New data on the spatial distribution of endemic ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Madeira Island

Based on standardised sampling methods covering a large fraction of native forest on Madeira Island, new distribution data is reported for 33 species of endemic ground beetles. Most of these species have been found in new localities and their distribution range is now better known. Dromius angustus alutaceus Wollaston, 1857 was "rediscovered" after more than fifty years since the last known record and two rare Philorhizus species (P. conicipennis (Fauvel, 1905) and P. vieirai Mateu, 1957) were also located. Furthermore, two other arboreal endemics (Olisthopus ericae Wollaston, 1854 and O. maderensis Wollaston, 1854) were recorded from many new localities. This work represents a considerable improvement of the knowledge on the distribution of ground beetle species endemic to Madeira, hence contributing to future management plans targeting the conservation of endemic biota

Foraging Behavior and Pollen Transport by Flower Visitors of the Madeira Island Endemic Echium candicans

The study of flower visitor behavior and pollen transport dynamics within and between plants can be of great importance, especially for threatened or rare plant species. In this work, we aim to assess the flower visitor assemblage of the Madeiran endemic Echium candicans and evaluate the performance of the most common visitors through the analysis of their foraging behavior and pollen loads. The flower visitor assemblage of E. candicans is diverse, including several insect groups and the endemic lizard Teira dugesii, but bees are the most common visitors. In general, large bees (Amegilla quadrifasciata, Apis mellifera, and Bombus spp.) had the highest average visitation rates (>18 flowers/min) and their pollen loads had higher percentages of homospecific pollen (>66%) when compared with butterflies and hoverflies. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) and two bumblebees (Bombus terrestris and B. ruderatus) were the most efficient flower visitors of E. candicans, but their foraging behavior seems to favor geitonogamy. Other visitors, such as butterflies and the small bee Lasioglossum wollastoni, may have a complementary role to the honeybee and bumblebee species, as their high mobility is associated with fewer flower visits on each plant and may promote xenogamy. Two non-native bees (A. mellifera and B. ruderatus) are important flower visitors of E. candicans and may contribute mostly to self-pollination rendering the endemic plant more vulnerable to inbreeding effects.The Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) provided financial support to field and laboratorial work through project PTDC/BIA-BIC/1013/2014. FE benefited from a grant by the Wallonia Brussels International (WBI) World Excellence Fellowships. Open access was funded by project FCT-UID/BIA/00329/2020-2024.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Proceratium melinum (Roger, 1860): the first record of Proceratiinae ants from Portugal (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

ABSTRACT: The ant Proceratium melinum (Roger, 1860) is reported for the first time from Portugal. This is also the first record of Proceratiinae in this country, from which a total of 133 ant species are now known. The species was collected in a cork oak stand (montado) using pitfall traps.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Apicultura em ambiente insular – Aliar a produção com a conservação da natureza.

A secção UAciência é coordenada pelo Professor Universitário Armindo Rodrigues.A apicultura é uma atividade que engloba a criação racional e o bem-estar das abelhas-do-mel (Apis mellifera L.), a polinização de diferentes espécies cultivadas e a comercialização de produtos apícolas, tais como mel, pólen, própolis, cera, geleia real e apitoxina (substância extraída do veneno da abelha). Além disso, esta atividade está inserida no conceito da sustentabilidade, pois associa o maneio das colónias aos ciclos biológicos das abelhas e da natureza, a produção de alimentos naturais e saudáveis e o aumento dos rendimentos familiares para as populações locais, com a comercialização dos produtos apícolas e agrícolas. Nos Açores, a criação das abelhas-do-mel tem vindo a crescer nos últimos anos, principalmente com a elaboração do Plano Estratégico para a Apicultura nos Açores (2020-2029), que tem como principal objetivo apoiar a implementação de políticas públicas dirigidas ao setor apícola, impulsionando o seu desenvolvimento sustentável nas ilhas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spatio-temporal variation in seed production in three Euphorbia species and the role of animals on seed fate

Comparative studies on the reproductive biology of co-occurring related plant species have provided valuable information for the interpretation of ecological and evolutionary phenomena, with direct application in conservation management of plant populations. The aims of this thesis were to identify the causes of pre-dispersal reproductive losses in three Euphorbia species (the Mediterranean E. characias and the narrow endemics E. pedroi and E. welwitschii) and evaluate the variation of their effects in time, space and between individuals and species. Furthermore, we intended to study elaiosomes’ fatty acid profiles for the three Euphorbia and assess the role played by the elaiosome in ant attraction. Finally, we aimed to identify the major seed dispersal agents for each Euphorbia species in each site and study differences in short term seed fate due to differences in ant behaviour. The results indicated that intact seed production differed significantly between the three Euphorbia, mostly due to differences in cyathia production. Losses to pre-dispersal seed predators were proportionately larger for the endemic species which also suffered higher losses resulting in flower, fruit (in E. welwitschii) and seed abortion (in E. pedroi). The elaiosomes of E. pedroi are poor in fatty acids and for this reason seeds of this species were removed in lower proportion by mutualistic dispersers than those of their congeners, being more prone to seed predation. Two larger ant species – Aphaenogaster senilis and Formica subrufa – were responsible for a larger percentage of removals with seeds being transported at larger distances and being discarded in the vicinity of their nests following elaiosome removal. Our results highlight the role of insect-plant interactions as major determinants of seed survival for the three study plants and call for the need to include more information on insect-plant interactions in plant conservation programmes.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

Long droughts decrease tiger- and ground-beetle’ beta diversity and community body size in savannas of the Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique)

ABSTRACT: We assessed the Caraboidea communities of Gorongosa National Park (GNP) in Mozambique. Influence of tropical rainfall, after a long period of drought, was evaluated on alpha and beta diversity of tiger- and ground-beetles in the main habitat types of the park: miombo forests, mixed forests, transitional forests, and grasslands (open savannas). Tiger- and ground-beetle communities were sampled by pitfall traps set up in 25 sites of each habitat type along three sampling periods, comprising the transition of dry season to the wet season. After the first rainfall, an increase in alpha diversity was observed across GNP habitats, particularly in grasslands. Higher values of beta diversity were observed between the dry and wet sampling periods, particularly in grasslands. In contrast, community dissimilarities between sampling periods were not significant in the transitional forests. Community body size in grasslands increased after the rainfall, partly due to the occurrence of caraboid species that were exclusive of forest habitats during drought. Transitional forests, as ecotone habitat areas, appeared to support grassland species during drought, serving also as a source of forest species that may colonize the open areas in the wet season. Forest species will probably be more threatened by climate aridification and future landscape changes due to climate change.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Asianidia Zachvatkin (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) associated with the laurisilva forest of Madeira island: species phenology and hostplant preferences

Im Rahmen einer Untersuchung zur Zikadenfauna von Lorbeerwäldern auf Madeira wurden fünf Arten der Gattung Asianidia Zachvatkin nachgewiesen: A. albula, A. decolor, A. insulana, A. chrysanthemi und A. melliferae. In Summe wurden 513 Individuen gesammelt. Die Häufigste Art war Asianidia decolor (47%), gefolgt von A. albula (36%) und A. insulana (16%). A. chrysanthemi und A. melliferae wurden nur in geringer Zahl gefangen. Die Hauptaktivität der Arten ist im Frühjahr und Sommer, A. albula und A. decolor zeigten ein weiteres Abundanzmaximum im November. Asianidia chrysanthemi und A. melliferae sind monophag, die anderen drei Arten oligo- bis polyphag. Im Rahmen dieser Studie konnten neue Nährpflanzenassoziationen zwischen Asianidia-Arten und Pflanzenarten der Lorbeerwälder Madeiras gefunden werden. Die Nährpflanzenspektren der nahe verwandten Arten A. albula und A. decolor zeigten große Ähnlichkeiten, während die systematisch weiter entferne Art A. insulana andere Nährpflanzen nützt. Möglicherweise spielte die unterschiedliche Nahrungspräferenz eine entscheidende Rolle inArtbildungsprozesen der Gattung Asianidia auf Madeira.Five Asianidia Zachvatkin species (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) - A. albula, A. decolor, A. insulana, A. chrysanthemi and A. melliferae - were found in a survey of the leafhoppers associated with a patch of the laurel forest in Madeira island. A total of 513 specimens were collected as a result of a twoyear study. Asianidia decolor was the most abundant species (47%), followed by A. albula (36%) and A. insulana (16%). A. chrysanthemi and A. melliferae were scarcely found. These leafhoppers proved to be active mostly during spring and summer, but A. albula and A. decolor also showed a peak of abundance during November. The Asianidia species showed considerable variation in host-plant preferences, being some of them monophagous (A. chrysanthemi and A. melliferae), while others are oligophagous or even have a wide range of hostplants (A. albula, A. decolor and A. insulana). During this study new associations were found between these leafhoppers and plants of the Madeiran laurisilva. The host-plant spectra of the closely related Asianidia albula and A. decolor showed considerable overlap. On the contrary, A. insulana, a species of a different lineage, had different host-plants. It is possible that differences in the preference for host-plants might have played a key role in the diversification of Asianidia in the Madeiran laurisilva

Pollen morphology of the endemic genera of the Madeira archipelago, Portugal

ABSTRACT: This study presents the first palynological characterisation of the five endemic plant genera of the Madeira archipelago: Chamaemeles Lindl, Melanoselinum Hoffm., Monizia Lowe, Musschia Dumort and Sinapidendron Lowe. Pollen grain morphology of ten endemic species was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The size and shape of pollen grains, the polar axis, the equatorial diameter, and the exine ornamentation were measured and described. We found that the pollen grains of the five endemic genera are all medium-size monads. The close relative apiaceous Melanoselinum and Monizia differ in polar (P) and equatorial (E) diameter size and exine ornamentation while Sinapidendron species show differences in P, E, and P/E ratios. The pollen grains of the two Musschia species are very similar to each other, but differ in morphology and ornamentation from the Macaronesian endemic bellflowers Azorina vidalii and Canarina canariensis. This study unveiled differences between the endemic taxa and with their close related species, thus providing support to previous taxonomic findings.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Os artrópodes (Arthropoda) dos arquipélagos da Madeira e das Selvagens

Os artrópodes terrestres (e.g. aranhas, ácaros, outros aracnídeos, crustáceos, centopeias, diplópodes, insectos, etc.) são o grupo de animais dominante na Terra. Nos arquipélagos da Madeira e das Selvagens, este grupo é também o mais diverso e inclui espécies associadas a uma grande variedade de ecossistemas. 2. Com base na revisão detalhada da bibliografia existente e de outros registos não publicados, foram listados 3891 taxa (espécies e subespécies) de artrópodes terrestres, que pertencem a 462 famílias e 2118 géneros. O subfilo Hexapoda (no qual estão incluídos os insectos) é o mais diverso de todos os subfilos de artrópodes, com 3394 taxa, o que corresponde a 87% de todos os artrópodes.ABSTRACT: Terrestrial arthropods (e.g. spiders, mites, other arachnids, crustaceans, centipedes, millipedes, insects, etc.) are the dominant life form on Earth. In the archipelagos of Madeira and Selvagens this group of animals is also the most diverse and includes species associated to a wide variety of ecosystems. 2. Based on a detailed literature survey, including both published and unpublished records, 3,891 taxa (species and subspecies) of terrestrial arthropods belonging to 462 families and 2,118 genera were recorded for Madeira and Selvagens. The subphylum Hexapoda, which includes highly diverse insects, is by far the most diverse of all arthropod groups with 3,394 taxa (i.e. 87 % of all arthropods)

Inventory of tiger- and ground-beetles (Coleoptera Caraboidea: Cicindelidae, Carabidae) from the Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique)

The Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique) is one of the most emblematic protected areas in Africa, well known for its vertebrate biodiversity and restoration ecology efforts following the Mozambican civil war in 1992. The invertebrate biodiversity of Gorongosa National Park is still poorly studied, although the scarce information available indicates the existence of a rich number of species, particularly ground-beetles. The study of Caraboidea beetles is key for designing conservation practices since they are frequently used as biodiversity and ecological indicators and provide valuable information to help decision making. Therefore, the diversity assessment of Caraboidea beetles using standardized methodologies, can be used to quantify the effects of climate change in areas identified as vulnerable to climate change, such as the Gorongosa National Park. We report the occurrence of five tiger-beetles (Cicindelidae) and 93 ground-beetles (Carabidae) species/morphospecies in Gorongosa National Park from a field survey funded by the ECOASSESS project. Sampling was performed in the four main habitat types present in the park (miombo tropical forest, mixed dry forest, transition forest and grasslands) between October 25th and November 25th. In this sampling window, the turnover of Caraboidea species from the dry season to the wet season was recorded for the first time. Twenty-eight species of ground-beetles are new records to Mozambique, including 4 new subgenera and 2 new genera. Additional information on species phenology and habitat preferences is also provided.FUNDING: This study was supported by the Project ECOASSESS – A biodiveristy and ECOlogical ASSESSment of soil fauna of Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique) (PTDC/BIA-CBI/29672/2017) funded through national funds by FCT / MCTES (PIDDAC) under the Programme All Scientific Domains. Marie Bartz was contracted by the University of Coimbra (contract nr. IT057-19-7955) through financial support by the Project/R&D Instituition ECOASSESS. Sara Mendes was financially supported by FCiências – Associação para a investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências through research grants funded by the Project/R&D Institution ECOASSESS. Mário Boieiro and Sérgio Timóteo were supported by FCT under contracts DL57/2016/CP1375/CT0001 and CEECIND/00135/2017, respectively.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio