Browsing by Author "Nunes, Rui"
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- Aprostocetus azoricusPublication . Nunes, Rui; Borges, Paulo A. V.JUSTIFICATION: Aprostocetus azoricus is an endemic eulophid wasp species of the Azores (Portugal), having been present at least historically on Flores island. From the historical data, this species had a very small Extent of Occurrence (8 km²) and Area of Occupancy (8 km²). It is possible that this species has declined in the past as a result of human activity, but the present situation of this species needs to be further assessed and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology, life history and indigenous host species. Conservation/restoration of native habitats, as well as invasive plant species control, could potentially aid this species' conservation. Based upon the lack of recent data regarding this species population, distribution, threats, ecology and hosts, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).
- Arthropods and other Biota associated with the Azorean Trees and Shrubs : Juniperus brevifoliaPublication . Nunes, Rui; Gabriel, Rosalina; Elias, Rui B.; Rigal, François; Borges, Paulo A. V.This work aims to characterize the arthropods and other biota (lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants and birds) associated with the Azorean endemic tree, Juniperus brevifolia. This is the first of a series of publications that will (i) provide a comprehensive list of all the biota associated with the main Azorean endemic trees and shrubs, (ii) describe in detail the diver-sity, abundance and spatial patterns of canopy arthropods, and (iii) whenever possible, to extend biodiversity assessments to communities of bryophytes, lichens, vascular plants and vertebrates. We use standardized sampled data from BALA project for canopy arthropods and for the remaining taxa we surveyed literature data and the Herbarium of University of Azores. Juniperus brevifolia occurs in a wide range of elevation belts in Azores and accommodates a remarkable large number of taxa: besides canopy arthropods (161 species) it is also an important substrate to other vascular species (six species), bryophytes (105 species), lichens (106 species) and also birds (four species). In addition, the species richness and particularly the abundance of endemics are dominant, and the number of conservation concern species for bryophytes is noteworthy (30 out of 70). The complexity of the tree and the high diversity of micro-habitats created the conditions for epiphytic species to easily colonize all parts of the tree, from the bottom, trunk and branches. The communities associated with the Azorean cedar are consequently of a high conservation value and should be further investigated in their ecological dynamics.
- Atrometoides nigerrimusPublication . Nunes, Rui; Borges, Paulo A. V.JUSTIFICATION: Atrometoides nigerrimus is an endemic ichneumonid wasp species of the Azores (Portugal), being present historically (at least) on S. Miguel island. From the historical data, this species may have had a very small Extent of Occurrence (8 km²) and Area of Occupancy (8 km²), and it is possible that this species has declined in the past as a result of human activity. However, the present situation of this species needs to be further assessed, and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology, life history and indigenous host species. Conservation/restoration of native habitats, as well as invasive plant species control, could potentially aid this species' conservation. Based upon the lack of recent data regarding this species population, distribution, threats, ecology and hosts, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).
- Bradysia truncorumPublication . Nunes, Rui; Borges, Paulo A. V.JUSTIFICATION: Bradysia truncorum is an endemic species of the Azores (Portugal), being present, at least historically, at a site on Flores island. From the historical data, this species may have a very small Extent of Occurrence (8 km²) and Area of Occupancy (8 km²), and it is possible that this species has declined in the past as a result of human activity. However, the present situation of this species needs to be further assessed, and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology and life history. Conservation of native wet and boggy grasslands and semi-natural pastures could potentially aid this species' conservation. Based upon the lack of data regarding this species population, distribution, threats and ecology, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).
- Carabodes azoricusPublication . Nunes, Rui; Borges, Paulo A. V.JUSTIFICATION: Carabodes azoricus is an endemic species of the Azores (Portugal), having been described from one location in Terceira island. From the species' description, it potentially has a very small Extent of Occurrence (4 km²) and Area of Occupancy (4 km²), but these are likely underestimates, as this species probably has a wider distribution through the soil component of the island. It can be assumed that this species is affected by human activities and invasive plant species, which alter the natural structure and composition of the soil. Future climatic changes and increased risk of droughts will also affect this species. The present situation of this species needs to be further assessed and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology and life history. Conservation of natural habitats and invasive species control could potentially aid this species conservation. Based upon the incomplete knowledge regarding this species population, distribution, threats and ecology, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).
- Chirothrips azoricusPublication . Nunes, Rui; Borges, Paulo A. V.JUSTIFICATION: Chirothrips azoricus is endemic to São Miguel (Azores, Portugal). It has a very small Extent of Occurrence (EOO = 8 km²) and Area of Occupancy (AOO = 8 km²). There is a continuing decline in the EOO, AOO, extent and quality of habitat as well as the number of mature individuals as a result of the invasions of non-native plants; and, based on this threat, the species occurs only at one location. Therefore, the species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR). We suggest as future conservation measures: (1) regular monitoring of the species; and (2) control of invasive species, namely Hedychium gardnerianum and Clethra arborea.
- Conservation status of the forest beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera) from Azores, PortugalPublication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Lamelas López, Lucas; Amorim, Isabel R.; Danielczak, Anja; Nunes, Rui; Serrano, Artur R. M.; Boieiro, Mário; Rego, Carla; Hochkirch, Axel; Vieira, VirgílioBACKGROUND: Island biodiversity is under considerable pressure due to the ongoing threats of invasive alien species, land use change or climate change. The few remnants of Azorean native forests harbour a unique set of endemic beetles, some of them possibly already extinct or under severe long term threat due to the small areas of the remaining habitats or climatic changes. In this contribution we present the IUCN Red List profiles of 54 forest adapted beetle species endemic to the Azorean archipelago, including species belonging to four speciose families: Zopheridae (12 species), Carabidae (11 species), Curculionidae (11 species) and Staphylinidae (10 species). NEW INFORMATION: Most species have a restricted distribution (i.e. 66% occur in only one island) and a very small extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO). Also common to most of the species is the severe fragmentation of their populations, and a continuing decline in EOO, AOO, habitat quality, number of locations and subpopulations caused by the ongoing threat from pasture intensification, forestry, invasive species and future climatic changes. Therefore, we suggest as future measures of conservation: (1) a long-term monitoring plan for the species; (2) control of invasive species; (3) species-specific conservation action for the most highly threatened species.
- Differential temporal beta‐diversity patterns of native and non‐native arthropod species in a fragmented native forest landscapePublication . Matthews, Thomas J.; Sadler, Jon; Carvalho, Rui; Nunes, Rui; Borges, Paulo A. V.An important factor that hinders the management of non‐native species is a general lack of information regarding the biogeography of non‐natives, and, in particular, their rates of turnover. Here, we address this research gap by analysing differences in temporal beta‐diversity (using both pairwise and multiple‐time dissimilarity metrics) between native and non‐native species, using a novel time‐series dataset of arthropods sampled in native forest fragments in the Azores. We use a null model approach to determine whether temporal beta‐diversity was due to deterministic processes or stochastic colonisation and extinction events, and linear modelling selection to assess the factors driving variation in temporal beta‐diversity between plots. In accordance with our predictions, we found that the temporal beta‐diversity was much greater for non‐native species than for native species, and the null model analyses indicated that the turnover of non‐native species was due to stochastic events. No predictor variables were found to explain the turnover of native or non‐native species. We attribute the greater turnover of non‐native species to source‐sink processes and the close proximity of anthropogenic habitats to the fragmented native forest plots sampled in our study. Thus, our findings point to ways in which the study of turnover can be adapted for future applications in habitat island systems. The implications of this for biodiversity conservation and management are significant. The high rate of stochastic turnover of non‐native species indicates that attempts to simply reduce the populations of non‐native species in situ within native habitats may not be successful. A more efficient management strategy would be to interrupt source‐sink dynamics by improving the harsh boundaries between native and adjacent anthropogenic habitats.
- Dinotrema azoricumPublication . Nunes, Rui; Borges, Paulo A. V.JUSTIFICATION: Dinotrema azoricum is an endemic species of the Azores, Portugal. It is known only from the holotype, collected on São Miguel in 1938, in a (currently) highly disturbed area. From the historical data, it potentially has a very small Extent of Occurrence (16 km²) and Area of Occupancy (16 km²). This species has possibly declined in the past as a result of human activity, but the present situation of this species needs to be further assessed and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology and life history. Conservation of native vegetation could potentially aid this species' conservation. Based upon the unknown distribution, threats and ecology, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).
- Dolichopus marshalliPublication . Nunes, Rui; Borges, Paulo A. V.JUSTIFICATION: Dolichopus marshalli is an endemic species of the Azores (Portugal), described from an unknown site on Pico island. The present situation of this species needs to be further assessed, and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology and life history. Based upon the lack of data regarding this species status, population, distribution, threats and ecology, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).