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The processes underlying macroecological gradients in body size are widely debated, in part because their intraspecific variability remains poorly described even in well-studied taxa such as vertebrates. In this study, we investigated how climate, habitat, genetic lineage and sex explain body size variations in French populations of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis). We measured 7016 adult individuals captured in 41 populations, covering most of the species’ distribution in metropolitan France, including Corsica. Body size variation in our sample was wide and comparable to that found across the species’ worldwide range. Variation was similar in magnitude at regional and local levels, suggesting that body size is influenced by local factors as much as by regional factors such as climate or genetic lineage. Smaller sizes were associated with Mediterranean or altered oceanic climates, and with two lineages (E. o. galloitalica and E. o. galloitalica/E. o. orbicularis), while larger sizes were associated with northern environments and the orbicularis lineage. Body size variations recorded at local level reflect an adaptive response to environmental constraints, suggesting that habitat is also an important factor in understanding size variation.

13 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, supplementary information https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-04996-5.-- Data availability: The isotopic values generated from this study are available on request from the corresponding author, The only wetland in Europe colonized successfully by the apple snail Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810, is the Ebro Delta (Spain). After 10 years, it has become widespread there, despite significant eradication attempts. In spite of its great negative ecological and economic impacts, its incorporation into food webs can result in an abundant potential resource for native and exotic predators. We identified the potential predators, including fishes, amphibians, crustaceans, birds, turtles and mammals in natural conditions using stable isotopic analyses (δ13C and δ15N). Six predator species, three native (two birds and one frog) and three invasive (one crustacean, one turtle and one mammal), were confirmed to consume apple snails. None of the 10 fish species analyzed consumed apple snails, although some have been previously observed consuming this snail under laboratory conditions. This study emphasizes the need to assess the consumption of apple snail, as well as other invasive organisms, by potential predators in natural conditions to confirm the establishment of new trophic relationships and to understand whether these potential predators actually act as biological control agents in nature, This work was funded by SEO/BirdLife and Forestal Catalana. JN was supported by Spanish National Program Ramón y Cajal (RYC-2015-17809). MV was supported by a predoctoral fellowship of the FPU program of the Spanish Government (FPU18/01775), With the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S)

The Ebro Delta is a wetland of international importance for waterbird conservation but severally affected by intensive agriculture, toxic waste discharges from a past chloro-alkali industry and affluence of tourism. The discharge of contaminants associated to these activities pose waterbirds breeding in the Ebro Delta at risk. The aim of this study is to evaluate the exposure of 91 emerging and legacy micropollutants in flamingo chicks (Phoenicopterus roseus), an emblematic species of the area. Fifty chicks of 45-60 days were captured, biometric parameters measured and whole blood collected. Compounds analyzed included perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pharmaceuticals, organophosphate esters (OPEs), in-use pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results indicate a multi-exposure of flamingo's chicks from a very young age. PFASs were the most ubiquitous compounds with ∑PFASs ranging from 9.34 to 576 ng/mL, being PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS detected in all samples. ∑PAHs ranged from 0.19 to 423 ng/mL, ∑PCBs from 0.5 to 15.6 ng/mL and ∑OCs from 1.35 to 37.8 ng/mL. Pharmaceuticals, OPEs and in-use pesticides were not detected. The flamingo's filtering behavior on mud and maternal ovo-transference are the more likely routes of exposure of organic micropollutants to flamingos' chicks. The reported levels of micropollutants were not associated with any alteration in the body condition of chicks. This is the first study to describe flamingos chicks' exposure to multiple contaminants, highlighting the importance of biomonitoring for wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation., The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation is acknowledged for financial support [PID2019-105732GB-C21] from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. This study was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the IDAEA-CSIC, a Centre of Excellence Severo Ochoa (CEX2018-000794-S). We thank the Ebro Delta Natural Park, specially Francesc Vidal and Toni Curcó, for the opportunity to obtain the samples and the team of veterinaries for the extraction of blood.

Gull eggs are excellent bioindicators of environmental pollution as reflect the contamination levels of coastal areas, especially of persistent and bioacumulative compounds such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This study aims to evaluate the geographical distribution and 10-year temporal trends (2009-2018) of 17 PFAS in eggs of two gull species (Larus michahellis and Larus audouinii) from 5 main Spanish colonies. ∑PFAS ranged from 13.7 ± 5.9 to 164 ± 17 ng g-1 wet weight and higher concentrations were observed in L. audouinii than in L. michahellis. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the predominant compound in all samples, followed by perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTriDA). Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFNA) were also found in all studied areas but at lower concentrations, while perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was only detected in the Medes Islands. Principal Component Analysis revealed the co-occurrence of the 6 detected PFAS, and differentiated samples from Ebro Delta and Medes Islands, both located in the North-Eastern Mediterranean Sea, with high contribution of all PFAS, from Chafarinas and Atlantic Islands with lower concentration levels and variability. Also, different patterns were observed among colonies, suggesting the fish-based diet plays an important role in PFAS bioaccumulation. In all colonies, except for the Medes Islands, ∑PFAS decreased through the 10-year study period, with PFOS, PFUnA, and PFTriDA showing a significant concentration reduction in a colony-specific manner. This study demonstrates the usefulness and importance of continuous systematic long-term monitoring to determine the geographical distribution and temporal variations of PFAS in marine protected areas using gull eggs as bioindicators of environmental pollution., We acknowledge the Islas Atlánticas National Park, Refugio de Caza de las Islas Chafarinas, Delta de l'Ebre Natural Park, and Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter Natural Park to authorize sampling for our work. The Servei de Protecció i Gestió de la Fauna (Catalan Government) is acknowledged for sampling permission. We are especially grateful to José Antonio Fernández-Bouza and Vicente Piorno (Atlantic Islands), Javier Zapata (Chafarinas) for organizing the sampling, logistic support and transport of samples and for their valuable contributions to the study, and Mònica Cárdenas and Marc Bosch (Medes Islands) and Francesc Vidal and Antoni Curcó (PN Delta de l’Ebre) for facilitating sampling. We also thank Carles Domingo and Julia Piccardo (Forestal Catalana) for valuable field assistance. This research has been funded by the Spanish Autonomous Organism of National Parks (projects 038/2009 and 2012/768) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [PID 2019-105732 GB-C21, MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.

Graciá et al., Chelonians are among the animal groups with the poorest conservation status. Since tortoises are long-lived species that need very long time to reach sexual maturity, they are extremely vulnerable to human pressure. Despite their endangered status, there are no common strategies for the development of conservation actions. At the “Mediterranean workshop to develop tortoise conservation strategies”, scientists, conservation associations, environmental managers, IUCN advisers and CITES inspectors met in October 2019 in Alicante (Spain). The aims were to update the diagnosis of the conservation status of the Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) and the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) and to suggest strategies that guarantee their preservation at the Mediterranean Region. The main conclusions are summarized by: i) Mediterranean tortoises are wild endangered species that must be protected in, and together with, their natural habitat. Their main threats are habitat loss and fragmentation and pet trade, but we should also pay attention to wildfires, spread of diseases, the introduction of exotic species or lineages and climate change. ii) Long-term efforts and stablished protocols are needed to accurately diagnose and monitor the conservation status of wild populations, as well as flows among captive and wild animals. iii) Tortoise trade should be banned because it threatens the conservation of wild populations of tortoises. Illegal practices related to tortoises should be decidedly persecuted. People should consider tortoises as wild animals that are endangered and deserving of protection. It is possible to enjoy them by responsibly observing them in their habitat. iv) Tortoises may carry pathogens or parasites and their sanitary status cannot be fully assessed. They should always be considered potential vectors of tortoise diseases and of zoonosis. Hygiene protocols should be implemented when managing them. v) The researchers attending this workshop aimed to develop a scientific network for the long-term monitoring of graeca and T. hermanni populations in the Mediterranean Region. They will need the support from public administrations., The work of the researchers leading this work (EG, RCRC and AG) was funded by the Span‐ ish Ministry of Science through projects PID2019‐105682RA‐I00/AEI/10.13039/5011 00011033 and CGL2015‐64144 (the latter with the support of the European Regional Development Fund, MINECO/FEDER). MVJF and RCRC are supported by post‐doctoral grants funded by the Regional Valencian Government and the European Social Fund (APOSTD/2018/043 and APOSTD/2020/090, respectively).

Phalangeal reduction is a common and widespread phenomenon among tortoises that has been associated with the adaptation to terrestrial life. While reduced manual digit 1 appears characteristic in almost all Testudo species, it is uncertain why the metacarpal I and distal carpal of the same digit are completely missing in some individuals of Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni hermanni). To clarify this issue, we investigated the number of manual claws in six populations of Hermann's tortoise (one from the Ebro Delta in the Iberian Peninsula and five from Minorca Island), their age, sex, genetic lineage, and the substrate type that they inhabit. The number of claws was ascertained based on direct counts (n > 1500 individuals) and by X-rays (n = 32 individuals), obtaining three different phalangeal formulae: (1-2-2-2-1, D-2-2-2-1, 0-2-2-2-1). Thus, claw counts through both methodologies (direct count and X-ray) further confirm that the observed claws serve as a good proxy to assess the actual number of digits. Our results show no loss of phalanges, metacarpal and carpal bones in digit 1 associated with age, sex, or substrate, contrary to some previous authors who hypothesized a relationship between this loss and sexual dimorphism. Therefore, variations in the number of manual digits and the loss of metacarpal I and distal carpal in digit 1 in Hermann's tortoise are related to population and genetic lineage. More detailed comparisons with other Testudo hermanni populations from elsewhere in Europe would be required to understand the evolutionary significance concerning the intrapopulation variability in the number of digits remaining.

Este artículo contiene 9 páginas, 3 figuras, 1 tabla., Social interactions, through infuence on behavioural processes, can play an important role in populations’ resilience (i.e. ability to cope with perturbations). However little is known about the efects of perturbations on the strength of social cohesion in wild populations. Long-term associations between individuals may refect the existence of social cohesion for seizing the evolutionary advantages of social living. We explore the existence of social cohesion and its dynamics under perturbations by analysing long-term social associations, in a colonial seabird, the Audouin’s gull Larus audouinii, living in a site experiencing a shift to a perturbed regime. Our goals were namely (1) to uncover the occurrence of long-term social ties (i.e. associations) between individuals and (2) to examine whether the perturbation regime afected this form of social cohesion. We analysed a dataset of more than 3500 individuals from 25 years of monitoring by means of contingency tables and within the Social Network Analysis framework. We showed that associations between individuals are not only due to philopatry or random gregariousness but that there are social ties between individuals over the years. Furthermore, social cohesion decreased under the perturbation regime. We sustain that perturbations may lead not only to changes in individuals’ behaviour and ftness but also to a change in populations’ social cohesion. The consequences of decreasing social cohesion are still not well understood, but they can be critical for the population dynamics of social species., Funding came from the Spanish Ministry of Science (CGL2017-85210) and Grant PICS INTERACT n°07699 (2016, CSIC-CNRS). MG was partially supported by the European Union (MINOUW Project, H2020-634495).

The aim of the present work was to comparatively assess the occurrence and impact of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in nine natural and national parks from Spain and Portugal using gull eggs ( Larus michahellis and L. audouinii ) as bioindicators of environmental contamination. Sampling was performed during the breeding season of 2016. Compounds studied include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated pesticides (OC pesticides), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and were analyzed using mass spectrometric based techniques. The results showed a high contamination by PCBs in all colonies, with total levels ranging from 59 to 1278 ng/g wet weight (ww), despite their use is not currently authorized. OC pesticides were also present in all colonies, with a high incidence of 4,4′-DDE in gull eggs at levels up to 218 ± 50 ng/g ww in L. michahellis and 760 ± 412 ng/g ww in L. audouinii from the Ebro Delta natural park. PBDEs and PFOS were also detected at levels up to 91.7 ± 21.3 ng/g ww, which can be attributed to a more recent use. Except for PBDEs, the POP levels in eggs from L. audouinii were higher than in L. michahellis , presumably associated to the fish-based diet of the former. Finally, the effect of POP levels on eggshell parameters (volume, eggshell thickness and desiccation index) were investigated for each colony and gull species in order to evaluate the egg viability and, therefore, the reproduction success.

Este artículo contiene 7 páginas, 3 figuras., Predators are an important ecological and evolutionary force shaping prey population dynamics. Ecologists have extensively assessed the lethal effects of invasive predators on prey populations. However, the role of non-lethal effects, such as physiological stress or behavioural responses like dispersal, has been comparatively overlooked and their potential population effects remain obscure. Over the last 23 years, we developed a mark-recapture program for the Audouin’s gull and an intensive carnivore monitoring program to assess how the appearance and invasion of the study site by carnivores affects population dynamics. We evaluate changes in turnover of discrete breeding patches within the colony, age structure and breeding performance. Once carnivores entered the colony, the number of occupied patches increased, indicating a higher patch turnover. Breeders responded by moving to areas less accessible to carnivores. More importantly, the presence of carnivores caused differential (and density-independent) breeding dispersal: experienced, better-performing breeders were more likely to leave the colony than younger breeders. This differential dispersal modified the age structure and reduced the reproductive performance of the population. Our results confirm the importance experience in the study of populations. The role of differential dispersal for animal population dynamics might be more important than previously thought, especially under scenarios of global change., RESET (ref.CGL2017-85210-P), FPU (ref. FPU2012-000869), IBISES (ref. CGL2013-42203-R) and MINOW (ref. H2020- 634495). ASA and MG are supported by a postdoctoral contract co-funded by the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands and the European Social Fund (ref. PD/003/2016 and PD/023/2015).

We examined how coastal mercury contamination varied spatially and temporally across the Iberian Peninsula by measuring mercury concentrations in the eggs of the sentinel biomonitor yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis). Samples were collected from eight colonies that ranged from the Atlantic across the south and northern areas of the Mediterranean. We also measured Hg residues in eggs of the one of the most endangered gull species in the world, the Audouin’s gull (Larus audouinii) from the Ebro Delta, where colonies of yellow-legged and Audouin’s gull co-occur. Fresh eggs were collected in 2009 and 2016 and samples were pooled from each colony for analysis. Mercury concentrations in yellow-legged gulls ranged between 0.4 and 2.8 mg/kg dry weight (dw); although there were no significant differences in concentrations between sampling periods, significant differences were found between colonies. Higher concentrations were associated with northern Mediterranean colonies (Columbretes and Ebro Delta), likely due to proximity to emission sources, circulatory marine currents and diet composition. Mercury concentrations in yellow-legged gull eggs were lower than those reported to result in impaired hatching. Residues in Audouin’s gull eggs from the Ebro Delta were significantly higher (4.0–5.6 mg/kg dw) than those in yellow-legged gull from the same location, probably associated with dietary differences. Mercury levels in Audouin’s gull were ten times above the benchmark suggested to reduce nest success by 10%. Overall, these results raise concern for adverse health impacts in this protected seabird species and further investigation in Audouin’s gull eggs from the Ebro Delta is recommended. © 2018, The Author(s)., From Spain, we acknowledge the Islas Atlánticas National Park, Refugio de Caza de las Islas Chafarinas, Illes Medes Natural Park, Delta de l’Ebre Natural Park, Columbretes Islands Natural Park, Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter Natural Park, that authorized our work. From Portugal, we acknowledge Maria Felisbina Quadrado and Sofia Batista from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), Department of Water Resources for the support; Lurdes Morais from Portuguese Protected Area of Berlengas-Portuguese Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) for the sampling permission. The Servei de Protecció i Gestió de la Fauna (Catalan Government) and Direcció General de Medi Natural i d’Avaluació Ambiental (Generalitat Valenciana) are acknowledged for sampling permission. National and Natural Park´s staff are acknowledges for their help in the gull eggs collection and transport. We are especially grateful to Javier Zapata (Chafarinas), José Antonio Fernández-Bouza and Vicente Piorno (Atlantic Islands), Juan Jiménez (Generalitat Valenciana), Miguel Ángel Monsalve Dolz (Equipo de Seguimiento de Fauna—VAERSA, Generalitat Valenciana), Francesc Vidal and Antoni Curcó (PN Delta de l’Ebre) for their enthusiasm, implication, logistic support, and valuable contributions to the project. Dr. Jacob González-Solis, Dr. Dani Oro, Javier Zapata, Cristina García and Marc Bosch are acknowledged for aiding in the sampling campaigns carried out in 2009. This study was financed by the Spanish Autonomous Organism of National Parks [Projects 2012/768 and 2009/038]. R. Ballesteros is acknowledged for his help in preparing the egg material for Hg analysis. From UK, this work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council as part of the CEH programme delivering National Capability.

Translocations to restore populations of endangered species are an important conservation tool, but a reliable diagnosis is needed to assess their success. We used capture-recapture modeling to analyze the adult apparent survival of released and resident tortoises in two translocation projects in Spain monitored for 14 and 29 years. We tested if long-term survival rates differ between released and resident individuals, if survival was lower during the phase of establishment (i.e. release cost), how long acclimation lasts and if increased density due to releases affects survival. We found lower survival of released tortoises during the phase of establishment (1 to 3 years) when residents were already present. After establishment, survival was very high and unaffected by density-dependence. Body condition before release was similar between recaptured and dead/missing tortoises, and did not predict establishment survival. Stochastic population viability analysis showed that success when releasing small numbers of individuals strongly depends upon adult long-term survival. Release of small second batches of tortoises was not sensitive to a growing population, regardless of its release timing. Our results highlight long-term survival as crucial in translocation projects of long-lived species, invalidating short-term (first year) survival assessment, when survival release cost does not match long-term survival. A release cost of different duration should be included in model estimation before modeling predictions. Releasing tortoises (for welfare of captive individuals or for mitigating human negative impacts) in an already established population is not recommended under most circumstances. Acclimation cost is followed by survival approaching wild counterparts. If this milestone is not achieved, the project needs to be carefully assessed to adopt other management options or should be stopped altogether., The regional governments of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands (Generalitat of Catalonia and the Govern de les Illes Balears) and Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales (Ministerio Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Gobierno de España) authorized our scientific work. Field work in the Ebro Delta and Minorca was partially funded by the Ebro Delta Natural Park, the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Institut Menorquí d'Estudis (IME), the Consell Insular de Menorca and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (CICYT CGL2004-0473/BOS). AB is especially grateful to the Ebro Delta Natural Park staff that recognizes the importance of long-term monitoring programs. We are grateful to Evarist Coll from the GOB Menorca for kindly providing the released tortoises data. We thank several field workers who helped collect the data, especially Marta Massana, for their valuable assistance during several years, and Sam Pons and family for their friendly help and warm hospitality at Minorca. We are grateful to the two anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript. We are also grateful to Elizabeth Rochon and Jacqueline Donoyan for improving the English on early draft.

Este artículo contiene 7 páginas, 3 figuras, 1 tabla., Studying colonisation is crucial to understand metapopulations, evolutionary ecology and species resilience to global change. Unfortunately, few empirical data are available because field monitoring that includes empty patches at large spatiotemporal scales is required. We examine the colonisation dynamics of a long-lived seabird over 34 years in the western Mediterranean by comparing population and individual data from both source colony and the newly-formed colonies. Since social information is not available, we hypothesize that colonisation should follow particular dispersal dynamics and personal information must be crucial in decision making. We test if adverse breeding conditions trigger colonisation events, if personal information plays a role in colonisation and if colonisers experience greater fitness. Our results show a temporal mismatch between colonisation events and both density-dependence and perturbations at the source colony, probably because colonisers needed a longer prospecting period to compensate for the lack of public information. Colonisers were mostly experienced individuals gaining higher breeding success in the new colony. Our results highlight the demographic value that experienced individuals can have on metapopulation dynamics of social longlived organisms., FPU (ref. FPU2012-000869), IBISES (ref. CGL2013- 42203-R) and MINOW (ref. H2020-634495)

Many chelonians have colourful dots, patches and stripes throughout their body that are made up, at least in part, of carotenoids. Therefore, turtles are very suitable models to study the evolution and functionality of carotenoid-based colouration. Recent studies suggested a close link between colouration and immune system in these taxa. However, more research is needed to understand the role of these colourful stripes and patches in turtle visual signalling. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between growth rate and colouration in European pond turtles. In particular, we wanted to answer the question of whether there is a trade-off between growth and colour expression. We also aimed to explore the effect of body size and age on colour variation. Turtles from a reintroduction-breeding program were recaptured, weighed and measured over an 8-year period to estimate their growth rates and age. We also measured with a spectrometer the reflectance of colour patches in two different body parts: shell and forelimb. We found that turtles with a faster growth rate had brighter limb stripes independently of their age. On the other hand, shell colouration was related to body size with larger turtles having brighter shell stripes and higher values of carotenoid chroma. Our results suggest that fast-growers may afford to express intense colourful limb stripes likely due to their higher intake of carotenoids that would modulate both growth and colour expression. However, shell colouration was related to body size probably due to ontogenetic differences in the diet, as juveniles are strictly carnivorous while adults are omnivorous. Alternatively, shell colouration might be involved in crypsis as the shell is visually exposed to predators.

Major landscape transformations have occurred in the northern Mediterranean over the last decades, including urbanization, agricultural intensification and land abandonment, which, in turn, increase the risk of the propagation of fire. We used repeated-count surveys conducted at 369 sites in France and Spain to jointly model the effects of environmental covariates on the abundance, occupancy and detection of Hermann’s tortoise, a long-lived and endangered species, using a novel zero-inflated approach. We also employed a large dataset of presence-only data collected in Provence to model environmental influences on occurrence probability using maximum entropy models. In both France and Spain, sites that experienced wildfires over the last 50 years hosted 31% fewer individuals than unburned sites. In Provence, higher wildfire frequency decreased this species’ occurrence probability, from 50% when 0–1 fire had occurred over the last 50 years, to 7% in areas that had burned at least 3 times. We also showed that abundance required a long recovery time (more than 25 years) after wildfires. In Provence, the highest occurrence probability for this species was found in patchy landscapes and scrub and/or herbaceous vegetation. The lowest species occurrence was found in extensive artificial areas, vineyards and arable lands. These results suggest a high risk of population extinction in the future if these types of habitats continue to expand in plains and coastal areas to the detriment of scrublands. Higher wildfire frequency predicted by climate change scenarios in the Mediterranean is also likely to increase the risk of extinction for some populations.

We present a review and analysis of the conservation status and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat categories of all 360 currently recognized species of extant and recently extinct turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines). Our analysis is based on the 2018 IUCN Red List status of 251 listed species, augmented by provisional Red List assessments by the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG) of 109 currently unlisted species of tortoises and freshwater turtles, as well as re-assessments of several outdated IUCN Red List assessments. Of all recognized species of turtles and tortoises, this combined analysis indicates that 20.0% are Critically Endangered (CR), 35.3% are Critically Endangered or Endangered (CR+EN), and 51.9% are Threatened (CR+EN+Vulnerable). Adjusting for the potential threat levels of Data Deficient (DD) species indicates that 56.3% of all data-sufficient species are Threatened. We calculated percentages of imperiled species and modifi...

We used 454-sequencing to identify and characterize 32 microsatellite loci for the Western Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni hermanni) for which primer sequences, characteristics, and multiplexes are provided. These markers have been tested for one continental (Var) and one insular (Corsica) French population as well as for the Eastern Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri). For these 3 populations, 24 loci were polymorphic. These microsatellite markers will be particularly useful to assess the genetic diversity and characteristics of the different Hermann's tortoise populations and will have direct applications for its protection, notably with respect to reintroduction and conservation programs.

Assessing population trends is a basic prerequisite to carrying out adequate conservation strategies. Selecting an appropriate method to monitor animal populations can be challenging, particularly for low-detection species such as reptiles. This study compares 3 detection-corrected abundance methods (capture–recapture, distance sampling, and N-mixture) used to assess population size of the threatened Hermann's tortoise. We used a single dataset of 432 adult tortoise observations collected at 118 sampling sites in the Plaine des Maures, southeastern France. We also used a dataset of 520 tortoise observations based on radiotelemetry data collected from 10 adult females to estimate and model the availability (g0) needed for distance sampling. We evaluated bias for N-mixture and capture–recapture, by using simulations based on different values of detection probabilities. Finally, we conducted a power analysis to estimate the ability of the 3 methods to detect changes in Hermann's tortoise abundances. The abundance estimations we obtained using distance sampling and N-mixture models were respectively 1.75 and 2.19 times less than those obtained using the capture–recapture method. Our results indicated that g0 was influenced by temperature variations and can differ for the same temperature on different days. Simulations showed that the N-mixture models provide unstable estimations for species with detection probabilities

International audience; Estimating the genetic variation and demographic trends of species in decline is of major concern in conservation genetics. This study contributes to understanding how historical and anthropogenic factors shape the distribution of current genetic diversity in one of the most endangered reptiles in Western Europe, the Hermann's tortoise Testudo hermanni hermanni. We used 17 microsatellite loci, chosen from a pyrosequencing library specifically developed for the subspecies to genotype eight populations distributed over about 30 sample localities covering almost the entire geographic distribution of the sub-species. The population genetic results reflect a very strong genetic structure and identify three major clusters among the Hermann's tortoise in the occidental Mediterranean basin: a continental cluster (Albera in Spain, Var in France and continental Italy), an insular cluster (Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily) and a cluster of mixed lineage (Minorca). Each of the eight studied populations is characterized by only one lineage except for Minorca, in which two lineages were identified. In contrast to what most empirical studies predict, the genetic diversity of the Hermann's tortoise is greater on islands than on the continent. Islands can therefore be considered as genetic sanctuaries with high conservation potential for this species, particularly in Corsica. Historical demographic patterns inferred with a generalized stepwise-mutation model (GSM) using maximum likelihood showed significant past demographic changes in only two of the eight sampled populations: a demographic bottleneck was detected in the Albera population (Spain) and a demographic expansion in Corsica (France). In contrast to what was argued in previous studies, these results indicate that the Hermann's tortoise lineage found in Corsica is autochthonous. The origin of both lineages found in Minorca remains speculative. Lastly, our study identifies the six most relevant management units (sensu Moritz, 1994) for conservation purposes on the basis that they represent a significant part of the evolutionary legacy of the species. Some conservation recommendations were proposed, in particular for the most threatened population in Albera.

Conditions during early life, including maternal cohort effects, can influence the future fitness of individuals. This may be particularly true for longdistance migrating birds, because, apart from conditions experienced by cohorts during rearing, conditions during early life in regions far from breeding grounds may also influence their population dynamics. Very little is known about the fitness consequences of those conditions experienced by juveniles after independence, especially in wild populations and for longlived birds. We used multi-event capture-recapture-recovery models and a unique 26-year dataset for the Audouin’s gull (Larus audouinii) to assess for the first time whether survival was influenced by early conditions, both during the rearing period (i.e. a maternal cohort effect potentially affected by density dependence) and the first winter (i.e. a cohort effect driven by climate when birds disperse to wintering grounds). Our results show that juvenile survivalwas highly sensitive to early-life conditions and that survival decreased with stronger density dependence and harsh climate. The two consecutive cohort effects were of similar magnitude and they may represent a selection filter. Thus, early-life conditions had a strong impact on survival, and neglecting this complexity may hinder our understanding on how populations of long-lived animals fluctuate and respond to perturbations.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of priority and emerging Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in gull eggs from two species, the scavenger Larus michahellis and the protected species, Larus audouinii. These two species share habitat in the Natural Park of the Ebro delta (Catalonia, Spain). Compounds studied are included or under consideration in the Stockholm Convention and comprise polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated compounds (OCs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Four methods based in selective extraction and gas or liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry were used and quality parameters are provided. OC pesticides and marker PCBs were the most abundant chemical families detected in eggs from the two species, followed by PFCs, PBDEs (especially BDE 209) and SCCPs. Dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs were also detected in all samples. The overall widespread presence of POPs is discussed in terms of feeding habits, bird ecology and anthropogenic pressures in the protected Ebro delta breeding area.

This study is aimed to evaluate the presence and distribution of Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) in Yellow-legged gull eggs (Larus michahellis) collected from 8 National or Natural Parks from the Iberian Peninsula. In each colony, 12 eggs were randomly collected and pooled from 3 areas of the colony and analyzed using liquid-solid extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Perfluorooctanate sulfonate (PFOS) was the only compound detected in the eggs and its presence was higher in the colonies situated in NE Iberian Peninsula due to the more industrial and mass urbanization in this area compared to the SW Mediterranean or Atlantic colonies. Accordingly, the Medes site, followed by the Ebro Delta and Columbretes, all situated in the NW Mediterranean coast, contained the highest PFOS levels (40.5-54.0ng/g-ww). In all other colonies, PFOS was detected at levels of 10.1-18.6ng/g-ww. Egg shell biometry was studied and it was found that the presence of PFOS did not affect the development of the egg.

Climatic shifts may increase the extinction risk of populations, especially when they are already suffering from other anthropogenic impacts. Our ability to predict the consequences of climate change on endangered species is limited by our scarce knowledge of the effects of climate variability on the population dynamics of most organisms and by the uncertainty of climate projections, which depend strongly on the region of the earth being considered. In this study, we analysed a long-term monitoring programme (1988–2009) of Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) aimed at evaluating the consequences of the drastic changes in temperature and precipitation patterns predicted for the Mediterranean region on the demography of a long-lived species with low dispersal capability and already suffering a large number of threats. Capture–recapture modelling of a population in the Ebro Delta (NESpain) allowed us to assess the effect of climate variability on the survival of tortoises. Winter rainfall was found to be the major driver of juvenile and immature survival, whereas that of adults remained high and constant across the study. Furthermore, local climate series obtained ad hoc from regional climate simulations, for this and 10 additional Mediterranean locations where tortoises occurred, provided us with reliable future climate forecasts, which were used to simulate the fate of these populations under three precipitation scenarios (mean, wet and dry) using stochastic population modelling. We show that a shift to a more arid climate would have negative consequences for population persistence, enhancing juvenile mortality and increasing quasiextinction risk because of a decrease in recruitment. These processes varied depending on the population and the climate scenario we considered, but our results suggest that unless other human-induced causes of mortality are suppressed (e.g. poaching, fire, habitat fragmentation), climate variability will increase extinction risk within most of the species’ current range., We also wish to thank the Ensembles project, funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme, through contract GOCE-CT-2003-505539, for supplying us with the multimodel data sets and the GIS service at the IMEDEA for their support. We are also grateful to Xavier Rodó for his advice on the sources of climatic information, and Meritxell Genovart and three anonymous referees, whose comments helped to improve the earliest versions of the manuscript. The Servei de Protecció i Gestió de la Fauna (Environmental Department of the Catalan government) and the Ebro Delta Natural Park authorised our scientific study. The study was funded by the Ebro Delta Natural Park (Generalitat de Catalunya), grants from CIRIT (2000BEAI200029), the Spanish Ministry of Science (postdoctoral EX2003-0769, grant ref. CGL2009-08298) and the MEDICANES project (CGL2008-01271/CLI). Albert Fernandez-Chacon was supported by a FPU grant (AP2008-04476) from the Spanish Ministry of Education.

Studies of ranging behaviour can provide valuable information on the ecological requirements of a species. They may be an essential tool in designing conservation policies (Sutherland 1998, Tella et al. 1998) as they provide the information needed to predict the consequences of land-use change on species’ habitat use, especially in regions subject to major habitat transformations. In particular, knowledge of the temporal and spatial variation in ranging behaviour is needed to understand space-use patterns over species’ complete annual cycles and over a range of habitats (Blanco et al. 1998, Tella & Forero 2000, Peterjohn 2003). However, this sort of information is available for only a few species, and even then does not usually cover the non-breeding season (Suarez et al. 1997). Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus occur within a wide range of open habitats, including agricultural landscapes. After a dramatic population decline during 1960–80, mainly due to drainage of wetlands, contamination and direct persecution, the European population has recovered in recent decades and is currently classified as ‘Secure’ (Cramp & Simmons 1994, BirdLife International 2004). Within the Iberian Peninsula, the increase and spread of the Marsh Harrier population has been noticeable in some agricultural regions, including those dominated by intensified farmlands. This is the case in the Catalan Ebro Basin (Spain), where the breeding population increased from eight breeding pairs in 1997 to 51 in 2008 (Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitage de la Generalitat de Catalunya unpubl. data). However, little is known about the ranging behaviour of the Marsh Harrier in these agricultural areas. The objective of our study was to investigate the ranging behaviour and foraging-area requirements of the Marsh Harrier throughout the complete annual cycle in a representative agricultural area within the Iberian Peninsula.

The presence of the Mediterranean pond turtle Mauremys leprosa in the Ebre Delta (Catalonia, north-east Spain) is well documented after the late 1970s, when the first reptile distribution lists were published. Owing to the fact that the species was considered scarce, a reintroduction programme based on the release of individuals at sites with potential habitat suitability was launched. From 1999 to 2001, 234 turtles of different ages were released and subsequently monitored until 2007, in order to make a conservation diagnosis using five assessment criteria. These criteria were body condition, individual growth, reproduction, survival and population growth rate. Despite the relatively large number of turtles released, no viable population resulted from the programme. Assessment criteria suggested that: (1) released individuals showed good physical condition and satisfactory growth (the only positive results); (2) reproduction was almost absent; (3) local survival was reduced compared with that of Spanish wild populations of the species; (4) temporary emigration was high; (5) the growth rate of the population was negative. In conclusion, the results suggested that the habitat at the Ebre Delta marshes may not be favourable to the species, and that the scarce historical data record may indicate a relatively low-quality habitat; the few records may correspond to individuals dispersing from the river, a more suitable habitat. Thus, we conclude that historically scarce records may be the result of natural patchiness and heterogeneous distributions, and they are not necessarily a good indicator of relict, decimated populations. Good assessment criteria, as those proposed and used here, are necessary tools to assess results in reintroduction projects to recover endangered chelonian populations.

Abstract Over a period of two years we used radiology to investigate breeding traits in females of two western populations of the threatened Hermann's tortoise Testudo hermanni hermanni. The main purpose of the study was to see if reproductive traits – clutch size, clutch frequency, annual egg production and egg width – varied between populations in Corsica (France) and the Ebro Delta (Spain), and if these traits were affected by female body size and amounts of spring rainfall. All the breeding traits analysed were greater in the Corsican population than in the Ebro Delta population. These differences were also significant when we used female body size as a covariable. In both populations the amount of spring rainfall affected breeding traits but not clutch size. Nevertheless, only in the Corsican population did clutch frequency, annual egg production and egg width increase significantly in the year with a wet spring. Contrary to the predictions of Optimal Propagule Size theory, we found that egg size and clutch size increased with female size, and that both variables were independent. On the other hand, clutch frequency was not related to female body size. Thus, in the Hermann's tortoise, as clutch size did not change between years and clutch frequency was independent of female size, all females are able to increase their reproductive output in years with favourable conditions by increasing their clutch frequency. Nevertheless, other factors besides female size and rainfall may influence in a highly complex way variability in breeding traits among populations.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and biphenyls (PCBs), concretely those so-called as dioxin-like PCBs, in yellow-legged gull eggs (Larus michahellis) collected from five Natural Parks (some of them National Parks) in Spain during the period 2010-2013. PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs were detected in all the samples. Due to the proximity to important urban and industrial areas higher concentrations were determined in colonies located in the Northern Mediterranean coast than those found in the Southern Mediterranean or Atlantic colonies where a softer anthropogenic impact occurs. Mean ∑PCDD/F concentrations ranged from 49 to 223pg/g lipid weight (lw) and ∑dl-PCB concentrations varied from 146 to 911ng/g lw. In the Natural Park of the Ebro Delta (Northern Mediterranean coast) two gull species share habitat: yellow-legged and Audouin gull (Larus audouinii). Eggs from both species were collected and PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels compared. The species that feeds exclusively on pelagic fish (L. audouinii) had significantly higher PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels than the scavenger L. michahellis, pointing out the diet-dependent differences in the accumulation of persistent organic pollutants between similar cohabitant breeding species. Finally, mean TEQ values were in general below those considered as critical for toxicological effects in birds.

The ability to control infections is a key trait for migrants that must be balanced against other costly features of the migratory life. In this study we explored the links between migration and disease ecology by examining natural variation in parasite exposure and immunity in several populations of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) with different migratory strategies. We found higher activity of natural antibodies in long distance migrants from the nominate subspecies L.f.fuscus. Circulating levels of IgY showed large variation at the population level, while immune parameters associated with antimicrobial activity showed extensive variation at the individual level irrespective of population or migratory strategy. Pathogen prevalence showed large geographical variation. However, the seroprevalence of one of the gull-specific subtypes of avian influenza (H16) was associated to the migratory strategy, with lower prevalence among the long-distance migrants, suggesting that migration may play a role in disease dynamics of certain pathogens at the population level.

International audience; Freshwater turtle species are still poorly understood, and many species are in decline due to unsustainable trade as well as human alteration and degradation of freshwater ecosystems. Mauremys leprosa is a freshwater chelonian endemic to the Mediterranean Basin. Whereas the fossil record demonstrates that this species used to be distributed to well beyond the Spanish border in France, it is today restricted to the border region with Spain, at the Baillaury River in the Pyrenees, with some isolated observations from slightly farther into France. The species consequently holds an “Endangered” status according to the French IUCN Red list. Here we report for the first time the presence and demographic structure in its northern range and demonstrate that its distribution expands beyond the Pyrenees Mountains, throughout French Catalonia. Sequence analyses of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b (cyt b) gene from 216 specimens mainly from France and Spanish Catalonia resulted in a patchwork pattern of haplotypes that supports a mixed origin of the species in France. We encountered two extreme haplotypes, with specimens with the endemic Spanish Catalonian haplotype A18 belonging to M. leprosa leprosa and others being clearly referable to M. leprosa saharica (cyt b haplotypes from clade B) that is otherwise typical from below the Atlas Mountain Range in Morocco. Short- and long-term directions for research as well as conservation management actions are suggested for this insufficiently studied species.

Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni), the best-known western Palaearctic tortoise species, has a rare natural distribution pattern comprising the Mediterranean areas of the Iberian, Apennine, and Balkan Peninsulas, as well as Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia. The western part of this range is traditionally considered habitat for T. h. hermanni, while T. h. boettgeri occurs in the Balkans. Taxonomy of this tortoise has been challenged in recent years, with the two subspecies being considered full species and the central Dalmatian populations of T. h. boettgeri being considered a third species, T. hercegovinensis. Using an mtDNA fragment approximately 1150 bp long (cytochrome b gene and adjacent portion of tRNA-Thr gene), we investigated mtDNA diversity with regard to contrasting concepts of two subspecies or three species. Seven closely related haplotypes were identified from the western Mediterranean and 15 different, in part much-differentiated, haplotypes from the Balkans. Western Mediterranean haplotypes differ from Balkan haplotypes in 16–42 mutation steps. One to seven mutation steps occur within western Mediterranean populations. Balkan haplotypes, differing in 1−37 nucleotides, group in parsimony network analysis into three major assemblages that display, in part, a similar degree of differentiation to that of western Mediterranean haplotypes relative to Balkan haplotypes. Rates of sequence evolution are different in both regions, and low divergence, palaeogeography and the fossil record suggest a slower molecular clock in the western Mediterranean. While monophyly in western Mediterranean haplotypes is well-supported, conflicting evidence is obtained for Balkan haplotypes; maximum parsimony supports monophyly of Balkan haplotypes, but other phylogenetic analyses (Bayesian, ML, ME) indicate Balkan haplotypes could be paraphyletic with respect to the western Mediterranean clade. These results imply a process of differentiation not yet complete despite allopatry in the western Mediterranean and the Balkans, and suggest all populations of T. hermanni are conspecific. In the western Mediterranean no clear geographical pattern in haplotype distribution is found. Distribution of Balkan haplotypes is more structured. One group of similar haplotypes occurs in the eastern Balkans (Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Romania and the Greek regions Evvia, Macedonia, Peloponnese, Thessaly and Thrace). Two distinct haplotypes, differing in eight to nine mutation steps from the most common haplotype of the first group, are confined to the western slope of the Taygetos Mts. in the Peloponnese. Yet another group, connected over between four and 23 mutation steps with haplotypes of the eastern Balkan group, occurs along the western slope of the Dinarid and Pindos Mts. (Istria, Dalmatia, western Greece). Taygetos haplotypes are nested within other haplotypes in all phylogenetic analyses and support for monophyly of the other Balkan groups is at best weak. We conclude that using the traditional two subspecies model should be continued for T. hermanni. Phylogeographies of T. hermanni and Emys orbicularis, another codistributed chelonian, are markedly different, but share a few similarities. Both were forced to retreat to southern refuges during Pleistocene glaciations. With the advent of Holocene warming, E. orbicularis underwent rapid range expansion and temperate regions of Europe and adjacent Asia were recolonized from refuges in the Balkans and the northern Black Sea Region. By contrast, T. hermanni remained more or less confined to refuges and nearby regions, resulting in a much smaller range, and allopatric and parapatric distribution of haplotype groups and clades. MtDNA lineages are more diverse in E. orbicularis than they are in T. hermanni on southern European peninsulas, indicating several distinct glacial refuges in close proximity and extensive intergradation during Holocene range expansion for E. orbicularis. In T. hermanni it is likely that only on the Balkan Peninsula was more than one refuge located, corresponding to the parapatric ranges of haplotype groups currently there. On the old western Mediterranean islands Corsica and Sardinia no differentiated (E. orbicularis) or only weakly differentiated haplotypes (T. hermanni) occur, even though there is evidence for the presence of both species on Corsica since at least the Middle Pleistocene. High mountain chains constitute major barriers separating distinct mtDNA clades or groups in each species.

Growth ring counts on the shell have been widely used for age estimation in Chelonians. However, as stated by Wilson et al. (2003), most studies have applied this method without assessing its reliability by proving that 1 : 1 ratio between number of rings and real age exists. In the present study, the reliability of this method is analysed for a population of Hermann's Tortoise, Testudo hermanni introduced in the Ebro Delta (NE Spain). Age estimations were obtained from direct observations of tortoises in the field in 2000 (n = 82) together with those from photographs of the same and other individuals of the population taken between 1991 and 2001 (n= 356). A second photograph was taken at one or more years after the first one for 101 individuals. Results of Model II linear regression analysis indicated that the method was reliable only for tortoises between 0 and 7 years old, whereas tended to underestimate age for those between 8 and 11 years. Since, sexual maturity in this population is attained around 8 years (mean for both sexes), ring counts are only reliable for juveniles and subadults. Finally, it is noteworthy that the results coming for photographs were equivalent to those coming from direct observations in the field.

Abstract For the first time, inguinal palpation effectively detected calcified oviductal eggs in a tortoise species. Inguinal palpations for 36 Hermann's tortoises, from six samples during spring 1999 and spring 2000, were verified with X-ray radiography. Palpation results did not differ significantly from radiography results and did not differ between two independent observers. A logistic regression analysis indicated that palpation success depended on the presence of oviductal eggs, and not on observer, year (1999 or 2000) or tortoise age class (young adult or old adult). The probability of correctly classifying females as gravid or nongravid through palpation was 78.4%. Although inguinal palpation did not allow detection of all clutches, it is a simple, inexpensive and effective means to determine the breeding status of Hermann's tortoise populations.

This study aimed to determine the accumulation and maternal transfer of perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS) in yellow-legged gulls (YLG, Larus michahellis) and the protected species Audouin's gull (AG, Larus audouinii), which cohabit in the Ebro Delta Natural Park (Catalonia, Spain). The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) through diet (fish and crayfish), depuration rates and transfer capacity from blood to first eggs was studied for a set of 44 pairs. For AG, mean (±SD) EDI was of 128 ± 36 ng/d in males and 119 ± 32 ng/d in females, and for YLG, 170 ± 48 ng/d in males and 159 ± 42 ng/d in females. PFOS levels in blood were higher in males than females (60.6 ± 21 and 61.1 ± 2 7ng/g ww in AG and YLG males versus 25.2 ± 12 and 27.3 ± 14 ng/g ww in AG and YLG females), with little differences among species. The lower levels in females were attributed to the annual release of PFOS to eggs during the laying period, which was estimated of 5544 ± 1571 ng/egg for AG females and 6716 ± 2689 ng/egg for YLG. The overall mass balance of PFOS calculated for both species clearly demonstrates that uptake is higher than elimination rates, considering depuration rates and transfer of PFOS to eggs, and this explains that PFOS is accumulated in gulls in a yearly basis.

Small and peripheral populations are typically vulnerable to local extinction processes but important for the metapopulation dynamics of species. The Slender-billed gull (Chroicocephalus genei ) is a long-lived species breeding in unstable ephemeral coastal habitats. Their Western Mediterranean populations are relatively small and represent the edge of their global geographical distribution. At a local scale, using long-term data (14 years) on annual breeding success and capture-resights of marked individuals, we estimated and compared the vital rates and evaluated the connectivity of two Spanish populations (Ebro Delta and Doñana) varying in their local environmental conditions. At a metapopulation scale, we analyzed 22 years of data on breeding numbers to predict their future prospects by means of population demographic models. Local survival and breeding success of gulls from the Ebro Delta was lower than those from Doñana, which is likely the result of higher permanent emigration and/or winter mortality in the former. Gulls from the Ebro Delta wintered mostly in Mediterranean areas whereas those from Doñana did so in Atlantic coasts, where food availability is higher. Whereas adult local survival was constant, juvenile local survival showed temporal parallel variations between colonies, probably related to natal dispersal to other breeding colonies. Our results suggested that dispersal was higher at the Ebro Delta and gulls emigrating from their natal colonies settled preferentially in close patches. We found large fluctuations in breeding numbers among local populations probably related to the fact that the Slender-billed gull is a species adapted to unstable and unpredictable habitats with high abilities to disperse between suitable patches depending on environmental stochastic conditions during breeding. © 2014 Sanz-Aguilar et al.

Dispersal is a key process for the population dynamics of spatially structured populations (at local and metapopulation levels), so the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the movement of individuals in space and time is important for evolutionary and ecological studies. Here we analyzed, for the first time, a long-term (1992–2009) multi-site capture– recapture database collected at four local populations of a long-lived seabird, the Audouin’s gull Larus audouinii, covering 90% of its total world population. Those local populations show different ecological and demographic features that allow us to assess the influence of several key factors involved in breeding dispersal patterns at large spatio-temporal scales. A recently developed analytical tool in mark–recapture modelling, the multi-event approach, allowed us to obtain separate departure and settlement probabilities and test different biological hypotheses for each step of the dispersal process. Our results revealed that site fidelity was the most common strategy among breeders, and dispersal was only high from the site with the lowest population size and habitat quality. However, departures from the two largest local populations increased over the study period in response to severe ecological perturbations. Dispersers chose different settlement patches depending on their site of origin, with settlement choices determined by the population size of the destination colony rather than by the local reproductive performance, foraging area (a proxy of food availability) or distance to the destination site. Our results indicate that a breeding site is not abandoned by breeders unless a series of cumulative perturbations occur; once dispersing, settlement is directed towards densely populated sites, with dispersers using population size to rapidly assess the quality of the breeding patch.

The primary moult of Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea was studied at a staging area in the south of Europe. The duration of primary moult was estimated as 73 days (9 August to 21 October), a shorter period than those reported in the wintering areas. Birds in moult showed a lower speed of fat accumulation than non moulters. An increase in the proportion of moulting birds was detected at the end of the migratory period, probably as a result of a longer staging time of moulting birds in the study area. The number and sex‐ratio of birds in wing moult showed a great annual variation. The brooding system of this species, in which only females give parental care, and the great annual variation in breeding success could be two of the factors that explain the great yearly variation in the moult schedule of Curlew Sandpiper.

[EN]: Many bird families, including the Rallidae, are characterised by a lack of plumage sexual dimorphism and reduced sexual size dimorphism. In such cases, biometry may still allow the sex of captured birds to be determined. We investigated this possibility in the purple swamphen, a species for which biometric and moult data from southern Europe are scarce. We studied and measured a large sample of wild birds in order: 1) to assess the extent of sexual size dimorphism in adult and immature birds; 2) to determine the period during which plumage characteristics can be reliably used for ageing; and 3) to develop a discriminant function that allows purple swamphens to be sexed using a set of morphometric measurements. Ten biometric traits were measured for 421 wild birds that were also sexed molecularly. We used body and wing photographs from 425 and 232 birds, respectively, in order to classify bird age (adult versus immature, based on the evidence of immature plumage). For most measurements the overall size ranking was as follows: adult males > immature males > adult females > immature females. However, this ranking did not apply to culmen and shield width, because these were bigger in adult females than in immature males. Immature birds moulted gradually during the first winter. The best ageing criterion for immature birds was the presence of median underwingcoverts with whitish tips before the first complete summer moult (second-year birds). This extends the ageing period by another six months relative to prior knowledge. The discriminant analyses using six different biometric traits correctly assigned sex in 88% and 95% of immature and adult birds, respectively. Using only two variables (culmen and body mass) reduced correct sexing to 80%-92%. These equations are a simple and inexpensive way to sex purple swamphens of known or unknown age. Although some caution is necessary, these equations can be useful for sexing birds from other southern European populations., Funding was provided by a Life+ project of the European Commission (Life+ Delta Lagoon Life09 NAT/ES/520)

Injuries have the potential to influence individual behaviour, reproduction and/or survival. One of the least frequently observed and least known injuries in birds is sublingual fistulation, which has only been reported in four species to date. Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii is now added to this list. Based on periodical re-sightings of darvic-ringed gulls at four Mediterranean sites, the prevalence of this injury in Audouin's Gulls was estimated to be 0.13%. No negative effects of fistulas on short-term survival of injured birds were reported; the minimum survival period was 999 days. However, our findings should be treated cautiously because of the low detected incidence of this injury in free-living birds.

It is often assumed that conservation actions targeting a threatened community (e.g. habitat protection) will result in similar benefits for all species. However, complex interactions between species, such as interference competition, may result in displacement of subordinate, vulnerable species. We analysed here the spatio-temporal population dynamics of a threatened seabird community since the protection in the 1980s of several breeding sites at the Ebro Delta, western Mediterranean, Spain during 1980-2007. Competition for the most suitable patches was governed by body size, with smaller species avoiding associations with larger, dominant species. We tested whether the density increase of the larger species (yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis and Audouin's gull Larus audouinii) at La Banya (the highest quality patch within the Delta) affected species diversity at the local level. As expected, such diversity decreased, resulting also from the colonisation of other sites by smaller species, some abandoning the former area. The conservation paradox appeared because the interference competition was dominated not only by the largest species of the community, the yellow-legged gull, which is sometimes considered a pest species, but also by the vulnerable Audouin's gull, a flagship species which has ca. 65% of the total world population at La Banya. Nevertheless, the availability of alternative patches within the Ebro Delta ensured a high biodiversity at regional scale. Results highlight the role of turnover of competing species within a community in ecosystem function and stability, and the importance of alternative sites and dispersal abilities for the conservation of vulnerable communities. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., The study was partially funded by Parc Natural del Delta de l’Ebre (Generalitat de Catalunya) and grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ref. CGL2006-04325/BOS)

Although reintroduction programmes are often implemented for recovering animal populations, projects seldom monitor the long-term survival of released animals. In addition, although many releases may occur in the same area, little is known about how the survival of successive release batches is affected by the presence of conspecifics and density dependence. Here, we use multi-state capture-recapture modelling (combining information from recaptures and recoveries) to analyse the survival of two batches of Hermann's tortoise Testudo hermanni hermanni released in a 10-year interval and monitored for 18years at the Ebro Delta (western Mediterranean). We also tested whether the released animals experienced lower survival (i.e. a release cost) before becoming familiar with the new environment. Although we used a hard-release method, neither group experienced a short-term release cost. Annual survival of both groups differed and was not negatively affected by density-dependent factors. Annual survivorship of the first group of released tortoises was constant and very high (0.945, se = 0.011), and similar to that estimated from several natural populations. The presence of a terrestrial predator in 1 year (before the release of the second group) significantly decreased the survival of tortoises (0.819, se = 0.073). Strikingly, survival of the second batch was significantly lower than that of the first group after the first years of release (0.775, se = 0.049). Although survivorship for the first group suggested that habitat quality was high, the second group seemed not to acclimate well to the new environment, possibly due to the presence of resident tortoises. From a management perspective, reintroduction programmes of the Hermann's tortoise are a successful strategy for its recovery. Nevertheless, it seems advisable to avoid: (1) the release of tortoises at the core of well-established populations and (2) areas with a high density of predators, which can jeopardize the reintroduction success, especially when the number of released individuals is small. © 2007 The Zoological Society of London., Funds were partially provided by grant ref. BOS2003-01960 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology

A low presence of haematophagus parasites has been reported in arctic waders. Three hypotheses try to explain these low levels: higher inherent resistance to parasites in the Charadrii, lower presence of parasites in the breeding grounds of waders in the arctic, and influence of the vegetation structure in the habitat of these birds. To test these hypotheses, we took blood samples from 87 alive-trapped Kentish PloversCharadrius alexandrinus nesting in Northeast Spain. None of the samples had haematophagus parasites. Therefore, very low infection rates occur also in a non-arctic species. These data support the hypotheses that Charadrii have a higher resistance or a lower probability of being infected by blood parasites than other taxa, independently of their breeding distribution.