Monitoring arthropods under the scope of LIFE-BEETLES project – Baseline Data

The presented database is part of the LIFE BEETLES project which aims to conserve three species of endemic beetles that are not protected by the Habitats Directive: Tarphius floresensis Borges & Serrano, 2017, Pseudanchomenus aptinoides (Tarnier, 1860), and Trechus terrabravensis 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.
The study established a comprehensive database derived from a long-term arthropod monitoring survey that used SLAM (Sea, Land, Air, Malaise) traps and pitfall traps. Our findings present a proxy for assessing the overall habitat quality for endemic invertebrates, using arthropods as principal 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 Island (four in mixed forest and six in native forest), and 14 in Terceira (three in mixed forest and 11 in native forest). Traps installed in a mixed forest dominated by exotic species were monitored every six months, while traps installed within native forest fragments were monitored every three months.

In addition, we employed 19 transects consisting of 15 non-attractive pitfall traps. 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 on 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 indeterminate. 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). Additionally, it provides an updated inventory of arthropods from Pico, Terceira, and Flores islands.

本数据库系LIFE BEETLES项目之组成部分，该项目旨在保护三种未受《栖息地指令》保护的地方性甲虫物种：Tarphius floresensis Borges & Serrano, 2017年所描述，Pseudanchomenus aptinoides (Tarnier, 1860年所记载)，以及Trechus terrabravensis Borges, Serrano & Amorim, 2004年所提出。这三种物种分别为佛罗勒斯岛、皮科岛和特塞拉岛的单岛特有种，正面临环境退化的威胁，同时遭受分布受限和栖息地退化的双重挑战。研究通过长期昆虫监测调查建立了全面数据库，调查中采用了SLAM（海洋、陆地、空气、Malaise）陷阱和陷坑陷阱。本研究成果提供了评估地方性无脊椎动物整体栖息地质量之代理指标，并以昆虫作为主要指示生物。自2020年9月至2023年6月，共监测了31个SLAM陷阱。陷阱设置如下：在佛罗勒斯岛设置7个（其中3个位于混交林，4个位于原生林），在皮科岛设置10个（其中4个位于混交林，6个位于原生林），在特塞拉岛设置14个（其中3个位于混交林，11个位于原生林）。在以外来物种为主的混交林中设置的陷阱每六个月监测一次，而在原生林片段内设置的陷阱则每三个月监测一次。此外，我们还采用了19条由15个非诱饵陷坑陷阱组成的样带。样带于每年8月底的两周内设置，时间跨度为2020年至2023年。在佛罗勒斯岛设置了8条样带，其中1条位于牧草地，4条位于混交林，3条位于原生林。在皮科岛设置了6条样带，其中2条位于牧草地，4条位于原生林。在特塞拉岛设置了5条样带，其中2条位于混交林，3条位于原生林。共记录到243个昆虫分类群，其中207个已鉴定至物种或亚种水平。这些分类群隶属于四个纲、24个目和101个科。在已鉴定出的207个分类群中，有46个为地方性物种，60个为地方性非地方性物种，80个为引进物种，21个为不确定物种。同时，还提供了栖息地信息，包括一般栖息地和优势物种组成。本研究通过基于昆虫群落和栖息地描述（例如原生或外来植被）评估栖息地质量，为高度威胁的地方性甲虫物种的保护做出了贡献。此外，本研究还提供了皮科岛、特塞拉岛和佛罗勒斯岛昆虫的最新清单。