https://hdl.handle.net/2072/352788 2026-04-08T13:10:27Z 2026-04-08T13:10:27Z Martín-Huete, M. Quesada, Javier Pérez-Portela, R. https://hdl.handle.net/2072/489205 2026-02-02T12:10:21Z 2026-01-29T00:00:00Z

Contrasting metabolic responses to increasing temperature in four mediterranean echinoderms Martín-Huete, M.; Quesada, Javier; Pérez-Portela, R. Marine ectotherms, organisms whose body temperature depends on their environment, often rely on physiological plasticity to withstand rapid temperature increases when behavioural adjustments are insufficient. Despite extensive research on thermal tolerance, gaps remain in understanding species- and population-level metabolic responses to acute thermal stress, particularly in rapidly warming regions like the Mediterranean Sea. This study assessed metabolic responses to acute warming in four echinoderm species with distinct thermal affinities but overlapping distributions in the Western Mediterranean: the sea urchins Arbacia lixula (subtropical) and Paracentrotus lividus (temperate-cold), and the brittle stars Ophiothrix sp. II (temperate) and Ophiocomina nigra (temperate-cold). Oxygen consumption, used as a proxy for Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), was measured at sequential temperatures (16 °C, 20 °C, 23 °C, 26 °C), following a short acclimation period. Species exhibited divergent metabolic trajectories and thermal sensitivities (Q₁₀), reflecting their thermal affinities, local adaptations, and phenotypic plasticity. A. lixula and Ophiothrix sp. II displayed sharp BMR increases, indicating resilience but proximity to their upper thermal limits. In contrast, O. nigra maintained stable metabolic rates, suggesting broad physiological plasticity. P. lividus displayed population-level divergence: individuals with cooler-origin experienced metabolic suppression and severe thermal stress at 26 °C, whereas those with warmer-origin maintained higher metabolic activity. Overall, phenotypic plasticity emerged as a key short-term strategy to cope with acute warming. However, species with narrower thermal tolerance, such as P. lividus, might face long-term vulnerability under intensifying marine heatwaves. These results highlight the importance of integrating thermal history, plasticity, and genetic variation to accurately predict resilience to ocean warming.

2026-01-29T00:00:00Z Pasino, Martina Giménez, Joan Tinti, Fausto https://hdl.handle.net/2072/486654 2025-09-15T10:28:07Z 2025-08-13T00:00:00Z

Tracing time's footprints: exploring feeding ecology and historical changes of mediterranean common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) over two centuries Pasino, Martina; Giménez, Joan; Tinti, Fausto The Mediterranean common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) presents an enigmatic natural history during the past centuries. Widely prevalent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it faced a significant decline across most of the basin by the late 1960s caused by multiple anthropogenic threats, including culling, bycatch, prey depletion, and habitat degradation. The IUCN has designated the Inner Mediterranean population of common dolphins as Endangered. Here, we analyzed stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon (δ15N and δ13C) on skeletal remains collected in Mediterranean natural history museums to investigate spatio-temporal trophic shifts and niche partitioning of the Mediterranean common dolphin over the past 200 years. Results indicate that before the 1970s common dolphins occupied a higher trophic level, while after their population decline, they shifted their ecology, overlapping with the striped dolphin, reflecting changes in prey and habitat use. This study provides the first long-term evidence of trophic and ecological shifts in the Mediterranean common dolphin, offering insights into the potential drivers of its decline. Understanding these changes is crucial for conservation efforts, as the species' past and present ecological roles may inform strategies to mitigate further population losses.

2025-08-13T00:00:00Z Guallar, Santi Cai, Xiaouyu Quesada, Javier https://hdl.handle.net/2072/484644 2025-08-06T14:11:41Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Environmental drivers of House Sparrow Passer domesticus presence and abundance in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona: a multi-variant approach Guallar, Santi; Cai, Xiaouyu; Quesada, Javier Despite being one of the most abundant animal species in the world, House Sparrow Passer domesticus numbers have declined significantly worldwide in recent decades, above all in urban areas. We studied the influence of vegetation, urban structure, human activity and predators on the presence and abundance of House Sparrows in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (MBA), Catalonia, Spain. We established 80 point-counts in four land categories defined by urban location (intraurban, periurban) and urbanisation density (low, high) in spring and winter in 2015 and 2016. We used random forest models to analyse how presence and abundance were related to 22 explanatory variables. Our results highlight the complex interaction between structural and anthropogenic factors and House Sparrow presence and abundance. Presence increased with proximity to allotments and in areas with mid-level tree densities and no shrub cover; conversely, abundances peaked in areas with more litter. Predators and urban land-category had little impact on either House Sparrow presence or abundance. Neither presence nor abundance showed seasonal differences. Natural and semi-natural vegetation remnants and the heterogeneity of green spaces are crucial for the presence of House Sparrows in urban landscapes. As urbanisation becomes more intensive and homogeneous, these green spaces are becoming increasingly scarce, a factor that probably contributes to the observed declines in this sparrow’s populations throughout Europe. Human activity plays a critical role in its abundance, although any dependence on human-mediated resources may leave populations vulnerable in the event of changes in urban waste-disposal practices.; Tot i ser una de les espècies animals més abundants a escala mundial, el pardal comú Passer domesticus ha experimentat un declivi significatiu en les últimes dècades, especialment a les zones urbanes. Vam analitzar la influència de la vegetació, l'estructura urbana, l'activitat humana i els depredadors en la presència i abundància del pardal comú a l’Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), Catalunya, Espanya. Es van realitzat 80 punts de cens en quatre tipus de paisatge urbà, definits segons la ubicació urbana (intraurbà, periurbà) i la densitat d’urbanització (baixa, alta) durant la primavera i l’hivern de 2015 i 2016. Mitjançant random forests, hem examinat la relació entre 22 variables explicatives i la distribució dels pardals. Els nostres resultats posen en relleu la interacció complexa entre factors estructurals i antropogènics en la presència i abundància del pardal comú. La presència augmentava en zones properes a horts, amb densitats mitjanes d’arbres i sense coberta arbustiva, mentre que l’abundància era més elevada en zones amb més acumulació de deixalles. Els depredadors i la categoria de sòl urbà van tenir un impacte molt reduït en la presència i abundància de pardals. No es van trobar diferències estacionals significatives. Els fragments de vegetació natural i seminatural, així com la heterogeneïtat dels espais verds, són essencials per a la presència del pardal comú en paisatges urbans. A mesura que la urbanització s’intensifica i s’homogeneïtza, aquests espais verds es tornen més escassos, fet que contribueix al seu declivi arreu d’Europa. L’activitat humana també és clau per a l’abundància dels pardals, però la seva dependència de recursos mediats per humans pot fer-los vulnerables als canvis en les polítiques de gestió de residus urbans.; A pesar de ser una de las especies animales más abundantes a nivel mundial, el gorrión común Passer domesticus ha experimentado un declive significativo en las últimas décadas, especialmente en entornos urbanos. En este estudio, analizamos la influencia de la vegetación, la estructura urbana, la actividad humana y los depredadores en la presencia y abundancia del gorrión común en el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), Cataluña, España. Realizamos 80 puntos de muestreo en cuatro tipos de paisaje urbano, definidos según la ubicación (intraurbano, periurbano) y la densidad de urbanización (baja, alta) durante la primavera y el invierno de 2015 y 2016. Mediante random forests, evaluamos la relación entre 22 variables explicativas y la abundancia y presencia del gorrión común. Nuestros resultados destacan la compleja interacción entre los factores estructurales y antropogénicos en la presencia y abundancia del gorrión común. Su presencia aumentó en áreas cercanas a huertos, con densidades medias de árboles y sin cobertura arbustiva, mientras que su abundancia fue mayor en zonas con mayor acumulación de residuos. Los depredadores y la categoría de suelo urbano tuvieron un impacto muy reducido en la presencia y abundancia de gorriones. No se observaron diferencias significativas entre estaciones. Los fragmentos de vegetación natural y seminatural, así como la heterogeneidad de los espacios verdes, son fundamentales para la presencia del gorrión común en paisajes urbanos. A medida que la urbanización se intensifica y se homogeneiza, estos espacios verdes se vuelven más escasos, contribuyendo a su declive en Europa. La actividad humana también desempeña un papel clave en la abundancia de los gorriones, pero su dependencia de recursos antropogénicos puede hacerlos vulnerables a cambios en las políticas de gestión de residuos urbanos.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Durão, Ana Filipa Muñoz-Muñoz, Francesc Martínez-Vargas, Jessica Ventura, Jacint https://hdl.handle.net/2072/481496 2026-01-16T07:55:41Z 2018-10-31T00:00:00Z

Obtaining three-dimensional models of limb long bones from small mammals: a photogrammetric approach Durão, Ana Filipa; Muñoz-Muñoz, Francesc; Martínez-Vargas, Jessica; Ventura, Jacint The use of two-dimensional (2D) pictures to analyse form variation of three-dimensional (3D) objectsentails measurement error, loss of important information and a possible misinterpretation of real shapechanges. Despite the increasing availability of 3D imaging technologies, many geometric morphometricanalyses of 3D objects are often performed on 2D images for several reasons. This issue is particularlyrelevant in the study of postcranial bones from small mammals, as devices precise enough for digitisingtiny objects are the most expensive ones. In this chapter, we describe a photogrammetric protocol toobtain 3D models of limb long bones from small mammals. The procedure is based on obtaining 2Dpictures from different angles using techniques of macro photography. To assess the usefulness of thismethod for geometric morphometric studies, we compare the form of the humerus between fossorial andsemiaquatic water vole species (genus Arvicola).

2018-10-31T00:00:00Z