Iberianature

Glaciers to disappear in the Pyrenees by 2050

Glaciar de Monteperdido in the Aragonese Pyrenees (El País)

A Spanish study published in The Holocene has concluded that the progressive rise in temperatures since 1890 will lead to the total disappearance of the Pyrenean glaciers by 2050.

Glaciers advanced during the Little Ice Age (LIA) between 1300 and 1860 in the Pyrenees, Picos de Europa and Sierra Nevada. These were most extensive in the Pyrenees (because of altitude and latitude) but today glaciers remain only in the highest peaks. There were six glaciers in the Picos de Europa Massif during the LIA, and one glacier, the southernmost of Europe, in the Sierra Nevada (Pico de Veleta). All of these glaciers have been in continuous retreat since the end of the nineteenth century, 94 have disappeared completely (Veleta in 1913), leaving 29 glaciers in the Pyrenees (10 in Spain, 11 in France), four buried icepatches in the Picos de Europa and one buried icepatch in the Sierra Nevada. The last 15 years has seen a 50-60% reduction in surface area of the largest glaciers.

The Little Ice Age was not a continuous period of cold. These Iberian glaciers expanded most rapidly between 1645 and 1710, and then shrunk between 1750 and the early 19th century but then recovered after a new cold period. Since the end of the 19th century temperatures have risen more sharply by 0.7ºC and 0.9ºC in the mountains in northern Spain in line with global warming. El País

See also

• Climate guide to Spain
• The Little Ice Age in Spain
• Glaciers in Spain (2004) Spanish glaciers melting fast Greenpeace has released a report on the state of Spain’s glaciers. The glaciers on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees are melting fast.. Total surface area has dropped from 1779 hectares in 1894 to 290 in 2000, representing a fall of 85% in of surface area. 52% of this has occurred in the last 20 years, and 30% between 1991 and 2001.
  

Aragon, Aragonese Pyrenees, Climate, Geography, Picos de Europa, Sierra Nevada, Uncategorized, climate change | Tags: icepatch, Little Ice Age|

Iberian lynx in Central Spain – new relict populations?

A study published by researchers from CSIC this month in Animal Conservation (Looking for the Iberian lynx in central Spain: a needle in a haystack?) examines the possible relict populations of Iberian lynx outside the two known populations of lynx in the Sierra Morena and Doñana. To determine the current distribution of Iberian lynx outside the two recognized populations, the team surveyed five different areas between 2004 and 2007 where the species is considered extinct and collected 581 faeces for the genetic identification of the species. They identified 18 samples as belonging to Iberian lynx in four out of the five areas studied (including the area , providing clear evidence for the presence of lynx in central Spain. In some areas the species was detected repeatedly at different localities and on different dates, indicating a regular occurrence of an unknown number of individuals. Crucially, five new haplotypes have been found which appear to confirm these are genetically distinct animals from new populations and not dispersed animals.

These areas were studied. Lynx scats were found in the first four

• Montes de Toledo
• Sierra del Relumbrar
• Western Sierra Morena
• Río Guadalmez (Ciudad Real), where lynxes were recorded last year and where it appears there is a population of 12-18 individuals. See Lynx in Castilla-La Mancha (from Lynx brief)
• Sierra de Gata. No signs found despite numerous attempts.

As biologist Fernando Alda points out the data proves that they are at least “out there” and that even though they are in very small number they could provide valuable genetic variability to the two main populations of Doñana and Andújar. He also believes they should also be considered as areas for reintroduction.

I haven’t seen the full article on which this story is based though I am sure that more details will come out. My doubt was, as with the River Guadalmez lynxes, whether we are talking about relict populations or a individuals which have dispersed from the Sierra Morena stronghold of Andújar-Cardoña. But the five new haplotypes appear to confirm these are genetically distinct animals which would provide a valuable increase in genetic variability for the lynx.

See also El Público

• Photo above from ex situ Iberian lynx conservation programme. Here

Castilla_La Mancha, Iberian lynx, Mammals, Uncategorized | Tags: Ciudad Real, Fernando Alda, Montes de Toledo, River Guadalmez, Sierra del Relumbrar|

Iberian summer

I’ve had a series of problems with the blog over the last few days, which have yet to be entirely resolved. None of themes seem to work apart from this one, Spanish accents have been rendered into nonsense, bold randomly appears and the links have disappeared. Never mind. Back in two weeks and will sort it out then.

Main iberianture site is here

Uncategorized | |

Spain nature news – April 2007

• Â 26/04 Reintroduced bear in French Pyrenees has two cubs. Photo Hvala, the mother, shortly after being released in 2006. (El Mundo) See bears in Spain

• 20/04 Illegal trapping impeding growth in Cantabrian bear numbers (FAPAS)
• 18/04 Largest tree in Andalucia listed in Sierra de los Filabres, Almeria, remnant of an ancient Mediterranean forest. (El Mundo)

• 16/04 Very hot dry February (INM)
• 16/04 Almeria gazelles return to Senegal. (El Mundo). The Dorcas gazelles (Gazella dorcas neglecta) have been raised in Almeria as part of reintroduction programme. Video here El Pais More here from wikiepdia

• 12/04 WWF claim 20,000 raptors poisoned in Spain in last 15 years! (El Mundo)
• 11/04 Drought may be over. Reservoirs recovering (Consumer)
• 10/04 Climate change to reduce rains in Spain by 40% (Consumer)
• 10/04 Two more lynxes born in captivity making 7 surviving ones this year (Junta de Andalucia)
• The two lynxes rejected by mother die (El Pais) . Rejection is common among first time mothers who “feel” they cannot raise cubs.
• 02/04 Endemic Spanish Minnow ( Jarabugo – Anaecypris hispanica) under serious threat in Guadiana basin (El Pais)
• 01/04 Wolves returning to Ávila and Segovia but under threat elsewhere (El Pais)
• 01/04 Three more lynx cubs born in captivity but one is eaten by mother (El Pais)

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Three lynx cubs born in captivity in Doñana

Great news! Three lynx cubs have been born in captivity in the El Acebuche centre in Doñana, the first this year. The parents are Aura, a female born in Doñana and Garfio, a male from Sierra Morena. Pairs are deliberately put together from different areas to increase DNA variety.

  First images of cubs

Video here from Canal Sur:

El Pais

 UPDATE Another lynx, Artemisa, unfortunately miscarried Here (El Mundo)Â

 In 2005 and 2006, nine cubs were born of which six survived. More are expected this year. See also http://www.iberianature.com/material/iberianlynxnews.htm

Andalucia, Doñana, Iberian lynx, Uncategorized | |

Phototrapping of wildlife

03/03 Phototrapping of wildlife in Asturias (Fapas)

Asturias, Mammals, Uncategorized, bears | |

Wryneck and horseshoe whipsnake

This spectacular photo was sent to me by Clive and Sue who run guided walking tours in the Sierra de Grazalema . The wryneck lost the fight with the horseshoe whipsnake. It ate the chicks and the nest was abandoned. Some more great stuff from them in the next few days.

Â

Andalucia, Sierra de Grazalema, Uncategorized, birds, reptiles & amphibians | |

Jan-Feb-March

29/03 Waterbirds delay their migration to Spain (El Mundo -30/03 And general trend is for birds to arrive earlier from Africa (El pais)

05/03 Spain’s natural parks under threat from urbanism (El Pais)

01/03 Vole poisoning denounced as unselective (Terra)

27/02 Reservoirs at 60%, 10 points above this time last year, though Segura and Júcar still critical (El Mundo).

20/02 Tiger mosquito now present in 26 municipalies in Catalonia, a fourfold growth over 2005 (La Vanguardia) see Tiger Mosquitoes



15/02 64 rare birds in Spain in January including this African crake (Rare Birds in Spain)



14/02 Wolves being killed by snares in Galica (TVE video – click on Reproducir)

14/02 Rainfall set to fall in Iberian Peninsula by up to 40% by 2070 (El Pais)

14/02 Doñana scientists finally prove that rare greater noctule bat like the peregrine falcon feeds on passerine birds (El Mundo)



12/02 Earthquake of 6.1 off Portuguese Coast hits Iberian Peninsula, the strongest since 1969. Buildings evacuated in Andalucia. (El Pais)

12/02 Illegal hunting ring broken up in Sierra de Gredos (Forum)



11/02 Experts defend declaration of bear areas as “remote” and therefore exempt from removal of carrion (LNE)

11/02 Bears increasingly becoming acclimatised to areas of human activity (FAPAS)



04/02 Predicted effects of climate change on Spain: less snow, less beaches, Arid climate of Almeria to spread to much of Andalucía & Castilla-La Mancha. Doñana threatened. Reduction in water resources of 5%- 14% before 2030 (El Pais)

30/01 Worst storms in El Hierro’s history with 500mm in 36 hours decimates population of highly endangered El Hierro Giant Lizard. Only 102 survive of world pop. of 282 have survived (El Pais) 31/1 WWF classify disaster as internationally important (WWF)



30/01 Oil Slick in Algeciras (forum) Demo. in Ronda 10/02 (forum)

29/01 Iberian Lynx documentary on Cuatro at 21:30 Saturday 3rd (Cuatro)

25/01 European storm petrel named SEO’s bird of the year for 2007. Some 5,000 breeding pairs live in Spain’s coasts (SEO) Previous birds of the year



23/01 Galician wolves becoming increasingly “urban” as fire, and lack of prey and carrion drive them from country. Attacks on livestock are up. (Voz de Galicia)



18/01 Pelican and spoonbill chicks in BCN zoo to hatch soon, months earlier than usual. Climate change blamed (La Vanguardia)

17/01 300 sheep killed (photo below) in a stampede after vultures attack sheep in a pen in Loarre, Aragon (Alto Aragon). New attack kills eight in Aragon (Alto Aragon) Appears related to closure of vulture feeding stations. More here on forum



16/01 Environment minister claims current drought, now in its third year, is worst in Spanish history (El Pais ) Aquifers are now at 25% of capacity.



10/01 Situation of bears in French Pyrenees+use of chien patou guard dogs to protect flocks (Empreinte Ours 2 - PDF)

10/01 Spanish met office (INE) doubts 2007 will be hottest year in modern history (Consumer)

06/01 Situtation still critical for lynx despite the birth of 63 cubs in the wild in 2006 (El Mundo)



06/01 63 rare birds recorded in December in Spain (Rare Birds in Spain)



01/01 Climate change may be casuing many brown bears to stop hibernating in the Cantabrian mountains, the only to do so in Europe (The Independent) + (Fapas/El Pais)

01/01 Dinosaur fossils in Teruel thought to be new giant (New York Times) + New species of dinosaur found in Castellon (Ambientum)

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2006 news

2006 Spain nature news

19/12 Year 2006 was the hottest in Spain since records began (El Mundo)

18/12 New bat watching centre in Cueva de los Murciélagos in Sierras Subbéticas. Four species of bat can be seen in the wild. (Ambientum)

16/12 DNA bank set up for future bear reproduction in Asturias (Voz de Asturias)

15/12 EU launches legal action against Spain for hunting birds with birdlime (parany) (EU)

15/12 149,000ha burnt in 2006, 20% less than last year (Consumer)

13/12 20 most harmful invasive species in Spain (GEIB – PDF 20 megas)

11/12 Good autumn sends bears to sleep on a full stomach (Nueva España)

04/12 Sierra Morena now a main bastion for Spanish imperial eagle. The 50 pairs here in 2006 fledged 70 young birds. Management plan working. (El Mundo) + November bird news

30/11 Galicia wants bear back. Last resident bear killed in 1946, but several have been popping in recently (Fapas)

30/11 Two lynx found dead in Sierra Morena in Sept. and Nov. probably died fights with other lynxes. Reduced territory, population and not enough rabbits makes such conflicts commonplace (El Mundo)

28/11 Monfragüe declared Spain’s 14th national park (El Mundo)

28/11 53 rare birds recorded in November in Spain (Rare Birds in Spain)

27/11 Scientists stress importance of turtles in contolling jellyfish swarms (Ambientum) See also this

27/11 “Norway lobster (cigala) in Galica almost extinct (Ambientum)

26/11 Iberian lynx needs 600km2 to expand (Terra)

22/11 Isabelline Shrike. 5th sighting for Spain. Video + great photos (Rare Birds in Spain)

21/11 Three new breeding centres for Iberian lynx in Portugal, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura, in addition to new centres in Jaen and Cordoba (El Mundo)

21/11 50 loggerhead turtles hatch in Fuerteventura (El Pais) Update Another nest hatches (El Mundo – 22/11)

20/11 Monumental trees in Spain (video)

20/11 Griffon vulture only Spanish vulture out of danger. Population has doubled to 16,000 in last 20 years (El Mundo)

17/11 Spain’s forests expand more than any country in the world since 1990 at 2% a year (Consumer) + (FAO report) + (Guardian)

16/11 “Exceptional” submarine waterfall found in Cabo de Gata (El Mundo

13/11 Tiger mosquito poised to expand throughout Spain in 2007, hitching a lift by car (Consumer)

12/11 50,000 wild boar in Catalonia. Numbers continue to rise despite some 24,000 hunted a year in region,. Bring back the wolf says iberianature. (El Pais)

12/11 Legal and illegal wolf culling on increase in Castilla y León (El Pais)

12/11 Spain 12/11 Spanish fleet massively overfishing sharks (El Mundo)

09/11 Warm weather brings cranes arrive a little late this year to Gallocanta (video)

08/11 Wettest October in Spain since 1930 (El Pais)

01/11 Andalusian govenement studying reintroduction of lynx in Hornachuelos and Guadamellato (El Dia de Cordoba)

30/10 Destruction of posidonia beds could worsen effects of climate change ( Ambientum)

29/10 Lynx programme needs 20 cubs in next 5 years to build up captive stock of 60 lynxes (Terra)

29/10 Four new biosphere reserves for Spain (Ancares leoneses, Ancares de Lugo and Sierra de Béjar y Francia, and Mediterranean intercontinental reserve with Morocco) (UNESCO)

27/10 Latest Lynx Brief pdf + lynx latest (Iberianature)

27/10 Interview with Alejandro Sánchez , head of SEO (Consumer)

26/10 Western Cantabrian bear population continues to rise in 2006 with an estimated 12 females giving birth to 24 cubs (ambientum)

22/10 Monk (black) vulture to be reintroduced in Catalonia after extinction 100 years ago. Six individuals arrive at centre in Boumort. (El Mundo)

21/10 Male Iberian rock lizards (Lacerta monticola) use vitamin D to attract females (El Periodico) + Royal Society)

20/10 Captive breeding for endangered Capercaillie in Cordillera Cantábrica (Fapas) More on capercaillie in Spain

19/10 Spread of trumpeter finch into SE Spain due to climate change. More than 800 pairs of this desert bird now present (El Mundo)

15/10 1000s of American mink released from farm in Galicia. Potential ecological disaster (Terra) More on mink

13/10 Female lynx found still alive with leg severed by gin trap (CanalSur). It has since died. (15/10)

10/10 Navas pinewood saved again (see below (El Pais) Spain loses 50,000ha of “green” areas a year to building (El Pais)

09/10 Final figure of 58 lynx cubs born in wild in 2006, 46 in Sierra Morena, 12 in Doñana. Adult population 136, 27 breeding females up from 21 in 2002. (El Pais)

08/10 Builder goes ahead with cutting down of Las Navas Pinewood, despite ruling (see below) (El Pais).

06/10 Building of 1600 luxury home estate+4 golf courses in Castilla-Leon stopped to save black stork and imperial eagle. Huge Las Navas pinewood is safe for now in key decision (El Pais)

03/10 Rainfall 11% less than average for whole of Spain at close of 2005-06 “rain year”, following on from extreme drought of previous year. (El Mundo)

02/10 70-year old lammergeyer nest found in Sierra Nevada, where the species disappeared 50 years ago, though reintroduction is now considered viable here (Fund. Gypaetus-PDF)

30/09 France to release two more bears in Pyrenees in 2006. Photo of Franksa, currently in Ordesa, one of the four surviving bears released in 2006 (Diario de Navarra)

30/09 Stretches of roads around Doñana to be sunken and covered to prevent lynx road kills (El Mundo)

28/09 RedNatura to add almost 1 million hectares to protected areas in Andalucia (P.MedAmb)

Interview with lynx expert Miguel Delibes “lynx is strengthening its position in Sierra Morena but disappearing from Doñana (ABC)

26/09 Plan to protect Spain’s 220 pairs of imperial eagles, 99% of world populalation (SEO)

23/09 Two 2-hour documentaries on wolves in Spain on TVE. First 24/09 at 21:00 TV2. (TVE press note)

23/09 Autumn has arrived. Two online Spanish TV videos on nature in autumn

22/09 Another iberian lynx run over near Doñana, making 20 since 2000 (CanalSur) + Video

21/09 25 loggerhead turtles hatch on beach in Valencia, the first time in 200 years (LasProvincias)

17/09 Concern over Lammergeyer deaths in Pyrenees. 6 found dead in 2006 (FCQ)

16/09 Yet another Iberian lynx run over in Do̱ana, making 19 since 2000, out of a total population of 50. (El Mundo) 17/09 Р36 run over in 20 years (EL Pais)

16/09 EU slates Spain’s ZEPA bird network (SEO) + SEO attacks conservation of Imperial eagle in Madrid (SEO)

16/09 Invasive Zebra mussels expanding up Ebro (El Mundo)

15/09 Two new breeding centres for lynx in Cordoba and Jaen. +50 cubs born in wild this year (A24horas)

15/09 31 endangered European mink born in captivity in Catalonia (terra) More on mink in Spain

15/09 Youngest ever Neanderthal remains found in Gibraltar. They may have survived as late as 24,000BP, 11,000 years more than thought (BBC)

09/09 The wolf in the Picos de Europa (Fapas)

09/09 Sea level rise due to climate change to eat into 15metres of Spain’s beaches. Donaña, Delta del Ebro and L’Albufera to be hit. (El Pais)

06/09 Another hooded seal reaches Galicia (El Mundo)

28/08 Oceana discovers a “forest” of corals and sea fans in Andalusia (Oceana English)

27/08 Somiedo teaches Pyrenees how to live with bears (LNE) – Lack of carrion a problem for Cantabrian bears (Comercio Digital)

27/08 Lammergeyers released in Cazorla doing well after 20 year absence (El Mundo)

27/08 First of 5 bears released in Pyrenees dead, probably from accident fall (El Mundo)

26/08 Interview with preseident of Fundación Oso Pardo, optimistic about future of brown bear if conservation continues (Norte de Castilla)

26/08 Major international study show spring has come forward two weeks in Spain and has 23 more hot days than 30 years ago, eg. almond blossomed before at end of Feb/March but now does so as early as late Jan (El Pais)

22/08 Two Sierra Morena lynxes to be released into Doñana this autumn. Plan seems crazy to me unless they sort out the traffic. (El Mundo)

21/08 Female bear and cub detected in Montanuy in the Aragonese Pyrenees. (Video) 23/08 Fifth bear released into Pyrenees but French authorities do not inform Aragon (El Pais)

21/08 Fourfold increase in whale beachings (22) and sightings in Cantabrian coasts in 2006. Warmer water bringing in plankton and whale’s and dolphin’s prey (El Comercio Digital)

17/08 EU estimates 86,000ha burnt in Galicia in two weeks, 30% more than whole of 2005 (El Pais)

15/08 Bonelli’s eagles beat builders (Guardian) See also Bonelli’s eagle in Spain

15/08 Seven hooded seals reach Spanish waters this summer. Arrival to Cadiz and Almeria unusual for this artic species. (El Pais). More photos CEMMA

12/08 Brown bear numbers up in Castilla y Leon (El Mundo)

11/08 Fires in Galicia. Situation desperate (CNN-El Pais Video). See Forest fires in Spain

09/08 500 invasive species in Mediterranean including 98 fish. Source: 44% Suez Canal, Boats 20%, 7% Gibraltar Straights (El Pais)

08/08 Annual meteorite storm ‘Lágrimas de San Lorenzo‘ set for August 13 at 2:12am (El Mundo)

07/08 Galicia and Catalonia burn (BBC)

02/08 Hottest July in Northern Spain for 45 years (El Mundo) + 70% less fires this year so far, 35000ha burnt (El Mundo)

01/08 Jellyfish numbers to increase in Spanish Med, and Portuguese Man O’War may be on their way (El Mundo/CSIC). They’ve already reached Asturias .

29/07 Latest DNA study confirms Madrid feline IS Iberian lynx (El Pais)

28/07New study of Galician rocks doubles age of Iberian Peninsula to 1160my (El Mundo)

27/07 3000m€ plan to save Guadiana and Daimiel (El Pais)

24/07Las Tablas de Daimiel in critical state because of drought and overuse of aquifers. Just 30ha remain flooded of 1750 total (El Mundo)

23/07 Another iberian lynx run over and killed in Doñana, making 18 in the last 6 years. The species is becoming extinct in Doñana. (El Mundo)

21/07 Monk vulture (Aegypius monachus) population up in Andalusia 230 pairs in total. Sierra Pelada has highest population with 84 pairs. Around 130 chicks fledged this year. Illegal poisoning is still first cause of death. (Junta de Andalucia)

18/07/2006. More than 25,000 birds are electrocuted every year in Spain, half of which are protected, according to SEO. In 2005, 11 Spanish imperial eagles were electrocuted out of a total world population of 141 pairs. 23% of lammergyer deaths are due to electrocution. A 46million euro plan is being prepared to change the most dangerous of posts. El Pais . In the photo, three of the world’s 300 imperial eagles posing on a pylon. I don’t know if it’s a safe one. Anyone know?

15/07 Iberian lynx update Iberian lynx run over on contentious road through area around Doñana.

16/07 400,000-year-old cave bear (Ursus deningeri) DNA recovered from Atapuerca, opening the prospect of finding DNA of human ancestors old than current record of 100,000 years. (La Nueva España)

07/06 First case of bird flu in Spain

06/06 GPS and electric fences for flocks to proteect against bears in Pyrenees. Flocks are attacked 2-3 times a year, especially in spring (El Periodico)

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