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Evidence for multiple founding lineages and genetic admixture in the evolution of species within an oceanic island weevil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) super-radiation

Publication . Faria, Christiana; Machado, António; Amorim, Isabel R.; Gage, Matthew J. G.; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Emerson, Brent C.

AIM: To infer colonization and speciation history for a closely related complex of nine species within the enigmatic Canary Island Laparocerus weevil radiation of 128 species. Using molecular dating and the spatial and temporal context that islands provide, we evaluate the possible explanations of incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow for the origin of shared genetic variation among species from different islands. LOCATION: Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro). METHODS: We collected a total of 173 specimens from 37 sites distributed across the four islands. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial (COII) and nuclear (ITS2) sequence data and molecular dating techniques were used to infer the origin of the group in the archipelago and their history of colonization and differentiation. RESULTS: Gran Canaria appeared to be the geographical origin of the complex. An unexpected result was that mtDNA revealed each of the single species on La Palma and El Hierro to be the product of more than one colonization event from more than one source island. In both cases nuclear ITS2 data revealed these multiple colonizations to have been followed by admixture. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The two gene trees present very different topologies, with a rather simple colonization history required to explain the pattern of nuclear gene relationships, while the mtDNA gene tree implicates a much more complex history of colonization. Explanations of incomplete lineage sorting are ruled out and a history of colonization and speciation for the L. tessellatus complex involving genetic admixture is inferred.

2016Journal article

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Cryptic diversity in Azorean beetle genus Tarphius Erichson, 1845 (Coleoptera: Zopheridae) : An integrative taxonomic approach with description of four new species

Publication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Amorim, Isabel R.; Terzopoulou, Sofia; Rigal, François; Emerson, Brent C.; Serrano, Artur R. M.

Recent findings based on molecular data support the occurrence in the Azores of several independently evolving lineages of the beetle genus Tarphius Erichson, 1845 (Coleoptera: Zopheridae Solier, 1834) and higher species richness masked by cryptic diversity, needing formal taxonomic description. All Tarphius from the Azores are revised using an integrative taxonomic approach, using evidence from morphology, morphometrics and molecular data to delimit species. Our results reveal that Azorean Tarphius comprise at least five phyletic lineages, two of which share a similar morphology, despite being divergent at the molecular level. A total of four new species are described grouped into two complexes: i) two new species in the “complex tornvalli” with the new taxa Tarphius relictus sp. nov. (Terceira) and Tarphius furtadoi sp. nov. (São BORGES ET AL. 402 · Zootaxa 4236 (3) © 2017 Magnolia Press Jorge, Faial and Pico) and; ii) two new species in the “complex azoricus-wollastoni-depressus” with the new taxa Tarphius gabrielae sp. nov. (Pico) and Tarphius floresensis sp. nov. (Flores). Descriptions, photographs of holotypes and morphological details, and remarks on diagnostic features comparing similar species are presented. Additional information on the distribution and conservation status of the 12 described species in the archipelago is also provided.

2017-02Journal article

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Bugs and Society II : Testing Two Communication Strategies for Public Engagement in the Azores

Publication . Amorim, Isabel R.; Arroz, Ana Margarida Moura; Marcos, Rita S.; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Gabriel, Rosalina

Two initiatives to raise biodiversity awareness towards Azorean endemic species, an outdoor exhibition Açorianos há milhões de anos (Azoreans for millions of years) and a web contest to name insects Chama-lhe Nomes! (Pick a Name!), are presented in this chapter. Both communicational strategies targeted non-traditional audiences, relied on the Portuguese and Azorean cultural identity and on anthropic verisimilitude of situations involving insects. The context, principles, assumptions and multidisciplinary approach involved in the development of the public awareness activities were presented in detail in chapter “Bugs and Society I: Raising Awareness About Endemic Biodiversity”. Apart from having symbolically occupied the urban public domain, the outdoor exhibition triggered positive reactions in more than three-quarters of the observers, prompting them to seek more information about the insects, to want to see them alive, to photograph them, etc. On the other hand, the web contest attributed common names to 12 endemic species of insects and motivated over one hundred people to carefully consider their photos and descriptions, engaging in sheer naturalistic pleasure. Less favourable were the post-observation recognition indicators of urban exposure, since only less than one-third of the interviewees correctly identified the insect’ group represented on the banner or could place the origin of the animal. Nevertheless, the means assigned to the evaluation of the intervention were not enough to undertake a full assessment of the impacts produced in the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of viewers and users. Still, the resonance in the media was considerable, in terms of the number of news stories and the diversity of vehicles and audiences reached at regional (outdoor exhibition) and national levels (web contest). Communication devices like the ones presented are expected to raise biodiversity awareness and empower people regarding its preservation in the Azores. Moreover, the critical analysis of these initiatives is expected to provide guidelines that maximise the transferability of communication strategies to other social settings.

2016Book part

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Bugs and Society I : Raising Awareness About Endemic Biodiversity

Publication . Arroz, Ana Margarida Moura; Gabriel, Rosalina; Amorim, Isabel R.; Marcos, Rita S.; Borges, Paulo A. V.

The negative impact of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning and services, and ultimately on human well-being, has been unequivocally established; however, despite all efforts, biodiversity is still declining worldwide. It is widely accepted that biodiversity awareness is crucial for its conservation. Nevertheless, after many initiatives to alert society about the consequences of losing biodiversity, biodiversity loss is still perceived as a minor environmental risk compared to others such as climate change. Thus far, most communication strategies have involved conventional venues, targeting people who are already “environmentally-aware”, and have not incorporated societal idiosyncrasies and cultural backgrounds. The wicked problem of loss of biodiversity and the existing strategies to promote people’s engagement are discussed under the risk communication framework. The risk perspective focuses science communication on the mitigation of risk and/or the minimisation of its consequences. Further, it helps to keep the target in mind, to establish activities and strategies that are useful for reaching the proposed goals, and to regulate the processes based on desired outcomes. After presenting the role of communication in risk governance, the principles and strategic options of the Azorean intervention, Bugs & Society, are presented. This communicational programme will be analysed and evaluated in another chapter through the presentation of two activities, which are provided as examples for further discussion.

2016Book part

Restricted access

Conservation status of the forest beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera) from Azores, Portugal

Publication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Lamelas López, Lucas; Amorim, Isabel R.; Danielczak, Anja; Nunes, Rui; Serrano, Artur R. M.; Boieiro, Mário; Rego, Carla; Hochkirch, Axel; Vieira, Virgílio

BACKGROUND: Island biodiversity is under considerable pressure due to the ongoing threats of invasive alien species, land use change or climate change. The few remnants of Azorean native forests harbour a unique set of endemic beetles, some of them possibly already extinct or under severe long term threat due to the small areas of the remaining habitats or climatic changes. In this contribution we present the IUCN Red List profiles of 54 forest adapted beetle species endemic to the Azorean archipelago, including species belonging to four speciose families: Zopheridae (12 species), Carabidae (11 species), Curculionidae (11 species) and Staphylinidae (10 species). NEW INFORMATION: Most species have a restricted distribution (i.e. 66% occur in only one island) and a very small extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO). Also common to most of the species is the severe fragmentation of their populations, and a continuing decline in EOO, AOO, habitat quality, number of locations and subpopulations caused by the ongoing threat from pasture intensification, forestry, invasive species and future climatic changes. Therefore, we suggest as future measures of conservation: (1) a long-term monitoring plan for the species; (2) control of invasive species; (3) species-specific conservation action for the most highly threatened species.

2017Journal article

Open access