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- Monitoring arthropods under the scope of the LIFE-BEETLES project: I - Baseline data with implementation of the Index of Biotic IntegrityPublication . Lhoumeau, Sébastien; Tsafack, Noelline; Manso, Sónia; Figueiredo, Telma; Leite, Abrão; Parmentier, Laurine; Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Borges, Paulo A. V.The urgent need for conservation efforts in response to the global biodiversity crisis is exemplified by initiatives, such as the EU LIFE BEETLES project. This project aims to preserve endangered arthropod species that are crucial for ecosystem functionality, with a focus on endemic beetle species in Flores, Pico and Terceira Islands (Azores, Portugal): Tarphius floresensis Borges & Serrano, 2017, Pseudanchomenus aptinoides (Tarnier, 1860) and Trechus terrabravensis Borges, Serrano & Amorim, 2004. These species are single island endemics respectively from Flores, Pico and Terceira. They are threatened by environmental degradation, facing the dual challenge of restricted distribution and habitat degradation due to the spread of invasive plants. The project aims to enhance habitat quality and biodiversity conservation through habitat restoration and plant invasive species control measures. These measures are funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the Azorean Environment Directorate-General. The current Data Paper evaluates the effectiveness of the LIFE BEETLES project in improving habitat quality and offers insights into the balance between habitat restoration efforts and endangered species conservation in island ecosystems, utilising as ecological indicator the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) framework. New information This study establishes a comprehensive database derived from a long-term arthropod monitoring survey that used SLAM (Sea, Land and Air Malaise) traps and pitfall traps. Our findings present a proxy for assessing the overall habitat quality for endemic invertebrates, using arthropods as main indicators. From September 2020 to June 2023, a total of 31 SLAM traps were monitored. The traps were set up as follows: seven in Flores (three in mixed forest and four in native forest), 10 in Pico (four in mixed forest and six in native forest) and 14 in Terceira (three in mixed forest and 11 in native forest). Traps were monitored every three months. In addition, we surveyed the epigean fauna in 19 transects with 15 non-attractive pitfall traps per transect. The transects were set up during two weeks at the end of August every year between 2020 and 2023. Eight transects were established in Flores, consisting of one in pasture, four in mixed forest and three in native forest. Six transects were established in Pico, consisting of two in pastures and four in native forest. Five transects were established in Terceira, consisting of two in mixed forest and three in native forest. A total of 243 arthropod taxa were recorded, with 207 identified at the species or subspecies level. These taxa belonged to four classes, 24 orders and 101 families. Out of the 207 identified taxa, 46 were endemic, 60 were native non-endemic, 80 were introduced and 21 were of indeterminate status. Habitat information is also provided, including general habitat and dominant species composition. This publication contributes to the conservation of highly threatened endemic beetles by assessing habitat quality, based on arthropod communities and habitat description (e.g. native or exotic vegetation). Using the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) to comparing pre- and post-intervention data, we found no significant change within the epigean community. In contrast, the understorey community sampled with SLAM traps experienced a slight global decrease in biotic integrity over the study period. These findings suggest that the short duration of the study may not be sufficient to detect significant changes, as ecosystem recovery often requires long-term monitoring. The observed changes in the understorey community may be attributed to disturbances from intervention activities, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring to assess long-term ecological resilience and recovery.
- Monitoring arthropods under the scope of LIFE-SNAILS project: I - Santa Maria Island baseline data with implementation of the Index of Biotic IntegrityPublication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Lamelas-López, Lucas; Lhoumeau, Sébastien; Moura, Nelson; Ponte, Mauro; Leite, Abrão; Parmentier, Laurine; Abreu, RicardoBackground The database we introduce is a pivotal component of the LIFE SNAILS project (Support and Naturalisation in Areas of Importance for Land Snails). This initiative is dedicated to safeguarding three endangered species of terrestrial molluscs, specifically, two snails (Oxychilus agostinhoi Martins 1981 and Leptaxis minor Backhuys, 1975) and a semi-slug (Plutonia angulosa (Morelet, 1860)), all of which are single island endemics from Santa Maria Island and face significant threats towards their populations. In this study, we established a comprehensive database derived from a long-term arthropod monitoring campaign utilising SLAM (Sea, Land, Air, Malaise) traps. Although molluscs were not the primary focus, our findings serve as a credible proxy for evaluating the overall habitat quality for endemic invertebrates, with arthropods serving as principal indicators. From September to December of 2022, a total of 11 SLAM traps were installed and monitored monthly in eleven sites of mixed forests of Santa Maria Island. New information Based on the 33 available samples (11 sites x 3 sampling periods), we recorded a total of 118 taxa of arthropods (of which 94 were identified at species or subspecies level), belonging to three classes, 14 orders and 62 families. From the 94 identified taxa, a total of 21 species were endemic, 31 native non-endemic, 32 introduced and 10 indeterminate. We also provide additional information of the habitat quality (Index of Biotic Integrity), including general habitat and dominant species composition. We registered three new records to the Island, the native bug Piezodorus lituratus (Fabricius, 1794) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae), the Azorean endemic beetle Phloeosinus gillerforsi Bright, 1987 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) and the exotic ant Hypoponera punctatissima (Roger, 1859) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and one new record for the Azores Archipelago, the native beetle Cephennium validum Assing & Meybohm, 2021 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae). This publication not only contributes to the conservation of highly threatened endemic molluscs, through an assessment of habitat quality, based on arthropod communities and habitat description (e.g. native or exotic vegetation), but also provides an updated inventory of arthropods from Santa Maria Island.
- Biodiversity insights from BioBlitz surveys on Terceira Island, AzoresPublication . Borges, Paulo; Malumbres-Olarte, Jagoba; Gabriel, Rosalina; Videira, Sandra; Rodrigues, António Félix; Lhoumeau, Sébastien Georges André; Ros Prieto, Alejandra; Melo, Cecilia; Pozsgai, Gabor; Oyarzabal da Silva, Guilherme; Parmentier, Laurine Marie; Lamelas López, Lucas; Canelas Boieiro, Mário Rui; Barcelos, Paulo; Costa, Ricardo; Coelho, Ruben; Wallon, Sophie; Gonçalves, Susana; Arroz, Ana; Amorim do Rosário, Isabel; Elias, RuiABSTRACT: This manuscript is the first scientific publication of the project “BioBlitz Azores". The project was launched in 2019 and had a second event in 2023 under the scope of the FCT-MACRISK project, surveying the historic public garden "Jardim Duque da Terceira", in the historical centre of Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal). In addition to contributing directly to the knowledge of Azorean biota, BioBlitz Azores aims to engage the non-scientific community - including volunteers, amateur naturalists, students, teachers, families and other garden visitors - to foster a sense of community and raise awareness about Azorean biodiversity and its conservation.
- Dung beetles of Azorean cattle-grazed pasturelands - data of the DUNGPOOL projectPublication . Duenas-Rojas, Almudena; Cuesta, Eva; Parmentier, Laurine Marie; Leite, Abrão; Borges, P.A.V.; Coelho dos Santos, Ana Margarida; Soares, AntónioABSTRACT: The data we present are part of the project DUNGPOOL, which aims to evaluate the effects of the species pool, community assembly processes and increasing temperatures on the local diversity and ecosystem functions performed by dung beetles in island and mainland cattle-grazed pasturelands. By combining replicated field experiments on the Iberian Peninsula with parallel work on three mid-Atlantic islands (Pico, Faial and Terceira, Azores), the project exploits the natural contrast between a species-rich mainland pool and the species-poor, largely exotic island pools, to test explicit biodiversity–ecosystem-function (BEF) hypotheses across spatial scales. From June to July 2024, dung beetles were sampled in 84 locations of the three islands of the Azores Archipelago (Portugal), using 306 pitfall traps baited with fresh cow dung.
- Vertical distribution of arthropod assemblages in native and exotic forests of Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal)Publication . Lhoumeau, Sébastien Georges André; Leite, Abrão; Parmentier, Laurine Marie; Massard, Clémence; Vounatsi, Martha; Lucie, Georgery; Borges, P.A.V.; Soares, AntónioABSTRACT: In the summer of 2024, a study was conducted on Terceira Island in the Azores Archipelago, Portugal, aiming to characterise the vertical diversity and spatial distribution patterns of arthropods within native and exotic forest ecosystems. This study forms part of a broader research initiative designed to investigate how alterations in habitat structure influence the complexity and stability of arthropod food webs in Azorean forest habitats. By systematically sampling arthropods across multiple vertical strata —from forest floor to canopy the study aimed to generate detailed insights into the ecological dynamics governing biodiversity patterns and species interactions. Results from this monitoring will contribute significantly to understanding the ecological impacts of forest composition and management strategies, ultimately providing information for conservation planning and habitat restoration efforts aimed at preserving arthropod diversity and ecological resilience in island ecosystems.