BUSCADOR RECOLECTA

Nest materials used by animals can have profound effects on developing offspring. They can modify the bacterial and parasitic environment of the nest, and can influence parental investment through sexual signalling processes. In spotless starlings, Sturnus unicolor, green plants and feathers are known nest materials with such functions. The aim of our study was to experimentally assess their influence on nestlings’ telomere length and attrition, which are good predictors of their survival prospects. In a full-factorial experiment, we explored these effects in two different populations, together with the potential effects of hatching date, ectoparasitism, bacterial environment and nestling growth. Telomere length and attrition largely depended on population identity and hatching date. After correcting for these effects, the addition of feathers resulted in higher rates of telomere attrition. The addition of plants did not affect nestling telomeres in general, but did in interaction with location: in Hueneja, the experimental addition of green plants resulted in longer telomeres. Feather pigmentation also did not affect telomere length or attrition in general, but did in interaction with location: in Hueneja, the experimental addition of unpigmented feathers resulted in nestlings with longer telomeres and lower attrition rates. Moreover, prevalence of staphylococci on the skin of 8-day-old nestlings was negatively related to telomere lengths of fledglings. Taken together, these results suggest a direct link between nest material composition and nestling telomere length and dynamics. This relationship could be partially mediated by the antimicrobial and/or antiparasitic properties of nest materials or by sexual signalling, Funding was provided by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad and European funds (FEDER) (CGL2013-48193-C3-1-P, CGL2013-48193-C3-2-P, CGL2012-30759, CGL2015-65055-P). J.M.P., G.T. and M.R.R. were supported respectively by Juan de la Cierva, Ramón & Cajal and Talentia postdoctoral contracts., Peer reviewed

Support by funding was provided by Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, European funds (FEDER) (CGL2009-14006, CGL2010-19233-C03-01, CGL2010-19233-C03-03, CGL2013-48193-C3-1-P, CGL2013-48193-C3-2-P) and Junta de Andalucía (P09-RNM-4557). AM-G had a predoctoral grant from the Junta de Andalucía (P09-RNM-4557)., Peer reviewed

The contribution of natural sources in particulate matter (PM) concentrations has been assessed for 5 Southern European cities: Porto (Portugal), Barcelona (Spain), Milan and Florence (Italy) and Athens (Greece). A database on the impact of natural source has been compiled, including concentrations of PM and chemical tracers used for the identification and quantification of African dust and sea salt contributions, as well as the calculated African net dust, and sea salt concentrations for each city. In addition, wildfires’ contribution is provided for Porto. Both PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations are reported for a total of six sites: Porto urban traffic site, POR-TR Barcelona urban background site, BCN-UB Milano urban background site, MLN-UB Florence urban background site, FI-UB Athens suburban site, ATH-SUB Athens urban traffic site, ATH-TR., The contribution of natural sources in particulate matter (PM) concentrations has been assessed for 5 Southern European cities: Porto (Portugal), Barcelona (Spain), Milan and Florence (Italy) and Athens (Greece). A database on the impact of natural source has been compiled, including concentrations of PM and chemical tracers used for the identification and quantification of African dust and sea salt contributions, as well as the calculated African net dust, and sea salt concentrations for each city. In addition, wildfires’ contribution is provided for Porto. Both PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations are reported for a total of six sites: Porto urban traffic site, POR-TR Barcelona urban background site, BCN-UB Milano urban background site, MLN-UB Florence urban background site, FI-UB Athens suburban site, ATH-SUB Athens urban traffic site, ATH-TR., Peer reviewed