Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes

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Publications

Edge effects constrain endemic but not introduced arthropod species in a pristine forest on Terceira (Azores, Portugal)

Publication . Tsafack, Noelline; Pozsgai, Gabor; Boieiro, Mário; Ros-Prieto, Alejandra; Nunes, Rui; Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Borges, Paulo A. V.

Pristine Azorean forests have been deeply fragmented since human colonization. Fragmentation increases the length of edges and it therefore promotes edge habitats. Studying the impact of edge habitat on species assemblages is crucial to highlight the importance of forest connectivity and guide management strategies. This study explores the impact of forest edges on arthropod assemblages, and particularly investigates the differences of arthropod communities between three habitats, along a distance gradient from the forest edge near a pasture matrix to the core forest. We also compare patterns of arthropod communities with different biogeographic status (endemic, native non-endemic, and introduced species), given the island context. We sampled in a pristine forest on Terceira Island bordered by semi-natural pastures, using flight interception traps. Overall, endemic species dominated arthropod abundances whereas species richness and diversity were similar between the three biogeographic categories. We found evidence of a strong edge effect on arthropod assemblages, adjusted both by biogeographic categories and seasonality. Indigenous (endemic and native non-endemic) species abundances were higher in the forest interior than at the edges or intermediate habitats, suggesting that indigenous arthropod assemblages were sensitive to the distance from the edge, a distance extended over 100 m to the core forest, whereas introduced species abundances were not impacted. Species diversity and richness did not differ between the three habitats either, regardless of the biogeographic categories. The composition of arthropods between the three habitats differed significantly when we considered all species or endemic species only, but not with native non-endemic or introduced species. However, the difference got obscured when seasonality was included in the analyses, suggesting that even though edges impact species composition, this impact varies seasonally and endemic species are particularly affected in early summer. Our results indicate that forest edges impact arthropods assemblages but endemic species are more likely to be constrained by the increase of edges than introduced species. Since most of these endemic species are of conservation concern, we urge to avoid forest management strategies that increase fragmentation and call for action to increase the size of protected natural parks.

2023-01Journal article

Restricted access

GC- and UHPLC-MS Profiles as a Tool to Valorize the Red Alga Asparagopsis armata

Publication . 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.

2022-01Journal article

Open access

A survey of exotic arthropods in disturbed Azorean forest habitats using SLAM traps

Publication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Lamelas-López, Lucas; Ros-Prieto, Alejandra

The 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.

2022-01Dataset

Open access

SLAM Project - Long Term Ecological Study of the Impacts of Climate Change in the Natural Forest of Azores: II - A survey of exotic arthropods in disturbed forest habitats

Publication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Lamelas-López, Lucas; Stüben, Peter E.; Ros-Prieto, Alejandra; Gabriel, Rosalina; Boieiro, Mário; Tsafack, Noelline; Ferreira, Maria Teresa

BACKGROUND: The data we present consist of an inventory of exotic arthropods, potentially invasive, collected in exotic and mixed forests and disturbed native forest patches of 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”. NEW INFORMATION: We provide an inventory of terrestrial arthropods belonging to Arachnida, Diplopoda, Chilopoda and Insecta classes from four Azorean islands. We identified 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 34 new records (nine for Corvo, three for Flores, six for Terceira and 16 for Santa Maria), of which five are new for Azores, being all exotic possibly recently introduced: Dieckmanniellus nitidulus (Gyllenhal, 1838), Gronops fasciatus Küster, 1851, Hadroplontus trimaculatus (Fabricius, 1775), Hypurus bertrandi (Perris, 1852) (all Coleoptera, Curculionidae) and Cardiocondyla mauritanica Forel, 1890 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). This publication highlights the importance of planted forests and disturbed native forest patches as reservoirs of potentially invasive arthropods and refuges for some rare relict endemic arthropod species.

2022-03Journal article

Open access

New records of marine macroalgae for the Azores

Publication . Neto, Ana I.; Cacabelos, Eva; Prestes, Afonso L.; Díaz-Tapia, Pilar; Moreu, Ignacio

The present study adds 19 species (15 Rhodophyta, one Chlorophyta and three Ochrophyta) to the Azorean marine macroalgal flora, increasing the current total of species recorded in this region to 521 (349 Rhodophyta, 76 Chlorophyta and 96 Ochrophyta), and showing that this isolated island group supports a relatively rich marine macroalgal flora. Some species fall within their known overall distributional range, whereas other found here represent a northern or southern extension to their known distribution in the Atlantic. Three species (Antithamnionella elegans, Gymnophycus hapsiphorus and Scytosiphon dotyi) are probable introductions to the Azores, whereas Melanothamnus pseudoforcipatus has an uncertain status. Six of the newly reported species were found as components of the intertidal algal turf samples, which justifies the need for continuing to examine turf samples as new discoveries can be anticipated.

2022-03Journal article

Open access