Space use of a reintroduced population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) in a protected natural area

Abstract

In Europe, wild ungulates have undergone major expansion and population growth during recent decades. In certain cases, the high density achieved by these populations has led to excessive pressure on the environment, which eventually becomes a limiting factor for the population itself. One of these reintroductions was performed with the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838) in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (Spain). This reintroduced population was monitored during six field seasons (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2014) by direct observation of the animals along transects using the distance sampling method to determine the degree of expansion over the years and the use of different habitats according to different seasons. The abundances obtained for each field season showed a significant increase from 4.16 to 8.65 individuals/km, showing a linear relationship between abundance and extent of the area occupied by the species. We observed that differences between habitat availability and use were significant for all seasons. Our data can be used as an example of the colonization process of a population of wild ungulates and their impact on vegetation to better manage future reintroductions.

Complexity of river ciliate communities at a national park highlights the need for microbial conservation

“…River Site 2 (RS2) (40°45'50.89"N, 3°54'18.03"W, altitude: 1139 m; mean current velocity: 0.167 m s ‐1 ; mean width: 2.3 m; mean depth: 0.51 m; river discharge: 276.2 m 3 s ‐1 ) is located where there are interconnecting natural ponds and water pools traditionally used by bathers. This is one of the areas of the whole National Park with the greatest human impact; it is also a much visited watering spot for Iberian Ibex ( Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838), which is the most abundant mammal species in the area (Refoyo, Olmedo, & Muñoz, ). Here, the valley is wide and the river flows over granitic rock, leaving only small patches of sediment with no riparian vegetation.…”

“…The three sampling sites in the river are shown in bathers. This is one of the areas of the whole National Park with the greatest human impact; it is also a much visited watering spot for Iberian Ibex (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838), which is the most abundant mammal species in the area (Refoyo, Olmedo, & Muñoz, 2016). Here, the valley is wide and the river flows over granitic rock, leaving only small patches of sediment with no riparian vegetation.…”

Population genomics analyses of European ibex species show lower diversity and higher inbreeding in reintroduced populations

“…At high population densities, some barriers might be overcome due to high dispersal pressure. Such dispersal may lead to the colonization of new territories or to population expansion (Refoyo, Olmedo, Polo, Fandos, & Muñoz, 2015;Refoyo et al, 2016). However, dispersal barriers between the two Iberian ibex populations seem to be effective and demographic bottlenecks are evident leading to a high differentiation from each other.…”

“…About ten small populations survived and were legally protected from 1900 to 1960. From 1960s onwards, several Iberian ibex populations were founded by reintroductions (Perez et al, 2002;Refoyo, Olmedo, & Muñoz, 2016). Present-day Iberian ibex populations are mainly found in the mountain ranges of the Sierra Nevada and the Iberian System.…”

Zonificación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama según la presencia histórica de la cabra montés Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838

“…Este hecho provoca que los ejemplares se concentren de forma excesiva, lo que puede dar lugar a que se supere la capacidad de carga del medio, convirtiéndose así en un limitante de la población (Refoyo et al 2016). Desde el año 2000 la superficie ocupada por la especie en el Parque se ha ido ampliando según aumentaba la población, sin embargo, debido a su lento ritmo de dispersión, que no empezó a producirse hasta 2007 (Refoyo et al 2016), la presión ejercida sobre determinadas zonas ha sido muy elevada. Tampoco ha sido la misma la superficie ocupada en función de la época del año, por lo que la presión sobre el medio ha variado de forma estacional.…”