Organization, usefulness and limitations of an ATBI (All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory): the inventory of terrestrial invertebrates in the Mercantour National Park

Abstract

We present here the objectives, organization and preliminary results of the invertebrate inventory of the Mercantour National Park ("Terrestrial Invertebrates Module" of the ATBI Mercantour/Alpi Marittime), carried out by 68 scientists and field-collectors from 2009 to 2012. The conceptual framework of an ATBI and the interactions between inventorying and frequently associated research aims are discussed. The sampling strategy adopted combined standardized multi-taxon sampling (continuous and occasional) with individual taxon-centred sampling. The successive tasks of field sampling, specimen coding, sorting and identification, molecular analysis and data management are briefly described. A coherent system of sample coding ensured the traceability of specimens. The project results in terms of sampling effort, abundance of collected invertebrate fauna and biological diversity are presented globally, by techniques, by sites and by higher taxonomic groups: 259,412 specimens were obtained from 761 sorted samples (out of 1243 samples collected), belonging to 1725 identified species and subspecies, in addition to which 37 species new to science have been recognized. These data are progressively being integrated into the CardObs database of the INPN and are partly accessible through the EDIT and

A conservation assessment of the terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Mkambati Nature Reserve in the Pondoland Centre of Endemism

“…The methods are effective and efficient and can be implemented by non-specialists, and they do not have a major impact on the environment (Deharveng et al 2015;Lovell et al 2010). …”

“…The two objectives of the study were (1) to assess the fauna in terms of diversity, level of knowledge (new species) and conservation value (endemic species and threatened species) and (2) to identify sites and habitats of high value for invertebrate conservation. We recognise that the extent of the survey may be limited in terms of sampling completeness especially considering likely temporal changes in invertebrate communities (Janzen 1973;Lovell et al 2010), but the resources (capacity, time and funding) to process and identify the number of samples that would be required to achieve sampling completeness are extensive (Deharveng et al 2015;Lovell et al 2010). The results presented here should be seen in the context of a snapshot sample of the invertebrates of a threatened and neglected part of a global biodiversity hotspot and centre of endemism, and also as a data set that can contribute to decision-making for the Reserve and for future monitoring programmes.…”

Annotated checklist of the Hemiptera Heteroptera of the Site of Community Importance and Special Area of Conservation “Alpi Marittime” (NW Italy)

“…Some reports of Heteroptera regarding this territory were taken from the website of the European project ATBI (All Taxa Biodiversity Information), which was mentioned in the introduction (Deharveng et al 2015;Villemant et al 2015).…”

“…Most of the material was collected within the framework of two different European projects. The "ATBI + M" (All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory + Monitoring) project, coordinated by the European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy (EDIT), funded in 2006 in the frame of the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission (Deharveng et al 2015;Villemant et al 2015). All Taxa Biodiversity Inventories (ATBI) are intensive community efforts to identify and record all living species that exist within a given area.…”

Discovery of a new species of the genus Stygepactophanes from a groundwater-fed spring in southern France (Crustacea, Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Canthocamptidae)

“…The project was also supported by the “European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy” (EDIT) (Dole-Olivier et al 2015). The Mercantour massif has long been recognized as a European hotspot of biodiversity for both fauna and flora (Ozenda and Borel 2006, Giudicelli and Derrien 2009, Deharveng et al 2015, Villemant et al 2015). Its uniqueness is related to its location in Europe, where three (Alpine, Mediterranean and Continental) out of nine biogeographical regions coexist (European Environmental Agency 2018).…”