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Main project your organisation is involved with, in relation to (sub)tropical biodiversity:
Azorean Biodiversity Portal (http://www.azoresbioportal.angra.uac.pt/) The Azorean Biodiversity Portal is a unique resource for fundamental research in systematics, biodiversity, education and conservation management in the Azores (Portugal). It also provides an original platform for biogeographical and macroecological research on islands. It includes the distributional data of terrestrial species, including lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, molluscs, arthropodes, marine invertebrates and vertebrates. The species database is comprised of spatial grid-based (500x500 m) presence-absence information for ca. 5000 species, drawing on a thorough literature survey (dating back to the 19th Century) as well as on unpublished records from recent intensive field surveys in the Azores. Many species are also accompanied by images from collections and/or live specimen
MOVECLIM: Montane vegetation as listening posts for climate change (http://moveclim.blogspot.pt/) Recent climate change has deeply affected the unique and vulnerable polar and high mountain ecosystems. However, due to limited knowledge, high uncertainty remains regarding similar effects on tropical biotas. In the present project, we propose to study and promote tropical bryophytes and ferns as bioindicators of climate change. These highly diverse plants, widely acknowledged as crucial ecosystem components, remain among the least known groups. This project sets up the first comparative analysis of tropical biodiversity along altitudinal gradients in multiple islands. It assembles an international and multidisciplinary network across the islands of La Réunion (Mascarenes), Guadeloupe (Antilles), Pico (Azores), La Palma (Canaries) and Tahiti (French Polynesia). Partners with expertise in the field of biodiversity research and conservation include universities, research centres and national parks. The intended project specifically aims to: (1) Characterise bryophyte and fern diversity along altitudinal gradients from lowland to summit and from the gene to community level, (2) Relate species diversity and distribution patterns to relevant life-history and functional traits, (3) Compare relationships between diversity and predictors across the islands, (4) Model species response to climate change in terms of range shifts, (5) Establish permanent plots for long-term vegetation monitoring. Scientific networking will include intensive sampling and environment monitoring across the islands. Novel modelling approaches will help infer the relationships between species performance and local conditions. The derived results will bring new evidence regarding species and community responses to climate change. Overall, the results will be highly relevant for conservation managers and decision-makers. The original participation of local stakeholders (National Parks of Guadeloupe and Réunion) to a common research project will insure results transfer to conservation managers. The deliverables include joint publications, as well as training the next generation of field taxonomists and developing tools for conservation managers to promote sustainable biodiversity management.
ISLAND-BIODIV: Understanding biodiversity dynamics in tropical and subtropical islands as an aid to science based conservation action (http://www.gba.uac.pt/projetos/ver.php?id=43#sthash.KMNj5xPK.dpuf) ISLAND-BIODIV is a concerted, transnational and transregional collaboration to provide measures of biodiversity within island ecosystems and establish fast, efficient and long-term monitoring strategies for three inter-dependant functionally important groups: flowering plants, macro-invertebrates living above ground, and micro-invertebrates inhabiting soil systems. The short-term objective of ISLAND-BIODIV is to develop the necessary methodology and undertake a series of intra-regional biodiversity assessments. Embedded in this objective is the coordination of sampling effort to address specific biodiversity needs and concerns at the level of stakeholders and policy makers. Longer-term objectives are the implementation of standardised procedures for science-led biodiversity evaluation, and the establishment of sampling plots for long-term monitoring and/or complementary biological analyses. Specifically we address the following questons: (1) To what extent can biodiversity within a given ecosystem within an island be considered to be homogenous across the landscape of that ecosystem? (2) Are there predictable patterns in the spatial variation of biodiversity among different functional groups within the same ecosystem? (3) How well do existing management strategies within each OR to protect biodiversity or represent the full breadth of biodiversity within an OR? (4) What realistic changes or extensions to management strategies could be incorporated to maximise biodiversity conservation? This will be achieved by the application of modern DNA sequence based technology together with more traditional sampling and survey techniques. These objectives directly address the collaborative research priorities of the Net-Biome call by characterising biodiversity and its evolution to enhance management and policy decision-making. The ISLAND-BIODIV work plan directly engages stakeholders across the three ORs, from the level of governmental policy makers, to local and private interest groups. Stakeholder engagement is designed to maximise the utility of ISLAND-BIODIV for policy and decision-making. Similarly public outreach activities are designed to cast a wide net and capture a diverse public audience to educate and inform about evaluation and valuation of biodiversity.
IMPACTBIO - Global warming, Plants, Bryophytes, Arthropods, Native, Invasive, Extinction, Expansion, Water balance, Forests (http://www.gba.uac.pt/projetos/ver.php?id=53#sthash.VkUn3V89.dpuf) The Azores archipelago has a set of characteristic natural features, due to its combination of humid, temperate climate and volcanic shaped geomorphology. The region has a large potential for tourism, as well as important agricultural and fisheries resources. Climate change studies in the Azores are therefore of the utmost importance, since the island's economy depends in a large part on its natural resources. Preliminary results indicate temperature anomalies for Terceira and São Miguel Islands ranging between +1.2 and +2.3º C for the 2070-2099 period, when compared to the control period 1961-1990. But the greatest estimated impact of global warming may be the change in annual precipitation distribution, with wetter winters and the other seasons becoming drier. This could have a significant impact on the islands' water resources, increasing severe precipitation events in winter and imposing water deficit stresses in summer. The main goal of this Project is to evaluate the implications of climate changes for Azorean biodiversity, using the A2 and B2 temperature and precipitation scenarios, in the 2070-2099 period, for Terceira and São Miguel Islands. Arthropods, bryophytes and vascular plants are the target taxonomic groups. Namely we aim to: a) Develop species and assemblages distribution models (present and future) for native and invasive arthropods, bryophytes and vascular plants; c) Evaluate potential effects of global changes on ecosystem services (namely water balance and climate regulation); d) Generate information to include in the Regional strategy for Climate Changes of the Azorean Regional Government. This Project will be developed in five main phases that will in some cases overlap: 1) Gathering of environmental data; 2) Gathering of biological data and management of a cyberinfrastruture; 3) Gathering of CIELO model matrices for 2070-2099 period; 4) Creation of species and assemblages predictive distribution (present and future) models; 5) Evaluation of the impact of climatic changes on ecosystem services (namely water balance and climate regulation) and in the current conservation networks in Azorean islands. The knowledge on the effects of global change on assemblage diversity will inform on the potential effects of these changes on ecosystem services. Our research will also provide an important contribution to the selection and/or refinement of protected areas through the comparison of diversity values derived from current and future climatic scenarios. Our research program will also generate comparative data on species and communities at both intra- and inter-island scales. Our strategy of close liaison with policy and decision-makers will ensure that the information generated by the project can be implemented in the establishment of future research, management and conservation priorities.
Good practices your organisation could share on tropical and subtropical sustainable biodiversity management:
Topic:
Purpose:
Preserve Azorean Biodiversity.
Methodology implemented:
1. Survey existing literature in order to map species distribution on the Islands: 2. Fieldwork using standardized inventories (e.g. bryophytes, arthropods) on different islands and habitats and at different times. 3. Publication of Species Lists with occurrence per Islands; 4. Publication of all gathered information on-line (Azorean Biodiversity Portal), allowing for people and experts to correct the data.
Existing results:
Enlargement of the Areas allocated to Natural Parks and Reserves in the Azores.
Topic:
Purpose:
Preserve Azorean Biodiversity.
Methodology implemented:
1. Rank Azorean species taking into account both their protection priority and their management feasibility; species were scored by species experts following two sets of criteria: (i) protection priority, including ecological value, singularity, public institutions’ management responsibilities and social value; (ii) management feasibility, including threats knowledge and control feasibility, external socio-economical support for management and biological recovery potential; 2. Environmental managers weighted the same criteria according to their management importance. 3. Publish results: i. Book (Martín et al. (eds.) (2008). TOP 100 - As cem espécies ameaçadas prioritárias em termos de gestão na região europeia biogeográfica da Macaronésia.Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación Territorial, Gobierno de Canarias); ii. Journal article (Martin et al. 2010. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19: 1659-1682.).
Existing results:
Legislation - The first Regiona law including endemic bryophytes and other small species (Decreto Legislativo Regional n.º 15/2012/A Regime jurídico da conservação da natureza e da proteção da biodiversidade.)
Topic:
Purpose:
Create reference collections and databases of common and rare specimens to help the management of biodiversity.
Methodology implemented:
1. Literature review and creation of databases. 2. Fieldwork. 3. Labwork. 4. Herborization and conservation of specimens. 5. Deposit in the Biological Collections of the University of the Azores.
Existing results:
Among many other collections, the AZU - Herbarium has a more than 13000 specimens of Azorean bryophytes, available for study by specialists.
Topic:
Purpose:
Share biological knowledge with the general public.
Methodology implemented:
Street intervention 1. Exploratory studies related to insects, biodiversity and environment; 2. Creation of a public education campaign with (i) 12 outdoor large dimensions posters (3 m x 4 m) showing extreme macro pictures of 6 insects that live only the Azorean forests, "inviting insects to the city"; (ii) sentences with information concerning the animals and their uniqueness; (iii) an epithet, based on the ones from different Portuguese kings, as a way to build an image to each insect.
Existing results:
Mobile street intervention exhibition, "Azoreans for millions of years", that was shown in Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira Island, Portugal) and will be shown in Coimbra (Portugal) in 2014.
Topic:
Purpose:
Engage the general public with biodiversity.
Methodology implemented:
Creation of an Internet Contest - "Call them names!)(https://www.facebook.com/Chama.lhe.Nomes) 1. Have pictures and descriptions of 12 endemic insects, that did not have a common name in Portuguese; 2. Create a Facebook page with the information; 3. Asking people to enter common, descriptive, informative and creative names for the insects. 4. There were no prizes as such, just the use of the new common name in the Azorean Biodiversity Portal, and the ackowledgement of the name of the "godparents".
Existing results:
The Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Chama.lhe.Nomes) is still on-line and continues to receive visits and positive feedback.
Good practice & policies your organisation suggests/desires on (sub) tropical biodiversity management.:
Topic:
Purpose:
Obtain comparable data with different locations and at different times for as many biological groups as possible.
Methodology implemented:
1. Use standardized sample locations 2. Use standardized sampling protocols.
Existing results:
Several databases exist in the Azorean Biodiversity Group that have been using standardized protocols, which are the base for the last scientific publications of the researchers (http://www.gba.uac.pt/).
Topic:
Purpose:
Create a new generation of researchers with the knowledge of local biodiversity and the motivation and the ability to proceed with different protocols ensuring the protection of natural areas and species.
Methodology implemented:
Trainning of young students (Master Students, PhD Students), together with senior researchers (Pos-Docs), in the field and in the lab and in the writing of reports and papers and in the communication to a vast audience - not only to other researchers.
Existing results:
Within the Azorean Biodiversity Group (http://www.gba.uac.pt/) there are a large number of students and associated researchers. Currently there are: (i) 17 PhD Students (ii) 10 Pos-Doc. Three editions of the Environmental Education Master Degree, with more than 30 EE Masters working in the Azores and abroad.
Topic:
Purpose:
Be connected with different researchers working in biology, taxonomy, ecology and conservation.
Methodology implemented:
Participation in international, national and regional projects, working together with colleagues from different institutions.
Existing results:
Presently, 15 senior researchers, from 10 different Institutions cooperate with the Azorean Biodiversity Group (http://www.gba.uac.pt/), allowing for a very active atmosphere, even if the group is based in the Azores, one of the European Ultra-Peripheral Region.
Indicate info on projects dealing with socio-econ. valuation of biodiversity your organisation has been involved in/aware of.:
Topic:
Methodology implemented:
Contingent valuation
Existing results:
Project is still running; not all tests have been made yet.