Abstract Historic studies about fauna are often made from a biological focuss. Biologist understand that old biogeography, data about behaviour or environment are key issues for Conservation Biology. Hence they make studies about past times. Sometimes we can find that these historical researches are not as productive as they must be. It happens because of the nature of historical documents, language meaning, historical context or political elements. Therefore it is needed working together with an Historian. Here we give a case of study, Lynx sp. at Spain during XIXth century. Works like the Madoz Dictionary, dated at 1845, where we have found 73 references about Linx sp. Locations are spread at 30 Spanish provinces. We give in this paper some key issues about Method and analysis. It can be used for identification of fauna in historical documents, biogeographical studies or biodiversity management. It´s very important for Ecohistory and future works of Conservation Biology. Resumen Los estudios históricos sobre fauna suelen ser realizados desde un enfoque biológico. Los biólogos entienden que la antigua biogeografía, los datos sobre comportamiento o el medio ambiente son cuestiones clave para la Biología de la Conservación. Por lo tanto realizan estudios sobre tiempos pasados. En ocasiones encontramos que estos estudios históricos no son tan productivos como deberían de ser. Esto sucede por la naturaleza de los documentos históricos, el significado del lenguaje, el contexto histórico o elementos políticos.
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is one of the most endangered felid species in the world. Conservation efforts have increased its population size and distribution and reinforced their genetic diversity through captive breeding and reintroduction programmes. Among several threats that the Iberian lynx faces, infectious and parasitic diseases have underlined effects on the health of their newly reintroduced populations, being essential to identify the primary sources of these agents and assess populations health status. To achieve this, 79 fresh faecal samples from Iberian lynx and sympatric mesocarnivores were collected in the reintroduction area of Extremadura, Spain. Samples were submitted to copromicroscopic analyses to assess parasite diversity, prevalence, and mean intensity of parasite burden. Overall, 19 (24.1%, ±15.1-35.0) samples were positive for at least one enteric parasite species. Parasite diversity and prevalence were higher in the Iberian lynx (43.8%) compared with the others mesocarnivores under study (e.g., the red fox Vulpes vulpes and the Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon). Ancylostomatidae and Toxocara cati were the most prevalent (15.6%) parasites. Obtained results revealed that Iberian lynx role as predator control might have reduced parasite cross-transmission between this felid and mesocarnivores due to their decreasing abundances. Surveillance programs must include regular monitoring of this endangered felid, comprising mesocarnivores, but also domestic/feral and wild cat communities. ; This research was funded by the European Union through its LIFE project Life + IBERLINCE (LIFE + 10NAT/ES/570) "Recuperación de la distribución histórica del lince ibérico (Lynx pardinus) en España y Portugal". R. T. Torres is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5, and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of 29 August, changed by Law 57/2017, of 19 July. Thanks are due to FCT/MCTES for the financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020 + UIDB/50017/2020) and CIISA Project UIDB/00276/2020 through national funds. ; Sí
Las especies amenazadas (EA) son aquellas que tienen una elevada probabilidad de extinción o que se aproximan a dicha situación de continuar las presiones directas sobre éstas o sus hábitats. Partiendo de esta definición revisamos problemas y sesgos en las categorías de amenaza de las serpientes argentinas y discutimos ejemplos en donde cambios taxonómicos (deficiencias linneanas), vacíos en el conocimiento sobre la distribución (deficiencias wallaceanas) y sobre característicass bio-ecológicas (deficiencias haeckelianas) generaron sesgos en las asignaciones de sus categorías de conservación. Discutimos que las especies amenazadas deben ser enunciadas como hipótesis, analizando científicamente la información cuantitativa y/o cualitativa sobre su distribución geográfica, tamaño y tendencias poblacionales y características bio-ecológicas que las hacen vulnerables ante efectos antropogénicos, lo que permitirá rechazar o no su inclusión como EA. Como en todos los esquemas hipotéticodeductivos se pueden cometer errores de tipo I (rechazar una hipótesis nula verdadera) y de tipo II (no rechazar una hipótesis nula falsa), el de tipo II implica afirmar que una especie no está amenazada cuando sí lo está, lo que podría implicar su extinción sin acciones de conservación, por lo que se sugiere utilizar el principio de precaución ante la duda. La categorización de especies amenazadas debería basarse en información e interpretaciones científicas (verificables) que correspondan a disciplinas de las ciencias biológicas (ecología, biogeografía, biología y sistemática), debiéndose explicitar la metodología, definiciones, grado de incertidumbre y calidad de la información utilizada. Se deben seguir estándares científicos que minimicen sesgos o errores innecesarios tales como: (1) diseños y análisis adecuados para estimaciones poblacionales, (2) revisión de pares, (3) consenso de múltiples evaluadores, (4) uso de manuales de entrenamiento y de métodos formales para estimar parámetros que ayuden a representar las incertidumbres, y (5) reporte de los inconvenientes y decisiones tomadas. Es deseable minimizar la influencia de factores políticos, sociales y económicos en el proceso de evaluación, tales factores sí deben ser considerados en los esfuerzos de conservación de las especies amenazadas. ; Threatened species are those that have a high probability of extinction or are close to this situation to continue direct pressure on them or their habitats. From this definition we analyze problems and biases in the categories of threat of Argentine snakes, showing examples where taxonomic changes (Linnaean shortfall), gaps in knowledge about the distribution of species (Wallacean shortfall), or bio-ecological aspects (Haeckelean shortfall) generate biases in the allocation of its conservation status. We proposed that endangered species should be listed as hypothesis, by analyzing scientifically quantitative and / or qualitative information about its geographic distribution, size and population trend and bio-ecological characteristics that make them vulnerable against anthropogenic effects. As a result, will be reject or not its inclusion as threatened species. Like all hypothetical-deductive schemes can be two types of errors, Type I (rejecting a true null hypothesis) and Type II (failing to reject a false null hypothesis). The type II error is affirm that a species is not threatened when in fact is. This could mean extinction of a species, without taking action of conservation, so it is suggested to use the precautionary principle in doubt. The threat categories of the species should be based on scientific information (verifiable), which belong to biological sciences (ecology, biogeography, biology and systematic), explaining the methodology, definitions, uncertainty and quality of information used. It must be follow certain scientific standards that minimize biases and errors, such as: (1) use suitable analysis and design for population estimates,(2) peer review,(4) consensus among multiples assessors, (5) use of training manuals and formals methods for estimating parameters that allow uncertainties to be represented, and (5) reporting of problems and decisions. It is desirable to minimize the influence of political, social and economic factors on the categorization process; such factors must be considered in conservation efforts of threatened species. ; Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)
