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In Europe, the southernmost subspecies of salamandra is Salamandra salamandra longirostris, found in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. This subspecies, whose populations are currently in decline, has been proposed as a species due to its genetic differentiation and isolation by distance. In one survey at Fuente del Acebuche (Malaga, Spain), one of its most important breeding sites, we observed 67 adult individuals. These data represent a record density of this subspecies in the south of the Iberian Peninsula and are unique even for communities of Salamandra salamandra in the north.

The metacommunity concept provides a theoretical framework that aims at explaining organism distributions by a combination of environmental filtering, dispersal, and drift. However, few works have attempted a multitaxon approach and even fewer have compared two distant biogeographical regions using the same methodology. We tested the expectation that temperate (mediterranean-climate) pond metacommunities would be more influenced by environmental and spatial processes than tropical ones, because of stronger environmental gradients and a greater isolation of waterbodies. However, the pattern should be different among groups of organisms depending on their dispersal abilities. We surveyed 30 tropical and 32 mediterranean temporary ponds from Costa Rica and Spain, respectively, and obtained data on 49 environmental variables. We characterized the biological communities of bacteria and archaea (from the water column and the sediments), phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, amphibians and birds, and estimated the relative role of space and environment on metacommunity organization for each group and region, by means of variation partitioning using generalized additive models. Purely environmental effects were important in both tropical and mediterranean ponds, but stronger in the latter, probably due to their larger limnological heterogeneity. Spatially correlated environment and pure spatial effects were greater in the tropics, related to higher climatic heterogeneity and dispersal processes (e.g., restriction, surplus) acting at different scales. The variability between taxonomic groups in the contribution of spatial and environmental factors to metacommunity variation was very wide, but higher in active, compared with passive, dispersers. Higher environmental effects were observed in mediterranean passive dispersers, and higher spatial effects in tropical passive dispersers. The unexplained variation was larger in the tropical setting, suggesting a higher role for stochastic processes, unmeasured environmental factors, or biotic interactions in the tropics, although this difference affected some actively dispersing groups (insects and birds) more than passive dispersers. These results, despite our limitations in comparing only two regions, provide support, for a wide variety of aquatic organisms, for the classic view of stronger abiotic niche constraints in temperate areas compared with the tropics. The heterogeneous response of taxonomic groups between regions also points to a stronger influence of regional context than organism adaptations on metacommunity organization.

This study consists of a seismicity revision and the assessment of the probabilistic seismic hazard of the Canary Islands. In order to analyze its seismotectonics and associated seismic hazard, we performed a full revision of the seismicity of this region of oceanic intraplate seismicity, whose earthquake rate is low and its links to local tectonics are poorly understood. In this catalog, we designed a criterion for assigning the epicenter of historical events and homogenized the different magnitude values defined over time for earthquakes from the instrumental period. This analysis of the seismicity of the region and the structural lineaments obtained by previous geophysical studies enabled us to define two possible seismic zonings, which were then used in the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment. Given the special characteristics of the seismicity of the Canary Islands, we chose a Monte Carlo approach for calculating the hazard. We used the two alternatives provided by EqHaz open-source code (Assatourians and Atkinson, Seismol Res Lett 84:516–524, 2013; Seismol Res Lett 90:1407–1419, 2019), namely uniform and smoothed seismicity. Given that no ground motion prediction equation (GMPE) for the area is available, we selected the most robust and recent applicable relations from similar tectonic environment and checked the fit of the existing accelerometric data for the Canary Islands. We mixed the aleatory and epistemic uncertainties for each area of the two zonings in the hazard calculation. With this approach, the values obtained may be considered in the context of an extreme-value distribution of motions at a specific site after converting the simulated earthquakes into earth motion with the selected GMPEs. The final outcome is hazard maps for different periods in terms of horizontal acceleration at bedrock level, which we compared with the results deduced from recent hazard studies in the area.

Some species of freshwater microcrustaceans have been widely used for biological control of mosquito larval populations. These zooplankton communities play an important role against some species of mosquitoes by exerting competitive pressure or predation. However, zooplankters are scarcely studied in many Caribbean islands such as Hispaniola. The goal of this study was to improve the knowledge of these microcrustaceans in order to better understand the biodiversity and ecology of this Antillean Island. Samples of zooplankton were taken from 28 ponds in the northern Dominican Republic during 2020. The total richness of microcrustaceans was 25 species, comprising 17 copepods and 8 cladocerans. Most of the collected species were previously described for the island, and some of them are registered as potential biological controllers of mosquito larvae populations. Five genera (including 6 species) of microcrustaceans that inhabit the ponds are recorded for the first time for Hispaniola: Simocephalus Schoedler, 1858; Pleuroxus Baird, 1853; Ilyocryptus G.O. Sars, 1861; Apocyclops Lindberg, 1942; and Diacyclops Kiefer, 1927. Here, we discuss these new findings in relation to the competitive and/or predatory potential of these species against mosquito larvae. The present study improves the knowledge of biodiversity in ponds in the Dominican Republic.

Entre 2017 y 2018 se realizó un estudio limnológico de 30 lagunas temporales de Costa Rica. Entre otros organismos, se estudiaron las esponjas de agua dulce (Porifera: Spongillidae), en cuya distribución se centra el presente estudio. De las muestras se aislaron 15 552 gémulas de esponjas repartidas en 21 localidades de la provincia de Guanacaste. Este material se obtuvo a lo largo de seis campañas de muestreo efectuadas entre mayo de 2017 y diciembre de 2018. Las especies de esponjas identificadas fueron Radiospongilla crateriformis (Potts, 1882), Corvoheteromeyenia heterosclera (Ezcurra de Drago, 1974), Tubella variabilis Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1973 y Ephydatia fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1759) con nuevas localidades. Se recolectaron las cuatro especies juntas en una laguna denominada “El Sitio” y se citan dos nuevas localidades de T. variabilis en “Sainalosa” y “El Sitio” junto con Ephydatia fluviatilis y Corvoheteromeyenia heterosclera en la primera, ambas lagunas localizadas en la provincia de Guanacaste. Además, destaca la recolección de gémulas de T. variabilis aglutinadas en el tubo de alojamiento del oligoqueto Aulophorus vagus Leidy, 1880 (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Naididae). Todas las gémulas se recolectaron únicamente en la vertiente Pacífica de Costa Rica, mientras que no se encontró ninguna en las lagunas muestreadas en la vertiente Atlántica, correspondiéndose con una mayor disponibilidad de fitoplancton en la primera, y mayor transparencia y menor concentración de sales del agua en la segunda.

In this study, we define a local magnitude scale for earthquakes occurring in the Canary Islands during the 2003–2020 period. We used data corresponding to 696 earthquakes (excluding those associated with the 2011–2015 El Hierro eruption), which consisted of 9267 observations in a hypocentral distance in the range of 10–500 km. Amplitudes were obtained by deconvolving the original recordings with the instrument response and then convolving the recording with the Wood-Anderson response. The amplitudes were inverted simultaneously to obtain the distance correction terms and station corrections. We found that the amplitude for this set of data is linearly attenuated. However, this is not the case for the seismicity recorded during the 2011 El Hierro eruption, which is the reason for excluding data for that case. We obtain a local magnitude ofML = logA + 0.967 log (R/40) + 0.00142 (R − 40) + 2.445 + S, whereAis the maximum amplitude in millimeters of the S wave for the horizontal components of the simulated Wood-Anderson instrument (WA),Ris the hypocentral distance in kilometers, andSis the station correction for each component at every station. This relationship indicates that seismic waves at this island volcano setting are less attenuated than those in crustal continental settings, such as across the Iberian Peninsula or in California.

An updated compilation of intensity files was performed based mainly on the most recent studies of earthquake intensity distribution in Spain [above all, the revision by Martinez Solares and Mezcua (Catalogo Sismico de la Peninsula Iberica (800 a.C.-1900). Monografia No. 18, Instituto Geografico Nacional, 2002)] and an intensity dataset generated by the Instituto Geografico Nacional in 2008 using the Did you feel it Internet-based program. The large amount of data (more than 37,000 intensity data points) enabled us to calculate an intensity prediction equation for the whole of the Spanish mainland, as well as regional equations corresponding to three Spanish seismotectonic zones. The intensity prediction equations for the three different seismotectonic regions in the Iberian Peninsula (Betic, Stable Continental Region—SCR and Pyrenees) reflect their differences. The Pyrenees zone provides the highest maxima intensities for magnitudes M 5 and 6 in the 20–100 km range of hypocentral distance, but for that distance interval, the intensities for magnitude M = 4 shown by the SCR region is higher. Finally, when comparing the theoretical intensity values obtained using the average intensity prediction equation for the Spanish mainland with the values in the dataset, anomalous behaviour occurs in the 60–120 km range, which can be explained by the Moho bounce of the energy that increases the corresponding intensity values in this distance range. This effect is suggested also by studying the PGV amplitude decay with distance using a set of 11 shallow events in the 4.5–5.1 moment magnitude interval.

The metacommunity concept provides a theoretical framework that aims at explaining organism distributions by a combination of environmental filtering, dispersal and drift. With the development of statistical tools to quantify and partially isolate the role of each of these processes, empirical metacommunity studies have multiplied worldwide. However, few works attempt a multi-taxon approach and even fewer compare two distant biogeographical regions using the same methodology. Under this framework, we tested the expectation that temperate (mediterranean-climate) pond metacommunities would be more influenced by environmental and spatial processes than tropical ones, because of stronger environmental gradients and greater isolation of waterbodies.We surveyed 30 tropical and 32 mediterranean temporary ponds from Costa Rica and Spain, respectively, and obtained data on 49 environmental variables (including limnological, hydrogeomorphological, biotic, climatic, and landscape variables). We characterized the biological communities of Bacteria and Archaea (from both the water column and the sediments), phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, amphibians and birds, and estimated the relative role of space and environment on metacommunity organization for each group and region, by means of variation partitioning using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs).Environmental selection was important in both tropical and mediterranean ponds, but markedly stronger in the latter, probably due to their larger limnological heterogeneity. Spatialized environment and pure spatial effects were greater in the tropics, related to higher climatic heterogeneity and dispersal processes (e.g. restriction, surplus) acting at different scales. The variability between taxonomic groups in spatial and environmental contributions was very wide. Effects on passive and active dispersers were similar within regions but different across regions, with higher environmental effects in mediterranean active dispersers. The residual (unexplained) variation was larger in tropical pond metacommunities, suggesting a higher role for stochastic processes and/or effects of biotic interactions in the tropics. Overall, these results provide support, for a wide variety of organisms related to aquatic habitats, for the classical view of stronger abiotic niche constraints in temperate areas compared to the tropics.

19 páginas, 9 figuras, 3 tablas., The genus Cypris, considered the oldest ostracod generic name erected using the Linnean system, comprises a reduced number of large-bodied species, mostly found in Africa and Asia. Only six of them are known to occur in Europe. Here we describe a new species, Cypris pretusi sp. nov., collected in small temporary streams and ponds along the Eastern Iberian Peninsula and Minorca (Balearic Islands). The new species is very close to the type species of the genus, Cypris pubera O.F. Müller, 1776, but differs from it in having a set of smaller subequal spines on the posterior edge of the valves, by the absence of conspicuous spines along the front edge, and by the beak-like frontal shape of its carapace in dorsal view, similar to Cypris decaryi Gauthier, 1933. Soft parts are very similar to the type species, but it differs in having shorter swimming setae on the second antennae. Molecular analyses of the COX1 region support its status as a species distinct from C. pubera and closer to Cypris bispinosa Lucas, 1849, also providing evidence for a separation of C. pubera s.l. in two clades, one of which is here considered to correspond to Cypris triaculeata Daday, 1892. We discuss the relationships of C. pretusi sp. nov. to other members of the genus and its possible origin from nearby biogeographic regions (probably Africa or Asia) and provide a key to species of Cypris found in Europe. We also discuss the relationship between Monoculus concha pedata (= M. conchaceus), the first ostracod named by Linnæus, and Cypris pubera, the type species of the genus, described by Müller in 1776 and considered by him the same species as the one first named by Linnæus., Partial funding has been provided by the METACOM-SET project (code CGL201678260-P), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Agencia Española de Investigación, and FEDER). We also acknowledge the help provided by the technicians at the SCSIE (Microscopy and Genomics Units) of the University of valencia when obtaining SEM pictures and COX1 sequences. FP acknowledges projects “CIDEGENT/2019/028 - BIOdiversity PAtterns of Crustacea from Karstic Systems (BIOPACKS): molecular, morphological, and functional adaptations” funded by the Conselleria d’Innovació, Universitats, Ciència i Societat Digital, and “PRO2019-S02-PALERO - Fauna aquàtica en coves anquihalines del País valencià: un mon encara per descriure” funded by the Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Metacommunities are dynamic systems, but the influence of time independently of environmental change in their configuration has been rarely considered. Temporary ponds are excellent ecosystem models, as they have well-defined boundaries in time and space; their communities are relatively isolated through a landscape matrix, and the progress of time leads to major changes through ecological succession and in habitat suitability related to hydroperiod dynamics. Therefore, strong temporal effects are expected to influence their metacommunity structure. We surveyed 30 temporary ponds along the dry tropical region of western Costa Rica and Nicaragua at three different moments of their hydroperiod: shortly after the infilling of the water bodies, at the middle of the hydroperiod and just before desiccation. We obtained data on 56 environmental variables (including limnological, climatic, landscape, hydrogeomorphological and conservation state), and used geographic coordinates to build spatial variables (Moran Eigenvector Maps). We collected biological samples and estimated the specific abundance of phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic invertebrates. To evaluate the relative role of environmental, spatial and temporal (sequential sampling season) effects in metacommunity organization of the 646 species found, we used variation partitioning with distance-based redundancy analyses for each group of organisms. We repeated the analyses for selected taxonomic groups, separately for each sampling season, to check how the variance explained by spatial and environmental factors varied between sampling periods. The inclusion of time in the analysis highlighted that pure temporal effects explained part of metacommunity variance in almost every group, being as important as spatial or even environmental effects for some groups of organisms. In contrast to the assumed low environmental constraints in tropical areas (i.e. high and stable temperatures), we found strong environmental effects. Passive dispersers were more influenced by environmental factors than active ones. We also found a positive relationship between the body size of the different groups of organism and the magnitude of the temporal effect, interpreted as related to generation time. Finally, when analyzing each sampling period separately, we found differences in the relative role of environment and space at different sampling periods, showing that snapshot surveys may not be representative of highly dynamic metacommunities.

Se desarrollo un material compuesto a partir de un jarabe de polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA), trihidroxido de aluminio (ATH) y cargas minerales naturales (CMN) con propiedades similares al material comercial Krion®. Con este proposito, se fabricaron materiales compuestos en dos etapas: En la primera etapa, se realizo la polimerizacion parcial, en masa, via radicales libres del metacrilato de metilo (MMA) para obtener un jarabe de polimetilmetacrilato y se determinaron los parametros de la polimerizacion necesarios para evitar el efecto de autoaceleracion y, al mismo tiempo, lograr un jarabe de un porcentaje de conversion de PMMA capaz de evitar la sedimentacion de particulas de ATH. En la segunda etapa, se fabricaron y caracterizaron diversas muestras de materiales compuestos a partir de la mezcla del jarabe de PMMA obtenido anteriormente, particulas de ATH y CMN, con el proposito de determinar los parametros adecuados para lograr propiedades similares al Krion®. Se ha demostrado que, para evitar la autoaceleracion y la sedimentacion de ATH, se debe lograr un jarabe con un porcentaje de conversion de MMA en PMMA entre 20% y 25% en peso y la polimerizacion parcial debe realizarse con 0,1% en peso de peroxido de benzoilo (PBO) y 0,2% en peso de etilenglicol dimercaptoacetato (EGDM) a 85°C durante 90 minutos. Similarmente, para obtener propiedades similares al Krion®, los parametros para la fabricacion de un material compuesto de PMMA reforzado con particulas de ATH y CMN son: 40% jarabe / 60% ATH / %CMN variable segun el tipo de carga, 0,1% en peso de PBO adicional, 2,0% en peso de etilenglicol dimetacrilato (EGDMA) y 13 horas de curado en un horno a 85°C. Las propiedades del material compuesto con solo ATH fabricado bajo estas condiciones son: 53 MPa de resistencia a flexion, 8054 MPa de modulo elastico en flexion y 91 HRM de dureza. La calidad estetica mejora con la incorporacion de CMN pero las propiedades mecanicas disminuyen. Palabras clave: superficie solida, polimerizacion radicalar, polimetilmetacrilato, trihidroxido de aluminio, carga mineral natural.

Culex (Culex) garciai fue descrita por primera vez por González Broche (2000) a partir de ejemplares recolectados en las provincias cubanas orientales de Granma y Santiago de Cuba, a una altitud entre 120 y 620 msnm, respectivamente. Algunos años después, fue localizada también en la provincia de La Habana, a 65 msnm. En el presente estudio, se muestran los primeros hallazgos de esta especie para La Española, donde se ha localizado en entornos agrestes del municipio de Jarabacoa, provincia de La Vega, República Dominicana, a una altitud entre los 528 y 657 msnm. Los estados preimaginales fueron encontrados en hábitats naturales y artificiales, como huecos excavados en las rocas, troncos de bambú, charcos de agua de lluvia y en contenedores artificiales. Culex (Culex) garciai was first described by González Broche (2000) from specimens collected in the eastern Cuban provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba, between 120 and 620 MASL, respectively. Later, the species was also found in the province of Havana above 65 MASL. In this study, the first records of this species from Hispaniola are given. Cx. garciai has been located in a mountainous rural area in the municipality of Jarabacoa, Province of La Vega, Dominican Republic, between 528 and 657 MASL. Immature stages have been found in natural and artificial habitats, such as rocks pools, bamboo trunks, temporary rainwater puddles and artificial containers.

Se estudia la caracterización limnológica de 30 lagunas del bosque tropical seco de Costa Rica y Nicaragua durante 2010-11. Se aislaron gémulas de esponjas de agua dulce en cuatro de las localidades. Se registraron dos nuevas citas de esponjas para Nicaragua, Radiospongilla cerebellata (Bowerbank, 1863) y Corvoheteromeyenia heterosclera (Ezcurra de Drago, 1974). En Costa Rica también se registró esta última y se recolectaron ejemplares de Radiospongilla crateriformis (Potts, 1882). En otra laguna de Costa Rica, se recolectó una larva neuróptero (Insecta) de la familia Sisyridae asociada a las esponjas: Sisyra apicalis Banks, 1908. Por otro lado, hemos podido recolectar gémulas incrustadas en el tubo de alojamiento del oligoqueto Aulophorus vagus Leidy, 1880 (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Naididae), que también supone la primera cita para Costa Rica y Nicaragua. The characterization of 30 temporary ponds was done in the tropical dry forest of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in 2010-2011. Gemmules of sponges were isolated in four of the studied sites. Two new records were set for Nicaragua, Radiospongilla cerebellata (Bowerbank, 1863) and Corvoheteromeyenia heterosclera (Ezcurra de Drago, 1974). In Costa Rica, the last ones was also recorded as well as specimens of Radiospongilla crateriformis (Potts, 1882) were collected. In another pond of Costa Rica, larva of Neuroptera (Insecta) belonging to family Sisyridae, commonly associated to sponges, was collected: Sisyra apicalis Banks, 1908. In addition, we have been able to collect embedded gemmules in the housing tube of the annelid Aulophorus vagus Leidy, 1880 (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Naididae). This species is also here reported for the first time in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

espanolEntre final de abril y principio de mayo de 2017, en un area de montana con altitudes superiores a 1.500 msnm, se capturaron dos especies de mosquitos (Diptera, Culicidae) poco comunes: Aedes (Rusticoidus) refiki y Aedes (Ochlerotatus) pullatus. Se recolectaron 626 ejemplares, con densidades larvarias mayoritarias de Ae. refiki (87%). Se describio una nueva asociacion larvaria entre ambas especies, hasta la fecha desconocida. Los culicidos se localizaron en un entorno habitualmente nevado en invierno, del Parque Natural del Alto Tajo (Guadalajara, Comunidad de CastillaLa Mancha) y en los Montes Universales (Teruel, Comunidad Auto- noma de Aragon). En consecuencia, se presentan como primeras citas para las provincias de Guadalajara y Teruel. EnglishTwo species of uncommon mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) were collected during late April and early May 2017, in a mountainous rural area located above 1,500 MASL: Aedes (Rusticoidus) refiki Medschid, 1928 and Aedes (Ochlerotatus) pullatus (Coquillett, 1904). A total of 626 specimens were collected, with larval densities in favor of Ae. refiki (87%). A new larval association between both species, to date unknown, was described. The culicids were located in a normally snowy environment during the winters, in the Alto Tajo Natural Park (Guadalajara, Community of Castilla-La Mancha) and in the Montes Universales (Teruel, Autonomous Community of Aragon). Thus, in this contribution two new provincial records for Guadalajara and Teruel

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in people over 40 years old. In Colombia there is a high prevalence of the disease, being worse the fact that there is not enough ophthalmologists for the country’s population. Fundus imaging is the most used screening technique for glaucoma detection for its trade-off between portability, size and costs. In this paper we present a computational tool for automatic glaucoma detection. We report improvements for disc segmentation in comparison with other works on the literature, a novel method to segment the cup by thresholding and a new measure between the size of the cup and the size of the disc. Results were obtained from a set of fundus images in collaboration with the Center of Prevention and Attention of Glaucoma in Bucaramanga, Colombia, where the percentage of success of glaucoma detection was of 88.5%.

Durante el desarrollo de un curso sobre la evaluación de la calidad biológica de las aguas continentales en León (Nicaragua), se recolectaron ejemplares de la esponja de agua dulce Radiospongilla crateriformis (Potts, 1882) (Porifera: Spongillidae), la cual se cita aquí por primera vez para el país. Los muestreos se realizaron durante la tercera semana de enero de 2016 en el río Los Aposentos. Este circula dentro del recinto del Jardín Botánico Ambiental (JBAUNAN-León). Se aportan datos sobre la autoecología de los ejemplares recolectados y se discuten ciertas diferencias morfológicas con respecto a otras citas en países cercanos. In the framework of a field course on water quality assessment in León (Nicaragua), we collected specimens of the freshwater sponge Radiospongilla crateriformis (Potts, 1882) (Porifera: Spongillidae), which is herein cited for the first time for this country. Samples were obtained during the third week of January 2016 from river Los Aposentos. This stream runs through the Environmental Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Ambiental, JBA-UNAN-León). We present data on the species autoecology and discuss morphological differences with previous findings from surrounding areas.

Different waveform-based discrimination parameters were tested using multivariate statistical analysis to develop a real-time procedure for discriminating explosions from earthquakes at regional distances in the Iberian Peninsula. This work enabled a purge of the Spanish National Seismic Catalogue for the period 2003–2014. The training data consisted of waveform-based signal properties in the time and frequency domain for events (earthquakes and explosions) recorded during the selected time period by the Spanish Broadband National Network and Sonseca short-period Array of the Instituto Geografico Nacional (IGN). For each station and its associated training dataset, a discriminant function was defined as a linear combination of the measured variables. All station-specific discriminant functions were then combined with a weighting scheme to test the training events, revealing that 86 % of the events were consistent with the analysts’ judgement. The application of this method to the whole of the IGN’s seismic database for the studied period gave an 83 % success rate; however, a 91 % success rate is reached if events are classified using at least three stations and 100 % confidence levels.

The processes behind the heterogeneous distribution of species involve a combination of environmental and spatial effects. In the spatial context, stream networks constitute appropriate systems to compare the relative importance of two dispersal modes in aquatic organisms: overland and watercourse dispersal. In the present study, we analyzed the distribution of ostracod species in a river network in the eastern Iberian Peninsula, with variation partitioning between environmental and spatial factors, using Moran and Asymmetric Eigenvector Maps (MEMs, AEMs) as spatial variables. Our aims were to determine the relative importance of environmental and spatial control and to compare the importance of overland and watercourse dispersal for species distribution of passively-dispersing aquatic organisms. Our results suggest that watercourse was the most important dispersal mode, favoring mass-effects. The role of species sorting was significant and related to temperature, stream width and water quality, measured as a biotic index (IBMWP). These results stress the major importance of connectivity, besides niche-related factors, in structuring riverine communities of passively-dispersing aquatic organisms.

A rapid and simple method to access unnatural 2-substituted 5-thio oxazolines has been developed. This methodology is based on a Pummerer reaction followed by an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution, which changes the paradigm for the normal use of a base in Pummerer chemistry. We also provide a useful two-step method for the synthesis of the starting material and a mechanistic proposal based on experimental observations, which contests the previously proposed reaction pathway. The reaction proved to be general, and different substituents, such as alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and functionalized groups, can be used without a significant decrease in efficiency.

The Mediterranean coast holds a wide and rich variety of wetlands, some of which are protected by international laws, but at the same time have been historically subjected to threatening activities such as agriculture, pollution and aquifer overexploitation. As part of a conservation and restoration project at the Marjal dels Moros coastal wetland (Eastern Iberian Peninsula) we initiated investigations to begin to characterise aquatic environments, and evaluate changes in the system experienced in recent times. To this aim, we collected four seasonal samples at seven points of the Marjal dels Moros wetland, varying in salinity, permanence and other environmental conditions, and studied the recent past (early modern to contemporary remains) and present (living) communities of Ostracoda. We found relatively poor species richness overall, possibly related to the brackish and seasonal character of large parts of the wetland. Of the seven species encountered the most common ostracods were tolerant to these stressing conditions: Heterocypris salina, Sarscypridopsis aculeata, Ilyocypris gibba and Cypridopsis vidua. A comparison of dead and living assemblages showed no significant differences, suggesting that the overall ostracod metacommunity was resilient to the perturbations experienced in the area, despite some particular locations recording notable shifts in their communities during the sampling period.

The recent seismic activity recorded in Jaen province in the south-east Iberian Peninsula has triggered great alarm among the people of the towns of Torreperogil and Sabiote despite the low magnitude of the events. The main objective of this paper is to examine why these low-magnitude events are responsible for such a high degree of concern in this area of low seismicity. Of all possible explanations, including directivity effects and local geology, we found that the site effect was the most important candidate for clarifying this phenomenon. An earthquake scenario was considered for the maximum 5.2 Mw shock that could occur in the event of the rupture of the identified responsible blind fault. In order to simulate the strong motion derived from such as extreme event, a stochastic finite-fault simulation was generated using the standard values of the different media parameters for the region and a stress drop of 130 bar, deduced from the simulation of the greatest shock of the sequence. In order to include the site effect, which was considered to be very important in this study, a local survey using refraction micro-tremor (ReMi) techniques was performed in both towns (at 33 and 35 sites in Torreperogil and Sabiote, respectively) to determine the Vs30 values. The site response results obtained were taken into account in the simulation process, and the results are shown on peak ground acceleration (PGA) and peak ground velocity (PGV) contour maps for each town, with 200–500 cm/s2 as PGA extreme values. A map of intensities obtained from the PGV map is also shown; for the extreme event, macroseismic EMS98 intensities in the range of V–VII were obtained for those towns. The deterministic earthquake scenario developed here will be of great interest in planning civil defence responses in the event of an earthquake emergency and in regional development.

Online Material: Tables of station orientations and earthquake catalog, and figures showing comparison of synthetic and observed waveforms. The orientation of seismic instruments relative to north is a critical parameter in many seismological applications. Three‐dimensional studies of surface‐wave dispersion depend on accurate seismic sensor orientation (Ekstrom et al. , 1997). This parameter is also important in the study of off‐great‐circle propagation of long‐period surface waves (Laske, 1995), as well as in estimates of the anisotropic structure of the mantle using SKS splitting observations (Long et al. , 2009). Finally, sensor orientation is critical in the comparison of observed and synthetic records in seismic source studies. In a recent study of southern Iberia and the influence of the moment tensor resolvability, Zahradnik and Custodio (2012) found that a 10° sensor misorientation induces data errors that vary between 10% and 40% of the amplitude of the original waveform; for a station with a 30° misorientation, the original waveform will thus have an error between 30% and 90%. These are just a few examples from seismic research showing the great influence that correct orientation exerts on a seismic station’s horizontal components. Several factors act as sources of misorientation. First, in many seismic networks, such as the Spanish Broadband National Network (SBNN), most of the seismometers are installed in abandoned mines or natural caves that have no direct line of sight to any external point of reference. An overall precision of ±1° has been reached using precise magnetic orientation; however, this is not possible in locations where magnetic material is present. Often, reorientations are not performed during reinstallations, maintenance visits, or seismometer changes. There is no information available or recorded regarding operational routing; in other words, there is no obtainable log of possible relocations of seismometer. Second, the orientation obtained at the entrance to the site …

Symbiont spillover involves the emergence of new interactions that can influence both the symbiont and the host invasion processes. Here we aimed at experimentally testing the transmission of an exotic ectosymbiont, Ankylocythere sinuosa (Ostracoda, Entocytheridae), from a crayfish invader (Procambarus clarkii) to a native European crayfish (Austropotamobius italicus). Crayfish transmitter and receiver were placed in the same container during 4 days. Three experimental treatments were designed: (i) crayfish transmitter alone (i.e. control group); (ii) cleaned P. clarkii as crayfish receiver; (iii) A. italicus as crayfish receiver. The proportions of colonised crayfish were 92% for P. clarkii and 100% for A. italicus. Mean symbiont emission rate of the control group was 2.75%, with 2.5 times odds increase under the presence of crayfish receiver. Mean transmission rate in treatments with P. clarkii receivers was 38.48%, with higher odds to bigger crayfish receivers (5% increase per gram) and to A. italicus (2.1 times). All entocytherid growth stages were transmitted. We demonstrated that entocytherids harbour transmission features that allow them to achieve successful spillover in nature. However, the symbiont was not found on native crayfish in nature hitherto, probably due to host competitive exclusion and crayfish plague acting on native hosts.

Invasive alien species present a global threat to biodiversity, particularly where pathogens and symbionts are involved. Branchiobdellidans are clitellate annelids with an obligate ectosymbiotic association primarily on astacoidean crayfish. There are several examples of branchiobdellidan species adopting a geographically exotic host where endemic and exotic crayfishes cohabit the same water body. The first records of a western North American branchiobdellidan, Xironogiton victoriensis , adopting the eastern North American crayfish, Procambarus clarkii , in 2 river basins in Spain provide further evidence of the ectosymbionts’ tolerance to adopt an exotic host. Given worldwide translocations of these and other commercial crayfish species, limnologists and agency managers need to be alert for further introductions of X . victoriensis and other branchiobdellidans. Impacts of these exotic ectosymbionts on habitat and biota at a new location are unknown, as are their consequences on native biodiversity.

18 páginas, 6 figuras, 1 tabla., The 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., MF is supported by a grant from the Brazilian Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientı´fico e Tecnolo´gico—CNPq (401045/ 2014-5), program Cieˆncia sem Fronteiras. DC-M held a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (FPU014/06783).

This document is focused on the establishment of a methodology to assess erosive processes in a coastal wetland. Particularly, it analyses the spit that separates the lagoon from the sea, elaborating a diagnostic process that helps to characterize the effect of the coastal infrastructure in morphological changes in a short and medium-term. Elements such as the morphology, the wave climate, the hydrodynamic and the evolution monitoring of coastline are key elements to understand whether a coastal wetland is on equilibrium or in the contrary, its state of vulnerability is such that in the slightest change in physics conditions will produce negative effects by the system instability.

A kinematic finite‐source study of the 11 May 2011 M w 5.2 Lorca, Spain, earthquake has been performed using broadband data from the Spanish National Network. The nodal plane ambiguity of the double‐couple solution was resolved from finite‐source analysis, and a rupture velocity of 1.8 km s−1 and the northeast–southwest‐striking northwest‐dipping plane was found to best fit the data. This fault plane corresponds to the central sector of the Alhama de Murcia fault (AMF). The resulting slip distribution has a maximum of 19.3 cm and a total seismic moment of 6.25×1016 N·m. A Jackknife test has been performed to estimate the fault plane errors and their consequences in the slip distribution. Also synthetic tests have been performed to evaluate the errors in the finite‐source modeling. From this model, a prediction of the strong ground motion near the fault, corrected for soil amplification, is given in terms of peak ground velocity (PGV), which fits with the observed value at the accelerograph in the city of Lorca. We also compared the PGV converted to modified Mercalli intensity at the surface with the intensity distribution, also showing good agreement. Finally we extracted the directivity pulse from the strong ground motion record at Lorca with 0.5 s period in the transverse component to the AMF direction and 33 cm s−1 PGV. To further analyze the directivity effect, we estimate the duration and azimuthal amplitude distribution of the source time functions, finding them to be shorter and of greater amplitude in the direction of rupture and longer and smaller in amplitude in the opposite direction.

In invasion processes, both abiotic and biotic factors are considered essential, but the latter are usually disregarded when modeling the potential spread of exotic species. In the framework of set theory, interactions between biotic (B), abiotic (A), and movement-related (M) factors in the geographical space can be hypothesized with BAM diagrams and tested using ecological niche models (ENMs) to estimate A and B areas. The main aim of our survey was to evaluate the interactions between abiotic (climatic) and biotic (host availability) factors in geographical space for exotic symbionts (i.e., non-free-living species), using ENM techniques combined with a BAM framework and using exotic Entocytheridae (Ostracoda) found in Europe as model organisms. We carried out an extensive survey to evaluate the distribution of entocytherids hosted by crayfish in Europe by checking 94 European localities and 12 crayfish species. Both exotic entocytherid species found, Ankylocythere sinuosa and Uncinocythere occidentalis, were widely distributed in W Europe living on the exotic crayfish species Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus, respectively. No entocytherids were observed in the remaining crayfish species. The suitable area for A. sinuosa was mainly restricted by its own limitations to minimum temperatures in W and N Europe and precipitation seasonality in circum-Mediterranean areas. Uncinocythere occidentalis was mostly restricted by host availability in circum-Mediterranean regions due to limitations of P. leniusculus to higher precipitation seasonality and maximum temperatures. The combination of ENMs with set theory allows studying the invasive biology of symbionts and provides clues about biogeographic barriers due to abiotic or biotic factors limiting the expansion of the symbiont in different regions of the invasive range. The relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors on geographical space can then be assessed and applied in conservation plans. This approach can also be implemented in other systems where the target species is closely interacting with other taxa.

Niche segregation may prevent competitive exclusion and promote local coexistence. This typically results in the occupation of different habitats. In the freshwater ostracod Eucypris virens (Jurine, 1820), the distribution of sexual and parthenogenetic populations in the temporary Lake Caracuel, central Spain, was not homogeneous. Parthenogens were found everywhere including the littoral, whereas sexuals were restricted to the centre. We investigated the hypothesis that spatial distribution responded to ecological differences. We studied the ecological significance of this segregation by linking environmental data to male presence, sexual fraction, ploidy, and genetic structure of our model organism in 12 ponds in the lake basin. Hydro-chemical and biological data indicated that the observed segregation is not only spatial but also ecological, with sexual E. virens occurring in ponds with shorter and probably more unpredictable hydroperiod. The correlations between environmental gradients and E. virens population structure suggest that sexual and parthenogenetic lineages are ecologically segregated. Sexual populations appeared restricted to sufficiently unpredictable environments, while parthenogens dominated environments with longer hydroperiods. Local coexistence seems mediated by spatial heterogeneity in habitat stability.

Online Material: Catalog of 163 studied earthquakes. Intensity data for the past earthquakes in the Iberian Peninsula have been recently collected in several journal publications presenting both the isoseismal lines and the list of the localities with their intensity value (Mezcua, 1982; Martinez‐Solares and Mezcua, 2002), specifically for Catalonia, in the north of Spain (Susagna and Goula, 1999). New historical accounts found for the same earthquakes, studies recently performed for different authors with new interpretations in terms of the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS)‐98 (Grunthal and Levret, 2001), and conversions from ancient intensity scales to the EMS‐98 scale (Musson et al. , 2010) are the new inputs for the compilation of this Intensity Data Bank for the Iberian Peninsula (IDIP). The lowest threshold recorded is intensity 3, and the lowest maximum intensity considered is 5. The purpose of this data bank, which covers the period 1396–2011, is to complete and homogenize an intensity database for seismic studies in the Iberian Peninsula. This data bank includes intensity data for 211 shocks with more than three intensity points and 321 events with only maximum intensity values. Considering the data included in the data bank, we have performed a new estimation of location and moment magnitude of only 163 events with maximum intensity equal to or greater than 5 with at least five intensity points. For this purpose, we consider the technique of Bakun and Wenthworth (1997, 1999) using the previous attenuation relationship we have obtained for the area (Mezcua et al. , 2004) and the recent relationship obtained for the Pyrenees events by Bakun and Scotti (2006). Post 1980 events, in which the instrumental location …

Coastal pond systems can account for a rich aquatic faunal diversity and complex functioning due to interplay between freshwater wetlands and marine influences. Within the large Albufera wetland Natural Park, Raco de l'Olla is constituted by a set of permanent and temporary ponds with strict protection level for migrating bird conservation. Its terrestrial faunal diversity and dynamics has been partially characterized in previous studies, but nothing was known about its ostracod communities. Benthic samples collected monthly for 1 year in 11 points through the pond system, together with limnological information, allowed establishing a sound knowledge on its ostracod community and population ecology. The most common species found were the euryhaline Cyprideis torosa and Heterocypris salina . In addition, it was remarkable the finding of a well-established population of Candonocypris novaezelandiae , a new finding for Europe and considered a potential alien invader. We used multivariate ordination and classification (PCA, RDA and TWINSPAN) to characterize the ostracod biocoenoses and taphocoenoses and their relation to the environmental variables. Our results suggest that hydroperiod and salinity are the main factors structuring ostracod communities in this system. Finally, we discuss the distribution and morphological aspects of C. novaezelandiae and its relation with passive dispersal in such a wetland with a dense population of migrating birds.

A simple method to access unnatural 2-substituted 5-thio oxazolines (II) from sulfoxides (I) is described.

Considering the lack of site effect cartography in the Iberian Peninsula region to be related to the strong motion data, we present a site amplification factor map covering the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Steps leading to produce the map have included the classification of geological units from the 1:1,000,000 scale Geological Map of Spain into six site classes characterized on a seismic response basis, and the calculation, for every site class, of both short-period and mid-period amplification factors. In order to test the validity and applicability of the map, we have calculated the synthetic seismic intensity in the particular localities where several past earthquakes were felt, supposing a point source approximation. The synthetic intensities have been obtained with and without site amplification factors, resulting in two types of synthetic isoseismals maps that have been compared with the corresponding observed isoseismals. As the amplification factors obtained are only applicable to the linear domain, the synthetic intensities greater than VII are only illustrative. A main conclusion has been drawn about the fact that synthetic isoseismals with site amplification factor approach to the related observed isoseismals in a higher degree than synthetic isoseismals without site amplification factor. In addition, the resemblances between the synthetic isoseismals produced with site amplification factors and the corresponding observed isoseismals have been found to be more evident at shorter epicentral distances, provided that intensities are lower than VIII, and therefore, we remain in the linear domain.

In this paper, we present a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) for mainland Spain that takes into account recent new results in seismicity, seismic zoning, and strong ground attenuation not considered in the latest PSHA of the Spanish Building Code. Those new input data have been obtained as a three-step project carried out in order to improve the existing hazard map for mainland Spain. We have produced a new earthquake catalogue for the area, in which the earthquakes are given in moment magnitude through specific deduced relationships for our territory based on intensity data (Mezcua et al. in Seismol Res Lett 75:75–81, 2004). In addition, we included a new seismogenetic zoning based on the recent partial zoning studies performed by different authors. Finally, as we have developed a new strong ground motion model for the area Garcia Blanco (2009), it was considered in the hazard calculation together with other attenuations gathered from different authors using data compatible with our region. With this new data, a logic tree process is defined to quantify the epistemic uncertainty related to those parts of the process. A sensitivity test has been included in order to analyze the different models of ground motion and seismotectonic zonation used in this work. Finally, after applying a weighting scheme, a mean hazard map for PGA, based on rock type condition for 10% exceedance probability in 50 years, is presented, including 15th and 85th percentile hazard maps. The main differences with the present official building code hazard map are analyzed.

The American red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) was introduced in 1973 into the Iberian Peninsula for commercial purposes. As a result of both the expansion from the Iberian Peninsula and, probably, further introductions in other European countries, now it is widely distributed throughout much of Europe. The ecological impacts of this invading crayfish have received increasing attention, but nothing is known about its symbiotic entocytherid ostracods outside the American continent. The present survey has examined more than 200 crayfishes from 12 localities distributed over a wide area of Eastern Spain. Entocytherid ostracods were extracted from individual crayfishes and they were identified, counted, assigned to developmental instars and sexed. In all the study locations but one, we found at least one crayfish individual infected by entocytherid ostracods and the species determined was the same in all cases: Ankylocythere sinuosa (Rioja, 1942). The number of ostracods on individual P. clarkii varied notably in relation to crayfish size and also differed significantly among sampling sites. The crayfish size effects on ostracod densities might be related to the amount of resources and to the crayfish age and moulting frequency affecting ostracod distribution and population structure. In addition, the spatial variation in ostracod densities could also be related to site-specific habitat traits and the variability of crayfish population dynamics. Our study represents the first citation of an alien entocytherid species in Europe and demonstrates its wide distribution in the Iberian Peninsula. Further research is needed to know the potential effects of this ostracod species on the ecology of P. clarkii and of native species, with implications on the management of this aquatic invader.

In the last two decades, all earthquake hazard studies in Spain have been done using the attenuation deduced from the isoseismal maps of the most important earthquakes. However, it is well known that the preferred parameter to measure the size of any shock is magnitude and, consequently, the knowledge of acceleration as a function of magnitude and distance is basic to any new hazard determination. The installation of a strong-motion network in Spain, with more than a hundred digital instruments set up in the last 15 years, made possible the recording of more than 447 shocks in the moment magnitude range of 1:3 ≤ M ≤ 6:3. However, only 149 shocks were processed corresponding to magnitudes greater than 3 and a distance of less than 100 km. Values of the maximum horizontal acceleration recorded on firm soil permitted us to make a regression analysis, which has been compared with similar previously published relationships. Additionally, the southwestern part of Spain is also affected by a marine source area of different very low attenuation, but there are not enough recordings to attempt a regression analysis. In this case, the only strong-motion data gathered for the area was checked against the two intensity attenuation relationships available after conversion of maximum intensity to moment magnitude, and intensity to acceleration, showing a reasonable behavior of the newest intensity attenuation law gathered for the area.

1. The coastal area of Valencia (Spain) in the Western Mediterranean is rich in freshwater and brackish wetlands. These areas are mostly protected for bird conservation but are also highly affected by human impacts. Six shallow lakes located in Ramsar wetland sites of this area were studied in order to assess past and present ostracod biodiversity and relate it to the status of the lakes, taking into consideration the indicator value of these easily fossilizable crustaceans. 2. In all the wetlands studied, ostracod taphocoenoses showed much higher species richness than the corresponding biocoenoses. This is expected from the time accumulative character of the taphocoenosis, but the trend is clearly evident in the most disturbed sites which indicated loss of ostracod diversity owing to human impacts. 3. By considering the ecology of most frequent species, multivariate ordination of both tapho- and biocoenoses showed trends within and between lakes in their limnological status, which were related mainly to water chemistry, and also to temporality and eutrophication to a certain extent. Some lakes have apparently lost most of their past ostracod community owing to an increasing trophic status in some cases and to modifications of the hydrological regime in others. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Sediment and plant-associated macroinvertebrates were sampled in six shallow water bodies along the central part of the coast of Mediterranean Spain. The size of ponds, salinity and hydroperiod were highly variable. Seventy-one taxa were recorded, some of them were endemic or uncommon species, evidencing the important contribution of these ponds to biodiversity. Crustaceans and gastropods of biogeographical interest were found in the most primeval site. Correspondence analysis showed that macroinvertebrate assemblages responded to environmental variables such as salinity, temporality and eutrophication. The brackish water fauna was dominated by crustaceans, while oligochaeta and insect larvae were abundant in freshwater conditions. Oligochaetes were abundant at localities with high trophic level, whereas localities with semi-permanent waters were dominated by chironomids. The density of macroinvertebrates was clearly related with trophic state but we did not find significant relationships between density and salinity or water permanence. For plant associated samples our results showed negative relationships between species richness and temporality or salinity, contrary to sediment samples, where the Oligochaeta/Chironomidae ratio in sediments and the percentage of sensitive taxa (Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera) were useful indices, and were dependent on pond typology. This study emphasizes the broad ecological variety of ponds found in these wetlands and their importance for biodiversity. Some ponds act as permanent biodiversity reservoirs in fluctuant marshes with seasonal dryness, calling for more attention on their ecological relevance for management strategies.

espanolEn el presente trabajo, se da a conocer la presencia en la Comunidad Valenciana del culicido Coquillettidia (Coquillettidia) richiardii Ficalbi, 1899 (Diptera: Culicidae). Se aportan datos sobre la aparicion de larvas en una charca interdunar (mallada) permanente de la Devesa del Parque Natural de la Albufera (Valencia-Espana), donde se capturaron 15 ejemplares durante los meses de julio y agosto de 2015. EnglishIn this studdy, we report the presence of mosquitoe larvae Coquillettidia (Coquillettidia) richiardii Ficalbi, 1899 (Diptera: Culicidae) in the pond called �mallada� in the Devesa located over an old sand bar separating the lake Albufera of Valencia from the Mediterranean Sea. Where 15 specimens distributed in two samples that were collected in summer of 2015.

Introduccion y objetivos Los reconocimientos de la salud de los trabajadores constituyen una oportunidad de deteccion precoz de factores de riesgo vascular. El presente estudio investiga la prevalencia de factores de riesgo vascular en la poblacion laboral espanola. Metodos Se incluyo a 216.914 trabajadores (edad media, 36,4 anos; intervalo, 16-74 anos; el 73,1% eran varones) en los que se realizo un reconocimiento en una mutua laboral, que incluyo un cuestionario estructurado, una exploracion fisica y determinaciones bioquimicas. Resultados Tenian diagnostico previo de enfermedad cardiovascular el 0,7%, de hipertension arterial el 6,2%, de diabetes el 1,2% y de dislipidemia el 8,9%. Durante el reconocimiento se detecto la presencia de tabaquismo en el 49,3% (el 51,3% varones y el 43,8% mujeres), presion arterial elevada (≥ 140/90 mmHg) en el 22,1% (el 27,0% varones y el 8,8% mujeres), obesidad (indice de masa corporal ≥ 30) en el 15,5% (el 18,3% varones y el 13,3% mujeres), hiperglucemia (> 110 mg/dl) en el 6,2% (el 7,8% varones y el 1,9% mujeres) y alguna forma de dislipidemia (colesterol total ≥ 200 mg/dl, cLDL ≥ 160 mg/dl, trigliceridos ≥ 200 mg/dl o cHDL Conclusiones Hay una alta prevalencia de factores de riesgo en la poblacion laboral espanola, especialmente en varones y en determinados sectores de actividad.