Francisco E. Fontúrbel

Translocations and human-carnivore conflicts: problem solving or problem creating?

Abstract Translocation is a non-lethal practice used to manage carnivore-livestock conflicts. Nevertheless, its use has been questioned due to its low success rate and high cost. We performed a literature review to assess the effectiveness of translocation, human-related mortality and cost. We estimated the overall effectiveness to be 42% ± 6, felids were involved in 70% of the translocations and 80% of the case studies were conducted in North America and Africa. Human-related mortality accounted for the 83% of deaths after translocations. Translocation cost per individual was estimated at US

Indoor metallic pollution related to mining activity in the Bolivian Altiplano

3,756 ± 357 (N = 16), a sum equivalent to compensate for up to 30 livestock heads. For conservation purposes, translocation is costly and less effective than other alternatives such as compensation with best herding practices.

Indoor metallic pollution and children exposure in a mining city.

The environmental pollution associated with mining and metallurgical activities reaches its greatest extent in several Andean cities and villages. Many locations in this area have accumulated through centuries a large amount of mining wastes, often disregarding the magnitude of this situation. However, in these naturally mineralized regions, there is little information available stating the exact role of mining and metallurgical industries in urban pollution. In this study, we demonstrated that the various metallic elements present in indoor dust (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn) had a common origin and this contamination was increased by the proximity to the mines. Lead dust concentration was found at concerning levels for public health. In addition, wrong behaviors such as carrying mining workwear home contributed to this indoor dust pollution. Consequently, the constant exposure of the population could represent a potential health hazard for vulnerable groups, especially children.

Meta‐analysis of anthropogenic habitat disturbance effects on animal‐mediated seed dispersal

Mining industries are known for causing strong environmental contamination. In most developing countries, the management of mining wastes is not adequate, usually contaminating soil, water and air. This situation is a source of concern for human settlements located near mining centers, especially for vulnerable populations such as children. The aim of this study was to assess the correlations of the metallic concentrations between household dust and children hair, comparing these associations in two different contamination contexts: a mining district and a suburban non-mining area. We collected 113 hair samples from children between 7 and 12 years of age in elementary schools in the mining city of Oruro, Bolivia. We collected 97 indoor dust samples from their households, as well as information about the childrens behavior. Analyses of hair and dust samples were conducted to measure As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn, Cu and Zn contents. In the mining district, there were significant correlations between non-essential metallic elements (As, Cd, Pb, Sb and Sn) in dust and hair, but not for essential elements (Cu and Zn), which remained after adjusting for children habits. Children who played with dirt had higher dust-hair correlations for Pb, Sb, and Cu (P=0.006; 0.022 and 0.001 respectively) and children who put hands or toys in their mouths had higher dust-hair correlations of Cd (P=0.011). On the contrary, in the suburban area, no significant correlations were found between metallic elements in dust and children hair and neither children behavior nor gender modified this lack of associations. Our results suggest that, in a context of high metallic contamination, indoor dust becomes an important exposure pathway for children, modulated by their playing behavior.

Underestimation of Abundances of the Monito Del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides) due to a Sampling Artifact

Anthropogenic habitat disturbance is a strong biodiversity change driver that compromises not only the species persistence but also the ecological interactions in which they are involved. Even though seed dispersal is a key interaction involved in the recruitment of many tree species and in consequence critical for biodiversity maintenance, studies assessing the effect of different anthropogenic disturbance drivers on this interaction have not been performed under a meta-analytical framework. We assessed the way habitat fragmentation and degradation processes affect species diversity (abundance and species richness) and interaction rates (i.e., fruit removal and visitation rates) of different groups of seed-disperser species at a global scale. We obtained 163 case studies from 37 articles. Results indicate that habitat degradation had a negative effect on seed-disperser animal diversity, whereas habitat fragmentation had a negative effect on interaction rates. Birds and insects were more sensitive in terms of their diversity, whereas mammals showed a negative effect on interaction rates. Regarding habitat, both fragmentation and degradation had a negative effect on seed-disperser animal diversity only in temperate habitats, and negative effects on interaction rates in tropical and temperate habitats. Our results indicate that the impact of human disturbance on seed-disperser species and interactions is not homogeneous. On the contrary, the magnitude of effects seems to be dependent on the type of disturbance, taxonomic group under assessment, and geographical region where the human impact occurs.

Scale‐dependent responses of pollination and seed dispersal mutualisms in a habitat transformation scenario

Abstract The monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) is an arboreal marsupial found only in austral South American temperate rain forests. Its conservation is a priority as the only extant species of the order Microbiotheria. We investigated whether the apparent low abundances reported for D. gliroides are real, or reflect a sampling artifact. We used wire-mesh and Sherman live traps, devices for recording tracks and hair, 2 types of bait, and 2 trap placements (ground level and 1.5–2.5 m high) in an old-growth forest in southern Chile. Type of bait and placement height affected captures of D. gliroides. The most efficient trapping combination (wire-mesh traps baited with banana, and placed above ground) yielded capture rates of up to 11%, and a relative population density of 21 ± 5 individuals/ha (mean ± SE), whereas traditional methods used for sampling small mammals were not effective. The sampling artifact uncovered here may have important future management and conservation implications.

Nocturnal activity patterns of the monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) in native and exotic habitats

Summary 1. Transformed habitats are the result of deliberate replacement of native species by an exotic monoculture, involving changes in biotic and abiotic conditions. Despite the fact that transformed habitats are becoming more common and constitute a major biodiversity change driver, little is known about the scale-dependent responses of plant–animal mutualisms. 2. Aiming to test the multiscale responses of pollination and seed dispersal in a habitat transformation scenario, we examined a gradient of native and transformed habitats at three spatial scales (0– 50, 50–100 and 100–250 m) and focused on a highly specialized mutualistic system composed of a hemiparasitic mistletoe (Tristerix corymbosus) that is almost exclusively pollinated by a hummingbird (Sephanoides sephaniodes) and dispersed by an arboreal marsupial (Dromiciops gliroides). 3. Even though mistletoes were found along the gradient, they were more abundant and more densely aggregated when the transformed habitat was dominant. Disperser and pollinator activity also increased as the transformed habitat becomes dominant, at the scale of 0–50 and 50–100 m, respectively. Furthermore, crop size and disperser activity covaried at broad and intermediate scales, whereas recruitment covaried at intermediate and fine scales. Moreover, disperser activity and the number of seedlings were spatially associated, stressing D. gliroides’ role in the recruitment of the mistletoe. 4. Synthesis. This highly specialized mutualistic system seems to be responding positively to the habitat structure modifications associated with Eucalyptus plantations. However, the actual costs (e.g. reduced gene flow, increased herbivory) in these transformed habitats are yet to be assessed.

Variation in reproductive life-history traits of birds in fragmented habitats: a review and meta-analysis

Abstract Dromiciops gliroides is an arboreal nocturnal marsupial. We used camera traps to monitor its activity in native forest and eucalyptus plantations with native understory for 2 summers. We obtained 2.75 records camera−1 month−1 in the forest and 2.16 in the plantation. Activity period ranged from 1900 to 0700 h, but reached its peak around 0200 h. Activity patterns were variable among months, but there were no significant differences between native and eucalyptus habitats, which overlapped between 55% and 97%. It is remarkable to have found D. gliroides in habitats dominated by exotic trees, because this species has been considered to be restricted to native forests. Resumen Dromiciops gliroides es un marsupial arbóreo nocturno. Se utilizaron trampas-cámara para monitorear su actividad en bosques nativos y plantaciones de eucalipto con sotobosque nativo por dos veranos. Se obtuvieron 2.75 registros cámara−1 mes−1 en el bosque y 2.16 en la plantación. El periodo de actividad se extendió entre las 19 y las 07 h, alcanzando su máximo aproximadamente a las 02 h. Los patrones de actividad variaron entre meses, pero no difirieron significativamente entre el bosque nativo y la plantación de eucalipto, donde se solaparon entre 55% y 97%. Es destacable el hecho de haber encontrado a D. gliroides en hábitats dominados por árboles exóticos, dado que se consideraba que esta especie estaba restringida al bosque nativo.

How forest marsupials are affected by habitat degradation and fragmentation? A meta-analysis

The effects of habitat fragmentation on the distribution and abundance of birds is a well-researched topic but there is little information published in terms of how habitat fragmentation affects reproductive life history traits. We reviewed the available literature on this subject and found that only 8% of the 1,433 studies dealing with birds in fragmented habitat studied life history traits and only 1.3% provided appropriate data to perform statistics. We found no effect of fragmentation on clutch and brood size patterns. Those patterns did not change when corrected by phylogeny. However, there is a significant heterogeneity among species responses, thus data on large-bodied, ground-nesting, and precocial birds suggest an increasing response in brood size in fragmented habitats. Finally, our review shows that despite birds being the most studied vertebrate group, crucial information such as the effects of habitat fragmentation on life history traits is still scarce and insufficient, especially on species of conservation concern. Indeed, only one out of 15 species reviewed here was threatened. Studies on reproductive, behavioural and life history trait variation are urgently needed in order to advance conservation actions.

Environmental and ecological architects: Guidelines for the Chilean temperate rainforest management derived from the monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) conservation

Habitat fragmentation and degradation are important biodiversity change drivers worldwide. Their effects have been described for many animal groups, but little is known about marsupials. We conducted a meta-analysis aiming to evaluate the actual effects of habitat fragmentation and degradation on forest marsupials. From a literature survey, we obtained 85 case studies reporting disturbance comparisons. We found a negative overall effect, as well as a negative effect for habitat fragmentation, but not for habitat degradation. Marsupials from Oceania were negatively affected by habitat disturbance, whereas there was no effect for those from South America. Arboreal marsupials were negatively affected, whereas terrestrial marsupials did not. Species from the families Dasyuridae (Antechinus spp.) and Microbiotheriidae (Dromiciops gliroides) showed to be sensitive to habitat disturbance.