News & Events

MEDIA

New Study Reveals Over Half of Azorean Endemic Arthropods at Risk of Extinction

— A comprehensive assessment led by Guilherme Oyarzabal and colleagues highlights an alarming decline in the conservation status of the Azores’ unique arthropod fauna. The study, recently published in Biological Conservation, reveals that more than 50 % of the archipelago’s 235 endemic terrestrial arthropod species are currently threatened, with five species already extinct and many more on the brink of disappearance.

Key Findings:

High Extinction Risk: 26 % of species are classified as Least Concern or Near Threatened, while 50 % fall into Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered categories. An additional 21 % remain Data Deficient, suggesting potential underestimation of threat levels

Primary Threats: Climate change and severe weather (93 % of species affected), invasive species (73 %), and agricultural expansion (75 %) emerged as the most pervasive threats to Azorean arthropods

Island Variability: The IUCN Red List Index varies widely across islands, with Santa Maria and São Miguel showing the lowest scores—reflecting high densities of single-island endemics in critically endangered categories—whereas Terceira exhibits comparatively higher resilience due to larger, well-preserved native forest fragments

 

“Our results demonstrate an urgent need for targeted conservation measures,” said Dr. Oyarzabal. “Protecting and restoring native forest habitats, managing invasives, and integrating climate adaptation strategies are critical to prevent further loss of the Azores’ unique arthropod biodiversity.”

 

Conservation Recommendations:

 

Habitat Protection & Restoration: Expand and reconnect native forest fragments to support viable populations of endemic species.

Invasive Species Control: Implement rigorous monitoring and eradication programs for non-native plants and arthropods.

Climate Adaptation Measures: Incorporate extreme weather projections into management plans to mitigate habitat shifting impacts.

Citizen Science Engagement: Leverage local communities in biodiversity monitoring to fill data gaps, especially for Data Deficient species.

 

About the Study:

This interdisciplinary analysis compiled IUCN Red List assessments, species’ Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO), trophic strategies, and threat classifications to deliver the first island-wide synthesis of arthropod conservation status in the Azores

.

Funding & Acknowledgments:

Supported by the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) MACRISK project (PTDC/BIA-CBI/0625/2021), LIFE BEETLES (LIFE 18NAT/PT/000864), and multiple institutional grants. The authors thank decades of fieldwork collaborators in the BALA and SLAM projects.

 

REFERENCE:

Oyarzabal, G., Pozsgai, G., Tsafack, N., Cardoso, P., Rigal, F., Boieiro, M., Santos, A.M.C., Amorim, I.R., Malumbres-Olarte, J., Costa, R., Lhoumeau, S., Gabriel, R. & Borges, P.A.V. (2025). Species traits may predict extinction risk of Azorean endemic arthropods. Biological Conservation, 309: 111282. DOI: 10.1016/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320725003192