The aim of the study was the construction of risk maps for exposure to Phlebotomus sergenti, the main vector of Leishmania tropica, with a view to identifying hot spots for the potential establishment of this parasite in the southwest of Europe. Data were collected on the presence/absence of this vector and the ecological and climatic characteristics of 662 sampling sites located in the southeast, centre and northeast of the Iberian Peninsula (south-western Europe). The environmental factors associated with the distribution of P. sergenti were determined. The best predictors for the presence of this dipteran were ‘altitude’, ‘land use’, ‘land surface temperature’, ‘aspect’, ‘adjacent land cover’, ‘absence of vegetation in wall’ and the ‘absence of PVC pipes in the drainage holes of retaining walls’. Risk maps for exposure to the vector were drawn up based on these variables. The validation of the predictive risk model confirmed its usefulness in the detection of areas with a high risk of P. sergenti being present. These locations represent potential hot spots for an autochthonous focus of L. tropica becoming established. The risk maps produced for P. sergenti presence revealed several areas in the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula to be the most prone to this process, which would make it possible for the disease to enter south-western Europe.

Buellia subericola, a new corticolous species characterized by a brown, blastidiate thallus without secondary chemistry and triseptate to occasionally submuriform ascospores, is described from the southern Iberian Peninsula. The species occurs on Quercus suber in grass-woodlands of cork-oak in the mesomediterranean belt with a warm mediterranean climate and oceanic influence. It is compared with other known Buellia s. lat. taxa which also reproduce asexually and have similar ascospores.

Habitat change is one of the main factors influencing the decline of the western population of European mink Mustela lutreola, but data on habitat selection are scarce. Landscape features influencing selection of habitat and resting sites of male European mink were studied using radio-tracking. None of the habitat descriptors accounted for the habitat selection of European mink during their activity periods. On the other hand, resting site selection was correlated with the presence of bramble patches. Intensive use of bramble patches is explained as a consequence of the need of mink for protection against predators. Moreover, the high availability of bramble patches provides the mink with easy resting sites.