Alfonso Balmori

• Biologist
• Independent Researcher

The rate of scientific activity regarding the effects of anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation in the radiofrequency (RF) range on animals and plants has been small despite the fact that this topic is relevant to the fields of experimental biology, ecology and conservation due to its remarkable expansion over the past 20years. Current evidence in...

Despite the widespread use of wireless telephone networks around the world, authorities and researchers have paid little attention to the potential harmful effects of mobile phone radiation on wildlife. This paper briefly reviews the available scientific information on this topic and recommends further studies and specific lines of research to conf...

RESUMEN.—Distribución de los mosquiteros ibérico (Phylloscopus brehmii) y europeo (Phylloscopus collybita) en los bosques de ribera de Castilla y León (España). Mediante 120 itinerarios de censo, en bosques de ribera de Castilla y León, durante la época de nidificación y utilizando los cantos como criterio diferenciador, se ha confirmado la presenc...

The Egyptian mongoose has recently been recognised as a native species of the Iberian Peninsula. This article reviews the changes on their Iberian distribution in the last two centuries, their regression and current expansion. We highlight the special interest of records outside these processes, which might suggest the subsistence of populations qu...

A review on the impact of radiofrequency radiation from wireless telecommunications on wildlife is presented. Electromagnetic radiation is a form of environmental pollution which may hurt wildlife. Phone masts located in their living areas are irradiating continuously some species that could suffer long-term effects, like reduction of their natural...

Reproductive strategies vary widely among bats, even within the same species. The molossid Tadarida teniotis has an intermediate latitudinal distribution between tropical bats and those of temperate zones. There are still some uncertainties about its migratory behaviour and reproductive mode that are not yet fully understood. Some authors believe t...

Índice Los quirópteros (murciélagos).............................................11 Características generales de los murciélagos.................13 Alimentación...................................................................... 15 Ciclo de vida...................................................................... 16 Hibernación.................

In this work, we have analysed the different causes of admissions of stone martens ( Martes foina ), genets ( Genetta genetta ) and pine martens ( Martes martes ) in two rehabilitation centres in Castilla y León (Spain) during 32 years (1991–2022). The results indicate that the most important factor for stone martens was road kills with 227 martens...

The paper published by Nath et al. (Urban Ecosystems 25:1279–1295, 2022) analyzes the influence of different ecological factors and covariates on House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) abundance but criticizes previous research without explaining in depth the scientific reasons for it and reaches conclusions not supported by the authors’ own data nor by...

Cetaceans are cast to shore for a large number of reasons, although sometimes it is not clear why. This paper reviews the types and causes of cetacean strandings, focusing on mass strandings that lack a direct scientific explanation. Failure of cetacean orientation due to radiofrequency radiation and alterations in the Earth’s magnetic field produc...

Worldwide, insects are declining at an alarming rate. Among other causes, the use of pesticides and modern agricultural practices play a major role in this. Cumulative effects of multiple low-dose toxins and the distribution of toxicants in nature have only started to be investigated in a methodical way. Existing research indicates another factor o...

Any study carried out with a given technique must avoid causing harmful effects on the experimental subjects, in order to avoid altering the survival rates of the animals or causing bias in the results of the study. Radio tagging is undoubtedly a very useful technique, and in many cases is the only option available to obtain information on the ecol...

Wind farms are an alternative energy source mitigating environmental pollution. However, they can have adverse effects, causing an increase in mortality for wildlife through collision with wind turbines. The aim of this study was to investigate the risks of bird collisions with wind turbines linked to species-specific variables. For this purpose, w...

The Eurasian beaver experienced a severe reduction in its distribution during the past centuries as a consequence of intensive hunting by humans. However, as a result of human-assisted re-introduction projects and translocations along the European territory, the species has increased its range significantly. Since beaver was introduced in Spain, it...

During the past few decades, millions of mobile telephony (MT) base antennas and antennas of other types of wireless communications (WC) have been installed around the world, in cities and in nature, including protected natural areas, in addition to pre-existing antennas (e.g., for television, radio broadcasting, radars, etc.) and high-voltage powe...

El lanzamiento de centenares de satélites con fines comerciales representa una nueva amenaza sobre los ecosistemas. Provoca un deterioro de las observaciones astronómicas y la contemplación del cielo nocturno, incrementa la basura espacial e incluso puede interferir sobre la orientación de los animales, tanto por la modificación de los objetos bril...

Con la finalidad de investigar las diferencias vinculadas al sexo en el abuso de drogas, intentar comprender los fundamentos biológicos y psicosociales subyacentes, y analizar la pertinencia de diseñar intervenciones diferenciales, se ha realizado un rastreo de la información científica publicada, especialmente en humanos, pero en algunos casos tam...

The objective of this work was to perform a complete review of the existing scientific literature to update the knowledge on the effects of base station antennas on humans. Studies performed in real urban conditions, with mobile phone base stations situated close to apartments, were selected. Overall results of this review show three types of effec...

Abstract Purpose of the review A search of scientific papers has been carried out to investigate sex differences in drug abuse and to understand the underlying biological and psychosocial causes of these differences. Based on the anatomical and neurochemical differences of the male and female brain, the difference in skills, and the possible import...

This note is intended to try to shed light on the discoveries made entitled “Biologging is suspect to cause corneal opacity in two populations of wild living Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita)”. In this article, researchers participating in a reintroduction program for this endangered species in Europe document the unilateral corneal opacity...

This is a study focused on the importance of reptiles in the diet of the southern grey shrike (Lanius meridionalis). The two main objectives of the study are: the investigation of prey (reptiles) impaled by the southern grey shrike in the island of Gran Canaria (Spain), and a bibliographic review of the diet of this species, comparing the importanc...

In recent decades, there has been a decline of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), mainly in European cities, and several hypotheses have been proposed that attempt to determine the causes of this rapid decline. Previous studies indicated that house sparrows were significantly negatively associated with increasing electromagnetic radiation and s...

The biodiversity of insects is threatened worldwide. Numerous studies have reported the serious decline in insects that has occurred in recent decades. The same is happening with the important group of pollinators, with an essential utility for pollination of crops. Loss of insect diversity and abundance is expected to provoke cascading effects on...

Abstract There is a growing concern about the biodiversity crisis the planet is suffering due to increasingly widespread human activity. A key question is whether only the species with threatened status should be managed by policy makers or whether also common species deserve consideration. This study is devoted for common birds, because for the th...

It is documented that a few days or weeks before major Earthquakes (EQs) there are changes in animal behavior within distances up to 500 km from the seismic epicenter. At the same time Seismic Electric Signals (SES), geomagnetic and ionospheric perturbations, are detected within similar distances. SES consist of single unipolar pulses, and/or group...

This study analysed the illegal shootings of threatened species through information compiled from rehabilitation centres in Spain. Our objective was to assess whether this cause of mortality has reduced or increased over time and to verify if gunshots could be causing a decline of especially vulnerable species. We also aimed to identify the monthly...

We investigated a large colony of European free-tailed bats (Tadarida teniotis) in Spain, using a combination of capture-mark-recapture data and direct observations. Its social and reproductive organisation is complex and the mating system fits a “resource defence polygyny” model. In spring and autumn, aggressive interactions in flight, defence of...

In the last two decades, the deployment of phone masts around the world has taken place and, for many years, there has been a discussion in the scientific community about the possible environmental impact from mobile phone base stations. Trees have several advantages over animals as experimental subjects and the aim of this study was to verify whet...

Abstract This article tries to answer the review paper from Verschaeve (2014 ). This review paper attempted to dismiss every study that shows negative effects of microwave radiation on living organisms. His conclusions are not supported by scientific data and are mostly based on his claims for “inaccurate” dosimetry. This issue is not the case, e...

Radio transmitters and associated devices may induce negative effects that can bias the results of ongoing research. The main documented effects of radio transmitters on animals include reduced survival, decreased productivity, changes in behaviour and movement patterns and a biased sex ratio. The only factors that have claimed responsibility for t...

Balmori, A. 2015. Eficacia de los Planes de Recuperación y Conservación de las aves amenazadas en España: Avanzando en un modelo transversal de conservación y gestión de la fauna amenazada. Ecosistemas 24(3): 61-77. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2015.24-3.09 En este trabajo se analiza el grado de cumplimiento de la legislación vigente por parte de las Comunid...

Resumen: Se expone la secuencia de la expansión de la avispa asiática en Europa y se valora el riesgo real de ocupación de otras áreas de la Península Ibérica teniendo en cuenta sus características climáticas y los modelos publicados. Se discute la ame-naza que supone su llegada para especies nativas con características similares, especialmente por...

El establecimiento de poblaciones de visón americano asilvestradas en España data de la década de los 60 del siglo XX. Los individuos procedentes de escapes de granjas peleteras han establecido poblaciones asilvestradas que se han expandido rápidamente por la cuenca del Duero. Tanto los motivos de su exitosa expansión en la submeseta norte como los...

Valladolid, the capital city of the Comunidad Autónoma de Castilla y León, is situated 200 km north of Madrid at 690 m above sea level (a.s.l). It is a midsized town with about 300,000 inhabitants and occupies 4.45 km 2. The city is located in the middle of the largest agricultural area in the Iberian Peninsula, which has resulted in its urban biod...

Alfonso Balmori Martínez es biólogo (abalmori@delfi n.retecal.es) D urante decenios multitud de seres vivos han sido utilizados por el hombre para detectar posibles alteraciones en los ecosistemas. Desde los líquenes, muy sensi-bles a la contaminación por acumular las sustancias tóxicas en sus tejidos, hasta las aves que viven en jardines y edifi c...

DISTRIBUCIÓN Mundial. Especie monotípica de amplia distribución por toda la región Paleártica hasta Japón aunque falta en el norte de Siberia. Habita en toda Europa, excepto Islandia (Cramp & Simmons, 1982; Hagemeijer & Blair, 1997), y se ha estimado una población de 500.000-1.250.000 pp. (BirdLife International/EBCC, 2000). España. Se encuentra pr...

DESCRIPCIÓN Murciélago de gran tamaño, con alas largas y estrechas. Cabeza característica con orejas rígidas pro-yectadas hacia delante. La cola sobresale por fuera de la membrana caudal y se retrae en el uropata-gio en vuelo. El color del pelo es muy variable, de pardo a gris claro. Algunos ejemplares presentan áreas canosas. No se ha descrito dim...

DISTRIBUCIÓN Mundial. Cría en el Paleártico occidental y África tropical e inverna en el Sahel desde Senegal y Guinea hasta Sudán y Etiopía. Las pobla-ciones de Europa occidental migran a través del SO francés y la península Ibérica donde se reúnen con las aves locales para atrave-sar Marruecos y Mauritania. Otra vía migratoria discurre por Italia,...

Consideradas ambas como subespecies de P. collybita, hasta que Helbig et al. (1996) elevan a la categoría de especie al Mosquitero Ibérico, para el que se ha sugerido como correcto el nombre científico de P. ibericus Ticehurst 1937 frente al de P. [c.] brehmii Homeyer, 1871 (Svensson, 2001). Para este nuevo atlas, SEO/BirdLife estableció un criteri...

An experiment has been made exposing eggs and tadpoles of the common frog (Rana temporaria) to electromagnetic radiation from several mobile (cell) phone antennae located at a distance of 140 meters. The experiment lasted two months, from the egg phase until an advanced phase of tadpole prior to metamorphosis. Measurements of electric field intensi...

A review on the effects of radiofrequency radiation from wireless telecommunications on living organisms and its possible impact on wild mammals are presented. Physical and technological characteristics of mobile telephone and phone masts, the scientific discoveries that are of interest in the study of their effects on the wildlife, action mechanis...

Identificación Murciélago de gran tamaño, con alas largas y estrechas, aptas para el vuelo rápido y la caza en espacios abiertos. La cabeza es muy característica con orejas rígidas proyectadas hacia delante, ojos grandes y hocico largo. La cola sobresale de la membrana patagial, lo que da nombre a la especie. Estatus de conservación Figura con la c...

Acknowledgments: Claudio Gómez Perretta and Paqui Bonet Translation from Spanish: Patricia Garcia At first glance we could consider the addiction to cell phones as belonging to those addictions that are substance-free, also called psychological addictions. Yet, unlike these, cell phones emit microwaves that reach the brain, making investigators won...

During recent decades, there has been a marked decline of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) population in the United Kingdom and in several western European countries. The aims of this study were to determine whether the population is also declining in Spain and to evaluate the hypothesis that electromagnetic radiation (microwaves) from phone a...

RÉSUMÉ -Cet article passe en revue la littérature relative aux effets sur les êtres vivants des ondes utilisées dans la téléphonie sans fil et analyse leur impact possible sur les oiseaux sau-vages. Après la présentation des caractéristiques techniques et de la situation légale [en Espagne essentiellement] de cette nouvelle technologie, sont passée...

y Pesca del Gobierno Vasco, se aprobó el Plan de Ordenación de los Recursos Naturales del área de Izki en el Decreto 64/1998, de 31 de marzo, publicado en el Boletín Oficial del País Vasco el día 4 de mayo de 1998. En esa misma fecha se declara el Parque Natural de Izki en el Decreto 65/1998. La declaración de un espacio natural protegido precisa d...

A bibliographical review on the possible effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) from wireless telecommunications on living organisms and its impact on amphibians is presented. The technical characteristics of this new technology and the scientific discoveries that are of interest in the study of their effects on wild fauna and amphibians are des...

Se presenta una revisión de estudios de laboratorio realizados exponiendo insectos a radiaciones electromagnéticas en el rango de las microondas, similares a las utilizadas por los sistemas de telefonía que se utilizan actualmente, y a campos electromagnéticos de baja frecuencia. Las microondas pulsadas y moduladas de la telefonía son un reciente c...

Monitoring of a white stork population in Valladolid (Spain) in the vicinity of Cellular Phone Base Stations was carried out, with the objective of detecting possible effects. The total productivity, in the nests located within 200 meters of antennae, was 0.86 ± 0.16. For those located further than 300 m, the result was practically doubled, with an...

SUMMARY.—Stopover ecology and divers migratory strategies use in the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) Aims: Obtain information about the stopover ecology of the Common Sandpiper, to identify the divers strategies used by juvenile and adults and its contribution to the differential migration as well as try to explain the differences in the resu...

SUMMARY.—Possible effects of the electromagnetic waves used in the wireless telephony on wildlife. A bibliographical revision of the possible effects of the waves used in the wireless telephony on animals is presented and its impact on wild birds is analyzed. After exposing the technical characteristics and the legal situation of this new technolog...

El despliegue de la telefonía sin cable, acontecido durante la última década en todo el mundo, ha elevado la contaminación electromagnética en el rango de las radiofrecuencias en varios órdenes de magnitud, sobre todo en los núcleos habitados. No se han previsto los efectos sobre los seres vivos especialmente sobre los que, por su inmovilidad o sed...

Aunque cada vez existen más trabajos sobre el Mosquitero Ibérico, lo cierto es que todavía quedan grandes incógnitas sobre aspectos tan básicos como puede ser su distribución. Aprovechando la publicación en El Escribano Digital del trabajo sobre la taxonomía de la especie (pág. 5), los autores del texto de la especie para el nuevo Atlas de aves nid...

RESUMEN Entre 1998 y 2002 se ha estudiado la biología y organización social de una colonia de murciéla- gos rabudos Tadarida teniotis en Valladolid (Castilla y León, España), mediante observación nocturna y anillamiento. Se ha observado que forman harenes constituidos por un macho dominante y un nú- mero variable de hembras. Los machos compiten int...

—Differential autumn migration of the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) in the Due- ro valley (north-west Spain). This work shows information about the dynamics, differential migration and length of stop-over of the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) during the autumn migration in the Due- ro valley (North-western, Spain). There were 150 spe...

Based on 120 linear transects in riparian forests of Castilla y León and using song as the means of differentiating the species, we have confirmed the presence during the breeding season of the two breeding chiffchaff taxa recognised in western Europe, Iberian chiffchaff (Phylloscopus brehmii) and European chiffchaff (P. collybita). In this area th...

Contribution to the knowledge of the wolfs endoparasites in Iberian Peninsula: A coprological survey Sixty wolf faeces pertaining to 23 family groups from Castilla y León and Asturias, were analized ( the 13% of the estimated 177 groups in this area). The area was divided into 4 zones in order to detect some parasitological differences that could c...

De la revisión sobre el anillamiento de quirópte-ros durante el periodo 1977-1986 (De Paz et al., 1986) parece deducirse que existió una mayor rotura o perforación del patagio con el modelo " J ". Con el modelo " A " Se encontraron mayores daños por aplastamiento y mordeduras, causando la ilegibilidad de las inscripciones por tratarse de un materia...

INTRODUCCIÓN Los quirópteros son mamíferos euterios (Eutheria), pertenecen por tanto al grupo más evolucionado de los vertebrados con mamas, pelo y una placenta desarrollada. El feto pasa su periodo de gestación en el útero de la madre, alimentándose de ella a través de la placenta. Tras el parto, el joven se nutre de la secreción láctea producida...

Status of the Spanish Sparrow in the Iberian Northern Plateau During 1995 and 1996 some colonies of Spanish Sparrow, largely spraded within the northern meseta of Spain, have been found. A revision of previous records is made in the present paper, in addition to the copilation of the new references of the recently found colonies.