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Glow-worm survey efforts in the Benelux

Glow-worm survey efforts in the Benelux. Firefly meeting 21-24 June 2007 - Parque Biol ó gico de Gaia. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux. How it all started: 1997 Anecdotic data suggest decrease in number and size in British populations from 1950

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Glow-worm survey efforts in the Benelux

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  1. Glow-worm survey efforts in the Benelux Firefly meeting 21-24 June 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  2. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux • How it all started: 1997 • Anecdotic data suggest decrease in number and size in British populations from 1950 • Start of glow-worm survey with help of general public and volunteers • Also rumours of decline from the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, France, Germany, other parts of Europe... sometimes leading into surveys • Suggestion to start similar project for Belgium: thanks to John Tyler and Robin Scagell Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  3. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux In spite of: • high conspicuousness: bioluminescent displays • suitability for inventories no survey efforts were ever done and knowledge of actual distribution of our regional species stayed fragmentary Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  4. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux Goals: • gather and mapping of old distribution data • inform general public about glow-worms • get data from general public about old sightings or encourage them to send data about new finding places (e.g. garden): store data for updated distribution atlas • maximise knowledge about ecology, habitat requirements, distribution and possible threats (light pollution, habitat reduction, fragmentation, agricultural intensity + pesticides, drainage, acidification, ...) Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  5. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux Method: • providing information about species + project • interviews on the radio, in magazines and newspapers • doing workshops and talks • Contact and help from nature organisations, wildlife mailing lists, etc. • website: http://www.inbo.be/content/page.asp?pid=FAU_INS_GLW_Project • providing standardised forms: http://www.inbo.be/content/page.asp?pid=FAU_INS_GLW_Waarnemingsformulier Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  6. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux Major problems: • time: getting data into database and maps: expertise at INBO • Belgium is a complex country Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  7. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux Belgium is a complex country: Federal state with 3 main regions: Flanders – Walloon - Brussels Aim: get data from both regions and even from the Netherlands and Luxembourg ... this with and without success Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  8. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux Major problems: • time: getting data into database and maps: expertise at INBO • Belgium is a complex country → getting data is no problem: enough interest and response: about 20-40 new sightings each year Future aims: • first actualised distribution maps • continued efforts to make glow-worms known by the public • efforts to set-up a glow-worm “workgroup” of volunteers and enthusiasts Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  9. Glow-worm Survey in the Benelux Our species: Lampyris noctiluca L. Lamprohiza splendidula L. Phospaenus hemipterus Fourcroy Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  10. By J. Groenez Lampyris noctiluca Provisory map 2002: distribution in communities Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  11. Distribution < 1977 Supposed distribution Populations 2005-2007 1 male (OVL 2000; LIM 2005) Lamprohiza splendidula Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  12. Phospaenus hemipterus Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  13. ♀ Phospaenus hemipterus Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  14. Phospaenus hemipterus Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  15. Set-up for a Portuguese Firefly survey Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  16. Survey for Portugal How it all started: a mail 30 June 2005 • Gonçalo Appleton Figueira: idea of starting up a survey with help from National Geographic Portugal • Also John Tyler, John Day, Michael Geisthardt were asked to join • Mails about Phosphaenopterus metzneri, info about species, questions about survey forms, how to set-up an inventory, etc. • Help with set-up of inquiry forms and species identification tables Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  17. Survey for Portugal Firefly trip : 25 June - July 2006 • Visit 5 national parks (PN Arrábida, São Mamede, Estrela, Montesinho, Peneda-Gerês) • show standardised methods + method for Phosphaenus • Test inquiry forms • look for fireflies and glow-worms, focus on Phosphaenus and Phosphaenopterus • First contacts with Parque Biológico de Gaia Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  18. Survey for Portugal “Pirilampos” weblog by Gonçalo to inform public and ask for volunteers (13January 2007) http://pirilampos-lightalive.blogspot.com/ With links to: • field forms:http://www.savefile.com/files/576657 • species identification tables with info + photographs:http://www.savefile.com/files/554207 Radio interviews by Gonçalo (2 April 2007) Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  19. Survey for Portugal Parque Biológico de Gaia • Major interest in organising Firefly meeting 2007 • Participate in Firefly survey for Portugal First visit and discussions with Dir. Nuno Gomes Oliveira about logistic set-up and possibilities for a survey: 25-29 May 2007 Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  20. Survey for Portugal Logistic set-up and possibilities for a survey: results A project of this importance needs the support of one or several institutes or (non-profit) organisations: • Credibility • Material • Manpower: • Secretary (answering of telephone calls and e-mails) • Institute(s) to process even small (initial) costs and to apply for subsidies • Reknown scientific institute(s)/person(s) : • knowhow about methodology for standardised inventory • Help with data storage and processing Parque Biológico might provide some support here : Interest for the study and conservation of fireflies National inquiery about presence of fireflies in 2003 Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  21. Survey for Portugal Project “Pirilampos de Portugal” could be launched in March 2008: • Logistic coordination: Parque Biológico de Gaia (secretary, webpage, printing and distribution of information, collection and storage of data, etc.) • Scientific coordination: Raphael De Cock, J. Grosso-Silva (methodologic support) • Coordination of excursions in Portugal: Gonçalo Appleton Figueira, Parque de Gaia ? • Scientific collaboration considered necessary: e.g. CIBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Genética, Universidade do Porto), PhD. José Manuel Grosso-Silva, Dr. Michael Geisthardt (taxonomy) • Collaboration of several wildlife associations: e.g. NPEPVS (Núcleo Português de Estudo e Protecção da Vida Selvagem) to mobilise volunteers and for fundraising for material supports. • Inform and invite schools, National Corps of Scouts (Corpo Nacional de Escutas - CNE), Nature Parks and other protected areas, City councils and other entities to help us with a national census of fireflies Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  22. Survey for Portugal Proposal for 2-way approach: 1. National census: General public 2. Census within protected areas or focused on particular (rare) species:  Night excursions in chosen routes Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  23. Survey for Portugal • National census:  General public • providing info through internet, guide, media • request to send observations (e.g. done within gardens, parks, evening walks, weekend holidays, etc.) • minimal info required: date, location, species/species-group, number(class) (extra’s if possible: gender/stage, habitat, conditions: weather, light pollution, etc.) Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  24. Survey for Portugal 2. Census within protected areas or focused on particular (rare) species:  Night excursions in chosen routes • Well-planned excursions to beforehand chosen walking routes “transects” (max 2 km) within protected, isolated or otherwise interesting areas • At least 2 persons /transect: e.g. volunteers lead by a specialist and/or local guide • Several visits a year: at least 3 times (April – end July) • Each year another set of transects within a NP or in a new selection of NPs and revisit after 5 years for monitoring • Also specialists of other species group could join to detect new populations in the meanwhile: bats, night birds, grasshoppers, amphibians, etc.. • Data collected: date, species, number(class), gender/stage,+ specimen collection for possible new species, detailed mapping of findings, description of conditions (weather, light pollution, etc.), habitats and behaviour Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  25. Survey for Portugal June 2007 - March 2008: Firefly meeting: input from other survey projects + more serious negotiations and appointments between partners about possibilities and division of tasks. Elaboration of contacts and requests for collaboration Edition of a small guide “Fireflies of Portugal” (Pirilampos de Portugal) Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  26. Survey for Portugal Guide “Fireflies of Portugal” (Pirilampos de Portugal): • +/- 20 pages • Contents: • General Introduction • About fireflies (systematics, taxonomy, evolution, ecology, bioluminescence....) • Fireflies in the World (generic description of the species and world-wide distribution) • Fireflies in Portugal (bibliographical revision, with comments of José Manuel, Gonçalo, Raphael, etc.) • Guide of the Portuguese Fireflies (descriptive fiches, photos and drawings, ecology and behaviour of each species, etc.) • Presentation of the “Projecto Pirilampos de Portugal” (How to collaborate - fiches of inquiry, etc.) Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

  27. Obrigado Questions? Firefly meeting 2007 - Parque Biológico de Gaia

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