Diel variation in movement patterns and habitat use by the near-threatened cabrera vole in mediterranean farmland

As variações circadianas no comportamento animal e o seu impacto nas populações constituem desafios importantes em ecologia e conservação. Nesta tese documentam-se as variações circadianas no uso do habitat e padrões de movimento pelo rato de Cabrera, em habitats Mediterrânicos fragmentados. O estudo baseou-se no radio-seguimento de indivíduos em habitats dominados por herbáceas e arbustos. Os resultados indicaram que a proporção de tempo despendido em deslocações, a distância percorrida, e a selecção do tipo de vegetação, estão fortemente interrelacionados, variando consideravelmente ao longo de diferentes períodos do dia. Os ratos movimentaram-se mais frequentemente e maiores distâncias nos períodos diurnos, durante os quais as áreas dominadas por herbáceas foram usadas mais intensivamente. Durante a estação seca houve alguma tendência para a diminuição dos movimentos durante as horas mais quentes. Estes resultados são discutidos no sentido de mostrar como indicadores comportamentais podem contribuir para melhorar a gestão e conservação da espécie; ABSTRACT: Understanding the circadian variations in species behaviour and its impacts on population is a challenging topic in ecology and conservation. This thesis documents the circadian variations in habitat use and movement patterns by Cabrera voles in fragmented Mediterranean farmland. The study was based on radiotracking data of individuals living in habitat patches dominated by wet grasses and shrubs. Results indicated that the proportion of time animals spent moving, the distance moved and the selection strength of vegetation were closely linked behavioural traits, which varied considerably across the 24 hour cycle. Voles moved more frequently and over larger distances during daytime, which was when wet grasses were used more intensively. During the dry season there was some tendency for a decrease in movement activity during the hottest hours of the day. These results are used to discuss how behavioural indicators may be useful to improve conservation management of the species.

Exploited anadromous fish in Portugal: Suggested direction for conservation and management.

Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and allis shad (Alosa alosa) have been fished for centuries in mainland Portugal during their upstream spawning migration. Here, biological information is compared for the two species and governance and monitoring data from Portugal are reviewed to propose species-specific courses of future action. Despite a national fisheries legislation common for the two species and the designation of Sites of Community Interest (SCIs) for both, the current conservation needs for sea lamprey and allis shad in Portugal are considered to be distinct. For sea lamprey, conservation priorities must focus on planning fisheries managementinarticulationwithhabitatrecoverytoguaranteecost-effective monitoring andsustainablelong-termexploitationthataddsvaluetolocalcommunitiesandpaysdue taxation. Onthecontrary,conservationconcernsandactionsforallisshadmuststrengthenandbemore proactive in the reduction of fishing mortality, both target (in rivers) and by catch (at sea).There is a need to make better use of the opportunities inherent in the Habitats Directive and the possibility to define specific management actions within SCIs. To this effect, it will be necessary to revise existing legislation and guarantee better articulation between jurisdictional authorities. A good example in this direction is the articulation already established in the river Mondego where habitat restoration, fish monitoring and effective species-specific fisheries control measures have been taken and implemented in recent years by a large institutional partnership.