ORNITHOLOGY

Author: RAMÍREZ GARCÍA ÁLVARO.
Year: 2003.
University: COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID [www.ucm.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS BIIOLÓGICAS.

Summary: This thesis explores the biogeografía of forest birds in the Iberian peninsula. We note that the distribution of this group of birds respondoe from a complex interplay of factors, both geographical and environmental and biological. The remarkable environmental contrasts that characterize this region generate different selective pressures according to geographical location. At regional level, there is a gradual loss of species in spring toward the southern areas, where only mountain maintain values importanes wealth. This is due to geographical effects (effects peninsula and Effect of edge Range), and environmental (progressive desgradación the quality of habitat as a result of increasing temperature and decreasing humidity and forest cover). However, the patterns are almost opposite in winter, when the Mediterranean acquired great importance for wintering birds through its more tempered climate and a high availability of trophic resources. This strong seasonality characteristics of the Iberian environments, a key factor in the dynamics of bird populations. The altitude, through environmental variables associated appears as one of the main regulators of communities bird forest ibércias, which were also affected by the structure of the forest resource distribution trófcios locally. Surge and a close relationship between altitude and behavior migrador of birds, which blurs the latitudinal gradient described a continental scale. However, the biological characteristics of the species affect the intensity of their response to this patchwork of environmental conditions, showing differences groups according to their biogeographical or trophic ecology (diet, substrate feeding ..). Also, certain processes and interración among species or populations, as the attraction for heteroespecíficos and competition with conespecíficos play an important role in their distribution patterns. Finally, we analyze the effect of all these patterns observed on the effectiveness of existing networks of protected areas and some mechanisms for selecting areas and use the results to propose measures aimed at the conservation of forest birds Iberian.

Author: COSTILLO BORREGO EMILIO.
Year: 2004.
University: EXTREMADURA [www.unex.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.

Summary: The thesis study is the selection of resources stocks extremeñas of Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) at different scales along its life cycle. This study showed that the choice of nesting place was found mainly asocaida the slope and isolation versus human activity. But these preferences were nuanced in each of the colonies extremeñas according to the particularities of the same. Similarly the breeding success of the species was associated with factors ranging both in the area of the nest in the area campeo. Again the anthropic element was important as it was the only factor that was associated with the failure player globally in Extremadura. Adults in Black Vulture showed areas campeo very wide, which allows them to expltoar carrion away from the colonies. Here there are significant differences in the areas of campeo and movement of individuals marked adults. Forests and rangeland acquired great importance for birds to establish their areas campeo, especially in the areas most used by the copy. In the areas of food along with the importance of means also had relevance wooded areas desarbolads as grasslands. They showed a different pattern of behavior in the use of space areas campeo bigger. Females carried out further displacement that males and settled outside the colony, long-distance and over a period of time. In all colonies in Extremadura, the Black Vulture based its food eating carcasses of sheep. However, significant differences were apparent in dams with the black vultures completed their diet in each colony. It was revealed in this way the great plasticity ecosystem (Decrease of the populations of rabbits, aumetno of raising sheep and pigs, boom trophy hunting, etc..). These peculiarities of each colony point to the importance of considering while devising strategies for the conservation of the species. Thus awareness of the availability of resources within each colony, should be taken into account for the conservation of Black Vulture.

Author: AGUIRRE DE MIGUEL JOSÉ IGNACIO.
Year: 2005.
University: COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID [www.ucm.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS.

Summary: The two major blocs that consists refer to the differences strategies adopted by parents to maximize their effectiveness and breeding that directly affect the chicken that might arise and some of the effects on chickens these strategies taken by their parents, using different indicators of biological effectiveness. The age of the parents has an influence on breeding success, which could determine both the number of chickens that are born as the success or failure of a breeding pair. This influence may depend on the experience acquired adults of this species of long life, throughout its existence. In this regard, rather than nidificaicón is influenced by various factors such as the age of the individuals and / or their success or failure player in the same nest in the previous season. This strategy may result in reproductive also some benefit from the viewpoint of the biological effectiveness. Parents also influence their children through strategies adopted. The order in which they are born chickens have an impact not only in his physical condition in the short term, but also in its future into the biological effectiveness as a breeding population. The first are those who hatched successfully reproduced get worse in their early years. The contribution of food constant throughout the year provided by municipal solid waste landfills, offset the worst physical condition initial younger siblings, allowing them to make a journey of migration and shorter before arriving at their breeding areas older siblings with a consequent benefit reproduced. The decisions of parents also tinten an influence on the cellular immune response. This is determined by the position in pollada, sex and weight of the egg that was coming. There is a balance between growth and the body's immune system and it is possible that certain hormones involved in the expression of secondary sexual characters have an inhibitory effect on this system.

Author: MARZAL REYNOLDS ALFONSO.
Year: 2005.
University: EXTREMADURA [www.unex.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS.