Species conservation profile of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from Azores, Portugal

  • Articles in SCI Journals
  • Apr, 2018

Borges, P.A.V., Pérez Santa-Rita, J.V., Nunes, R., Danielczak, A., Hochkirch, A., Amorim, I.R., Lamelas-López, L., Karsholt, O. & Vieira, V. (2018) Species conservation profile of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from Azores, Portugal. Biodiversity Data Journal6: e23311. DOI:10.3897/BDJ.6.e23311.

Summary:

Background

The few remnants of Azorean native forests harbour a unique set of endemic moths (InsectaLepidoptera), some of them under severe long term threats due to small sized habitats or climatic changes. In this contribution, we present the IUCN Red List profiles of 34 endemic moths to the Azorean archipelago, including species belonging to two diverse families: Noctuidae (11 species) and Crambidae (eight species). The objective of this paper is to assess all endemic Azorean moth species and advise on possible future research and conservation actions critical for the long-trem survival of the most endangered species.

New information

Most species have a large distribution (i.e. 58% occur in at least four islands), very large extent of occurrence (EOO) and a relatively large area of occupancy (AOO). Only nine species are single-island endemics, three of them from Flores, three from São Miguel and one from Pico, São Jorge and Faial. Most of the species also experience continuing decline in habitat quality, number of locations and subpopulations caused by the ongoing threat from pasture intensification, forestry, invasive plant species and future climatic changes. The lack of new records may indicate that one of the species previously named is extinct (Eupithecia ogilviata). Therefore, we suggest as future conservation actions: (1) a long-term species monitoring plan and (2) control of invasive species.


https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/23311/

Team

  • Species conservation profile of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from Azores, Portugal Isabel R. Amorim Island Environmental Risks & Society - IERS
  • Species conservation profile of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from Azores, Portugal Isabel R. Amorim Island Environmental Risks & Society - IERS
  • Species conservation profile of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from Azores, Portugal Lucas Lamelas López Island Arthropod Macroecology
  • Species conservation profile of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from Azores, Portugal Paulo A. V. Borges Island Arthropod Macroecology
  • Species conservation profile of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from Azores, Portugal Rui Miguel Ricardo Nunes Island Coccinellidae Evolutionary Ecology
  • Species conservation profile of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from Azores, Portugal Virgílio Vieira Island Arthropod Macroecology