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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.

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.

Desde que dio inicio el nuevo siglo, varios estudios sobre la culicidofauna de la Hispaniola han elevado el conocimiento de este grupo de artrópodos, muy relevantes desde el punto de vista médico y veterinario. En relación a la diversidad de la familia Culicidae, los hallazgos más recientes se han realizado en el municipio de Jarabacoa, República Dominicana. Con el objetivo de profundizar en la diversidad de los culícidos presentes en esta localidad montañosa de El Cibao, se procedió a la búsqueda de criaderos de mosquitos, sobre todo de origen natural, desde enero de 2018 hasta junio de 2019. La identificación de los especímenes se realizó mediante la utilización de lupa binocular y microscopio, con la ayuda de claves taxonómicas. Se reportan seis nuevas especies para Jarabacoa, sumando un total de 22 para el municipio, sobre las cuales se analizan cuestiones como su bioecología y su papel en la transmisión de agentes patógenos, entre otras. Destaca la presencia de Culex interrogator Dyar y Knab, 1906, especie que se reporta por primera vez en la Hispaniola, y por segunda en el Caribe insular. A pesar de que este culícido no está implicado hasta la fecha en la transmisión de patógenos al ser humano, otras especies encontradas en este estudio como Anopheles crucians Wiedemann, 1828, Aedes scapularis (Rondani, 1848) y Psorophora confinnis (Lynch Arribálzaga, 1891) deben ser tenidas en cuenta en los programas de vigilancia y control, a tenor de su relevancia médica.

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.

The analysis of macroinvertebrate communities is essential in aquatic ecology studies. Nonetheless, sample collection, processing and species determination of macroinvertebrates are extremely time-consuming and require huge efforts. Moreover, despite the crucial need for refined sampling protocols, investigations on viable benchmark sampling efforts are still scarce. This study provides a preliminary analysis on the optimisation of the sampling effort required to study macroinvertebrate communities from rice fields. Twenty core sediment samples were collected from a non-vegetated Mediterranean lagoon (rice field) in Valencia (Spain), and their macroinvertebrate community assemblages were obtained. Characterisations of the minimum number of samples needed for both faunistic inventories and environmental quality assessments were carried out using diversity indexes (number of taxa, Shannon, Simpson, and Margalef indexes), ecological indicators (Nutritional Mode Index, IMN) and several species richness estimators (Chao 1, Chao 2, Jacknife 1, Jacknife 2, ACE, ICE, Bootstrap and EstimateS 9.1.0). Our results indicate that in surveys in which the taxa richness of the communities is the objective, 20 samples or even more could be needed. However, when the objective of the study is to assess the environmental quality by means of ecological indexes such as the IMN, three samples could be an acceptable benchmark. Our findings, despite being limited by our experiment conditions, can provide methodological guidelines for ecological assessments in Mediterranean rice fields and shallow non-vegetated lagoons. Further research involving multiple study areas and seasonal patterns will help meliorate the accuracy of this protocol and refine sampling efforts in wetlands.

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.

RESUMEN Se desarrolló un material compuesto a partir de un jarabe de polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA), trihidróxido de aluminio (ATH) y cargas minerales naturales (CMN) con propiedades similares al material comercial Krion®. Con este propósito, se fabricaron materiales compuestos en dos etapas: En la primera etapa, se realizó la polimerización parcial, en masa, vía radicales libres del metacrilato de metilo (MMA) para obtener un jarabe de polimetilmetacrilato y se determinaron los parámetros de la polimerización necesarios para evitar el efecto de autoaceleración y, al mismo tiempo, lograr un jarabe de un porcentaje de conversión de PMMA capaz de evitar la sedimentación de partículas 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, partículas de ATH y CMN, con el propósito de determinar los parámetros adecuados para lograr propiedades similares al Krion®. Se ha demostrado que, para evitar la autoaceleración y la sedimentación de ATH, se debe lograr un jarabe con un porcentaje de conversión de MMA en PMMA entre 20% y 25% en peso y la polimerización parcial debe realizarse con 0,1% en peso de peróxido 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 parámetros para la fabricación de un material compuesto de PMMA reforzado con partículas de ATH y CMN son: 40% jarabe / 60% ATH / %CMN variable según 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 flexión, 8054 MPa de módulo elástico en flexión y 91 HRM de dureza. La calidad estética mejora con la incorporación de CMN pero las propiedades mecánicas disminuyen. ABSTRACT A composite material, which properties are similar to the commercial material Krion®, was manufactured using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) syrup, alumina trihydrate (ATH) and natural mineral fillers (CMN). For this purpose, composites have been manufactured in 2 stages: In first stage, free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out to obtain syrup of polymethyl methacrylate. Polymerization parameters were determined in order to avoid autoacceleration effect and to get syrup which PMMA conversion avoids precipitation of ATH particles. In second stage, composite samples were manufactured using the obtained syrup, ATH and CMN particles and, then, they were tested in order to determine suitable parameters to get similar properties to Krion®. It has been proved that syrup must have a MMA to PMMA conversion between 20% and 25% to avoid autoacceleration effect and precipitation of ATH particles. To obtain such syrup, polymerization must be carried out using 0,1% of benzoyl peroxide (PBO) y 0,2% of ethylene glycol dimercaptoacetate (EGDM) at 85°C during 90 minutes. Similarly, to get composites which properties are similar to Krion®, the manufacturing parameters of a PMMA composite reinforced with ATH and CMN particles are: 40% syrup / 60% ATH / %CMN variable according to the type of filler, 0,1% of additional PBO, 2,0% ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) y curing time 13 hours inside a furnace at 85°C. Properties of the composite that has been manufactured under these conditions and only contains ATH filler are: flexural resistance of 53 MPa, flexural elastic modulus of 8054 MPa and hardness of 91 HRM. Esthetic quality improves with the incorporation of CMN but mechanical properties decrease.

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

En República Dominicana tienen especial interés, dada su gran relevancia médica, las enfermedades transmitidas por mosquitos. La presente investigación profundiza sobre la diversidad de los culícidos existentes en el municipio de Jarabacoa, a fin de actualizar la información sobre estos dípteros y sus principales sitios de cría, naturales y artificiales. Para tal cometido, se procedió a la búsqueda activa de formas preimaginales mediante la técnica del dipper; se utilizaron pipetas plásticas para muestrear en reservorios de pequeño tamaño. La identificación se llevó a cabo mediante la utilización de lupa binocular y microscopio, con la ayuda de claves taxonómicas específicas. Se capturaron 16 especies pertenecientes a los géneros Aedes Meigen, 1818, Anopheles Meigen, 1818, Culex Linnaeus, 1758, Toxorhynchites Theobald, 1901, Uranotaenia Lynch Arribálzaga, 1891 y Wyeomyia Theobald, 1901, sobre las que se analizaron diversas cuestiones acerca de su bioecología y su papel en la transmisión de agentes patógenos de importancia médica. Se reporta Culex biscaynensis Zavortink & O’Meara, 1999 por primera vez en el Caribe insular, con lo que el número de especies de mosquitos citadas en el país se eleva a 50.

The circular economy seeks to minimize the use of raw materials and waste generation. In this context, here we addressed the use of dunite mining tailings and subproducts to stabilize metal(oid)s in polluted soils. We first characterized the dunite mining tailings and subproducts, and a paradigmatic polluted soil in depth to determine their chemical and mineralogical properties. Experimental trials using Brassica juncea L. were performed to evaluate the impact of the two materials on vegetation growth, edaphic properties and pollutant stabilization yields. To this end, the plants were grown over 75 days in 1 kg pots containing the polluted soil amended with the dunite materials. Notably, both amendments caused a dramatic decrease in the available Zn and a moderate reduction in available Cu, Cd and Pb. In contrast, the concentration of available As was not modified. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) was improved by treatment with the amendments, allowing an increase in the biomass harvested. The immobilization mechanism achieved was probably due to an increase in pH and CEC. In conclusion, the dunite tailings and subproducts could be effective amendments for stabilizing polluted soil. This work paves the way for additional studies with distinct types of soils and conditions.

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.

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).

[ES] Se presenta una recopilación de los resultados de varios proyectos, desarrollados entre los años 2004 y 2015, sobre la presencia de los mosquitos de la familia Culicidae en el entorno de la Devesa y el Racó de l¿Olla del Parque Natural de l¿Albufera de Valencia (España). Se registró un total de 10 especies pertenecientes a cinco géneros (Aedes, Coquillettidia, Culex, Culiseta y Ochlerotatus), alguno de estos muy característicos de los ambientes donde fueron recolectados. Se tratan diferentes aspectos sobre la diversidad de culícidos, así como del interés ecológico y sanitario de la presencia de los mismos. Destacamos la existencia de la especie Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) en un espacio acotado por viviendas, construidas en los años 1970, y no recolectada en las malladas. [EN] A compilation of the results obtained in several projects developed between the years 2004 and 2015 on the presence of the mosquitoes of the family Culicidae in the surroundings of the Devesa and Racó de l'Olla of the Albufera Natural Park of Valencia (Spain). A total of 10 species belonging to five genera (Aedes, Coquillettidia, Culex, Culiseta and Ochlerotatus) were recorded, some of them very characteristic of the environments where they were collected. Different aspects are discussed on the culicid diversity, as well as on the ecological and health interest of the presence of these species. We highlight the presence of the species Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) in a space limited by housing, built in the 1970s, and not collected in the malladas.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Summary 1. Nutrient and fish manipulations in mesocosms were carried out on food-web interactions in a Mediterranean shallow lake in south-east Spain. Nutrients controlled biomass of phytoplankton and periphyton, while zooplankton, regulated by planktivorous fish, influenced the relative percentages of the dominant phytoplankton species. 2. Phytoplankton species diversity decreased with increasing nutrient concentration and planktivorous fish density. Cyanobacteria grew well in both turbid and clear-water states. 3. Planktivorous fish increased concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). Larger zooplankters (mostly Ceriodaphnia and copepods) were significantly reduced when fish were present, whereas rotifers increased, after fish removal of cyclopoid predators and other filter feeders (cladocerans, nauplii). The greatest biomass and diversity of zooplankton was found at intermediate nutrient levels, in mesocosms without fish and in the presence of macrophytes. 4. Water level decrease improved underwater light conditions and favoured macrophyte persistence. Submerged macrophytes (Chara spp.) outcompeted algae up to an experimental nutrient loading equivalent to added concentrations of 0.06 mg L−1 PO4-P and 0.6 mg L−1 NO3-N, above which an exponential increase in periphyton biomass and algal turbidity caused characean biomass to decline. 5. Declining water levels during summer favoured plant-associated rotifer species and chroococcal cyanobacteria. High densities of chroococcal cyanobacteria were related to intermediate nutrient enrichment and the presence of small zooplankton taxa, while filamentous cyanobacteria were relatively more abundant in fishless mesocosms, in which Crustacea were more abundant, and favoured by dim underwater light. 6. Benthic macroinvertebrates increased significantly at intermediate nutrient levels but there was no relationship with planktivorous fish density. 7. The thresholds of nutrient loading and in-lake P required to avoid a turbid state and maintain submerged macrophytes were lower than those reported from temperate shallow lakes. Mediterranean shallow lakes may remain turbid with little control of zooplankton on algal biomass, as observed in tropical and subtropical lakes. Nutrient loading control and macrophyte conservation appear to be especially important in these systems to maintain high water quality.

1. The impacts of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) and planktivorous fish on phytoplankton composition and biomass were studied in six shallow, macrophyte-dominated lakes across Europe using mesocosm experiments. 2. Phytoplankton biomass was more influenced by nutrients than by densities of planktivorous fish. Nutrient addition resulted in increased algal biomass at all locations. In some experiments, a decrease was noted at the highest nutrient loadings, corresponding to added concentrations of 1 mg L1 P and 10 mg L1 N. 3. Chlorophyll a was a more precise parameter to quantify phytoplankton biomass than algal biovolume, with lower within-treatment variability. 4. Higher densities of planktivorous fish shifted phytoplankton composition toward smaller algae (GALD

Background: Previous studies have identified rice fields in the Mediterranean region as ‘hot spots’ for the introduction of alien freshwater organisms. Consequently, special attention should be paid when rice fields are located inside or near protected areas for the conservation of native, endangered species. To analyse the relationship between rice field environmental traits and the ecology of aquatic invaders, a study of zoobenthic communities was carried out in JulySeptember 2008 and May-August 2009 in ten rice fields located in the Albufera Natural Park (E Spain), with focus on Ostracoda. Results: A total of nine ostracod species were found including four considered exotic: Candonocypris novaezelandiae, Stenocypris macedonica, Cypris subglobosa and Hemicypris barbadensis. The presence of H. barbadensis is remarkable, which is recorded for the first time in Europe and S. macedonica in the Iberian Peninsula. A checklist of Ostracoda from Albufera Natural Park is presented, including 11 exotic species, mostly unknown from Holocene sedimentary records. The analysis of ostracod assemblages showed a significant relationship between oxygen content and ostracod species associations, suggesting that their abundance are partially controlled by habitat variables in the rice fields. The exotic species C. novaezelandiae was more abundantly collected in samples with reduced oxygen concentrations, in contrast to other native species whose abundances were lower in such conditions. Conclusions: Rice fields in Mediterranean areas present a summer inundation period which is unlikely in natural temporary water bodies in the area and which may facilitate invasion by (sub-)tropical species. Lower proportion of exotic to native ostracods is observed in less disturbed areas compared to rice fields with intense human activities. We emphasize the role of anthropogenic effects in the dispersal and colonization processes of exotic ostracods and their particular strong influence in the protected areas closest to rice fields.