Use of ATLANTIS TIERRA 2.0 in mapping the biodiversity (invertebrates and bryophytes) of caves in the Azorean archipelago

XII International Symposium on vulcanospeleology. Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico, July 2-7, 2006.In this contribution the software ATLANTIS Tierra 2.0 is described as a promising tool to be used in the conservation management of the animal and plant biodiversity of caves in Macaronesia. In the Azores, the importance of cave entrances to bryophytes is twofold: i) since these are particularly humid, sheltered habitats, they support a diverse assemblage of bryophyte species and circa 25% of the Azorean brioflora is referred to this habitat and ii) species, either endemic or referred in the European red list due to their vulnerability (19 species) or rarity (13) find refuge there. Cave adapted arthropods are also diverse in the Azores and 21 endemic obligate cave species were recorded. Generally these species have restricted distributions and some are known from only one cave. ATLANTIS Tierra 2.0 allows the mapping of the distribution of all species in a 500 x 500 m grid in a GIS interface. This allows an easy detection of species rich caves (hotspots) and facilitates the interpretation of spatial patterns of species distribution. For instance, predictive models of species distribution could be constructed using the distribution of lava flows or other environmental variables. Using this new tool we will be better equipped to answer the following questions: a) Where are the current “hotspot caves” of biodiversity in the Azores?; b) How many new caves need to be selected as specially protected areas in order to conserve the rarest endemic taxa?; c) Is there congruence between the patterns of richness and distribution of invertebrates and bryophytes?; d) Are environmental variables good surrogates of species distributions

Indicators of Conservation Value of Azorean Caves Based on its Bryophyte Flora at Cave Entrances

Cave entrances in the Azores are particularly humid habitats. These provide opportunities for the colonization of a diverse assemblage of bryophyte species. Using both published data and new field sampling, we evaluated species diversity and rarity of bryophytes at the entrance of all known Azorean lava tubes and volcanic pits with such flora. Frequent species include the liverworts: Calypogeia arguta, Jubula hutchinsiae or Lejeunea lamacerina, and the mosses: Epipterygium tozeri, Eurhynchium praelongum, Fissidens serrulatus, Isopterygium elegans, Lepidopilum virens and Tetrastichium fontanum. Several rare Azorean bryophyte species appear at some cave entrances (e.g. Archidium alternifolium; Asterella africana; Plagiochila longispina), which reinforces the importance of this habitat for the regional conservation of these plants. To produce an unbiased multiple-criteria index (Importance Value for Conservation, IV-C), several indices based on bryophyte diversity and rarity, and also geological and management features, were calculated for each cave, and an iterative partial multiple regression analyses was performed. Data sows that three pit caves are particularly diverse in bryophytes (Algar do Carvão, Terceira Island, Bocas do Fogo, S. Jorge and Furna do Enxofre, Graciosa). Lava tubes with a diverse troglobitic fauna also are diverse in terms of bryophyte species (e.g., Algar do Carvão, Gruta dos Montanheiros, Gruta da Agostinha, Furna do Henrique Maciel). We also evaluate the utility of several cave management indices as surrogates of bryophyte diversity in Azorean volcanic cavities

Indicators of Conservation Value of Azorean Caves Based on its Bryophyte Flora at Cave Entrances

Cave entrances in the Azores are particularly humid habitats. These provide opportunities for the colonization of a diverse assemblage of bryophyte species. Using both published data and new field sampling, we evaluated species diversity and rarity of bryophytes at the entrance of all known Azorean lava tubes and volcanic pits with such flora. Frequent species include the liverworts: Calypogeia arguta, Jubula hutchinsiae or Lejeunea lamacerina, and the mosses: Epipterygium tozeri, Eurhynchium praelongum, Fissidens serrulatus, Isopterygium elegans, Lepidopilum virens and Tetrastichium fontanum. Several rare Azorean bryophyte species appear at some cave entrances (e.g. Archidium alternifolium; Asterella africana; Plagiochila longispina), which reinforces the importance of this habitat for the regional conservation of these plants. To produce an unbiased multiple-criteria index (Importance Value for Conservation, IV-C), several indices based on bryophyte diversity and rarity, and also geological and management features, were calculated for each cave, and an iterative partial multiple regression analyses was performed. Data sows that three pit caves are particularly diverse in bryophytes (Algar do Carvão, Terceira Island, Bocas do Fogo, S. Jorge and Furna do Enxofre, Graciosa). Lava tubes with a diverse troglobitic fauna also are diverse in terms of bryophyte species (e.g., Algar do Carvão, Gruta dos Montanheiros, Gruta da Agostinha, Furna do Henrique Maciel). We also evaluate the utility of several cave management indices as surrogates of bryophyte diversity in Azorean volcanic cavities

Indicators of Conservation Value of Azorean Caves Based on its Bryophyte Flora at Cave Entrances

XI International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology. Pico Island, Azores, May 12-18, 2004.Cave entrances in the Azores are particularly humid habitats. These provide opportunities for the colonization of a diverse assemblage of bryophyte species. Using both published data and new field sampling, we evaluated species diversity and rarity of bryophytes at the entrance of all known Azorean lava tubes and volcanic pits with such flora. Frequent species include the liverworts: Calypogeia arguta, Jubula hutchinsiae or Lejeunea lamacerina, and the mosses: Epipterygium tozeri, Eurhynchium praelongum, Fissidens serrulatus, Isopterygium elegans, Lepidopilum virens and Tetrastichium fontanum. Several rare Azorean bryophyte species appear at some cave entrances (e.g. Archidium alternifolium; Asterella africana; Plagiochila longispina), which reinforces the importance of this habitat for the regional conservation of these plants. To produce an unbiased multiple-criteria index (Importance Value for Conservation, IV-C), several indices based on bryophyte diversity and rarity, and also geological and management features, were calculated for each cave, and an iterative partial multiple regression analyses was performed. Data sows that three pit caves are particularly diverse in bryophytes (Algar do Carvão, Terceira Island, Bocas do Fogo, S. Jorge and Furna do Enxofre, Graciosa). Lava tubes with a diverse troglobitic fauna also are diverse in terms of bryophyte species (e.g., Algar do Carvão, Gruta dos Montanheiros, Gruta da Agostinha, Furna do Henrique Maciel). We also evaluate the utility of several cave management indices as surrogates of bryophyte diversity in Azorean volcanic cavities

Vulcões e Mistérios

"Os vulcões, com todos os fenómenos a eles associados, sempre causaram um enorme fascínio ao ser humano. As fumarolas, as nascentes termais, os sismos, e as explosões ocasionais acompanhadas por lavas escorrentes, eram vistas como manifestações de deuses que habitam o interior da Terra ou como penalizações de índole espiritual. Quando na maior parte do mundo este tipo de manifestações é desconhecido, nos Açores, pelo contrário, é presente. Ainda está fresca a memória de um passado em que vulcões causaram a destruição de aldeias e vilas inteiras desde a colonização das ilhas. É o caso das povoações de Capelo e Praia do Norte no Faial, em grande parte destruídas em 1957!8 durante a famosa erupção do Vulcão dos Capelinhos. Mas também é o caso mais antigo das povoações de Manadas e Queimada em São Jorge em 1580. Mas se os vulcões destroem, também constroem. Foram eles que deram origem às ilhas, tanto que a Montanha do Pico, um vulcão adormecido mas onde ainda é possível ver fumarolas no topo, com os seus 2.351 metros de altitude é o ponto mais alto dos Açores e de Portugal. Uma vista aérea de muitas paisagens Açorianas revela ainda uma grande quantidade de pequenos cones vulcânicos, com uma forma quase perfeita, como ilustrada num livro de escola. Outrora activos, hoje adormecidos ou espreitando novas oportunidades para lançar materiais vulcânicos, estão actualmente disfarçados por um manto de vegetação. […]"CITA-A; Governo Regional dos Açores

Biodiversity and pollen feeding habits of syrphids in olive groves and surrounding landscape in Northeastern Portugal during spring

Many syrphid larvae are predators of aphids and early stages of moths and psyllids, being potential control agents of some olive pests. However, adults need pollen and nectar for energy and reproduction. An increase of plant resources biodiversity in heterogeneous landscape could benefit these natural enemies. Thus, our goal of was to study the syrphid biodiversity and their pollen sources in olive agroecosystems from the northeast of Portugal during spring, that coincides with the availability of pests. For that, syrphids were captured in three not-tilled olive groves and two surrounding field areas (an herbaceous vegetation patch and a scrubland) next to each olive grove. Simultaneously, flowering plant inventories were carried out. Syrphids and the pollen contained in the guts of the most abundant species were identified. Thereafter pollen in guts was compared with pollen in the environment to evaluate a potential pollen selection. The most abundant species were Sphaerophoria scripta and Melanostoma mellinum. During the spring syrphids did not consume all the occurring plant species but did not actively selected pollen types. Results indicated that Asteraceae, Plantaginaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Echium type, Rumex type and Jasione type are important food sources for M. mellinum and S. scripta. These results will allow managing ground cover vegetation more efficiently in order to conserve syrphids in the olive agroecosystemM. Villa is grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) for the postdoctoral grant SFRH / BPD / 119487 / 2016