DCEA - Artigos em Revistas Internacionais / Articles in International Journals
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- Annotated checklist of aquatic beetles (Coleoptera) and true bugs (Heteroptera) in the Azores Islands : new records and corrections of colonization statusPublication . Lamelas-López, Lucas; Raposeiro, Pedro M.; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Florencio, MargaritaIn comparison with other Macaronesian archipelagos, Azorean freshwater macroinvertebrates are characterized by a smaller list of species at the archipelago regional scale. Although knowledge of the freshwater fauna of the Azores has improved in recent years through the implementation of the "Water Framework Directive", we are still far from having a complete inventory and even further from knowing the precise distribution and biology of each species. The lack of knowledge about Azorean freshwater species is coupled with the vulnerability of their habitats to anthropogenic disturbances and the introduction of non-native species. In contributing to overcome Wallacean and Hutchinsonian biodiversity shortfalls, we here provide expanded knowledge on the distribution and biology of the freshwater species of Coleoptera and Heteroptera in the Azores. We compile data from various fieldwork performed between 2006 and 2014, encompassing four islands in the archipelago. We detected new records of two aquatic Heteroptera species (belonging to the families Corixidae and Notonectidae) and six of aquatic Coleoptera (belonging to the families Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Hydrophilidae and Hydraenidae) in these islands, and also a new record (Enochrus fuscipennis) for the Azorean archipelago. We also suggest that the introduced colonization status of three Coleoptera species of the family Hydrophilidae should be reformulated as possibly native, with implications for conservation.
- Ant Diversity Declines with Increasing Elevation along the Udzungwa Mountains, TanzaniaPublication . Kunene, Caroline; Foord, Stefan H.; Scharff, Nikolaj; Pape, Thomas; Malumbres-Olarte, Jagoba; Munyai, Thinandavha C.Biodiversity patterns along elevational gradients are generally characterised by monotonic decreases or mid-elevational peaks in species richness, while elevational zones may be characterised by distinct assemblages, or higher zones may be subsets of lowland assemblages. Elevational gradients in diversity have been less studied in the Afrotropical region. This study documents ant diversity patterns in three forest types associated with the tropical mountains of Udzungwa; we hypothesise that: (1) ant diversity and activity will show a monotonic decrease from mid-elevation with increasing elevation and (2) that forests associated with different elevations will have a distinct ant assemblage. Pitfall traps were deployed at three targeted elevations (650–800, 800–1400, and 1400–1500 m a.s.l.). Ant species richness declined with increasing elevation from 650 m a.s.l. and formed three elevational assemblages with lower elevation forests having almost twice as many species as sub-montane forests and three times as many as that of the montane forests. In contrast, overall ant activity peaked at 800–1400 m a.s.l. The ant assemblages associated with the lower elevation forest were very distinct, while assemblages associated with the sub-montane and montane forests shared species. Our study reveals valuable and relevant information for biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning as the species associated with each forest type may be used as indicator species for assessing biodiversity responses to climate change and anthropogenic activities on these mountains.
- Arthropod diversity in two Historic Gardens in the Azores, PortugalPublication . Arteaga, Alba; Malumbres-Olarte, Jagoba; Gabriel, Rosalina; Ros-Prieto, A.; Casimiro, Pedro; Fuentes-Sánchez, Ana; Albergaria, Isabel Soares de; Borges, Paulo A. V.The aim of our study was to characterise and compare the richness and composition of endemic, native (non-endemic) and introduced arthropod assemblages of two Azorean Historic Gardens with contrasting plant species composition. We hypothesised that Faial Botanic Garden would hold higher arthropod diversity and abundance of native and endemic arthropod species due to its larger native plant community. Species were collected using several arthropod standardised techniques between April 2017 and June 2018. We used the alpha diversity metrics (Hill series) and the partitioning of total beta diversity (βtotal) into its replacement (βrepl) and richness (βrich) components, to analyse the adult and total arthropod community. The orders Araneae, Coleoptera and Hemiptera were also studied separately. Our results show that the number of exotic arthropod species exceeds the number of native and/or the endemic species in both gardens, but the arthropod community of Faial Botanic Garden exhibited a higher density of endemic and native species. Despite some minor exceptions, the geographic origins of plant communities largely influenced the arthropod species sampled in each garden. This study improves our knowledge about urban arthropod diversity in the Azores and shows how well-designed urban garden management and planning contribute to the conservation of native and endemic Azorean species.
- Arthropods and other biota associated with the Azorean trees and shrubs : Laurus azorica (Seub) Franco (Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Laurales, Lauraceae)Publication . Tsafack, Noelline; Gabriel, Rosalina; Elias, Rui B.; Boieiro, Mário; Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Borges, Paulo A. V.This study explores the composition and structure of species communities associated with the native Azorean tree species Laurus azorica (Seub) Franco (Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Laurales, Lauraceae). Communities were sampled in six Islands covering the occidental (Flores), central (Faial, Pico, Terceira) and eastern (São Miguel, Santa Maria) groups of Azores Archipelago during the BALA project, using standardised sampling protocols for surveying canopy arthropod fauna. In addition, the study characterises the distribution of species regarding their colonisation status and feeding modes and, finally, compares communities of different Islands. Ninety-four arthropod species totalling 10,313 specimens were collected on L. azorica. The Arthropod community was dominated by Hemiptera species, most of them being herbivores. Endemic and native species showed a very high abundance representing about 94% of the total species abundance. However, despite introduced species being represented by few individuals (6% of the total abundance), their diversity was remarkable (28 species and no significant difference with diversity found in endemic and native species communities). Analysis of rarity patterns revealed a stable community of endemic species (alpha gambin SAD model approaching a log-normal shape), intermediate stable community of native species (alpha SAD gambin model approaching a poisson log-normal) and a less stable community of introduced species (alpha SAD gambin model approaching a log-series shape). A dissimilarity analysis revealed high similarity between communities of Terceira and Pico and high dissimilarity between Flores and Faial communities. We observed a clear individualisation of the different islands when considering endemic species, whereas we observed high overlap when considering native and introduced species groups. Canopy community distribution confirms the results obtained in a previous study which suggest the stability of native and endemic arthropods species communities over introduced species community in native forests fragments. Arthropod species were richer than bryophytes, lichens and vascular plants species. We found that L. azorica serve as the substrate for very few vascular plants species (four epiphytes species), which were present in all Islands, except Elaphoglossum semicylindricum, which does not occur in Santa Maria. L. azorica shelters a significant number of bryophytes and lichens species. Thirty-two lichens and 92 bryophyte species, including 57 liverworts and 35 mosses, are referred to this phorophyte. Five bryophyte species, all Azorean endemics, are considered Endangered by IUCN Criteria. L. azorica harbours a poor community of epiphyte vascular plant species and all of them were ferns, but the community of bryophytes and lichens are not negligible although very low compared to the community found on other previously studied Azorean trees, the Azorean cedar Juniperus brevifolia. The present study shows that most islands present particular species distribution patterns without geographical correlation and that conservation programmes should be adapted to each Island. The study, therefore, calls for a specialisation of conservation programmes for each of the Islands.
- Assessing genotype-phenotype associations in three dorsal colour morphs in the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) using genomic and transcriptomic resourcesPublication . Rodrigues, Ana S. B.; Silva, Sara E.; Pina-Martins, Francisco; Loureiro, João; Castro, Mariana; Gharbi, Karim; Johnson, Kevin P.; Dietrich, Christopher H.; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Quartau, José A.; Jiggins, Chris D.; Paulo, Octávio S.; Seabra, Sofia G.BACKGROUND: Colour polymorphisms are common among animal species. When combined with genetic and ecological data, these polymorphisms can be excellent systems in which to understand adaptation and the molecular changes underlying phenotypic evolution. The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.) (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae), a widespread insect species in the Holarctic region, exhibits a striking dorsal colour/pattern balanced polymorphism. Although experimental crosses have revealed the Mendelian inheritance of this trait, its genetic basis remains unknown. In this study we aimed to identify candidate genomic regions associated with the colour balanced polymorphism in this species. RESULTS: By using restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) sequencing we were able to obtain a set of 1,837 markers across 33 individuals to test for associations with three dorsal colour phenotypes (typicus, marginellus, and trilineatus). Single and multi-association analyses identified a total of 60 SNPs associated with dorsal colour morphs. The genome size of P. spumarius was estimated by flow cytometry, revealing a 5.3 Gb genome, amongst the largest found in insects. A partial genome assembly, representing 24% of the total size, and an 81.4 Mb transcriptome, were also obtained. From the SNPs found to be associated with colour, 35% aligned to the genome and 10% to the transcriptome. Our data suggested that major loci, consisting of multi-genomic regions, may be involved in dorsal colour variation among the three dorsal colour morphs analysed. However, no homology was found between the associated loci and candidate genes known to be responsible for coloration pattern in other insect species. The associated markers showed stronger differentiation of the trilineatus colour phenotype, which has been shown previously to be more differentiated in several life-history and physiological characteristics as well. It is possible that colour variation and these traits are linked in a complex genetic architecture. CONCLUSIONS: The loci detected to have an association with colour and the genomic and transcriptomic resources developed here constitute a basis for further research on the genetic basis of colour pattern in the meadow spittlebug P. spumarius.
- Assessing taxonomic and functional change in British breeding bird assemblages over timePublication . Wayman, Joseph P.; Sadler, Jonathan P.; Pugh, Thomas A. M.; Martin, Thomas E.; Tobias, Joseph A.; Matthews, Thomas J.AIM: The aim was to identify the primary drivers of compositional change in breeding bird assemblages over a 40-year period. LOCATION: Britain. TIME PERIOD: From 1970 to 2010. MAJOR TAXA STUDIED: Birds. METHODS: Using morphological trait measurements and a dataset of presence-absence data for British breeding birds surveyed in 10 km × 10 km hectads during two time periods, we calculated temporal taxonomic and functional beta diversity for each hectad alongside the change in species richness, mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD) and mean pairwise distance (MPD). We also estimated potential drivers of beta diversity, including climatic and land-use and land-cover (LULC) change variables, elevation and assemblage species richness in 1970 (1970rich). We used random forest regressions to test which variables best explained compositional change in the assemblages. We also assessed spatial taxonomic and functional change by analysing multiple-site beta diversity and pairwise dissimilarities between time periods. RESULTS: Initial (1970) species richness was the most important predictor (highest importance score) across all models, with areas characterized by higher initial richness experiencing less assemblage change overall. The coordinates included to capture spatial autocorrelation in the data were also important predictors of change. Most cli-mate and LULC variables had relatively low explanatory power; elevation and average temperature were the most influential. All metrics increased slightly with increasing elevation, except for species richness change and MPD, which decreased. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The composition of British breeding bird assemblages changed substantially between 1970 and 2010. Spatial heterogeneity increased, both taxonomically and functionally. We show evidence that hectads with larger assemblages have been buffered from temporal diversity change and that those at higher elevations changed more in composition than those at lower elevations. Overall, coarse-resolution climate and LULC explained only small to moderate amounts of variation, suggesting that stochastic assembly change or finer-scale drivers might be drivers of temporal changes in assemblage composition.
- Assessing the efficiency of protected areas to represent biodiversity : a small island case studyPublication . Vergílio, Marta H. S.; Fonseca, Catarina; Calado, Helena; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Elias, Rui B.; Gabriel, Rosalina; Martins, António; Azevedo, Eduardo B.; Cardoso, PedroProtected areas (PAs) have been selected using either subjective or objective criteria applied to an extremely limited subset of biodiversity. Improved availability of species distribution data, better statistical tools to predict species distributions and algorithms to optimize spatial conservation planning allow many impediments to be overcome, particularly on small islands. This study analyses whether 219 species are adequately protected by PAs on Pico Island (theAzores, Portugal), and if they are as efficient as possible, maximizing species protection while minimizing costs. We performed distribution modelling of species’ potential distributions, proposed individual conservation targets (considering the context of each species in the archipelago and their current conservation status) to determine the efficiency of current PAs in meeting such targets and identify alternative or complementary areas relevant for conservation. Results showed that current PAs do not cover all taxa, leaving out important areas for conservation. We demonstrate that by using optimization algorithms it is possible to include most species groups in spatial conservation planning in the Azores with the current resources. With increasing availability of data and methods, this approach could be readily extended to other islands and regions with high endemism levels.
- Automated Discovery of Relationships, Models, and Principles in EcologyPublication . Cardoso, Pedro; Veiga Branco, Vasco; Borges, Paulo A.V.; Carvalho, José Carlos; Rigal, François; Gabriel, Rosalina; Mammola, Stefano; Cascalho, José Manuel; Correia, LuísEcological systems are the quintessential complex systems, involving numerous high-order interactions and non-linear relationships. The most used statistical modeling techniques can hardly accommodate the complexity of ecological patterns and processes. Finding hidden relationships in complex data is now possible using massive computational power, particularly by means of artificial intelligence and machine learning methods. Here we explored the potential of symbolic regression (SR), commonly used in other areas, in the field of ecology. Symbolic regression searches for both the formal structure of equations and the fitting parameters simultaneously, hence providing the required flexibility to characterize complex ecological systems. Although the method here presented is automated, it is part of a collaborative human–machine effort and we demonstrate ways to do it. First, we test the robustness of SR to extreme levels of noise when searching for the species-area relationship. Second, we demonstrate how SR can model species richness and spatial distributions. Third, we illustrate how SR can be used to find general models in ecology, namely new formulas for species richness estimators and the general dynamic model of oceanic island biogeography. We propose that evolving free-form equations purely from data, often without prior human inference or hypotheses, may represent a very powerful tool for ecologists and biogeographers to become aware of hidden relationships and suggest general theoretical models and principles.
- AVONET : morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birdsPublication . Tobias, Joseph A.; Sheard, Catherine; Pigot, Alex L.; Devenish, Adam J. M.; Yang, Jingyi; Sayol, Ferran; Neate‐Clegg, Montague H. C.; Alioravainen, Nico; Weeks, Thomas L.; Barber, Robert A.; Walkden, Patrick A.; Cooper, Jacob C.; Pauwels, Olivier S. G.; Analuddin, Kangkuso; Fjeldså, Jon; Seddon, Nathalie; Sweet, Paul R.; DeClerck, Fabrice A. J.; Naka, Luciano N.; Brawn, Jeffrey D.; Aleixo, Alexandre; MacGregor, Hannah E. A.; Böhning‐Gaese, Katrin; Rahbek, Carsten; Fritz, Susanne A.; Thomas, Gavin H.; Schleuning, Matthias; Jones, Samuel E. I.; Vincent, Claire; Phillips, Anna G.; Marples, Nicola M.; Montaño‐Centellas, Flavia A.; Leandro‐Silva, Victor; Claramunt, Santiago; Darski, Bianca; Freeman, Benjamin G.; Bregman, Tom P.; Cooney, Christopher R.; Hughes, Emma C.; Capp, Elliot J. R.; Varley, Zoë K.; Friedman, Nicholas R.; Korntheuer, Heiko; Corrales‐Vargas, Andrea; Trisos, Christopher H.; Weeks, Brian C.; Hanz, Dagmar M.; Töpfer, Till; Bravo, Gustavo A.; Remeš, Vladimír; Nowak, Larissa; Carneiro, Lincoln S.; Moncada R., Amilkar J.; Matysioková, Beata; Baldassarre, Daniel T.; Martínez‐Salinas, Alejandra; Wolfe, Jared D.; Chapman, Philip M.; Daly, Benjamin G.; Sorensen, Marjorie C.; Neu, Alexander; Ford, Michael A.; Mayhew, Rebekah J.; Fabio Silveira, Luis; Kelly, David J.; Annorbah, Nathaniel N. D.; Pollock, Henry S.; Grabowska‐Zhang, Ada M.; McEntee, Jay P.; Carlos T. Gonzalez, Juan; Meneses, Camila G.; Muñoz, Marcia C.; Powell, Luke L.; Jamie, Gabriel A.; Matthews, Thomas J.; Johnson, Oscar; Brito, Guilherme R. R.; Zyskowski, Kristof; Crates, Ross; Harvey, Michael G.; Jurado Zevallos, Maura; Hosner, Peter A.; Bradfer‐Lawrence, Tom; Maley, James M.; Stiles, F. Gary; Lima, Hevana S.; Provost, Kaiya L.; Chibesa, Moses; Mashao, Mmatjie; Howard, Jeffrey T.; Mlamba, Edson; Chua, Marcus A. H.; Li, Bicheng; Gómez, M. Isabel; García, Natalia C.; Päckert, Martin; Fuchs, Jérôme; Ali, Jarome R.; Derryberry, Elizabeth P.; Carlson, Monica L.; Urriza, Rolly C.; Brzeski, Kristin E.; Prawiradilaga, Dewi M.; Rayner, Matt J.; Miller, Eliot T.; Bowie, Rauri C. K.; Lafontaine, René‐Marie; Scofield, R. Paul; Lou, Yingqiang; Somarathna, Lankani; Lepage, Denis; Illif, Marshall; Neuschulz, Eike Lena; Templin, Mathias; Dehling, D. MatthiasFunctional traits offer a rich quantitative framework for developing and testing theories in evolutionary biology, ecology and ecosystem science. However, the potential of functional traits to drive theoretical advances and refine models of global change can only be fully realised when species-level information is complete. Here we present the AVONET dataset containing comprehensive functional trait data for all birds, including six ecological variables, 11 continuous morphological traits, and information on range size and location. Raw morphological measurements are presented from 90,020 individuals of 11,009 extant bird species sampled from 181 countries. These data are also summarised as species averages in three taxonomic formats, allowing integration with a global phylogeny, geographical range maps, IUCN Red List data and the eBird citizen science database. The AVONET dataset provides the most detailed picture of continuous trait variation for any major radiation of organisms, offering a global template for testing hypotheses and exploring the evolutionary origins, structure and functioning of biodiversity.
- Base de datos de abejas ibéricasPublication . Bartomeus, Ignasi; Lanuza, Jose B.; Wood, Thomas J.; Carvalheiro, Luisa; Molina, Francisco P.; Collado, Miguel Ángel; Aguado-Martín, Luis Oscar; Alomar, David; Álvarez-Fidalgo, Marián; Álvarez Fidalgo, Piluca; Arista, Montserrat; Arroyo-Correa, Blanca; Asís, Josep D.; Azpiazu, Celeste; Baños-Picón, Laura; Beja, Pedro; Boieiro, Mário; Borges, Paulo A. V.; González Bornay, Guillermo; Carvalho, Rafael; Casimiro-Soriguer, Ramón; Castro, Silvia; Costa, Joana; Cross, Ian; De la Rúa, Pilar; de Pablos, Luis MIguel; de Paz, Víctor; Díaz-Calafat, Joan; Ferrero, Victoria; Gaspar, Hugo; Ghisbain, Guillaume; Gómez, José María; Gómez-Martínez, Carmelo; González-Estévez, Miguel Ángel; Heleno, Ruben; Herrera, Jose M.; Hormaza, Jose I.; Iriondo, Jose M.; Kuhlmann, Michael; Laiolo, Paola; Lara-Romero, Carlos; Lázaro, Amparo; López-Angulo, Jesús; López-Núñez, Francisco A.; Loureiro, João; Magrach, Ainhoa; Martínez-López, Vicente; Martínez-Núñez, Carlos; Michez, Denis; Miñarro, Marcos; Montero-Castaño, Ana; Moreira, Bruno; Morente-López, Javier; Noval Fonseca, Nacho; Núñez Carbajal, Alejandro; Obeso, José Ramón; Ornosa, Concepción; Ortiz-Sánchez, Francisco Javier; Pareja Bonilla, Daniel; Patiny, Sébastien; Penado, Andreia; Picanço, Ana; Ploquin, Emilie F.; Rego, Carla; Rey, Pedro J.; Ribas-Marquès, Elisa; Roberts, Stuart P.M.; Rodriguez, Marta; Rosas-Ramos, Natalia; Sánchez, Ana M.; Santamaría, Silvia; Tobajas, Estefanía; Tormos, José; Torres, Félix; Trillo, Alejandro; Valverde, Javier; Vilà, Montserrat; Viñuela, Elisa; Rasmont, PierreLas abejas son un grupo extremadamente diverso con más de 1000 especies descritas en la península ibérica. Además, son excelentes polinizadores y aportan numerosos servicios ecosistémicos fundamentales para la mayoría de ecosistemas terrestres. Debido a los diversos cambios ambientales inducidos por el ser humano, existen evidencias del declive de algunas de sus poblaciones para ciertas especies. Sin embargo, conocemos muy poco del estado de conservación de la mayoría de especies y de muchas de ellas ignoramos cuál es su distribución en la península ibérica. En este trabajo presentamos un esfuerzo colaborativo para crear una base de datos de ocurrencias de abejas que abarca la península ibérica e islas Baleares que permitirá resolver cuestiones como la distribución de las diferentes especies, preferencia de hábitat, fenología o tendencias históricas. En su versión actual, esta base de datos contiene un total de 87 684 registros de 923 especies recolectados entre 1830 y 2022, de los cuales un 87% presentan información georreferenciada. Para cada registro se incluye información relativa a la localidad de muestreo (89%), identificador y colector de la especie (64%), fecha de captura (54%) y planta donde se recolectó (20%). Creemos que esta base de datos es el punto de partida para conocer y conservar mejor la biodiversidad de abejas en la península ibérica e Islas Baleares. Se puede acceder a estos datos a través del siguiente enlace permanente: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6354502