Article
Ecology
Emma J. Walker, Benjamin Gilbert
Summary: Global changes can lead to species declines and extinctions through habitat destruction and degradation, with distinct consequences for species dynamics and extinction. Habitat degradation has a faster impact on species populations, particularly for rare species, while habitat destruction shows clear thresholds. Predicting the long-term impacts of global changes on species can be based on species traits and the location and steepness of thresholds.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Micaela Camino, Jeffrey Thompson, Pablo Arriaga Velasco-Aceves, Sebastian Cirignoli, Riccardo Tiddi, Sara Cortez, Silvia D. Matteucci, Mariana Altrichter
Summary: This study examines habitat selection and conservation opportunities for the Chacoan peccary. The results show that the peccary occupies both primary and secondary forests, but most protected areas are too small and isolated to sustain viable populations. The findings have important implications for the management and conservation of the species.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephen G. Kearney, James E. M. Watson, April E. Reside, Diana O. Fisher, Martine Maron, Tim S. Doherty, Sarah M. Legge, John C. Z. Woinarski, Stephen T. Garnett, Brendan A. Wintle, Euan G. Ritchie, Don A. Driscoll, David Lindenmayer, Vanessa M. Adams, Michelle S. Ward, Josie Carwardine
Summary: Earth's extinction crisis is worsening and threat classification schemes are crucial for assessing the drivers and threats causing species declines. However, there is a lack of a complementary framework for evaluating the conservation responses needed to reduce these threats. In this study, an expert-driven threat-abatement framework was developed and applied to 1532 threatened species in Australia, highlighting the importance of retaining and restoring habitat, controlling invasive species and diseases, and improving fire management for species recovery. Integrated management responses are necessary for the survival and recovery of most species.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julien Louys, Todd J. Braje, Chun-Hsiang Chang, Richard Cosgrove, Scott M. Fitzpatrick, Masaki Fujita, Stuart Hawkins, Thomas Ingicco, Ai Kawamura, Ross D. E. MacPhee, Matthew C. McDowell, Hanneke J. M. Meijer, Philip J. Piper, Patrick Roberts, Alan H. Simmons, Gerrit van den Bergh, Alexandra van der Geer, Shimona Kealy, Sue O'Conor
Summary: The impact of modern humans on previously unoccupied island ecosystems and the extinction of Pleistocene megafauna are closely linked. However, current data does not support a direct association between Pleistocene hominin arrival and global extinctions, which are difficult to separate from environmental changes. It is not until the Holocene that significant changes in technology, dispersal, demography, and human behavior visibly affect island ecosystems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Biology
Thomas J. Matthews
Summary: This article reviews the progress of habitat island biogeography research and future research directions, emphasizing the integration of matrix properties and biological patterns, as well as the importance of studying the potential prevalence of mass effects and source-sink dynamics in habitat island systems.
QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Julian Schrader, Ian J. Wright, Holger Kreft, Mark Westoby
Summary: Island biogeography focuses on the distribution of species on islands and isolated habitats, with five key processes shaping island diversity. The classical approach emphasizes species richness as the outcome, but functional traits can provide new insights into species colonization and persistence on islands. These traits are influenced by dispersal, establishment, extinction, evolutionary pathways, and ecological interactions, contributing to the unique characteristics of island species.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mustaqeem Ahmad, Padma Sharma, Sonia Rathee, Harminder P. Singh, Daizy R. Batish, Gowher R. Lone, Shalinder Kaur, Vikrant Jaryan, Ravinder Kumar Kohli
Summary: High-elevation mountain communities are facing threats from habitat fragmentation and climate change, leading to habitat shift and biodiversity loss. Non-native species thrive at lower elevations and their niche width decreases with elevation, potentially displacing endemic or native habitat specialist species and increasing their extinction risk. Conservation strategies need to be implemented to control non-native species and protect native species at high extinction risk in these vulnerable ecosystems.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernandez, Fabian Martinez-Hernandez, Esteban Salmeron-Sanchez, Francisco J. Perez-Garcia, Blas Teruel, Maria E. Merlo, Juan F. Mota
Summary: Maytenus senegalensis subsp. europaea is a shrub species distributed discontinuously along the southeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, forming plant communities with great ecological value. Future model projections show that the most favorable area for this species will be the Campo de Dalias in the southern portion of Almeria province.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juan Gallego-Zamorano, Mark A. J. Huijbregts, Aafke M. Schipper
Summary: This study quantified the combined effects of land use and atmospheric nitrogen deposition on terrestrial plant species richness at a global scale. The results showed that the combination of both pressures led to an average decline of 26% in plant species richness across the grid cells, with the largest impact in Europe and the smallest in South America. Land use was found to be a more important driver of species richness decline than nitrogen deposition, but nitrogen deposition may have considerable additional impact in specific regions. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both pressures for effective conservation of plant biodiversity.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Thalita Ferreira-Arruda, Nathaly R. Guerrero-Ramirez, Pierre Denelle, Patrick Weigelt, Michael Kleyer, Holger Kreft
Summary: The influence of island dynamics and characteristics on different facets of plant diversity, including functional and phylogenetic diversity, is explored using barrier islands. Island area is found to be the best predictor for all diversity facets. Larger islands have higher functional and phylogenetic diversity, while smaller islands have lower diversity. Habitat heterogeneity also affects diversity, with increased competition on smaller islands leading to potential trade-offs between area and heterogeneity.
Article
Ecology
Christopher A. Lepczyk, Brian T. Klingbeil, Rebecca A. Christoffel, Daniel T. Rutledge, Curtis H. Flather
Summary: The listing process of endangered species is influenced not only by causal factors but also by human perception, especially in terms of observability. Our study found that ecological indicators associated with human perception changed noticeably over time for listed species under the US Endangered Species Act. This temporal shift in listings suggests that the approaches to listing species may need to be reevaluated and methodologically revised.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kelly Rayner, Cheryl A. Lohr, Sean Garretson, Peter Speldewinde
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of predictive modelling in improving the success rate of translocation programs, highlighting the importance of quantifying habitat availability and considering different threats at potential release sites. The comparison between two species, Djoongari and golden bandicoots, shows that the latter has higher demographic plasticity, habitat flexibility, and resilience to natural disasters, which contributed to its successful establishment after translocation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aaron S. Hogue, Kathryn Breon
Summary: The growing human population has led to declines in species and ecosystems, with habitat destruction being the most significant threat. Climate change has the least impact. Significant changes are needed to protect species and biodiversity, focusing on habitat destruction.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jordan E. Rogan, Mickey Ray Parker, Zachary B. Hancock, Alexis D. Earl, Erin K. Buchholtz, Kristina Chyn, Jason Martina, Lee A. Fitzgerald
Summary: Species range contractions, which are both a result and a cause of biological annihilation, do not receive the same attention as extinctions. There are three distinct patterns of range contraction: shrinkage, amputation, and fragmentation. These patterns have significant impacts on population abundance, relatedness, and genetic diversity, with the fragmentation pattern having the strongest effects. Defining and quantifying range contraction patterns and their consequences is crucial for combating biological annihilation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alexander H. Murray, A. Justin Nowakowski, Luke O. Frishkoff
Summary: The study investigates how species traits respond to habitat conversion, finding that arboreal species with high vertical niche positions are more sensitive when forests are converted to simple agriculture, while terrestrial species are more sensitive when habitats are converted to complex agriculture. Climate variables can alter how species' traits determine abundance patterns.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Marco Ferrante, Gabor L. Lovei, Rui Nunes, Paulo Monjardino, Lucas Lamelas-Lopez, Daniella Moller, Antonio Onofre Soares, Paulo A. V. Borges
Summary: This study monitored the effects of habitat conversion on ecosystem services and disservices on an oceanic island, and found that the intensity of ecological processes did not significantly decrease except for vertebrate predation.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Noelline Tsafack, Gabor Pozsgai, Mario Boieiro, Alejandra Ros-Prieto, Rui Nunes, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Paulo A. V. Borges
Summary: This study examines the impact of forest edges on arthropod assemblages, finding that edges have an effect on species composition and that endemic species are more likely to be constrained by edges. It highlights the need to avoid fragmentation and increase the size of natural parks to protect and manage these endemic species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Richard Pokorny, Paulo A. V. Borges
Summary: The fossil record of the Azores still lacks evidence of terrestrial invertebrates. However, a recent study on Quaternary fossil plant imprints from the Azores revealed several samples of fossil leaves with traces of plant-animal interactions, including marginal feeding and anophionome mine. The study also suggests possible originators of these trace fossils, such as butterfly caterpillars and wood-destroying beetles.
JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Diogo Duarte Barros, Maria da Luz Mathias, Paulo A. V. Borges, Luis Borda-de-Agua
Summary: The aim of island biogeography theory is to explain species richness in archipelagos. Traditionally, area and distance to the mainland are used as variables to explain species richness, but other variables, such as distance between islands, should also be considered. This study uses a Bayesian framework to assess the role of spatial autocorrelation in determining arthropod species richness patterns in the Azores and Canary Islands.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lucas Lamelas-Lopez, Rosalina Gabriel, Alejandra Ros-Prieto, Paulo A. V. Borges
Summary: This article presents an inventory of arthropods collected in two urban gardens in the Azores. A total of 8,342 specimens were collected, belonging to four classes, 15 orders, 80 families, and 159 species and subspecies of arthropods. The study identifies 84 introduced species/subspecies, 50 native non-endemic species/subspecies, eight endemic species/subspecies, and 17 species with an indeterminate origin. Additionally, the article revises the arthropod inventory of these gardens by updating the taxonomic names of three orders, 10 families, and 22 species.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Thomas J. Matthews, Joseph P. Wayman, Robert J. Whittaker, Pedro Cardoso, Julian P. Hume, Ferran Sayol, Konstantinos Proios, Thomas E. Martin, Benjamin Baiser, Paulo A. V. Borges, Yasuhiro Kubota, Luiz dos Anjos, Joseph A. Tobias, Filipa C. Soares, Xingfeng Si, Ping Ding, Chase D. Mendenhall, Yong Chee Keita Sin, Frank E. Rheindt, Kostas A. Triantis, Francois Guilhaumon, David M. Watson, Lluis Brotons, Corrado Battisti, Osanna Chu, Francois Rigal
Summary: Research on island species-area relationships (ISAR) has expanded to incorporate functional (IFDAR) and phylogenetic (IPDAR) diversity. However, we lack comprehensive global analyses of how these categories of island diversity-area relationship (IDAR) vary. In this study, we provide the first comparative evaluation of IDARs at the global scale using avian data sets from 51 archipelagos. Our results show that increasing richness with area drives the non-richness corrected IPDAR and IFDAR. We also find that archipelagos with steeper ISARs have larger differences in slope between IDARs, indicating increased redundancy on larger islands in these archipelagos.
Article
Entomology
Ana Ceia-Hasse, Mario Boieiro, Albano Soares, Sandra Antunes, Hugo Figueiredo, Carla Rego, Paulo A. V. Borges, Jose Conde, Artur R. M. Serrano
Summary: In this study, the diversity patterns of butterflies and odonates in a mountainous area were analyzed, and the factors responsible for insect community change were assessed. It was found that butterfly species richness was lowest at high altitudes, while odonate species richness did not differ between elevations. Species replacement drove the changes in butterfly assemblages, while changes in odonate communities were mostly due to species richness differences. Climatic factors, particularly temperature and precipitation, were the main drivers of community change for the two insect groups.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sebastien Lhoumeau, Paulo A. V. Borges
Summary: The decline of insect populations emphasizes the importance of long-term ecological monitoring. This study investigated changes in arthropod diversity and community structure over a ten-year period in the native forest of Terceira Island. The results showed stable species richness and dominance of endemic arthropods, while non-endemic and introduced arthropods experienced changes in biomass and dynamics. The research contributes to understanding the temporal dynamics of arthropods in native island forests and highlights the need for ongoing conservation efforts.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lucas Lamelas-Lopez, Paulo A. V. Borges, Elisa Tarantino, Maria Manuela Juliano, Jose Carlos Fontes, Cristina Moules, Ricardo Rodrigues, Jessica Machado, Jose Adriano Mota, Beatriz Sousa, Helder Amaral, Maria da Conceicao Filipe, David H. Lopes
Summary: The data presented in this study are part of a project involving the Macaronesia archipelagos, aiming to identify and evaluate the risks associated with new arthropod pests and develop monitoring and prevention systems. A total of 114,827 insect specimens were collected, representing four orders and ten pest species. The study provides valuable knowledge for pest management and future prevention strategies.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mario Boieiro, Sandra Antunes, Hugo Figueiredo, Albano Soares, Ana Lopes, Eva Monteiro, Patricia Garcia-Pereira, Carla Rego, Jose Conde, Paulo A. V. Borges, Artur R. M. Serrano
Summary: The highest mountain in mainland Portugal, Serra da Estrela, is an important biodiversity hotspot. However, there is still a lack of basic knowledge on the abundance, distribution, and ecology of lepidopteran and odonate species in this area. Standardised sampling is crucial to provide valuable biological information for conservation management and long-term monitoring of mountain biodiversity.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lucas Lamelas-Lopez, Paulo A. V. Borges
Summary: This study provides a dataset of the Cory's shearwater population, as well as the threats it faces from invasive species. The results include records of 15 species and provide information about the biology of the species.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Marco Ferrante, Gabor L. Lovei, Lambert Lavigne, Mario Caballero Vicente, Elisa Tarantino, David Horta Lopes, Paulo Monjardino, Paulo A. V. Borges
Summary: This study examined the effects of coriander strips on herbivory, seed predation, and predation on artificial caterpillars in mixed orchards on Terceira Island, Portugal. Vertebrates had a greater influence on ecosystem services and disservices. The coriander strips did not increase ecosystem services/reduce disservices levels in this habitat.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carina Costa, Fernando Costa, Antonio Trota, Paulo A. V. Borges, Paulo Monjardino, Maria J. Pereira
Summary: The Terra Nostra Garden is a historic garden with a rich collection of camellia varieties that has undergone a comprehensive rejuvenation process. The recent publication of a digital database provides the opportunity to present the dataset of camellia species, hybrids, and cultivars cultivated in the Terra Nostra Garden.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sophie Wallon, Noelline Tsafack, Gabor Pozsgai, Catarina Melo, Paulo A. Borges, Rui Elias
Summary: This study simulated climate change in forage crops in the Azores Archipelago and investigated the response of arthropod communities. The results showed lower arthropod abundance in Open Top Chambers (OTCs), with spiders and beetles responding quickly to the presence of OTCs. Non-indigenous spider assemblages adapted to pastures showed higher richness but lower abundance inside the warmer plots. However, the presence of OTCs led to a decrease in beetle richness and abundance.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Merio Brum Teixeira, Antonio O. Soares, Paulo A. V. Borges, Mar Torres Calvet, Angel Penalver, Hugo R. Monteiro, Jorge Frias, Nelson Simoes
Summary: The presented dataset is an inventory of terrestrial arthropods recorded in two Azorean agroecosystems (maize and pasture fields) from Sao Miguel and Sao Jorge Islands. A total of 18559 specimens belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, four classes, twelve orders, twenty-six families and forty morphospecies were collected and identified. Among the identified taxa, 18 species were predators, 15 were plant feeders, and five were omnivores. The origin of the predators included both native and introduced species.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
