<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">de preferencias de hábitat y de distribución y abundancia invernal de aves en el centro de España. Análisis y predicción del efecto de factores ecológicos</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Animal Biodiversity and Conservation</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2002</style></year></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">7-40</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Patterns of habitat preference and distribution and abundance of wintering bird fauna in central Spain. Analysis and prediction of the effect of ecological factors.— This paper analyses the effect of geographic, topographic, land use and habitat structure variables on the composition and structure of wintering bird communities in Central Spain (Iberian peninsula). Parameters describing the avifauna varied in a predictable way considering a small group of coarse–grained variables defining the geographical and altitudinal location of the censuses, and the basic characteristics of the structure and typology of habitats: 49–76% of variance accounted for total bird density and for abundance of four ecological groups, 37–63% accounted for species richness and diversity, and 65% explained the relative abundance of species with conservation problems according to the European scale (SPEC figures). Regarding the most widespread species in the study area, significant models were obtained by means of tree regression analysis for 50 species, with an average reduction of deviance of 39%. Altitude was the most important variable affecting bird community parameters and abundance of each bird species, showing a consistent and marked negative effect. Structural complexity of the vegetation and geographical location followed as the variables of importance explaining variability. The habitats with the lowest bird density, richness and diversity of birds were mountain grasslands/shrublands, young pine re–forestations, and Pyrenean oak forests at 1,200–1,600 m a.s.l. The habitats with the highest values on these parameters were riparian forests, agricultural mosaics, and holmoak &quot;dehesa&quot; parklands, mainly located at the southern and western part of the region and at intermediate altitudes. The total density of birds increased from east to west, was higher in intermediate altitudes than in the extremes of the altitudinal range, and increased with habitat structural complexity (i.e., vertical development and degree of vegetation cover), agricultural use of the land, and the presence of water (e.g., streams, rivers, flooded areas). Density of strictly wintering species in the study region decreased latitudinally from southeast to northwest, being higher at intermediate altitudes in localities with presence of water and woodlands dominated by coniferous trees. Abundance of facultative or obligate frugivorous species was very low. Richness of species was higher toward the western part of the study area, increased with habitat structural complexity, and was lower at higher altitudes. On the other hand, the less diverse bird assemblages were those that inhabit agricultural landscapes and/or areas located at higher altitudes. Habitats and areas with a higher relative abundance of species with conservation problems at the European scale (SPEC scores) were located at intermediate altitudes in the southwest and southeast of the study region. The relative abundance of this group of species was also associated to the presence of water, habitat structural complexity and agricultural use. The relationship between the European conservation status of species (SPEC scores) and the patterns of distribution, abundance, habitat preferences and ecological width of 72 species was also analysed. Species with more conservation problems on the European scale have a marked preference for structurally simpler habitats (e.g., agricultural and grasslands habitats) and have a broader altitudinal and among–habitats distribution. Results from the 44 census localities were extrapolated to the remaining region using a geographical information system in order to build predictive maps for density, species richness, species diversity and weighed European conservation status. This work shows that valuable knowledge can be obtained from fragmentary and dispersed data, in order to describe general patterns of distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of birds. This methodological approach could be a valid in environmentally heterogeneous, large regions, with few qualified bird observers and researchers.</style></abstract></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Geographical variation in the density of the white stork Ciconia ciconia in Spain: Influence of habitat structure and climate</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Biological Conservation</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1993</style></year></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">65</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">83-87</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The spatial variation in the density of white storks Ciconia ciconia in Spain is analysed with respect to landscape and meteorological variables. The density of breeding pairs in 1985 was negatively correlated with surface cover of woodlands and shrublands, and posi- tively correlated with the area of dry or wet grasslands, reflecting .food availability and foraging preferences of the storks. Average minimum temperature in April-May (the first .few days after hatching) was also negatively correlated with stork density, and the reproductive success in a colony at El Tietar (Avila) was inversely correlated with the number of days with precipitation in May. The negative influence of minimum temperature and precipitation on breeding density appears to be linked with the mortality of recently born nestlings. Practical recommendations are made for the conserva- tion of the Spanish population of white storks through incentive use of pastures, meadows and 'dehesas' for cattle grazing. Reintroduction efforts must be direct towards zones having large areas of these habitats, and mild weather</style></abstract></record></records></xml>