Spanish Red List Research Articles

Wolf Conservation and Management in Spain, An Open Debate

Wolf management in Spain is remarkably different at regional scales. South of Douro river, wolves are protected, north of Douro wolves can be hunted, and culling occurs on both sides. After a formal request to include wolves in the Spanish Red List of Threatened Species, wolves have been “listed,” but not as a vulnerable species. Recreational hunting will no longer be a wolf management option, while culling is still allowed. We describe the process to raise wolf protection at the state level, and the factors that should be relevant to guide apex-predator management. Restricting lethal control and favoring predator-prey interactions by reducing livestock depredation should be more feasible with an overarching policy that is binding over the whole range of the species in Spain.

Demographic and dendrochronological evidence reveals highly endangered status of a paleoendemic woody mallow from the Canary Islands

Navaea phoenicea (Malvaceae) is a flagship shrub species endemic to Tenerife Island in the Canary archipelago and is included as Endangered on the Spanish Red List. We conducted a comprehensive census and monitored the structure of eight accessible populations over 10 years to develop a stage-based demographic matrix model and performed deterministic and stochastic projections. To determine the longevity of individuals, we conducted a dendrochronological study on ten collected dry samples. The censuses showed a clear, gradual decline, and the total population was around half that in previous studies. The yearly finite growth rate was strongly correlated with annual rainfall. Survival rates of seedlings were low, and high elasticity values were allocated to the larger, reproductive individuals, which showed the highest survival rates. The age of the oldest individual was 32 years, while the average age inferred from dendrochronology was 18 years. These results point to a lower longevity of individuals with respect to the values calculated by demographic models. The findings of this study suggest the importance of the preservation of reproductive individuals and their habitat, as well as the need to re-adopt legal measures of greater protection for the species.

A checklist of the bryophytes of Andorra

A checklist of 137 liverwort and 445 moss species is established for Andorra based on a review of the literature and a long-term floristic survey. Five moss species, Barbula amplexifolia, Ditrichum zonatum, Grimmia donniana, Pohlia bulbifera, and P. lutescens, are new to the Iberian Peninsula. Another 7 liverwort and 156 moss species are new to Andorra. For each species, the distribution at the scale of 1 km2 and altitudinal range are documented, resulting in an improved assessment of the frequency and distribution of 101 moss species previously reported from a single record. Haplomitrium hookeri and Scapania verrucosa, which are the two Regionally Extinct species of the Spanish Red List of liverworts, occur in Andorra, which hosts between 23 and 37% of the species listed as Critically Rare, Endangered, or Vulnerable in the Spanish Red List of bryophytes. Therefore, it appears that Andorra is a key area for the conservation of the high-altitude flora of the Iberian Peninsula.

The genus Artemisia: distribution and phytochemistry in the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary and Balearic Islands

This review summarizes the species distribution of the genus Artemisia in the Iberian Peninsula and the Canarian and Balearic Archipelagos, describing their conservation status according to the European and the Spanish Red List. Furthermore, this review covers recent studies on the phytochemical composition of species from the genus Artemisia distributed in the targeted geographical area, their biological effects if described, and points out the need of further research in the phytochemistry and activity of some Iberain species.

Updated list of bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from the Spanish Pyrenees with notes on their decline and conservation status.

The Pyrenees, where Euro-Siberian, Mediterranean and alpine faunas join together, have a large biodiversity of bumblebees. We compiled historical literature records of bumblebee species from the Spanish Pyrenees, and then compared these to contemporary surveys to assess trends in elevational distribution. Twenty-eight species (including thirty-five subspecies) were found in the contemporary survey. Nine species and two subspecies previously present were not detected, some included on the Spanish Red List. With the exception of a few species, a reduction of the altitudinal range and an orophilous tendency was observed at both upper and lower elevational levels, suggesting an upward trend towards better-preserved high areas. Our results reinforce the need to develop new protection programs and more restrictive conservation measures for bumblebee populations, species and their habitats.

View on Bryophyte Conservation in Peninsular and Balearic Spain: Analysis of Red Lists and Legal Protection

Abstract Current knowledge on the bryophyte flora of Peninsular and Balearic Spain has been highly improved in the past decades, yielding to a still evolving list of 1143 taxa (862 mosses, 5 hornworts, 276 liverworts). Despite its low endemicity (a scarce 0.5% of the bryophyte flora), the Spanish enrolment, both by researchers and by administration, is key in bryophyte conservation science and protection, since it hosts over 40 species that are exclusive or extremely rare both at a European scale and worldwide. The state of bryophyte conservation in Peninsular and Balearic Spain is discussed through comparison of the three national Red Lists already published (1994, 1996, 2014) with the legal protection lists at different scales (European, national and regional). There are 271 threatened species according the current Peninsular and Balearic Spanish Red List. They represent the 24% of the Bryophyte flora, while in the first Red List published in 1994 they were only the 10%. Only 79 taxa are listed in all e...

Application of the Red List Index for conservation assessment of Spanish vascular plants.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Index (RLI) is used to measure trends in extinction risk of species over time. The development of 2 red lists for Spanish vascular flora during the past decade allowed us to apply the IUCN RLI to vascular plants in an area belonging to a global biodiversity hotspot. We used the Spanish Red Lists from 2000 and 2010 to assess changes in level of threat at a national scale and at the subnational scales of Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and peninsular Spain. We assigned retrospective IUCN categories of threat to 98 species included in the Spanish Red List of 2010 but absent in the Spanish Red List of 2000. In addition, we tested the effect of different random and taxonomic and spatial Spanish samples on the overall RLI value. From 2000 to 2010, the IUCN categories of 768 species changed (10% of Spanish flora), mainly due to improved knowledge (63%), modifications in IUCN criteria (14%), and changes in threat status (12%). All measured national and subnational RLI values decreased during this period, indicating a general decline in the conservation status of the Spanish vascular flora. The Canarian RLI value (0.84) was the lowest, although the fastest deterioration in conservation status occurred on peninsular Spain (from 0.93 in 2000 to 0.92 in 2010). The RLI values based on subsamples of the Spanish Red List were not representative of RLI values for the entire country, which would discourage the use of small areas or small taxonomic samples to assess general trends in the endangerment of national biotas. The role of the RLI in monitoring of changes in biodiversity at the global and regional scales needs further reassessment because additional areas and taxa are necessary to determine whether the index is sufficiently sensitive for use in assessing temporal changes in species' risk of extinction.

Population genetics and conservation of the extremely narrow Pyrenean palaeoendemic Glandora oleifolia (Boraginaceae)

Background: Glandora oleifolia is one of the most narrowly restricted endemics of the Iberian Peninsula. It occurs in two locations, separated by 5 km in the south-eastern Pyrenees. The species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the Spanish Red List, and it is legally protected in Catalonia. Aims: To study the genetic diversity and population structure, and to review the conservation status and the threats to the survival of this species. Methods: The genetic variation of the two extant subpopulations was surveyed by means of allozymes and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Results: Both markers indicated depleted levels of genetic variability for G. oleifolia, in agreement with the expectation for endemic species, and low genetic divergence among the two subpopulations (below 10% with the two nuclear markers). Conclusions: The evolutionary history of this palaeoendemic species – repeated population bottlenecks and/or local extinction of populations during the glacial periods of the Quaternary – could have enhanced the loss of its genetic diversity.

The distribution of Iberian gypsophilous flora as a criterion for conservation policy

Within the EU territory, gypsum habitats with a peculiar flora are exclusively restricted to the eastern half of the Iberian Peninsula. The Habitats Directive considers the scrublands belonging to the Gypsophiletalia order as priority habitats (habitats 1,520). Although these scrublands do not represent the only kind of vegetation associated with gypsum outcrops, they tend to occur together with other types of communities that grow exclusively on this substrate. As far as vascular flora is concerned, there are some species that grow exclusively on Iberian gypsums and are accordingly included in the Spanish Red List. Besides, given the fragmentary character and punctuated location of these outcrops, the protection of this Iberian habitat and its flora is, therefore, an enormous challenge for any preservation policy. The disjunct distribution of the flora faithfully reflects this geological feature of gypsum areas. Consequently, a proper and detailed knowledge of the distribution of the gypsophilous vascular flora can be very useful in formulating an efficient preservation policy for these habitats. Using the checklist of the Iberian gypsophilous flora, we collected a wide data base with records of distribution arranged into 10 × 10 km UTM grids. For each of the 1,241 grids where at least one gypsophyte was recorded we reckoned a series of parameters in order to determine the priority level of the flora for preservation purposes. These parameters were specific richness, gypsophily level, continuous and discontinuous rarity and endangered level. Our analyses reveal serious gaps in the Spanish network of protected sites with gypsophilous flora, the most important being located in the Hoya de Baza.

The future of the indigenous freshwater crayfishAustropotamobius italicusin Basque Country streams: Is it possible to survive being an inconvenient species?

The white-clawed freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius italicus is listed as “vulnerable” in the Spanish Red List of threatened species, but local legislation varies among Spanish regions. Thus, while in some places the species is classified as “in risk of extinction” and various plans of conservation and restoration have been implemented, in the Basque Country and other regions the species is not listed. The distribution of the white-clawed crayfish in the province of Biscay (Basque Country) was studied from 1993 to 2007 at more than 600 sampling locations. Results show that 108 streams were inhabited by the native crayfish species A. italicus while 137 streams were inhabited by non-native signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus or red-swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii . The spread of non-native crayfish is not the only threat to the native species whose survival is also closely dependent on how watersheds are managed. Most A. italicus populations inhabit headwaters, where forestry activities are very important. The presence of native crayfish in heavily forested areas results in a conflict of interests and makes its conservation particularly difficult. We employed a SWOT analysis – an assessment and decision tool commonly used in marketing and business – to evaluate the situation of the native white-clawed crayfish in Biscay, a province characterized by very high demographic pressure. SWOT analysis has proved to be a useful diagnostic tool and can help develop better and more accurate management strategies for the conservation of native crayfish threatened by multiple stressors.

Wind power plants and the conservation of birds and bats in Spain: a geographical assessment

The number of wind power plants installed in Spain has increased dramatically, and many are located in important wildlife areas. This paper explores the geographical overlap of wind power plants with the ranges of flying vertebrate species. The list of animals studied includes bats, soaring birds, and other birds that may be killed by turbines. Results show that the 10 × 10 km UTM squares occupied by wind power plants fell within the range of more bat and bird species than squares free of these infrastructures. For species included in the Spanish Red List, there were more wind power plants than expected inside the range of two raptors (Neophronpercnopterus and Circuspygargus) and less than expected in six species (Ciconianigra, Aquilaadalberti, HieraetusfasciatusMyotiscapaccinii, Rhinolophusmehelyi and Myotismyotis). The rest of endangered species (15) had a range occupation similar to that predicted by random sampling, a result that reflects a poor strategy to prevent the overlap. These patterns may be explained by the small amount of overlap of the range of many of these animals with the windiest areas in Spain, where wind power plants are concentrated today. However, this situation is changing rapidly with the densification and expansion of wind power plants promoted under the Spanish Plan of Renewable Energies. This may produce the occupation of many areas important to bird and bat conservation, and therefore preventive measures should be implemented to protect these species and their habitats.

The narrow endemic Scrophularia valdesii Ortega-Olivencia & Devesa (Scrophulariaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula: an evaluation of its conservation status

The aim of this study is to determine the conservation status of Scrophularia valdesii Ortega-Olivencia & Devesa, a threatened narrow endemism of the Duero Basin (central-western Spain and north-eastern Portugal, Lusitan Duriensean biogeographical sector), by using the IUCN (2001) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival Commision. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. The species is listed as threatened in several Spanish compilatory works on threatened flora, such as `The Spanish Red List of Vascular Flora' and the `Atlas and Red Book of Threatened Vascular Flora of Spain', although it does not figure as such in any Portuguese document. Here we report detailed studies of its distribution, and assess its current conservation status with respect to this, the sizes of its populations, and the threats it faces. Our estimation of the size of the Iberian populations was based on our own census data from those sites at which we found the species. All censuses were performed by direct counting of all potentially reproductive individuals. Fourteen populations were found, and the total members thought to exist are 161, with a highly fragmented distribution on the Spanish–Portuguese border along the valley of the River Duero. Exhaustive bibliographical and field surveys were carried out and herbarium specimens housed in several herbaria were revised in order to determine the Extent of Occurrence and the Area of Occupancy. Based on our data, the species is classifiable as Critically Endangered and Endangered in Portugal and Spain, respectively. The risk of local population extinction is high due to its typically small local population sizes and suitable conservation strategies should be developed in order to preserve the species.

On the mend of bryophyte conservation in Spain: preparing a proposal for the inclusion of bryophytes in national species protection catalogues

The Spanish bryoflora contains 1291 taxa, 272 of them included in the Spanish Red List under any threat category. Although bryophytes show a low rate of endemicity compared to vascular flora, Spanish administration’s responsibility for the conservation of these plants is very high, since the country has 63 exclusive or rare species on a European or world scale. However, the representation of this group of plants in the Spanish legislation on species conservation is merely anecdotal. Royal Decree 139/2011 of 4 February develops a list of wild protected species (LESRPE and CEEA, Spanish abbreviations) and includes only 10 species of bryophytes, all of them from the Directive Habitats and the Bern Convention. The legal protection of endangered species of bryophytes is needed, not only to ensure the integrity of the most sensitive bryophyte populations, but also because it will result in the overall protection of their habitats and other species that coexist with them. Their inclusion in LESRPE and CEEA will allow a periodical monitoring of the species and a better assessment of the success or failure of commonly used management measures. The criteria for the incorporation of species into national protection catalogues are rather restrictive and inclusion of species without specific studies is not easy. During the work developed for the Atlas and Red Data Book of the threatened bryophytes of Spain, valuable information was obtained in this sense, although it covered only a fraction of the total number of species on the Red List (74 species were evaluated). Based on the available information, a list of species has been drawn to elaborate a proposal that should be raised to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment, which would imply a qualitative leap in the level of protection of this neglected group of plants and a new impetus to the necessary work started at the first phase of the Bryophyte Atlas.