Lhoumeau Sébastien, Tsafack Noelline, Manso Sónia, Figueiredo Telma, Leite Abrão, Parmentier Laurine, Ferreira Maria Teresa, Borges Paulo A V
University of the Azores, cE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal University of the Azores, cE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Azores Portugal.
Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, Aix Marseille Université, 84911, Avignon, France Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, Aix Marseille Université, 84911 Avignon France.
Biodivers Data J. 2024 Jul 23;12:e124799. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e124799. eCollection 2024.
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): Borges & Serrano, 2017, (Tarnier, 1860) and 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.
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.
应对全球生物多样性危机的保护工作迫在眉睫，欧盟生命甲虫项目等举措便是例证。该项目旨在保护对生态系统功能至关重要的濒危节肢动物物种，重点关注弗洛雷斯岛、皮科岛和特塞拉岛（亚速尔群岛，葡萄牙）的特有甲虫物种：博尔热斯和塞拉诺，2017年，（塔尼尔，1860年）以及博尔热斯、塞拉诺和阿莫林，2004年。这些物种分别是来自弗洛雷斯岛、皮科岛和特塞拉岛的单岛特有物种。它们受到环境退化的威胁，由于入侵植物的扩散，面临分布受限和栖息地退化的双重挑战。该项目旨在通过栖息地恢复和控制植物入侵物种的措施来提高栖息地质量和保护生物多样性。这些措施由欧盟委员会资助，并由亚速尔群岛环境总局协调。本数据文件利用生物完整性指数（IBI）框架作为生态指标，评估了生命甲虫项目在改善栖息地质量方面的有效性，并深入探讨了岛屿生态系统中栖息地恢复工作与濒危物种保护之间的平衡。
本研究建立了一个综合数据库，该数据库源自一项长期的节肢动物监测调查，该调查使用了海陆空诱捕器（SLAM）和陷阱诱捕器。我们的研究结果提出了一种以节肢动物为主要指标来评估特有无脊椎动物总体栖息地质量的方法。
从2020年9月到2023年6月，共监测了31个SLAM诱捕器。诱捕器的设置如下：弗洛雷斯岛7个（3个在混交林，4个在原生林），皮科岛10个（4个在混交林，6个在原生林），特塞拉岛14个（3个在混交林，11个在原生林）。每三个月对诱捕器进行一次监测。
此外，我们在19个样带中调查了地表动物群，每个样带设置15个无诱饵陷阱诱捕器。这些样带在2020年至2023年每年8月底的两周内设置。在弗洛雷斯岛建立了8个样带，包括1个在牧场，4个在混交林，以及3个在原生林。在皮科岛建立了6个样带，包括2个在牧场，4个在原生林。在特塞拉岛建立了5个样带，包括2个在混交林，3个在原生林。
共记录了243个节肢动物分类单元，其中207个在物种或亚种水平上得到鉴定。这些分类单元属于4个纲、24个目和101个科。在已鉴定的207个分类单元中，46个是特有物种，60个是本地非特有物种，80个是引入物种，21个地位不确定。还提供了栖息地信息，包括一般栖息地和优势物种组成。本出版物通过基于节肢动物群落和栖息地描述（如本地或外来植被）评估栖息地质量，为保护高度濒危的特有甲虫做出了贡献。
使用生物完整性指数（IBI）比较干预前后的数据，我们发现地表群落没有显著变化。相比之下，在研究期间，用SLAM诱捕器采样的林下群落的生物完整性略有全球下降。这些结果表明，研究的时间较短可能不足以检测到显著变化，因为生态系统恢复通常需要长期监测。林下群落中观察到的变化可能归因于干预活动的干扰，这突出了持续监测以评估长期生态恢复力和恢复情况的必要性。
