Dr Yolanda Melero Cavero
Honorary Research Fellow
Personal Details
|
||||||||||
Jump to:
Research Interests
As a population ecologist, the central interest of my career is to join theoretical and empirical approaches to understand population dynamics. In particular, my work tackles the need to understand the processes underlying the dynamics of endangered and invasive-non-native species (INNS), so as to provide a solid scientific background for real solutions for conservation problems.
^ top
Current Research
I currently aim to determine the demographic and dispersal dynamics of American mink populations, in relation to the rate of (re)colonisation at low density and to test hypotheses about the roles of compensation and depensation in these dynamics.
In this project, named DEPENSATION, our aim is to understand the key ecological concepts such as the scope of compensatory processes (those causing an improvement in fitness of individuals at low density due to e.g. when the amount of resources per capita is greater), depensatory processes (those causing a decrease in fitness of individuals at low density due e.g. to difficulty in locating a mate), dispersal (the movement of individuals from site of birth to site of reproduction) and multi-species interactions.
In parallel we are developing a novel management approach based on the use of digital tools and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to encourage cooperation between stakeholders and people concerned with the economical use of natural resources, such as fishermen and hunters, sometimes in sparsely populated areas. In partnership with the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage and 18 other organizations, an online program, “mink-app” will be developed by computing scientists, with biological inputs by me. This application will record the observational data use for DEPENSATION.
^ top
Collaborations
Professor Xavier Lambin, University of Aberdeen
Dr. Matthew Oliver, University of Aberdeen
Professor Joaquim Gosàlbez, University of Barcelona
Dr. Santiago Palazón, Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery, Food and Natural Environment, Catalonian Government, Barcelona
Dr. Juan José Luque-Larena, University of Valladolid.
^ top
External Responsibilities
- Population ecology of European mink, Mustela lutreola, in Spain. (Collaborator)
- Population ecology and behavioural ecology of American mink, Neovison vison, in Spain. (Collaborator)
^ top
Publications
Contributions to Journals
Articles
- Melero, Y., Aymerich, P., Luque-Larena, J. & Gosàlbez, J. (2012). 'New insights into social and space use behaviour of the endangered Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)'. European Journal of Wildlife Research, vol 58, no. 1, pp. 185-193.
[Online] DOI: 10.1007/s10344-011-0561-7 - Melero, Y., Santulli, G., Gómez, A., Gosàlbez, J., Rodriguez-Refojos, C. & Palazón, S. (in press). 'Morphological variation of introduced species: the case of American mink (Neovison vison) in Spain'. Mammalian Biology.
[Online] DOI: doi 10.1016/j.mambio.2012.02.001. - Melero, Y., Plaza, M., Santulli, G., Saavedra, D., Ruiz-Olmo, J., Gosàlbez, J. & Palazón, S. (in press). 'Evaluating the effect of American mink, an alien invasive species, on the abundance of a native community: is coexistence possible?'. Biodiversity and Conservation.
[Online] DOI: doi 10.1007/s10531-012-0277-3. - Melero, Y., Palazón, S., Revilla, E. & Gosàlbez, J. (2011). 'Winter activity patterns in an invading Mediterranean population of American mink (Neovison vison)'. Folia Zoologica, vol 60, pp. 47-53.
- Melero, Y., Palazón, S., Bonesi, L. & Gosàlbez, J. (2010). 'Relative abundance of culled and not culled American mink populations in Northeast Spain and their potential distribution: are culling campaigns effective?'. Biological Invasions, vol 12, pp. 3877-3885.
[Online] DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9778-8 - Melero, Y., Palazón, S. & Gosalbez, J. (2008). 'Morphological adaptation of an invasive American mink population in Mediterranean areas of Spain'. Acta Zoologica, vol 89, pp. 47-51.
[Online] DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2007.00290.x - Melero, Y., Palazon, S., Revilla, E., Martello, J. & Gosalbez, J. (2008). 'Space use and habitat preferences of the invasive American mink in a Mediterranean area'. European Journal of Wildlife Research, vol 54, pp. 609-617.
[Online] DOI: 10.1007/s10344-008-0186-7 - Melero, Y., Palazón, S., Bonesi, L. & Gosàlbez, J. (2008). 'Feeding habits of three sympatric mammals in a riparian habitat in NE Spain: the American mink, the spotted genet, and the Eurasian otter'. Acta Theriologica, vol 53, pp. 263–273.
[Online] DOI: 10.1007/BF03193123
^ top
‹ back
page content last modified: