Biological monitoring of the LIFE BEETLES project’s target species is essential for assessing the impact of the conservation actions carried out in the project’s intervention areas on these species.
Every quarter, with the support of the Park Rangers team from the Island Environment and Climate Action Services, the project’s technical team goes out into the field to collect biological samples captured by SLAM (Sea, Land, Air, Malaise trap) type traps. These traps are strategically placed in the intervention areas and neighbouring areas, where they passively collect various arthropods throughout the year.
After sorting and laboratory analysis, the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) can be calculated. This index incorporates species richness ratios (native, endemic, saprophytic and predatory) and abundance ratios (including predatory, herbivorous and introduced species).
The IBI provides a comprehensive measure for assessing the integrity of a given ecosystem and makes it possible to detect changes in biodiversity caused by habitat degradation, the spread of invasive species or other adverse environmental pressures.
