EDP Baixo Sabor: Herpetology – Baseline Studies [2009]

João Alexandre Cabral1, Paulo Barros2, Hélia Marisa Vale-Gonçalves2, Rui Figueira3

1 CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 1349-017 Lisboa, Vila Real, Portugal; 2 CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Vila Real, Portugal; 3 Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

Corresponding author(s): João Alexandre Cabral (jcabral@utad.pt), Paulo Barros (pbarros@utad.pt), Hélia Marisa Vale-Gonçalves, Rui Figueira (ruifigueira@isa.ulisboa.pt)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parentheses), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in parentheses), and doi of the data paper.

Resource Citation

Cabral JA, Barros P, Vale-Gonçalves HM, Travassos P, Madeira J, Figueira R (2017): EDP Baixo Sabor: Herpetology – Baseline Studies [2009]. v1.1. EDP - Energias de Portugal. Dataset/Occurrence. http://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/resource?r=edp_sabor_herpetology_baseline&amp;v=1.4

Abstract

The dataset contains 708 records of 13 amphibian and 13 reptile species recorded in the lower reaches of the Sabor River (NE Portugal), and that were included in the baseline studies to define biodiversity offsets of the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric Dam, promoted by EDP – Energias de Portugal, S.A.. Data was collected between March and November 2009, during thirty five (n=35) days/nights of field sampling carried out in the area to be flooded by the two reservoirs, and within a 5-km buffer around each reservoir. Surveys involved transects, dip-netting in waterbodies, and casual observations along trails and roads. Each individual observed was identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, its position was recorded, and in case of capture it was released thereafter in the same place. All captures were conducted in accordance with the Portuguese laws and carried out under authorized licences 186/2009/CAPT (Instituto da Conservacão da Natureza e Florestas).

Keywords: Occurrence, Observation, Herpetology, Amphibians, Reptiles, Sabor river, Northeast Portugal

General description

Purpose: This dataset is part of a broader initiative whereby the company EDP - Energias de Portugal S.A. will made available biodiversity data collected during impact assessment and biological monitoring studies.
Additional information: This dataset was collected by researchers of the Laboratory of Applied Ecology (https://www.lea.web.pt/apresentacao) of the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, under contract with EDP - Energias de Portugal S.A.

Project details

Project title: Baseline studies of the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric Dams – Herpetological data
Personnel: João Alexandre Cabral, Paulo Barros, Hélia Marisa Vale-Gonçalves, Paulo Travassos
Funding: The work was funded by EDP - Energias de Portugal, S.A.
Study area descriptions/descriptor: The study was conducted along the margins of the lower Sabor river, prior to the construction and subsequent flooding of the valley by the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric Dams, and within a 5km buffer around each reservoir. The area is included in the Long Term Ecological Research of Baixo Sabor (https://data.lter-europe.net/deims/site/lter_eu_pt_002). Elevation in this site ranges between 100m (mouth of the Sabor River) and 1100m (Hills of Bornes and Nogueira). Climate is predominantly Mediterranean with continental influence. Annual rainfall ranges between about 500mm and 1000mm, and mean annual temperature ranges between about 10ºC and 16ºC. Considering the thermicity index, It, the site is mostly included in the Meso-mediterranean and Supra-mediterranean zones. Land cover is dominated (>80%) by Mediterranean oak forests and shrublands, pine plantations, olive groves and other permanent crops, and arable cropland and pastures. 

In terms of phytogeography, the site was classified in Lusitanean Duriensean sector and in the Terra Quente Superdistrict. The later is characterized by its climatophilous mixed forests of cork oak and juniper (Rusco aculeati-Quercetum suberis subassociation juniperetosum oxycedri), and its subserial communities, mainly dwarf scrubs of Lavandulo-Cytisetum  multiflori and broom-dominated communities of Cytiso multiflori-Retametum  sphaerocarpa  as forest mantle vegetation and also in progressive successional processes, or Cytiso  scoparii-Retametum sphaerocarpa in regressive succession. As a first step in the degradation of cork oak woods, shrubby or woody formations of species with lustrous leaves occur (Arbutus unedo accompanied by thermophilous species like Phillyrea angustifolia, Pistacia  terebinthus, and Viburnum tinus, or in even more degraded stages, Erica arborea). Cork oak Quercus suber) is  frequently associated with Q. faginea. Oligotrophic therophytic grasslands are frequent, classified as Anthyllido  lusitanicae-Tuberarietum  guttati. On more acid and exposed soils, communities of Lavandulo sampaioanae-Cistetum populifolii can be identified. In edapho-xerophilous conditions, mainly occupying steep slopes, holm oak dominated forests, classified as Genisto hystricis-Quercetum rotundifoliae juniperetosum  oxycedri, substitute the cork oak woods. In subserial stages, again broom dominated communities, in that case pertaining to Cytiso multiflori-Retametum  sphaerocarpa occur, which might be substituted by extremely poor communities dominated by Cistus ladanifer. Under basiphilous conditions, dwarf scrubs of Lavandulo sampaioanae-Cistetum albidi may occur (Holzer 2003).

Bordering the margins of permanent watercourses, with marked edapho-hygrophilous conditions, riparian forest of Scrophulario scorodoniae-Alnetum glutinosae are constant, but they are restricted to very narrow strips of gallery forests, due to the topography of the mainly V-shaped river valley, with Clematis campaniflora and Scrophularia scorodonia as notable companion species. Bordering the temporary watercourses, but also the more lotic facies of permanent watercourses with strong currents, willows of Salicion salviifoliae appear. In the floodplain of Sabor river, rupicolous chamaephytic communities of Diantho laricifolii-Petrorhagietum saxifragae are frequent, with notable thermophilous traits, and a peculiar scrub community dominated by Buxus sempervirens and Erica arborea (Holzer 2003).

Most of the Baixo Sabor LTER site is included in the  Natura 2000 Network, within the Special Protection Area (SPA) of the Rivers Sabor and Maçãs (PTZPE0037), classified under the European Directive 79/409/EEC, and the Sites of Community Importance (SCI) of the Rivers Sabor and Maçãs (PTCON0021), classified under the and 92/43/EEC. Classification of the SPA was mostly due to the populations of birds of prey, including several breeding pairs of golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata), and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Classification as SCI was due to the presence of a large number of habitats and species of conservation concern, including for instance the wolf (Canis lupus).

The site is mostly included in the municipalities of Torre de Moncorvo, Alfândega da Fé, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Mogadouro. Human population density in these municipalities is low (12 – 22 inhabitants / km2), and it has declined from about 25% to more than 50% since 1960. Over the past decades there has also been a tendency for the population to concentrate in the main urban centres. Agriculture is an important economic activity, but there is a pervasive trend for agricultural abandonment due to population declines and ageing.
Design description: This dataset resulted from field work carried out between March and November 2009, during thirty five (n=35) days/nights of field sampling, involving surveys of all amphibian and reptile species. The work was associated with the design of biodiversity offsets for the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric Dam. The objective was to obtain baseline information on species distribution and relative abundance in the study area, providing information needed to design conservation actions to compensate for the impacts of dam construction. Field surveys were carried out in the area to be flooded by the two reservoirs, and within a 5-km buffer around each reservoir. They involved transects, dip-netting in, and casual observations along trails and roads.

Data published through GBIF: http://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/resource?r=edp_sabor_herpetology_baseline

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: Nearly all amphibian and reptile observations reported in the dataset involved the identification of individuals to the species level.
Taxonomic ranks
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia, Amphibia

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: The data was collected within the watershed of the lower reaches of the Sabor river (NE Portugal). Specifically, field surveys were made in the area to be flooded by the two reservoirs of the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric dams, and within a 5-km buffer around each reservoir. The areas in the region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, within the municipalities of Torre de Moncorvo, Alfândega da Fé, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Mogadouro.
Coordinates: 41°11'6''N and 41°54'7.2''N Latitude; 7°31'44.4''W and 6°23'31.2''W Longitude 

Temporal coverage: March 24, 2009 - November 16, 2009

Methods

Method step description: 
- . 	The original source provided localities with rectangular UTM coordinates, datum ED50. The transformation to geographic coordinates, datum WGS84, was performed using Quantum GIS. Additionally, geographic administrative regions at the municipality and district level were obtained overlaying the sampling points with CAOP 2015 (DGT 2015).
- . 	The original provided source contained species canonical names. The full scientific name, including name authorship, and higher taxon ranks, were obtained from the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, using an OpenRefine script.
Study extent description: The data was collected in the area to be flooded by the two reservoirs of the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric dams, and within a 5-km buffer around each reservoir. The areas in the region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, within the municipalities of Torre de Moncorvo, Alfândega da Fé, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Mogadouro.
Sampling description: Surveys involved a number of complementary methodologies, which were expected to achieve a good coverage of the various reptile and amphibian species occurring in the study area. Specifically, the following methods were used:
1. Visual observation of water bodies (e.g., temporary ponds, small reservoirs, cattle ponds, streams, and rivers), often with binoculars, to detect adult amphibians and aquatic reptiles;
2. Dip-netting in waterbodies, mainly to detect the larval stages of amphibian species;
3. Visual observations during terrestrial transects distributed across the study area, each one involving a maximum of 20-minute observations, or a maximum length of 200m;
4. Visual observations along roads, from a car driven at constant speed of 50km/h, to detect the carcasses of amphibians and reptiles, as well as live individuals crossing the road; these surveys were carried out both at night and during the day; 
5. Acoustic detection of the calls of anurans, at night during the breeding season, in points scattered across the study area; 
6. Opportunistic observations in points scattered across the area, outside systematic sampling periods.

Datasets

Dataset description
Object name: Darwin Core Archive EDP Baixo Sabor: Herpetology – Baseline Studies [2009]
Character encoding: UTF-8
Format name: Darwin Core Archive format
Format version: 1.0
Distribution: http://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/archive.do?r=edp_sabor_herpetology_baseline
Publication date of data: 2020-01-22
Language: English
Licences of use: Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2017-01-12
Hierarchy level: Dataset

References
Holzer, A. 2003. Vegetation ecological studies at the lower course of Sabor river (Trás-os-Montes, NE-Portugal ). Diploma Thesis, University of Bremen.
DGT, Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal, 2015. Available from: http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal__caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2015_2/.