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Vol.2 , No. 1, Publication Date: Jan. 28, 2015, Page: 1-9
 Knobl. (Oleaceae), an evergreen shrub or small tree, is a top priority species, endemic to the Azores archipelago. It is listed as endangered (EN B1 + 2c; IUCN Red List 2012) and is included in Annex II of the EC Habitats Directive. In this study we aim to: i) estimate the present distribution and abundance of P. azorica in the Azores; ii) re-evaluate its conservation status based on the new data; iii) determine environmental factors that might limit its distribution; iv) estimate its potential distribution using Ecological Niche factor Analysis (ENFA); and v) assess the possibilities of reforestation. Picconia azorica occurs on a total of 55 km2 (2.2% of the Azores territory), 53% of which is included in Island Natural Parks; 38% of the area is located in Pico Island while in the remaining islands populations are very depauperated with occurrence areas ranging from 9.5 to 0.8 km2. Based on the present area of occurrence and assuming a continuing decline in area of occupancy, extent and/or quality of habitat in the future, following the 2001 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, we suggest that P. azorica should be considered as Critically Endangered, CR B1ab (i, ii, iii, iv, v). ENFA results showed a medium value for marginality (0.56) and a low value for specialization (1.18), meaning that P. azorica habitat breadth is wide and with only a small difference from the average environmental conditions found in the Azores. Around 34% (847 km2) of the land area of the archipelago is potentially suitable as habitat for P. azorica. We recommend the reinforcement of the most depauperated and fragmented populations using as guidelines the present results on habitat suitability as well as previous results on propagation and population genetics. P. azorica should be also considered as a species with high potential in restoration/reforestation actions in the Azores, particularly at low to medium elevation areas.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/903.jpg)
| [1] | José Martins, CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Pólo dos Açores, Departmento de Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Portugal. |
| [2] | Hugo Costa, School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. |
| [3] | Orlanda Moreira, CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Pólo dos Açores, Departmento de Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Portugal. |
| [4] | Eduardo Brito de Azevedo, CMMG, Centro de Estudos do Clima, Meteorologia e Mudanças Globais, CITA-A, Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias Agrárias, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João D’Ávila, São Pedro, Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal. |
| [5] | Mónica MT Moura, CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Pólo dos Açores, Departmento de Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Portugal. |
| [6] | Luís Silva, CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Pólo dos Açores, Departmento de Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Portugal. |
Picconia azorica (Tutin) Knobl. (Oleaceae), an evergreen shrub or small tree, is a top priority species, endemic to the Azores archipelago. It is listed as endangered (EN B1 + 2c; IUCN Red List 2012) and is included in Annex II of the EC Habitats Directive. In this study we aim to: i) estimate the present distribution and abundance of P. azorica in the Azores; ii) re-evaluate its conservation status based on the new data; iii) determine environmental factors that might limit its distribution; iv) estimate its potential distribution using Ecological Niche factor Analysis (ENFA); and v) assess the possibilities of reforestation. Picconia azorica occurs on a total of 55 km2 (2.2% of the Azores territory), 53% of which is included in Island Natural Parks; 38% of the area is located in Pico Island while in the remaining islands populations are very depauperated with occurrence areas ranging from 9.5 to 0.8 km2. Based on the present area of occurrence and assuming a continuing decline in area of occupancy, extent and/or quality of habitat in the future, following the 2001 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, we suggest that P. azorica should be considered as Critically Endangered, CR B1ab (i, ii, iii, iv, v). ENFA results showed a medium value for marginality (0.56) and a low value for specialization (1.18), meaning that P. azorica habitat breadth is wide and with only a small difference from the average environmental conditions found in the Azores. Around 34% (847 km2) of the land area of the archipelago is potentially suitable as habitat for P. azorica. We recommend the reinforcement of the most depauperated and fragmented populations using as guidelines the present results on habitat suitability as well as previous results on propagation and population genetics. P. azorica should be also considered as a species with high potential in restoration/reforestation actions in the Azores, particularly at low to medium elevation areas.
Keywords
Azores, Conservation, ENFA, Modelling, Oleaceae, Picconia
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