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Research projects
Ecological effects of invasive species: Comparative use of resources by the exotic African aoudad and the Iberian ibex in sympatry and allopatry, and effects on native flora in southeastern Spain
This project investigates for the first time a main conservation issue in the south east of the Iberian Peninsula, the ecological consequences of the presence of an invasive large herbivore, such as the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia). This North African ungulate was introduced in Spain in 1970, and since then it has been expanding freely through neighbour mountainous areas, not constarined by any barriers of by the presence of predators. It started occupying an empty niche, as not native ungulate inhabited these areas. Recent suitability habitat studies for this species, along with the detailed knowledge of its distribution range, will allow us to carry out samples in various localities in order to tackle two principal aims: a) description of the aoudad diet and incidence on native and endemic flora; b) determine whether this species is a potential competitor of native Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), present in the same geographical area and taxonomically very close to the aoudad.
This study follows a methodology already used by our research group. A series of field transects will determine the vegetation availability, whereas browse signals will be measured in order to establish herbivore pressure. Moreover, a microhistological analysis of plant remains obtained from the ungulate faeces will be carried out in the laboratory, along with nutritive analyses of the plant species found. To determine whether the aoudad may compete for resources with the Iberian ibex, the trophic ecology and habitat use study will be carried out both in areas inhabited exclusively by one of these ungulates (Sierra Espuña and Sierra Nevada), and in areas where they live in sympatry (Sierra de Filabres and Sierra María, located in Almería province). A detailed knowledge of habitat use, activity budgets and food requirements, will allow to establish the degree of resemblance and, thus, competition, between these ungulate species.
The objectives to accomplish are:
1.- Quantitative and qualitative (nutrients) determination of aoudad and Iberian ibex diet in the three main localities diferentiated in the study area: Sierra Espuña (aoudad), Sierra Nevada (ibex), Sierra María and Sierra de Filabres (aoudad and ibex).
2.- Plant selection by the study ungulate species according to plant availabilty.
3.- Effects on threatened or endemic plant species.
4.- Habitat use and activity budgets for both species, based on their traces (fresh faeces on the ground) and/or direct animal encounters in the field.
5.- To determine whether the study ungulate species show similarities in their use of the resources (food and habitat) where they live in sympatry.
6.- To establish management plans to preserve deleterious effects the aoudad, as an invasive species, may be causing.
Funding: Spanish Education and Science Ministry
Coworkers: Jordi Bartolomé, Ignacio Cristóbal, Leticia Díaz, Lucía Gálvez, Ignacio Martín, María Miranda, Marisa Sicilia
Trophic ecology and behaviour of autochthonous and exotic herbivores in sympatry in Castile-La Mancha: food resources use at different spatial scales
This project gets deeper into the study of behaviour and trophic ecology of herbivores in sympatry in a Mediterranean ecosystem of Castile-La Mancha. It is based on a previous project carried out by the applicant research team, where the diet of three ungulate species living in a fenced game reserve, red deer, European mouflon and aoudad, is analysed, along with diverse behavioural hypotheses, including intra and interespecific interactions. From a conservation perspective, it is interesting to note the inclusion of two exotic ungulates in this study. The proposed project will continue studying the same ungulate populations, in the same study area plus others to allow behavioural comparative analyses between them. This new project will include other hervibore, the European rabbit, an essential link in the Mediterranean ecosystem. The methodology used to assess the diet composition of the study species and their comparison will be based on the microhistological analysis of faecal contents. One of out hypothesis is that both the European mouflon and the aoudad might overlap their diet with that of the rabbit, due to their preference for herbaceous species. A series of experiments will be carried out to establish how plants defend against herbivory. The aims of the project can be divided in three main research lines: a comparative study of the trophic ecology of the study herbivores (ungulates and rabbits) living in sympatry; plants response to herbivory pressure through the production of secondary defense compounds; and a detailed study of behavioural ecology of autochthonous and allocthonous ungulate species living in sympatry under different environmental circumstances.
Funding: Castile-La Mancha Government
Coworkers: Jordi Bartolomé, Ignacio Cristóbal, Leticia Díaz, Lucía Gálvez, María Miranda, Eduarda Molina, Marisa Sicilia
Behaviour, nutrition and trophic ecology in sympatric wild ungulates in Castile-La Mancha:
The impact of exotic ungulates on biodiversity
This project deals with the interplay that takes place at the individual and population levels in four ungulate species inhabiting a typical Mediterranean ecosystem: red deer, wild boar, European mouflon and aoudad. Comparative ecology of the four species will be carried out, evaluating interspecific competitive degree when obtaining natural resources, as well as their adaptability to the habitat that predominates in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. Also, as two of the study species are of an exotic origin, mouflon and aoudad, our results will show how they have adapted to our ecosystems and whether they are keen to compete to autochthonous species. In order to carry out this fine study, we are grateful to La Morera Game Reserve as they will readily collaborate with us. This reserve is located in Ciudad Real province and it conforms 1000 ha. of a mixture structure of open pasture, isolated oak trees and oak shrubs hills along with nude rocky elevations.
A series of ecological and functional questions will be tackled, such as habitat use, home ranges, and population structure for each species during an annual cycle, as well as the use of extra food sources, as there are troughs scattered throughout the study reserve. Currently a debate on sexual segregation in ungulates and its causes is still open, with a number of hypotheses contemplated that will be tested during this study. One of the main objectives is to detect interspecific competition if any between autochthonous and allochthonous ungulates. Moreover, a detailed study of individuals use of the available food resources both intra and interspecifically will be undertaken.
Funding: Castile-La Mancha Government
Coworkers and collaborators: Jordi Bartolomé, Ignacio Cristóbal, Yolanda Fierro, María Miranda, Eduarda Molina, Marisa Sicilia
Morphobiometric study of the Andalusian roe deer antlers
The main objective of this study is to characterize the morphological traits of the Andalusian roe deer antlers, and compare them with those of other roe deer populations from Spain and Europe. If differences are found, and from a game policy perspective, defining in detail such traits will help in addressing proper management strategies to prevent hybridization events.
Traits to be measured:
a) Antlers morphological traits
- Length and thickness
- Detachment according to a cross-sectional axis and inclination according to a longitudinal axis
b) Antlers asymmetry
c) Multivariant analyses to determine statistical differences between traits and roe deer populations
Funding: Andalusia Government
Coworkers and collaborators: Jesús Caro, Miguel Delibes-Mateos, Cristina San José
Behavioural and trophic ecology of the Majorcan wild goat (Capra hircus) and free-ranging goat livestock in Majorca
First study dealing with the ecology of the Majorcan wild goat. The main objective of this study is the comparative analysis of diet, the use of trophic resources and population groups of Majorcan wild goat and free-ranging goat livestock.
Detailed objectives are as follows:
1. Population structure analysis: density, sex ratio, age classes distribution, groups, diet, habitat selection and behaviour.
2. Plant species availability in different study sites, as a measure of trophic resource selection.
3. Browse sign sampling in the study sites.
4. Diet analysis of Majorcan wild goat and free-ranging goat livestock based on faeces content and behavioural observations.
5. Discussion and proposals on wild goat management as a game species and the increasing presence of free-ranging domestic goats.
Funding: Spanish Innovation and Science Ministry
Coworkers: Josep Antoni Alcover, Elena Baraza, Jordi Bartolomé, Joan Vives
Game exploitation of the aoudad and the European mouflon in Castile-La Mancha: Scientific bases for their management
This study pretends to unveil two main ecological effects caused by the presence of exotic ungulates in fenced hunting estates in Castile-La Mancha. On the one hand we will analyse effects on vegetation, and secodly effects on autochthonous ungulate species living in sympatry with the exotic ones, particularly the Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus). The exotic ungulates inhabiting this region are the European mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) and the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia).
This study follows a methodology already used by our research group. A series of field transects will determine the vegetation availability, whereas browse signals will be measured in order to establish herbivore pressure. Moreover, a microhistological analysis of plant remains obtained from the ungulate faeces will be carried out in the laboratory. To determine whether the exotic ungulates may compete for resources with red deer, the study will be carried out both in estates where exotics and deer live in sympatry, and in estates inhabited exclusively by deer.
Aims of the study are:
a) To summarize the distribution of exotic ungulate species in Castile-La Mancha.
b) To determine the incidence of large herbivores on the Mediterranean shrub ecosystem characteristic from central Iberian Peninsula, relative to the presence or absence of exotic ungulates.
c) To determine the direct or indirect ecological influence of exotic ungulates on autochthonous deer populations.
d) According to the results obtained, to propose management procedures in big game properties where exotic and autochthonous ungulates live in sympatry.
Funding: Castile-La Mancha Government
Coworkers: Jordi Bartolomé, Leticia Díaz, María Miranda, Marisa Sicilia
Genetic characterization of aoudad subspecies
This project aims to characterize genetic variability of the aoudad populations that originated current acknowledged subspecies in their native range in the North of Africa. We are having no funds to carry out this study, and although some tissue samples have already been analysed, only samples from a fraction of the aoudad populations have been obtained so far.
Coworkers and collaborators: Ignacio Cristóbal, Mariano Cuadrado, Conrad Enseñat, Pilar Flores-Romero, Annie Machordom, Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Tim Wacher
Other projects
Use of non-invasive methods to characterise populations and reproductive status on endangered mammals: analysis of hormonal metabolites
We have collaborated in this project supervised by Teresa Abáigar. It follows a summary of the two main objectives. The purpose of the first is methodological, to determine the period of time that can elapse between evacuation and collection of faeces in the field without environmental degradation significantly affecting hormone level and the correlation between sexual behaviour and hormonal level in the different reproductive phases. The purpose of the second is to find a pattern of hormone excretion as a function of sex, age and reproductive status in the mohor gazelle, barbary sheep and Iberian lynx in captivity. This pattern will be compared to those found in semi-free populations of the same species. Comparison of the two different patterns will show what environmental factors and action mechanisms affect reproductive success in these species
Habitat suitability models in native and exotic ungulates
This project refers to the PhD Thesis by Pelayo Acevedo, entitled "Ecogeography of the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica): Relationship with other sympatric ungulates in the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula", co-supervised by Jorge Cassinello
Animal behaviour in captivity: teaching of sampling methods under different contexts and species
29 October 2010
