Single-and multi-brooded species of birds differ in their seasonal patterns of clutch size. Single-brooded species start with a maximum clutch size that declines continuously as the season progresses, whereas the clutch sizes of multi-brooded species usually increase to a mid-season maximum peak and then decrease progressively until the end of the breeding season. Previous studies have shown that multi-brooded migrant species present seasonal patterns that are similar to single-brooded species at high latitudes but similar to multibrooded non-migratory species at lower latitudes. We studied the Greenfinch Carduelis chloris and Goldfinch C. carduelis populations in eastern Spain (Sagunto, Valencia) between 1975 and to compare seasonal variations in clutch sizes between years with early and late starts to the breeding season. The period over which clutch sizes increase was longer when the breeding season started earlier. The Goldfinch population showed no pattern of initial increase in clutch size when there was a late start to the breeding season: a late start shortens the season giving them less time to breed, and may also coincide with maximum food availability. Thus, the pattern of single-brooded species was observed. In the Greenfinch population, a trend toward the seasonal pattern of single-brooded species was also observed when the following indices were compared: clutch size increase, modal timing, initial slope and timing of maximum clutch size. We have also compared the seasonal patterns of clutch size of both species in eastern Spain with the patterns observed in Britain. Our results show that for both Goldfinches and Greenfinches, the non-migrant southern populations of Sagunto in eastern Spain do not tend towards a more multi-brooded seasonal pattern of clutch size than the migrant Goldfinches of Britain.Passerine birds use two tactics to maximize their number of offspring per breeding season. In singlebrooded species, the clutch size is at its maximum at the start of the breeding season and declines as the season progresses. Multi-brooded species, however, present a different pattern. Their breeding season is longer and females lay several clutches with a midseason peak of clutch size (Lack 1954, Klomp 1970. Therefore, in multi-brooded species, seasonal reproductive success is determined not only by the productivity of each brood but also by the number of broods raised (Bryant 1979, Desrochers & Magrath 1993. As a consequence, Crick et al. (1993) suggested that multi-brooded species start laying before the optimal moment, which accounts for the increase in clutch sizes until the optimal time, when clutch sizes are the largest. In addition, a tendency to start breeding earlier would be normal as it would allow a greater number of clutches per season. Furthermore, the same species might present both patterns across its distribution range if it is made up of non-migrant as well as migrant populations. The Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis shows an initial increase in the size of clutches in the southern p...

The aim of this study was to describe the feeding habits of the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus in orange groves of eastern Spain. The study area was an extensive orange grove near Sagunto (Valencia, Spain). This study combines two different non-invasive methods, the study of food store remains and the macroscopic analysis of feces. A total of 527 feces and the food remains of 172 food stores were recollected from nest boxes. Each feces was classified into five categories according to its characteristics: arthropods, gastropods, oranges, plants, and others. Throughout the year, the garden dormouse consumed all these types of food. The most consumed prey in summer and autumn were insects. However, in winter and spring orange fruit was the principal food type. Seasonal variation of orange, arthropods, gastropods, and plant matter consumption occurred. Among animal prey types, insects were the most consumed group and largesized species were preferred. Vertebrate preys were found in food stores. The annual variation of the garden dormouse diet owing to the seasonal availability of resources in an agricultural environment revealed its feeding behavior plasticity.

RESUMEN: La Reserva de la Biosfera de La Mancha Húmeda es el principal grupo o red de lagunas de interior de la Península Ibérica donde poblaciones de aves acuáticas, con prioridad de conservación a nivel europeo, nidifican e invernan constituyendo un punto caliente para la conservación de la biodiversidad. En la actualidad, es uno de los complejos de humedales más amenazados en España y Europa debido a las actividades humanas, principalmente la agricultura, hasta el punto que en el año 2008 se propuso su descatalogación como Reserva de la Biosfera. Entre enero de 2007 y diciembre de 2010 se ha realizado un censo mensual en 10 lagunas localizadas en el Campo de San Juan (SE de Toledo, SO de Cuenca y NE de Ciudad Real) dentro de la Reserva de la Biosfera, presentando en este trabajo los resultados del seguimiento de las 12 especies catalogadas como SPEC 1 y 2 (BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL, 2004) reconocidas en este espacio geográfico. Los resultados muestran que dos especies, el porrón europeo (Aythya ferina) y la cigüeña común (Ciconia ciconia) son comunes y se encuentran ampliamente distribuidas en las lagunas estudiadas, siendo el porrón europeo la especie que ha mostrado el mayor tamaño poblacional. Cuatro especies (Ciconia nigra, Platalea leucorodia, Marmaronetta angustirostris y Numenius arquata) tienen una presencia ocasional y con muy bajos tamaños poblacionales, utilizando estas lagunas como lugar de descanso en sus rutas migratorias o movimientos dispersivos El resto de especies (Vanellus vanellus, Limosa limosa, Tringa totanus y Philomachus pugnax) presentan escasos efectivos demográficos, utilizando las lagunas de manera ocasional y distribuyéndose de manera discontinua. Cinco lagunas (Manjavacas, Camino de Villafranca, La Veguilla, Salicor y Pedro Muñoz) han presentado en algún momento del periodo de seguimiento de 8 a 10 de las especies inventariadas, todas ellas bajo protección legal como Reserva Natural. La profundidad de la lámina de agua, la presencia de orillas adecuadas, el desarrollo de helófitos, la presencia de nutrientes y las ca-