Effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network in protecting Iberian endemic fauna

Abstract

The Iberian Peninsula is a major European region of biodiversity, as it harbours more than 30% of European endemic species. Despite a number of studies having evaluated the ability of nature reserves to protect certain taxa, there is still a lack of knowledge on how Iberian endemic fauna are represented in these reserves.

Identifying areas of aquatic plant richness in a Mediterranean hotspot to improve the conservation of freshwater ecosystems

“…We would go further, however, and say that the Natura 2000 network fails to protect aquatic plants adequately and, as a consequence, fails to protect freshwater ecosystems, which are not adequately represented in the network (Herbert, McIntyre, Doran, Allan, & Abell, ). The results of this study agree with those of several studies carried out on other aquatic taxa (Guareschi et al, ; Hermoso et al, ; Rosso et al, ; Sánchez‐Fernández et al, ). For example, the Mediterranean coast and the Cantabrian coast have been excluded from conservation networks because of the strong human pressures that they experience.…”

“…In recent decades, several studies have examined the effectiveness of protected areas on the Iberian Peninsula for conserving freshwater ecosystems (Abellán et al, ; Guareschi, Bilton, Velasco, Millán, & Abellán, ; Hermoso, Filipe, Segurado, & Beja, ; Rosso et al, ). The effectiveness of those areas currently protected, as well as their role in helping to design new ones, is important for fulfilling the Aichi targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Juffe‐Bignoli et al, ).…”

“…In recent decades, several studies have examined the effectiveness of protected areas on the Iberian Peninsula for conserving freshwater ecosystems (Abellán et al, 2007;Guareschi, Bilton, Velasco, Millán, & Abellán, 2015;Hermoso, Filipe, Segurado, & Beja, 2016;Rosso et al, 2017). The effectiveness of those areas currently protected, as well as their role in helping to design new ones, is important for fulfilling the The use of various taxonomic groups as proxies for broader biodiversity has been assessed (Pearson, 1994) because establishing comprehensive species inventories requires significant time, effort, and money (Guareschi et al, 2012).…”

Ecological and phenotypic divergence in Iberian shrews (Soricidae)

“…In the Iberian Peninsula, most soricid species show a distribution restricted to the Atlantic region (Northwestern Spain), which has been identified by several authors as a refuge for European fauna during the Pleistocene glaciations (Centeno-Cuadros, Delibes, & Godoy, 2009;Deffontaine et al, 2009;Gómez & Lunt, 2007;Igea et al, 2013). Isolation of populations as a consequence of habitat loss and fragmentation linked to repeated warming-cooling cycles that occurred during the Pleistocene Ice Ages may have favored allopatric speciation processes in this area (Hewitt, 2000;Schmitt, 2007;Taberlet, Fumagalli, Wust-Saucy, & Cosson, 1998 Rosso et al, 2018). In addition, Iberia is particularly interesting from a biogeographic point of view as it is a region in which species with a Paleoarctic distribution converge with those that originated on the African continent, such as Crocidura russula Hermann, 1780 (Butler, 1998).…”

“…In fact, this region harbors several endemisms, including the Iberian shrew Sorex granarius (Miller 1910), the Cabrera's shrew Neomys anomalus (Cabrera 1907), and other small mammals (Lusitanian pine vole Microtus lusitanicus , Pyrenean desman Galemys pyrenaicus ). Specifically, Picos de Europa and the Cantabrian Mountains are areas of high‐value diversity for mammals in terms of both species richness and rarity (Rey Benayas & de la Montaña, ; see also Rosso et al., ). In addition, Iberia is particularly interesting from a biogeographic point of view as it is a region in which species with a Paleoarctic distribution converge with those that originated on the African continent, such as Crocidura russula Hermann, 1780 (Butler, ).…”