The Azores: Exotic insect species increase on islands through human
impact

Date:
July 20, 2020
Source:
University of Helsinki
Summary:
A new study reveals that the diversity of exotic species of insects,
spiders and other arthropods in the Azores is increasing. This
pattern has also been observed in other islands around the
world, which can contribute to aggravate the current biodiversity
crisis. The study also point to a slight decrease in the abundance
of endemic species in the archipelago - species that are not found
anywhere else on the planet.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Various scientific studies have warned of a global decline in the
abundance and diversity of insects. These studies have been carried out
mainly on the European and North American continents, with other regions,
such as islands, have been less studied.


==========================================================================
This in mind, an international research team from Portugal, France and
Finland studied the insects captured over six years in the native forests
of Terceira island, the Azores.

The results revealed that the diversity of exotic species of arthropods increased with time. Exotic species have been introduced into the
archipelago consciously or inadvertently through economic activities.

"A greater diversity of exotic species may imply a change in various
types of ecosystem services, disrupting processes such as predation and recycling of nutrients," says Paulo Borges, researcher at the at the
University of the Azores, Portugal.

In the Azores, exotic species have their maximum abundance and diversity
in habitats created by man.

"The fragmentation of native habitats and the proximity of some of these
non- native habitats is promoting a flow of exotic species to the native forest. The process seems to be increasing in recent years possibly due to
the combination of climate change and degradation of the native forest due
to the spread of invasive plants,"explains Pedro Cardoso, curator at the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus, University of Helsinki, Finland.

The study also shows a slight decrease in the abundance of island species
that are not found anywhere else on the planet, such as the Azorean money spider (Savigniorrhipis acoreensis), which occurs on all the archipelago
with the exception of Corvo island.

The study took place between 2013 and 2018. During that time, 30 thousand arthropods were captured in the native forest of Terceira. The insects collected corresponded to 159 species, 32 of which are endemic.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Helsinki. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Paulo A. V. Borges, Franc,ois Rigal, Alejandra Ros‐Prieto,
Pedro
Cardoso. Increase of insular exotic arthropod diversity is a
fundamental dimension of the current biodiversity crisis. Insect
Conservation and Diversity, 2020; DOI: 10.1111/icad.12431 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200720102056.htm

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