Biological Integrity of Azorean Native Forests Is Better Measured in Cold Season

Abstract

The Azorean archipelago, recognized as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, is home to a diverse and unique community of arthropod species, highlighting a notable degree of endemism. However, the native forests that support these species are facing significant degradation due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In this study, we aimed to determine the ideal season for measuring the biological integrity of forest sites using a biological integrity index (IBI) based on arthropod communities captured with Sea, Land, and Air Malaise (SLAM) traps. Drawing on more than thirty years of research experience in the Azorean forests, we selected twelve reference sites, six representing preserved native forest and six representing disturbed native forest, and compared how IBI values vary between seasons. IBI values exhibited consistent variations between seasons in disturbed sites, indicating that measuring the biological integrity in these areas can be conducted at any time of the year without a specific seasonal preference. In contrast, significant differences were observed in pristine forest sites, with the winter season and the combination of winter and spring data (cold semester) showing notably higher values compared to other seasons and semesters. This finding suggests that measuring the biological integrity of preserved sites is best optimized in the cold seasons, while the detection of exotic species impact is most effective in summer and autumn. Consequently, if resources are limited, monitoring efforts should be concentrated in the winter and summer seasons to obtain the maximum and minimum values of IBI, respectively. Additionally, our study suggests that the summer season is the optimal time to detect potentially invasive exotic species.

Essential Oils from Azorean Cryptomeria japonica Female Cones at Different Developmental Stages: Variations in the Yields and Chemical Compositions

“…(Pittosporaceae) and Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. (Fabaceae) species [12]. Currently, C. japonica occupies 60% of the total wood-producing forest area in the Azores [10].…”

Monitoring arthropods under the scope of the LIFE-BEETLES project: I - Baseline data with implementation of the Index of Biotic Integrity

“…The investigation employed the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) framework as outlined in the recent publications by Tsafack et al (2023a) and Tsafack et al (2023b) . This framework provides valuable insights into the ecological status of our study areas and helps identify potential stressors or disturbances affecting arthropod communities over time, as well as any benefits of the conservation actions undergoing during the extent of the LIFE BEETLES project.…”

“…This synthetic index has been designed for applied conservation actions as it emerges as a comprehensive and user-friendly tool. The IBI framework has been previously successful in assessing the effectiveness of conservation interventions in island contexts ( Tsafack et al 2023a ).…”

“…The research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the project's impact. Previous research has highlighted the effectiveness of the IBI in measuring the quality of forest habitats ( Cardoso et al 2007 , Tsafack et al 2023a , Tsafack et al 2023b ). However, its specific use in measuring the success of conservation projects in island ecosystems, particularly in the context of threatened beetle species, has not been extensively researched.…”