Historical examination of the status of large mammals in Aragon, Spain

Abstract

During the last century, human activities have promoted large changes in habitats, leading to changes in the abundance and composition of mammal communities. Some species have been favoured intentionally (specially those with high economic importance), or unintentionally (i.e. opportunistic species), introduced (as some livestock species), or persecuted (i.e. species that affect livestock or game). In this paper, we show and explain the changes in the composition of the large mammal community in Aragon, a northeastern Spanish area where there have been extinctions (lynx, Lynx sp.); introductions (moufflon, Ovis ammon; fallow deer, Dama dama); reproductions (red deer, Cenws elaphus); and particularly natural expansions (wild boar, Sns scrofa ; roe deer, Capreolus capreolns; red deer; Pyrenean chamois, Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica). Some taxa are currently almost extinct (brown bear, Ursus arctos; Pyrenean ibex, Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica) and others are recovering after getting close to extinction (wolf, Cants lupus). Three interconnected causes may explain the clear increment of ungulates in our study area : (1) the abandonment of rural activities, (2) the subsequent decrease of livestock, and (3) the increase of forest habitats. None of those species are currently below 150 % of their range in the 19 lh century. The setting up of hunting reservations and the design of a hunting legislation have also contributed to the observed changes. Traditionally, large predators have not been favoured by human activities, while compensatory protection measures carried out have been scarce or came too late. While some of these species are probably extinct in the area, the remaining occupy currently less than one fourth of their former range and need urgent conservation measures for to recover.Resume. -Au cours du siecle dernier, les activites humaines ont provoque de grands changements dans les habitats, ce qui a conduit ä des modifications de l'abondance et de la composition des communautes de mammiferes. Certaines especes ont ete favorisees intentionnellement (en particulier celles qui ont une grande importance economique), ou involontairement (especes opportunistes), introduces (certaines especes de betail), ou au contraire consideres comme nuisibles au betail ou aux animaux de chasse. Nous montrons ici les modifications dans la composition de Pensemble de la faune des grands mammiferes en Aragon, region du nord-est de PEspagne ou il y a eu des extinctions (lynx), des introductions (mouflon, daim), des reintroductions (cerf), et aussi des expansions naturelles (sanglier, chevreuil, cerf, isard). Certaines especes Mammalia, t. 64, n° 4, 2000: 411-422. Brought to you by | University of California Authenticated Download Date | 6/6/15 12:09 PM 412 MAMMALIA sont preque eteintes (ours, ibex), et d'autres se retablissent apres avoir ete proches de l'extincition (loup). Trois causes liees entre elles peuvent expliquer Faccroissement des ongules dans cette region : 1) abandon des activites rurales ; 2) la reduction du betail; 3)...

Risk factors associated with the prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions in fenced wild boar and red deer in south central Spain

“…For instance, the number of red deer per feeding site, the index of wild boar per feeding site and the proportion of open grassland (cultivated dehesas, pastures for big game) varied widely amongst estates, although unfenced populations were under-represented. Red deer and wild boar on fenced estates can be considered as semi-domestic livestock and are now present in SCS at far higher densities than several decades ago [9,30], where TB has become established as a selfmaintained, endemic disease [14,34]. The potential influence of game management intensification on TB dynamics may be illustrated by the positive association at the estate level between the time at which an estate was fenced and the prevalence of TBL in wild boar populations.…”

“…Nevertheless, further understanding of the main factors affecting the persistence of TB in wildlife is likely to be valuable in the development of sustainable approaches to managing the disease in livestock. During recent decades, extensive changes in land-use in Spain have been followed by a marked increase in the abundance and distribution of wild ungulates [9,30], and the development of a commercial recreational hunting industry, especially in south central Spain (SCS). In order to increase hunting harvests, highwire fences have been employed on a large proportion of estates to contain wild ungulates.…”

Epidemiological study on porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection in the European wild boar (Sus scrofa)

“…Moreover, the first case of PMWS in a free living European wild boar was recently described in Germany [23], which clearly indicates that both the domestic pig and the wild boar are susceptible not only to PCV2 infection but also to the development of PMWS. The European wild boar is the most widely distributed ungulate in the Spanish mainland, and its range and densities have largely increased in the last three decades [6,18]. Due to its abundance, it is also one of the most popular game species.…”

Changes in wild ungulate populations in Aragon, Spain between 2001 and 2010

“…The number (and %) of 10 x 10-km grid blocks in which wild ungulate species occurred in Aragon, Spain, in the 2001-2005(Osuna et al 2006-2008 Today in Aragon, sympatry among wild ungulate species is common, however, in the mid-19th C., they occupied marginal, fragmented habitats in the mountains (Gortázar et al 2000). Wild boar has been present throughout Aragon since at least the end of the 20th Century (Gortázar et al 2000), and the range has remained stable. Pyrenean chamois have continued to occupy the entire Pyrenees, which is the extent of its potential distribution.…”

“…In some regions of Spain, some populations of wild ungulates expanded between the mid of the 19th C. and the mid-20th C (Madoz 1856, Sáenz de Buruaga, 1987, Gortázar et al 2000, as well as in recent decades (Pérez et al 2002). Expanding ungulate populations have led to increases in crop damages (Herrero et al 2006), automobile accidents (Lagos et al 2012), the human consumption of game, the prey availability to endangered large carnivores (Blanco et al 2011), disease transmission (Armenteros et al 2013), and changes in the composition and abundance of plant species in natural and seminatural ecosystems (Wilson 2004, Bueno et al 2012) because of their diet, which has affected other species (Apollonio et al 2010, Barrios-García & Ballari 2012.…”