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Oceanic islands have long been of special scientific interest for their mechanisms of formation and development, their means of biotic colonization, their development of uniquely evolved biotas and ecosystems, and, recently, the extensive loss of endemic species due to land-use changes, invasive species and environmental change. The Azorean Biodiversity Group leads the Island Ecology & Environmental Risks (IEER) Thematic Line within the Ce3C’s. We investigate ecological and evolutionary processes on oceanic islands, contributing to the Centre’s vision and mission of understanding the response of biodiversity to global changes at multiple temporal and spatial scales. In addition, Azorean Biodiversity Group interdisciplinary expertise enables also research in environmental risk assessment and pest control, and provides support for decision-making and outreach, and effective conservation planning strategies in island ecosystems.

Researchers of the Azorean Biodiversity Group are engaged in complementary research on community ecology, molecular ecology and functional ecology and use advanced statistics and spatial modelling to ensure scientific progress in the field of ecology. In addition, researchers work in biomonitoring (development of biomarkers), ecological impact assessments, integrated pest management, health impact assessment, and risk management and communication to support policy-making. Collaboration is facilitated by shared resources and facilities, including the following:

• Unique standardized field databases (with abundance data) for arthropods (BALA, ISLANDBIODIV and EDEN), bryophytes (MOVECLIM altitudinal gradients database) and vascular plants (ISLANDBIODIV) and unique databases on the spatial distribution of Azorean species in 500x500 m grid;
• Ecological, molecular and taxonomical laboratories;
• Permanent plots of diverse land-use areas in seven of the nine Azorean Islands.

 

The Island Environmental Risks and Society (IERS) Research Group pursues the following objectives:

1. Understand the impacts of environmental risks to human health and other organisms living in Islands;

2. Ensure the sustainable development of insular agro-ecosystems and natural ecosystems;

3. Implement an Integrated Pest Management programme (IPM) to control and possibly eradicate termite pest in island systems using public outreach, clean technologies for pest control, and building cooperation between different stakeholders;

4. Improve the reliability and accuracy of geographic data to support decision-making and scientific research in the areas of land management, environmental planning and climate change;

5. Improve communication and cooperation on island ecosystems among the scientific and technological community, decision makers and the general public;

6. Increase scientific literacy and offer new ways for communities to interact with nature, so as to help them incorporate conservation and biodiversity in their everyday practices;

7. Nurture strategic commitments between different stakeholders, mediating between different agendas and ensuring social justice and participatory processes for citizens;

8. Safeguard the sustainable development of insular ecosystems based on the outcome of these studies.

 

The Island Biodiversity, Biogeography and Conservation (IBBC) Research Group pursues the following objectives:

1. Use the Azores as a model system to investigate ecological and evolutionary mechanisms responsible for shaping island biotas;
2. Collect long-term ecological data to evaluate species distributions and abundance at multiple spatial and temporal scales;
3. Identify pathways that impact oceanic indigenous assemblages under global change for conservation purposes

 

• Regulamento GBA 2019