Azores native forests preserve stable arthropod communities

A long-term study conducted by researchers from the University of Lisbon and the University of the Azores has found that arthropod communities in the native forests of the Azores have remained stable or even grown. This finding contradicts the global trend of widespread insect and arthropod population collapses.

Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the study synthesized over 25 years of field research, laboratory work, and taxonomic identification. Project coordinator Paulo Borges noted that while protecting native forests is effective, continuous long-term monitoring and targeted action on vulnerable species and habitats remain essential.

The research focused on various native species, including spiders such as ‘Macaroeris diligens’ and ‘Pisaura acoreensis’, as well as beetles like ‘Cedrorum azoricus’ and ‘Crotchiella brachyptera’. The results suggest that insect communities do not follow a uniform trajectory of decline when their native habitats are preserved.