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- Standardised sampling of odonates (Odonata) in Serra da Estrela (Portugal) - 2013 and 2014Publication . Boieiro, Mário; Antunes, Sandra; Figueiredo, Hugo; Soares, Albano; Lopes, Ana; Monteiro, Eva; Pereira, Patrícia Garcia; Rego, Carla; Conde, José; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Serrano, Artur R. M.Mountain ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity conservation since they host high biodiversity. This study reports novel information on odonate species diversity, distribution and abundance from Serra da Estrela Natural Park (Portugal). Twenty six odonate species were sampled in this protected area, including the first finding of Macromia splendens (Pictet, 1843). New populations of Oxygastra curtisii (Dale, 1834), a protected species under the Habitats Directive, was found in this Natural Park and novel distribution and ecological data was collected for most species, including several rare species (e.g., Aeshna juncea (Linnaeus, 1758), Sympetrum flaveolum (Linnaeus, 1758)). All data were collected using standardised sampling allowing its use as baseline for long-term monitoring of Serra da Estrela mountain biodiversity.
- A novel morphological phenotype does not ensure reduced biotic resistance on an oceanic islandPublication . Ferrante, Marco; Nunes, Rui; Lamelas-López, Lucas; Lövei, Gabor L.; Borges, Paulo A. V.Biotic resistance by the local community is a prominent theory seeking to explain invasion success or failure. Oceanic island communities might be prone to invasions because of their assumed low biotic resistance, due to low species richness and ecological naivety towards invaders. Biotic resistance, however, has rarely been quantified. We attempted such quantification on Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal) using the sentinel prey method. Vanessa virginiensis, a widely distributed Nearctic butterfly, has not been recorded on Terceira, and their caterpillars have characteristic green–black stripes that make it dissimilar to other Azorean caterpillars. We examined whether predation rate (PR) on plasticine caterpillars mimicking the unfamiliar V. virginiensis pattern were lower than on familiar green ones. We exposed a total of 4479 caterpillars in native forests and five non-native habitats, the agroecosystems orchards, vineyards, low and high elevation maize fields, and intensively managed pastures. Overall PR was higher on caterpillars with the unfamiliar than with the familiar pattern (6.4%d⁻¹ vs. 3.7%d⁻¹). Invertebrate PR was also significantly higher on the unfamiliar than on the familiar pattern in the native forest (5.9%d⁻¹ vs. 1.0%d⁻¹), as well as vertebrate PR in orchards (4.8%d⁻¹ vs. 2.3%d⁻¹) and low elevation maize fields (7.4%d⁻¹ vs. 2.2%d⁻¹). Our results suggest the existence of biotic resistance even on a species-poor, remote island, and that a novel morphological phenotype in itself does not guarantee reduced predation pressure.
- Os Açores na Filosofia e nas Ciências : Estudos IIPublication . Luz, José Luís Brandão daConjunto de 21 ensaios que procura uma abordagem da filosofia e da cultura portuguesa a partir do contributo trazido por autores de origem açoriana. Consoante o período histórico a que dizem respeito, os diferentes ensaios poderão ser agrupados em três conjuntos. O primeiro reporta-se aos séculos XVI e XVII e incide na obra historiográfica de Gaspar Frutuoso (1522-1591) e no sermonário de Bartolomeu do Quental (1626-1698), abordando as conceções do homem e da história, designadamente a visão reformista que ambos propõem para a condução da vida moral, social e política. O segundo inclui pensadores do século XIX e inícios do século XX, como Teófilo Braga (1843-1924), Manuel de Arriaga (1840-1917) e Francisco M. Faria e Maia (1841-1923), procurando nas suas obras a visão crítica da religião, a teoria do direito e a filosofia do conhecimento. Finalmente, o terceiro conjunto, que contempla o século XX, dispensa particular atenção aos temas da fenomenologia, do conhecimento e da metafísica em pensadores de apurada estatura filosófica, como Gustavo de Fraga (1922-2003) e José Enes (1924-2013), integrando também autores que deixaram obra poética e ensaística de índole cultural e filosófica, como Ruy Galvão de Carvalho (1903-1991), Manuel Pereira Medeiros (1936-2013). O livro encerra com um estudo sobre o significado da insularidade, convocando a visão de filósofos, literatos e intelectuais que refletiram sobre o tema.
- Is there solid evidence of widespread landscape disturbance in the Azores before the arrival of the Portuguese?Publication . Elias, Rui B.; Connor, Simon; Góis-Marques, Carlos A.; Schaefer, Hanno; Silva, Luís; Sequeira, Miguel M.; Moura, Mónica; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Gabriel, RosalinaRaposeiro et al. conclude that human occupation of the Azores islands began between 700 and 850 CE, causing widespread landscape disturbance and raising doubts about the islands’ presumed pristine nature when the Portuguese arrived. However, previous paleoecological studies from Flores, Pico, and Sao Miguel Islands (Table 1) show that permanent changes in the vegetation occurred only after the early 15th century. The authors’ work also shows the permanent decline, to the lowest levels, in arboreal pollen on Corvo and Flores occurring during Portuguese occupation, not before. […].
- New records of the critically endangered fern Grammitis azorica (Polypodiaceae)Publication . Elias, Rui B.; Pereira, FernandoGrammitis azorica (H. Schaef.) H. Schaef. is a critically endangered epiphytic fern, endemic to the Azores Islands. Until 2013, its presence was only confirmed on Flores Island. Our new records expand the distribution of this species from one to three islands and the altitudinal range to 640 – 1130 m a.s.l. Nevertheless, the fact that only four additional individuals were found confirms the rarity of this fern. Our new data also highlight the importance of montane forests and woodlands as hotspots of biodiversity in the Azores and the need to increase the protection status of all areas with remnant natural forest patches.
- GC- and UHPLC-MS Profiles as a Tool to Valorize the Red Alga Asparagopsis armataPublication . Pinto, Diana C. G. A.; Lesenfants, Marie L.; Rosa, Gonçalo P.; Barreto, Maria do Carmo; Silva, Artur M. S.; Seca, Ana M. L.Asparagopsis armata Harvey is a red alga native from the southern hemisphere and then introduced in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, including the Azores Archipelago, where it is considered an invasive alga. Some studies show that the extracts exhibit antimicrobial and antifouling activities, and it is incorporated in some commercialized cosmetic products. (e.g., Ysaline®). However, knowledge of this species chemical composition is scarce. The GC-MS and UHPLC-MS profiles of both the nonpolar and polar extracts were established to contribute to this problem solution. According to the results, A. armata is rich in a great structural variety of halogenated lipophilic and aromatic compounds, some of them identified here for the first time. In the lipophilic extract, 25 compounds are identified, being the halogenated compounds and fatty acids, the two major compound families, corresponding to 54.8% and 35.7% of identified compounds (224 and 147 mg/100 g of dry algae, respectively). The 1,4-dibromobuten-1-ol and the palmitic acid are the two most abundant identified compounds (155 and 83.4 mg/100 g of dry algae, respectively). The polar extract demonstrated the richness of this species in brominated phenolics, from which the cinnamic acid derivatives are predominant. The results obtained herein open new perspectives for valuing the A. armata as a source of halogenated compounds and fatty acids, consequently improving its biotechnological and economic potential. Promoting this seaweed and the consequent increase in its demand will contribute to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem sustainability.
- A survey of exotic arthropods in disturbed Azorean forest habitats using SLAM trapsPublication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Lamelas-López, Lucas; Ros-Prieto, AlejandraThe data we present consists in an inventory of exotic arthropods, potentially invasive, collected on exotic and mixed forests, as well disturbed native forest patches most of them not included in protected areas, on the Azores archipelago. The study was carried out between 2019 and 2020 in four islands: Corvo, Flores, Terceira and Santa Maria, where a total of 45 passive flight interception SLAM traps were deployed, during three to six consecutive months. This manuscript is the second contribution of the “SLAM Project - Long Term Ecological Study of the Impacts of Climate Change in the natural forest of Azores”. A total of 45 passive flight interception SLAM traps were deployed, during six consecutive months, collecting arthropods belonging to Arachnida, Diplopoda, Chilopoda and Insecta Classes. We collected a total of 21,175 specimens, belonging to 20 orders, 93 families and 249 species of arthropods. A total of 125 species are considered introduced, 89 native non-endemic and 35 endemic. We registered a total of 33 new records for one or more islands, of which five are new for Azores: Dieckmanniellus nitidulus (Gyllenhal, 1838), Gronops fasciatus Küster, 1851, Hadroplontus trimaculatus (Fabricius, 1775), Hypurus berandi (Perris, 1852) (all Coleoptera, Curculionidae) and Cardiocondyla mauritanica Forel, 1890 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). This publication remarks the importance of disturbed native forest patches and exotic vegetation areas as potential reservoirs of exotic potentially invasive arthropods and also accommodating some rare relict endemic arthropod species.
- Invasive intraguild predators : Evidence of their effects, not assumptionsPublication . Brown, Peter M. J.; Zaviezo, Tania; Grez, Audrey; Adriaens, Tim; San Martin, Gilles; Roy, Helen E.; Soares, António O.
- Editorial: Theoretical Approaches to Community EcologyPublication . Borda-de-Água, Luís; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Halley, John M.
- Taxonomic, structural diversity and carbon stocks in a gradient of island forestsPublication . Silva, Lurdes da Conceição Borges; Pavão, Diogo Cláudio; Elias, Rui B.; Moura, Mónica; Ventura, Maria A.; Silva, LuísAssessment of forest ecosystems and their services is seen as a key action for the advancement of biodiversity objectives, and to inform the development and implementation of related policies and planning. The Azorean forest is important for timber production, the protection of soil and water resources, and for its recreational and aesthetic value. However, its role in carbon accumulation has not been fully addressed. We assessed plant diversity, forest structure and carbon stocks in a gradient of three forest types (Natural Forest-NF; Exotic Woodland-EW and Production Forest-PF) in three of the Azores islands. We used biodiversity indices and found that NF harboured the highest plant diversity levels and PF the lowest. Diversity levels were lower for structural than for taxonomic data, particularly for PF. The highest tree carbon stock was found at EW in one of the islands, while PF consistently exhibited relatively high tree carbon stocks in the three islands. The largest soil carbon stocks were found at EW, while leaf litter carbon stocks were higher at PF. We concluded that NF play a fundamental role as plant diversity hotspots but have lower relevance as carbon stocks what might be associated with montane environmental conditions. PFs provide economic assets and act as carbon sinks, while EWs play a major role as carbon sinks in soil, but also at tree level in the oldest forests.
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