ECOTERAM

The Research Unit integrates into the ICBiBE from the Department of Microbiology and Ecology of the Universitat de València. In order of seniority, José A. Gil-Delgado (1974), Emilio Barba (1995) and Juan S. Monrós (2004) are enrolled in this research unit, although the latter was an FPU intern between 1993 and 1996, and Adjunct Professor between 1997 and 2002. The lines of research described below began in 1975 when the birds nesting in an area of almost 17 hectares in the orange groves of Sagunto began to be monitored. In addition to monitoring the nesting species by the method used, the nest search, we accumulated extensive information on various phonological aspects related to the birds that breed in these crops. Thus, there is a database on the bird communities over the period of 1975-2004, and on the variations in the populations of the 12-25 species breeding each year on the plot. As a result, aspects related to communities, populations, re-production and interaction with other species are addressed, as the databank is rich in information on the incidence of predation based on live observations of events. As an example, the information collected on one of the nesting species, the Blackbird, where the complete history of 250-350 nests per year is known. All chicks are banded. Other biological aspects have been studied on an ad hoc basis. For example, the diet of chickens. This line of research is the starting point for the research indicated in the following section. Lines of research: Communities, populations and breeding ecology of nesting birds in orange groves. Migration and wintering of birds. Feeding of birds and reptiles. Impacts of human actions on bird populations. Habitat selection in birds and reptiles. Mammals of the orange groves. Conservation and management of vertebrate populations.