Author(s): Coelho, Sofia Maria Amorim Marques Tropa
Date: 2015
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10451/22453
Origin: Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
Subject(s): Galemys pyrenaicus; Répteis; Anfíbios; Peixes; Restauração de habitat; Teses de mestrado - 2015
Increasing biodiversity loss requires application of effective measures. The Umbrella species approach is one of such, where conservation of one or more species provides a protective Umbrella to several other species. This concept holds potential to design priority areas for conservation and guide habitat restoration. However, there is a need for testing this concept before application and identifying specific habitat features by which species benefit from conservation. The riparian forest is generally a critical landscape feature that benefits a variety of aquatic, semiaquatic, as well as terrestrial species. Here, we assessed the potential to guide riparian forest restoration in the Sabor River Basin (Northern Portugal) using the Iberian desman, a threatened semiaquatic mammal endemic of the Iberian Peninsula, as Umbrella species. Present day (2014) and historical (1995) data were used to assess relationships between riparian forest integrity, estimated through photointerpretation, and Iberian desman scats’ presence. Effectiveness of the Iberian desman as Umbrella species, was tested based on relationships between number of species, abundance and presence of amphibian, reptile and fish and Iberian desman presence and scats’ number. We used constrained ordination to evaluate relationships between assemblage structure of fish and amphibians and reptiles and riparian forest integrity. Finally, we evaluated variation in integrity of riparian forest among the two study years, using data obtained through photointerpretation. Positive relationships were identified between Iberian desman presence and scats’ presence and riparian forest integrity. Comparisons between current and historical data revealed that such relationship is presently stronger than it was twenty years ago. Also, the riparian forest integrity of the Sabor River Basin seems to have slightly increased in the past twenty years. The number of endemic species of amphibians and reptiles was positively associated with Iberian desman scats’ number, and so were two endemic species, the Iberian frog and the Iberian emerald lizard, with the Iberian frog being also strongly associated with Iberian desman presence. On the contrary, fish abundance, total number of species and number of native species decreased with Iberian desman presence and scats’ number. Eventually, positive relationships were identified between riparian forest integrity and amphibian and reptile and fish assemblages. Our study supports the vision that the Iberian desman has potential as an Umbrella species to guide habitat restoration and select priority areas of riparian forest for conservation. The riparian forest in the Sabor River Basin seems to be well-preserved and in a better ecological state than twenty years ago. Nonetheless, considering its importance for the whole riparian ecosystem and the increasing human threats it is facing, we advocate a precautionary approach, through its restoration. This may favour the recovery of the Iberian desman and the persistence of several co-occurring species, including endemic ones.
