Scientists have warned of a new plague of jellyfish to hit Spain this summer. The Guardian here reports that scientists were “alarmed to detect large numbers of the Pelagia noctiluca, commonly known as the “mauve stinger”, growing in the winter”.
..A study has revealed that jellyfish proliferate throughout the year, not just in the summer. Between November and January, scientists discovered 30 colonies, or blooms, ranging in size from four to 10 jellyfish per cubic metre of water, all along the Catalan coast. “The problem seen on the beaches is not the main concern for scientists….Jelly expert Professor Gili, noted “For us the major worry is the global disequilibrium in the sea caused by over-fishing.” In 2006, the Red Cross treated 21,000 people who had been stung on the beaches of Catalonia, while on a single day in August, 400 bathers were treated at a beach in Málaga. One cause of the problem is the decrease in leatherback turtles, a principal predator, which have been driven to the point of extinction because the beaches where they lay eggs have been used for tourism.
Archive for February, 2008
Jellyfish plague warning
Friday, February 29th, 2008Bear death case re-opened
Friday, February 29th, 2008From ABC.es;
The case of the Cantabrian brown bear found dead in the Polentinos region of the Cantabrian mountains on the 11th of August, 2007 has been re-opened to finally establish the cause of death.
Electric fences against wolf attacks
Friday, February 29th, 2008Electric fences stop 97% of attacks by wolves on livestock according to this article from EFE. In an experiment in 30 sheep farms in Spain, only three attacks occurred with the death of just one sheep during a year. Mastiffs are effective, though less so, with a 69% reduction in livestock injuries and deaths. The results were presented at the meeting Conviviendo con el lobo: Prevención de daños en Europa Meridional held in Segovia this February.
Traditional huts in Spain
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008The iberianatureforum image gallery just gets better and better. Check out here the array of huts everybody has collected from around Spain. And it’s only been going three weeks. Here below a corrala from the Sierra de la Culebra.
A corrala (not corral!) is a traditional construction unique to the the Sierra de la Culebra. The heather thatch edging with an open centre protected sheep against both the rain and the wolf, and should the latter have managed to jump in, it would never have got out.
Most corralas are falling into disuse. A few have been restored as folk monuments. These days, shepherds lock up their flocks in warehouses.
Renewable energy in Portugal
Friday, February 22nd, 2008Article here from the BBC on the plans in Portugal for renewable energy. The government wants 45% of the country’s electricity to come from renewables such as wind, hydro, and solar by 2010. “This challenge will create a new industrial revolution,” said Portugal’s economy minister. Amongst the projects under way in Portugal is building of the the world’s biggest solar power farm here below in Moura.
The Cantabrian brown bear on Wikipedia
Thursday, February 21st, 2008The Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus arctos) now has its own page on Wikipedia which will, hopefully, be of interest to a worldwide readership and bring it more attention internationally. There’s information on the tricky subject of the scientific classification of Ursidae species as well as threats that are currently confronting the bears’ survival and the conservation measures being undertaken to combat them to ensure their continued presence in Spain.
Posted by Lisa
Iberian image gallery
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008Forum partner Clive has been hard at work secretly setting up the new iberianatureforum image gallery. Full marks to him, and to all the people who have begun to post their images and descriptions. The quality and range of the photos and texts make me believe this is soon going to be the best gallery on Spain on the Net. When Clive is not slaving away on the forum he also runs Wildside Holidays.
Below an image from the gallery: the Hayados de Tejera Negra by Dave who writes:
“The beech trees of Tejera Negra were planted in remote times, when the climate was colder and more humid than it is now.” Read
Spanish drought worsens
Monday, February 18th, 2008Spain is suffering its worst drought in the October-March semester for 60 years, with a national average of just 177 mm compared to the normal value of 316 mm. Only the unlikely event of very heavy rains over the next two weeks would save the period from beating the record. The prolonged drought over the last three years is the worst since reliable records began.
El Mundo
Lynx found dead on Andujar road
Monday, February 11th, 2008A young male lynx has been found dead on a road in the Sierra de Andujar. (El Mundo) If, as it seems likely, it was killed by a car, it would be the first I think for more than a year. See also No lynx killed this year on Doñana’s roads
Lammergeyer in Cazorla
Monday, February 11th, 2008Good news for the Lammergeyer (quebrantahuesos. Less than two years after the release of the first individuals from the captive breeding programme of Cazorla y Segura where the bird became extinct in 1980s, the young birds have begun to disperse as far as the French Pyrenees and to areas such as Montes de Toledo, La Rioja, and Castilla y León.The first three individuals, released in May 2006, have flown 25,000 kilometres according to GPS system which is tacking them. However, all of the birds have returned home to Cazorla to breed. There are now 18 lammergeyers flying free in the Sierras de Cazorla y Segura, 12 of which were born in the breeding centre and the rest brought from Austria and the Czech Republic. More releases are planned to boost the population.
Los 25.000 kilómetros del quebrantahuesos (El Pais)
More on the bearded vulture on Iberianature
Climate change to affect shellfish in Galicia
Monday, February 11th, 2008
According to the Centro de Investigacións Mariñas of Galicia barnacle captures are likely to be favoured by alterations due to climate change, though clam and cockle farming will be hit.
Clams and cockles will be negatively affected by torrential rains as their principal beds lie at the mouth of rivers. Heavy rains will bring a large influx of fresh water harmful to shellfish. High water temperatures will lead to proliferation of pathogenic agents which attack clams and cockles.
On the plus side, the production of barnacles has increased in recent years coinciding with a fall in algal blooms, though the article does not explain why. More soon when I understand this.
El cambio climático favorecerá la captura del percebe en Galicia (El Pais)
More on barnacles from Iberianature
Asturian otters on video
Friday, February 8th, 2008Busybee of the forum has uploaded this rather nice video of otters feeding and playing in Arriondas, Asturias. The images from the second half (1m:30s) are excellent. Follow the forum thread
Or watch the video full size here
Elephants in Spain?
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008Best thread of the month on the forum goes to this fascinating piece of hypothetical speculation started by Steve T and followed up by several others. Could modern African elephants have also lived in Iberia? Steve T:
“Aristotle said around 350 BC that elephants were numerous in the lands around the Pillars of Hercules (straits of Gibraltar). When this has been quoted it has been understood to mean that there were elephants on the ‘African side’, as there is later historical evidence of elephants in North African eg Hannibal’s elephants (except his own personal elephant, which is believed to have been Asian …and bigger than the rest, which were North African elephants). Aristotle may have wanted to include Iberia too, as having elephants but this not made clear at all. What we do know is that elephants are excellent swimmers. The Straits of Gibraltar are only 14 km wide, which is nothing for an elephant. So, if there were elephant populations on the ‘Moroccan side’, there is a good chance that there were populations on the Spanish side or at least elephants were occasional or even regular visitors.” Read the arguments
