouses (for cultivating fruit, irrigated with groundwater), poorly treated urban wastewaters and tourism. From 2013 to 2016, we monitored nutrient (Total P, Total N, PO4−3, NH4+, NO3−, NO2−) and phytoplankton chlorophyll-a (chla) concentrations in surface waters of the Doñana marsh and the three main streams. We quantified changes in greenhouse cover since 1995 using satellite images. Nutrient concentrations in streams were consistently higher than in the marsh, particularly in the Partido and Rocina streams that regularly reached concentrations equivalent to a “bad physico-chemical status” under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), and whose catchments suffered a fivefold expansion of greenhouses from 1995 to 2016. The Partido was the most polluted stream, and the most affected by wastewater effluents, and had particularly high concentrations of NH4+ (Geometric Mean = 0.3 mg L−1) and NO2− (GM = 0.52 mg L−1) across seasons. Patterns in chla concentrations were less consistent, but streams (GM = 6.78 µg L−1) generally had higher concentrations than the marsh (GM = 4.27 µg L−1). Nutrient concentrations in spot samples within the marsh largely depended on a combination of evaporation (as revealed by higher stable isotope δ2H values in the water column) and spatial processes (concentrations increase close to stream entry points, where conductivity is lower). Anthropogenic nutrient pollution in entry streams is a serious problem in Doñana, with extensive stretches too toxic for fish. Reinforcement of policies aimed at reducing nutrient inputs to Doñana are urgently required to meet the biodiversity conservation and environmental objectives for the WHS and WFD, respectively. Paradoxically, the marsh is currently relied upon to purify the water entering from streams.