Nova Acta Científica Compostelana

Bird communities after 37 years in a rural area of NW Spain

María Losada — 2023-04-01

In a globalized world, changes in human activities are negatively affecting biodiversity at different scales. Long-term monitoring of bird communities can inform about changes in biodiversity over time. We explored how bird species richness, and abundance changed after a 37-year period at 5 sites in O Courel Mountains, a well conserved region of NW Spain. We also analyzed the abundance changes over time in the 15 most abundant species and whether these changes relate to the phenotypes of these species. Repeated bird surveys were performed in the same locations of five different sites in 1977 and 2014. Our results showed species richness and overall bird abundance did not change after 37 years within the five studied sites. Although, within species analyses showed 8 species changed their abundances. Overall, Cyanistes caeruleus, Garrulus glandarius, Parus major, Prunella modularis and Sylvia atricapilla increased their abundances and Erithacus rubecula, Phylloscopus ibericus, and Troglodytes troglodytes decreased over time. We did not find any relationship between the change in species abundances and bird phenotypes. This study shows that, despite the specific changes in the abundance of eight species over nearly four decades, overall bird species richness and abundance may be maintained in well preserved natural areas.

New records of rare ferns in Galicia

Eva Martínez-Veiga — 2023-10-02

This work increases and updates the knowledge of the distribution of seven species of rare and/or threatened ferns (Cystopteris diaphana (Bory) Blasdell, Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh., Dryopteris carthusiana (Vill.) H.P.Fuchs, Leptogramma pozoi (Lag.) Heywood and Dryopteris guanchica Gibby & Jermy in Galicia with the contribution of 19 new records. The localities where sampling was carried out are concentrated in the province of A Coruña, in the municipalities of Arteixo, Carral, Cambre, Cerceda, Oleiros, Ordes and Sada, and the provinces of Lugo (Sober) and Pontevedra (Pontevedra). In addition to the location data, we provide information on their ecology, habitat, conservation status, demography, taxonomy, and personal observations of the species mentioned together with information on the accompanying communities.

Redescription of "Algarvia alba" García-Gómez & Cervera, 1989 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Aeolidioidea) from the Ría de Ferrol (Galicia, NW Iberian Peninsula).

Victoriano Urgorri Carrasco — 2023-09-03

Algarvia alba García-Gómez & Cervera, 1989 is a little-known nudibranch mollusk (Aeolidioidea: Facelinidae) that inhabits sandy-rocky substrates along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. This species is only known from 3 specimens, two corresponding to the type series and collected in Algarve (Portugal), and one specimen photographed in Getaria (Basque Country). The anatomy of a new specimen collected from the Ría de Ferrol is described in detail for the first time by means of X-ray microcomputed tomography (Micro-CT); this non-destructive technique allows obtaining sequential images of the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes. The systematics of Facelinidae is not properly resolved yet and therefore we propose to keep Algarvia in this family until more information becomes available.

Dieta y selección de pasto por garranos ("Equus ferus atlanticus") de Galicia

Santiago Bas López — 2023-07-23

During 119 hours, distributed over 2014 and 2015, a follow-up was carried out by direct and close observation on the natural pasture consumed by two Garrano mares (Equus ferus atlanticus) in habitats in the southwest of Galicia. During these observations, plant species consumed by the animals, those that they avoided, and those that they tried and rejected, were distinguished.

On average, the mares avoided consuming 57.46% of the 141 species they encountered. Among the phanerogams, certain species were eaten whenever encountered, while others were occasionally avoided, and others always avoided. The mares consumed a combination of herbaceous and woody species throughout the different seasons, among which plants of the Poaceae family and the Ulexgenus stood out. They never ingested Basidiomycetes or cryptogams, with the sole exception of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) during the summer. Similarly, they also avoided consuming the tree species present except oak (Quercus robur L.) acorns and, on rare occasions, willow (Salix atrocinerea Brot.) and oak (Quercus robur) leaves. There was some significant seasonal variation in the diet of the animals.

The results obtained in the present study can serve as a documentary basis for the management of the Garranos of Galicia, which are currently in a marked population decline.

Nuevas aportaciones a la flora vascular de humedales de Galicia

Maria Inmaculada Romero Bujan — 2023-06-19

Information and chorological data of interest on some species of vascular flora, which are unknown or have few records in Galician wetlands, are presented. Two of the species included are novelties for the Galician flora: Ludwigia peploides subsp. montevidensis and Sicyos angulatus, and other species are provincial novelties such as Myosotis debilis and Potamogeton pectinatus; the rest of them are very rare species or for which there are hardly any bibliographic references of their presence in their provinces for the last half century.

Anatomical study of "Onchidella celtica" (Gastropoda, Eupulmonata, Onchidiidae) by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). A first approach to its applicability in Onchidiidae (Gastropoda, Eupulmonata).

Jesús Fernández-Gutiérrez — 2023-07-12

The family Onchidiidae comprises a group of air-breathing marine slugs that can be very abundant in the intertidal zone of temperate shores worldwide. Recently, the phylogeny of the genus Onchidella has been reassessed by means of molecular markers, but anatomical studies are still needed to support these conclusions. In the present work, the anatomy of Onchidella celtica has been studied by using X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), a non-invasive technique that allows for 2D and 3D imaging of the external and internal anatomy of specimens without irreversible damage. To date, the potential of this technique for the anatomical study of onchidiids had not been assessed yet and therefore a reconstruction of the whole internal anatomy of O. celtica is provided here. Most of the organs and structures were clearly visualized; our observations largely agree with previous descriptions also highlighting the usefulness of micro-CT for the anatomical study of onchidiids.

Notes on Lichenicolous "Micarea" species in Spain and Macaronesia, with the description of two new species

Pieter Van Den Boom — 2023-05-29

Six species of Micarea growing lichenicolous are treated. They are mainly collected in Macaronesia or Spain. Two species, Micarea amplissima and M. parasitica are described as new to science. Notes on the occurring of lichenicolous Micarea, M. kemmleri, M. peliocarpa, M. synotheoides and M. usneae are provided.