Analysis of the distribution of endemic and rare arthropods in high endemism areas of Algarve-South Portugal

Abstract

A An na al ly ys si is s o of f t th he e d di is st tr ri ib bu ut ti io on n o of f e en nd de em mi ic c a an nd d r ra ar re e a ar rt th hr ro op po od ds s i in n h hi ig gh h e en nd de em mi is sm m a ar re ea as s o of f A Al lg ga ar rv ve e --S So ou ut th h P Po or rt tu ug ga al l SummaryThe study of several arthropod groups in high endemism areas (HEA) of Algarve, the Southernmost province of Portugal, has revealed endemic species and species not yet recorded for the Portuguese fauna. The list includes 3 species of Isopoda endemic to Algarve, to Portugal or to the Iberian Peninsula, 2 species new to Portugal and 2 species new to the Iberian Peninsula; 2 species of Pseudoscorpiones not yet cited to Portugal; 11 species of Pauropoda new to Portugal, including one new species probably endemic; 15 species of Collembola endemic to the Portuguese or to the Iberian Peninsula faunas (Gama et al. 1997) and 37 species and 5 subspecies of Staphylinidae endemic to Algarve.With the exception of Collembola, which have been studied by us, the remaining groups have been submitted for study to several specialists.These findings heighten the biological richness of these areas of high endemism in terms of conservation of biological diversity. The authors draw attention to the necessity to preserve or restore the biological value of these areas, encouraging the adoption of protective measures and the creation of research programmes that include the implementation of taxonomic studies and co-operation between taxonomists and ecologists in order to preserve the biodiversity of these areas.

Collembolans and Mites Communities as a Tool for Assessing Soil Quality: Effect of Eucalyptus Plantations on Soil Mesofauna Biodiversity

“…Monocultures decrease the variation in residue characteristics, which exert a strong influence in the biota composition. From a conservational perspective, the endemic biota is particularly vulnerable to ecosystem disturbance 12 .…”

Buchnerillo atlanticus sp. nov., a new halophilic woodlouse (Isopoda: Oniscidea: incertae sedis) from the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, with ecological remarks

“…Although the Atlantic coastal fauna of the continent has been explored intensively since the end of the 19 th century (Vandel 1960a;Legrand 1953aLegrand , 1953bLegrand , 1954aLegrand , 1954bHarding & Sutton 1985;Gregory et al 2012;Cherpitel et al 2019;Garcia & Robla 2021), this species was never reported. There are records of Buchnerillo litoralis in the Atlantic coastal areas of Portugal (da Gama et al 2000) and the island of Madeira (Vandel 1960b). However, these specimens were poorly described or documented with figures to ensure that it was really the Mediterranean species described in the midtwentieth century.…”

Distinctive genetic signatures of two fairy shrimp species with overlapping ranges in Iberian temporary ponds

“…We hypothesise that one of these refugia could have been located at the SW tip of the Iberian Peninsula. This is an area known as a hotspot of biodiversity (Schmitt, 2007) for several groups of organisms such as plants and hexapods (da Gama et al., 2000), reptiles (Sillero et al., 2009), and large branchiopods (Korn et al., 2010; Sala et al., 2017). Tanymastix stagnalis populations corresponding to the SW–south clade (Clade 3) may have survived in temporary ponds formed by the deposition of Plio‐Pleistocene sediments upon poorly permeable Palaeozoic strata (carboniferous shale and greywacke; Salvador et al., 2011).…”