MAIISG

Assessment Rationale:

Scoparia semiamplalis is an endemic species present in Flores, Faial, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira, S. Miguel and Santa Maria islands (Azores, Portugal) (Nuss et al. 1997, Borges et al. 2010). It has a relatively large area of ocupancy (AOO = 220 km²) and a large extent of ocurrence (EOO = ca 35,500 km²). It is usually associated with native forest, occurring in ten Natural Forest Reserves of Azores. It is closely associated with Azorean endemic trees and have possibly two or more generations per year. Based on Ferreira et al. (2016) the habitat will decline as a consequence of climate change. The species is assessed as Least Concern (LC) due to the widespread distribution and high abundance in the canopies of endemic trees, having also a high range of altitude occupancy (50-900 m).

Geographic Range:

Scoparia semiamplalis is an endemic species present in Flores, Faial, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira, S. Miguel and Santa Maria islands (Azores, Portugal) (Nuss et al. 1997, Borges et al. 2010). Within these islands it is known from ten Natural Forest Reserves: Caldeiras Funda e Rasa and Morro Alto e Pico da Sé (Flores); Caldeira do Faial (Faial), Topo (S. Jorge), Biscoito da Ferraria and Caldeira Sta. Bárbara e Mistérios Negros (Terceira); Atalhada, Graminhais and Pico da Vara (S. Miguel) and Pico Alto (S.Maria). The extent of occurrence (EOO) is ca 35,500 km² and the maximum estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 220 km².

Population:

Scoparia semiamplalis is a widespread and abundant species in native forest areas. The species presents stable populations.

Habitat and Ecology

Scoparia semiamplalis is known in native forests of Flores, Faial, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira, S. Miguel and Santa Maria islands (Azores). We assume that the larvae are specialist herbivores and adults pollinators. The adult flies from April to October (Nuss et al. 1997), having possibly two or more generations per year. Altitudinal range: 50-900 m.

Major Threat(s):

In the past, the species has probably strongly declined due to changes in habitat size and quality, mostly the creation of pastures (Triantis et al. 2010). Currently invasive plants Pittosporum undulatum and Hedychium gardneranum are changing some of the areas and decreasing the quality of the habitat. These changes are decreasing the relative cover of endemic plants and changing the soil cover (decreasing the cover of bryophytes and ferns). Based on Ferreira et al. (2016) the habitat will further decline as a consequence of climate change (increasing number of droughts and  habitat shifting & alteration).

Conservation Actions

The species is not protected by regional law. Its habitat is in regionally protected areas (Natural Parks of Faial, Flores, Pico, S. Jorge, Terceira, São Miguel and Sta. Maria). Degraded habitats should be restored and a strategy needs to be developed to address the future threat by climate change. It is necessary a monitoring plan for the invertebrate community in the habitat in order to contribute to the conservation of this species. A habitat management plan is needed and anticipated to be developed during the coming years. Monitoring every ten years using the BALA protocol will inform about habitat quality (see e.g. Gaspar et al. 2010).