MAIISG

Assessment Rationale:

Hydrellia amauropoda is an endemic species of the Azores (Portugal), recorded from Faial and S. Jorge slands. From the historical data, this species potentially has a very small Extent of Occurrence (58 km2) and Area of Occupancy (16 km2); and it is possible that this species has declined in the past as a result of  uman activity. The present situation of this species needs to be further assessed, and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology and life history. Conservation of natural streams and other water bodies could potentially aid this species' conservation. Based upon the lack of recent data regarding this species' population, distribution, threats and ecology, it is not possible to accurately estimate the extinction risk of the species and it could theoretically fall into any category. Therefore, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).

Geographic Range:

Hydrelia amauropoda is an Azorean-endemic species, described from the islands of Faial and S. Jorge (Azores, Portugal) (Borges et al. 2010). It is known from only two streams. Based on the historical data (Frey 1945), the Extent of Occurrence (EOO) could be ca 58 km² and the Area of Occupancy (AOO) could be ca 16 km². However, there is no recent information regarding the distribution of this species, and the actual full distribution of the species is unknown.

Population:

No current population size estimates exist for this species, and the overall population size and trend are essentially unknown.

Habitat and Ecology

The ecology and traits of this species are unknown. Ephydridae usually live in aquatic and semiaquatic habitats; maritime marshes, tidal salt pools, salt and alkaline lakes of arid regions (McAlpine et al. 1987). A few species of Hydrellia live in stems, or mine leaves of aquatic plants. Larvae of most Ephydridae are filter-feeders, feeding on microscopic algae, bacteria and yeasts from the surrounding semiliquid medium. Others prefer dead and decaying animal tissue or excrement, while others are leaf miners. Larvae of some species are predators (McAlpine 1987). Hydrellia larvae, due to their ecology and feeding habits are considered agricultural pests of several irrigated cereals (McAlpine et al. 1987).

Major Threat(s):

A lack of information regarding the present status of this species precludes an assessment of potential threats. Nevertheless, the ecology of other members of the Ephydridae family suggests that this species might be affected by future habitat declines as a consequence of climate change (Ferreira et al. 2016) and increased droughts. Contamination of surface waters by agricultural and livestock runoff can also potentially affect this species. Human disturbance and land use changes might have also affected this species

Conservation Actions

The species is not protected by regional law. The present situation of this species needs to be further assessed, and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology and life history. From what is known of its habitat preferences, conservation of native forests, of natural streams and water bodies, of native wet and boggy areas and other wet habitats could potentially aid this species' conservation.