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Climate models predict a severe range contraction and upward shift of suitable habitat for alpine birds

Alpine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change. For widely distributed alpine specialists, rear-edge populations are disproportionately important. The importance and effects of climatic and landscape variables was assessed for 4 alpine bird species (Pyrrhocorax graculus, Prunella collaris, Montifringilla nivalis, Tichodroma muraria).

More than have a million birds registered in Doñana during winter

Last January, the Natural Processes Monitoring Team (ICTS-RBD) of the Doñana Biological Station carried out the International Waterbird Census during winter in the Guadalquivir Marshes (Doñana Natural Space, adjacent unprotected areas and Brazo del Este Natural Site), coordinated by Wetlands International. The total estimated number of birds registered was around 532 thousand, belonging to 91 different species.

Spanish scientists warn: Urgent need for planning of renewable energies to safeguard biodiversity

Spanish researchers warn in a letter that the new projects for renewable enery plants in Spain will affect hundreds of thousands of hectares and that there is no way to offset the huge quantity of valuable habitats that could be lost. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a global priority. To meet this goal, the Spanish government is planning 89 GW of wind and solar photovoltaic energy in the draft of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) for 2021–2030. Despite the...

Models for human porphyrias: Have animals in the wild been overlooked?

Humans accumulate porphyrins in the body mostly during the course of porphyrias, diseases caused by defects in the enzymes of the heme biosynthesis pathway and that produce acute attacks, skin lesions and liver cancer. In contrast, some wild mammals and birds are adapted to accumulate porphyrins without injurious consequences. This study proposes to view such physiological adaptations as potential solutions to human porphyrias, and suggest certain wild animals as models.

Angiosperm seeds lacking external flesh can be adapted for endozoochory

It is often assumed that only plants with a fleshy fruit disperse inside vertebrate guts, i.e. by “endozoochory”. However, only 8% of European angiosperms have a fleshy fruit, and endozoochory of other plants by herbivorous or granivorous birds and mammals is widespread in nature. Many terrestrial and aquatic plants disperse via endozoochory by migratory waterbirds, providing long-dispersal dispersal.
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