Long-term monitoring of Azorean Arthropods and IUCN Red and Green Listing Island Biodiversity, Biogeography & Conservation

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Long-term monitoring of biodiversity is the systematic, repeated collection of data over extended periods aimed at tracking changes in species composition, abundance, and ecosystem health, which is essential for understanding ecological trends, assessing the impact of human activities, and informing conservation efforts. Long-term ecological monitoring of arthropods on islands is essential for understanding biodiversity patterns, ecosystem resilience, and responses to environmental change.

Islands often host unique assemblages of arthropods, making them critical sites for studying evolution, adaptation, and the impacts of isolation on species dynamics. Arthropods, due to their diversity and ecological roles, serve as key bioindicators, offering insights into habitat health and shifts in environmental conditions. Projects like BALA (Biodiversity of Arthropods in the Azores) and SLAM (Survey of Land Arthropods in the Azores) serve as exemplary long-term monitoring initiatives, demonstrating effective strategies for data consistency and quality control over time. BALA was instrumental in establishing a baseline for arthropod biodiversity in Azores native forest, while SLAM expanded on this foundation with continuous sampling across diverse habitats.

These initiatives have shown that the use of standardized protocols, alongside detailed data collection protocols, can yield robust datasets crucial for longitudinal studies. Moreover, these projects were fundamental for IUCN Red and Green Listing, promoting the conservation policy initiatives in Azores.