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- Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of Macaronesia III: dry habitats of Cabo Verde Archipelago (São Vicente and Santo Antão)Publication . Crespo, Luís; Cardoso, Pedro; Malumbres-Olarte, Jagoba; Pereira, Fernando; Romeiras, Maria M.; Ros Prieto, Alejandra; Rigal, François; Borges, Paulo A. V.Background With this publication, we contribute to the knowledge of the arachnofauna of Cabo Verde, focusing specifically on the Islands of Santo Antão and São Vicente. Data were obtained from samples collected as part of the project "Macaronesian Islands as a testing ground to assess biodiversity drivers at multiple scales" (FCT - MACDIV, 2015-2018). This project aimed to identify the factors influencing community assembly in Macaronesian islands. For the Cabo Verde Islands, we focused on dry habitats with the additional aim to revise the aracnofauna of this poorly-known fauna. We applied the COBRA (Conservation Oriented Biodiversity Rapid Assessment) sampling protocol in ten 50 m x 50 m dry shrub plots, with five on each of the two islands, using pitfall traps, sweep-netting and active search. Additional ad-hoc samples were also collected and reported. New information Our sampling of spiders from Cabo Verde (Santo Antão and São Vicente) yielded a total of 3,368 specimens, of which 1300 (39%) were adults. T
- EU needs groundwater ecosystems guidelinesPublication . Di Lorenzo, Tiziana; Lunghi, Enrico; Aanei, Cristina Mihaela Tereza; Altermatt, Florian; Alther, Roman; Rosário, Isabel Amorim Do; Bancila, Raluca; Bellvert, Adrià; Blomberg, Anna; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Brad, Traian; Brancelj, Anton; Brankovits, David; Cardoso, Pedro; Cerasoli, Francesco; Chauveau, Claire A.; Crespo, Luís; Csader, Michael; Delić, Teo; Di Cicco, Mattia; Douady, Christophe J.; Duchemin, Louis; Faille, Arnaud; FIASCA, BARBARA; Fišer, Cene; Flot, Jean-François; Gabriel, Rosalina; Galassi, Diana M.P.; Garzoli, Laura; Griebler, Christian; Karwautz, Clemens; Kenesz, Marius I.; Konecny-Dupré, Lara; Lilley, Thomas; Malard, Florian; Martínez, Alejandro; Meierhofer, Melissa B.; Messana, Giuseppe; Millán, Andrés; Mizerakis, Vangelis; Mori, Nataša; Nanni, Veronica; Nicolosi, Giuseppe; Oromí, Pedro; Pallarés, Susana; Pereira, Fernando; Reboleira, Ana Sofia; Saccò, Mattia; Salussolia, Alice; Sánchez-Fernández, David; Sarbu, Serban M; S̗tefan, Andrei; Stoch, Fabio; Camillo, Agostina Tabilio Di; TAITI, STEFANO; Vaccarelli, Ilaria; Valanne, Valeria; Zagmajster, Maja; Zakšek, Valerija; Zittra, Carina; Mammola, StefanoNegotiations are underway on the new European Union (EU) Water Directive (1), which will regulate the protection and sustainable use of Europe’s water resources. However, the proposal foregoes environmental quality standards specifically tailored to sensitive groundwater species and fails to require biomonitoring for groundwater ecosystems. Despite repeated calls for consideration (2, 3) since the first Water Framework Directive in 2000 (4), groundwater ecosystems are at risk of being overlooked yet again.
- The MOVECLIM – AZORES project: Bryophytes from Pico Island (2012)Publication . Gabriel, Rosalina; Morgado, Leila N.; Coelho, Márcia C. M.; Aranda, Silvia C.; Henriques, Debora; Pereira, Fernando; Borges, Paulo A. V.; HESPANHOL, HELENA; Sergio, Cecilia; Ah-Peng, ClaudineABSTRACT: In September 2012, Pico Island was surveyed along an elevational transept starting on Manhenha, at 10 m a.s.l., and ending on the Pico Mountain caldera, at 2200 m a.s.l. to obtain a systematic inventory of the bryophytes living in natural environments. A total of twelve sites were examined, separated by 200 m elevation steps. At each site, two 10 m x 10 m plots were established within 10-15 m from each other, and within each plot, three 2 m x 2 m quadrats were randomly selected and thoroughly sampled for bryophytes using microplots of 10 cm x 5 cm, collected to paper bags. Six substrates were explored within each quadrat: rock, soil, humus, organic matter, tree bark and leaves/fronds; three replicates were made for each substrate, whenever available and colonized by bryophytes, totalling a maximum of 18 microplots per quadrat, 54 microplots per plot, 108 microplots per site and 1296 microplots on the 12 sites of Pico Island. It was possible to collect two thirds of the maximum expected number of microplots (N=878; 67,75%), resulting in 4896 specimens, the great majority of which (n=4869) were identified to the species/subspecies level. Overall, it was possible to identify 70 moss’ and 71 liverwort’ species and subspecies. The elevation levels both with a greater number of microplots and higher richness of species were those between 600-1000 m a.s.l., coinciding with the native forest plots. The study contributed to improve the knowledge of Azorean bryophyte diversity and distribution at both local and regional scales, including the recording of new taxa for Pico Island and the Azores.
- Spiders from Macaronesia: Cabo Verde.Publication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Crespo, Luís Crespo; Pereira, Fernando; Malumbres-Olarte, Jagoba; Cardoso, PedroABSTRACT: The data presented in this study were obtained from samples collected as part of the project "Macaronesian Islands as a testing ground to assess biodiversity drivers at multiple scales" (FCT - MACDIV) (2015-2018). This project aimed at gaining insights into the factors influencing community assembly in Macaronesian islands. To assess spider diversity, we employed the COBRA (Conservation Oriented Biodiversity Rapid Assessment) sampling protocol. Our sampling efforts were conducted in ten 50 m x 50 m dry shrub plots located on the Cabo Verde Islands of Santo Antão (comprising five plots) and São Vicente (comprising five plots). Additional ad-hoc samples are also available. With this publication, we contribute valuable information to the understanding of the arachnofauna of Cabo verde, specifically focusing on the islands of Santo Antão and São Vicente.
- Arceuthobium Species (Viscaceae) Parasitizing an Angiosperm: The Unique Case of A. azoricum in the Azores IslandsPublication . Elias, Rui B.; Moura, Mónica; Roxo, Guilherme; Borges Silva, L; Pavão, Diogo C.; Resendes, Roberto; Pereira, Fernando; Nickrent, DanielArceuthobium azoricum Wiens & Hawksw. is a rare Azorean endemic epiphytic hemiparasite (mistletoe), which typically parasitizes branches of the gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia (Hochst. ex Seub.) Antoine (Cupressaceae), which is also an Azorean endemic. Here, we describe a population of A. azoricum, on Pico Island, parasitizing Erica azorica Hochst. ex Seub. (Ericaceae), which is also an Azorean endemic. Our molecular analysis (using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer) showed no differences between individuals parasitizing Erica and Juniperus species. Moreover, a preliminary analysis showed no differences in morphological characteristics between accessions sampled from different hosts. Given that this is the first bona fide record of Arceuthobium sp. parasitizing an angiosperm, this population represents a unique host-shifting event, and its conservation is important because it may allow new insights into host recognition mechanisms in mistletoes. Immediate attention should be given to characterizing this Pico Island population using appropriate molecular methods and additional morphological analyses.
- Petrel extinction in Macaronesia (North-East Atlantic Ocean): the case of the genus Pterodroma (Aves: Procellariiformes: Procellariidae)Publication . Rando, Juan C; Pieper, Harald; Pereira, Fernando; Torres-Roig, Enric; Alcover, Josep AntoniThe Late Quaternary fossil record indicates that formerly in the North Atlantic volcanic Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde) there was a higher avian diversity, including numerous now extinct species. Currently, only three gadfly petrels (genus Pterodroma) remain in two archipelagos: the Fea’s petrel, Pt. feae, in Cape Verde (islands of Santiago, Fogo, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau); the Zino’s petrel of Madeira, Pt. madeira, on the island of Madeira; and the Desertas petrel, Pt. deserta, on the islet of Bugio (Desertas Islands, Madeira Archipelago). Herein we describe the former distribution of the genus in Macaronesia based on the palaeontological record. However, the original specific diversity cannot be accurately established through the biometry of their fossil bones but the fossil record of Pterodroma in Macaronesia indicates: (i) its former presence in all Macaronesian archipelagos; (ii) the extinction of at least 16 island populations (73% of its original distribution on these islands); and (iii) the extinction of, at least, one species from Azores, here named Pterodroma zinorum sp. nov.. Radiocarbon dates indicate than this species was still alive at sometime among 1104 and 1672 CE, documenting its extinction in the last millennium.
- A cigarrinha-das-raízes-cavernícola da Ilha do Pico Cixius azopicavus Hoch, 1991Publication . Rosário, Isabel Amorim Do; Pereira, Fernando; Borges, Paulo A. V.Atualmente são conhecidas cerca de 270 cavidades vulcânicas nos Açores, as quais representam um património natural único, quer pela sua riqueza geológica, quer pela grande diversidade de seres vivos que albergam. Com o intuito de dar a conhecer um pouco melhor os organismos dos habitats subterrâneos dos Açores, iniciou- se na edição de 2018 do Pingo de Lava uma coleção de fichas com informação sucinta sobre taxonomia, biologia, distribuição geográfica, espécies aparentadas, estado de conservação e algumas curiosidades de várias das espécies que ocorrem nestes locais. Para dar continuidade a estas “Fichas dos habitantes dos ecossistemas subterrâneos dos Açores” escolhemos a espécie Cixius azopicavus Hoch, 1991 uma cigarrinha-das-raízes-cavernícola que só existe na ilha do Pico.
- Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity GenomicsPublication . Marques, João Pedro; ALVES, Paulo C; Rosário, Isabel Amorim do; Lopes, Ricardo J.; Moura, Mónica; Meyers, Gene; Sim-Sim, Manuela; Sousa-Santos, C.; Alves, M. Judite; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Brown, Thomas; Carneiro, Miguel; Carrapato, Carlos; Ceríaco, Luis; Ciofi Degli Atti, Claudio; Silva, Luís; Diedericks, Genevieve; Diroma, Maria Angela; Farelo, Liliana; Formenti, Giulio; Gil, Fátima; Grilo, Miguel; Ianucci, Alessio; Leitão, Henrique; Máguas, C.; Mc Cartney, Ann M.; Mendes, Sofia; Moreno, João; Morselli, Marco; Mouton, Alice; Natali, Chiara; Pereira, Fernando; Rego, Rúben; Resendes, Roberto; Roxo, Guilherme; Svardal, Hannes; Trindade, Helena; Vicente, Sara; Winkler, Sylke; Alvarenga, M.; Amaral, Andreia; Antunes, Agostinho; Campos, Paula; Canario, A. V. M.; Castilho, Rita; Castro, Luis Filipe; Crottini, Angelica; Cunha, Mónica; Espregueira Themudo, Gonçalo; Esteves, Pedro; Faria, Rui; Fernandes, Carlos; Ledoux, Jean-Baptiste; Louro, Bruno; Magalhães, Sara; OS, Paulo; Pearson, Gareth; Pimenta, João; Pina-Martins; Santos, Teresa; Serrao, Ester A; Melo-Ferreira, José; Sousa, VítorThe diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.