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The 15th UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (COP15) will be held in Kunming, China in October 2021. Historically, CBDs and other multilateral treaties have either alluded to or entirely overlooked the subterranean biome. A multilateral effort to robustly examine, monitor, and incorporate the subterranean biome into future conservation targets will enable the CBD to further improve the ecological effectiveness of protected areas by including groundwater resources, subterranean ecosystem services, and the profoundly endemic subsurface biodiversity. To this end, we proffer a conservation roadmap that embodies five conceptual areas: (1) science gaps and data management needs; (2) anthropogenic stressors; (3) socioeconomic analysis and conflict resolution; (4) environmental education; and (5) national policies and multilateral agreements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is causing shifts in species distributions worldwide. Understanding how species distributions will change with future climate change is thus critical for conservation planning. Impacts on oceanic islands are potentially major given the disproportionate number of endemic species and the consequent risk that local extinctions might become global ones. In this study, we use species climate envelope models to evaluate the current and future potential distributions of Azorean endemic species of bryophytes, vascular plants, and arthropods on the Islands of Terceira and São Miguel in the Azores archipelago (Macaronesia). We examined projections of climate change effects on the future distributions of species with particular focus on the current protected areas. We then used spatial planning optimization software (PRION) to evaluate the effectiveness of protected areas at preserving species both in the present and future. We found that contractions of species distributions in protected areas are more likely in the largest and most populated island of São Miguel, moving from the coastal areas towards inland where the current protected areas are insufficient and inadequate to tackle species distribution shifts. There will be the need for a revision of the current protected areas in São Miguel to allow the sustainable conservation of most species, while in Terceira Island the current protected areas appear to be sufficient. Our study demonstrates the importance of these tools for informing long-term climate change adaptation planning for small islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taxonomic study of Aquifoliaceae is presented for Serra Negra, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Serra Negra is part of the Mantiqueira Complex, located in the southern portion of Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais. The floristic inventory was performed based on materials from expeditions linked to the “Estudos florísticos na Serra Negra, Minas Gerais” project. Those expeditions occurred between 2003 and 2010. In Serra Negra, Aquifoliaceae is represented by four species: Ilex dumosa, I. paraguariensis, I. subcordata, and I. theezans. Descriptions, identification key, illustrations of diagnostic characters and comments on the taxonomy, ecology and distribution of the species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Spiders at 23 Portuguese protected area sites were sampled (pitfall trapped) over 10-month periods. The data allowed for a “biodiversity quality” assessment consisting of the following indices: Species Richness, Biomass, Simpson Index, Species Conservation Value Index and Population Density. These “biodiversity quality” characteristics were reviewed for relative indication of site spider “biodiversity quality”. Spiders are proposed as a group of organisms that could be used to indicate part of the “biodiversity quality” of a site since they can be sampled in a standardised way and yield biodiversity indices for comparison spatially and temporally. The approach adopted in this paper allows a range of “biodiversity quality” indices to be measured for spiders in Portuguese protected areas which, in turn requires decisions from scientists, managers and politicians on what element or characteristic of biodiversity it is intended to be targeted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Subterranean ecosystems host unique biodiversity and deliver important services to humans. Yet, available data for subterranean ecosystems are limited in space and/or taxonomic scope and global monitoring programs are absent, preventing practitioners to develop effective conservation and management strategies. Expert opinion may help overcome some of these knowledge gaps. We surveyed experts on a wide variety of subterranean ecosystems and taxa around the world, aiming to quantify the importance of anthropogenic threats and conservation measures for subterranean ecosystems and to provide a roadmap on how to preserve these fundamental habitats and associated species and ecosystem services. We obtained 279 responses from 155 experts in different subterranean habitats, taxa, and regions. Experts perceived surface habitat change, direct habitat destruction (e.g., pollution, damming, mining), and climate change as the most relevant threats impacting subterranean ecosystems. Legislation, land protection, and education were scored as the most effective conservation measures, whereas species-level conservation was deemed less relevant. Whenever lacking hard data, expert opinion may be an effective, largely available, yet often overlooked source of information to implement timely conservation interventions for subterranean ecosystems. The most important threats (weights, in order of importance from left to right) affecting subterranean species and ecosystems according to experts evaluation and the most effective measures (circles) that should be taken to improve their conservation status. [Display omitted] • According to experts, subterranean ecosystems are primarily impacted by climate change and surface habitat change. • Legislation, land protection, and education were scored as the most effective conservation measures. • Expert opinion may be effective in the implementation of conservation interventions for poorly known subterranean ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]