New spatial records of vascular plants in the Azores Archipelago: the PRIBES project and the Azorean Biodiversity Portal (ABP) initiatives - I. São Jorge Island (Azores)

The Azores Archipelago is known for its important natural heritage, yet its ecosystems face a “green tsunami” in the form of numerous exotic and invasive species. This influx has wrought serious biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystem services, representing one of the greatest threats to conservation across the islands. Originating from accelerated global trade and travel, these invasions impact human activities, public health and economic sectors alike. The PRIBES project intends to contribute to "The Regional Strategy for the Management of Terrestrial and Freshwater Exotic and Invasive Species in the Azores" (PRIBES-LIFE-IP- Estratégia regional para o controlo e prevenção de espécies exóticas invasoras - no âmbito do projeto LIFE IP AZORES NATURA, LIFE17 IPE/PT/000010). Recently, a plan was delivered to the Azorean government that proposes as key strategy: an unified Azores Invasive Species Task Force, a central coordination unit and island‐level focal points defined clear leadership roles for agencies and stakeholders (Axis 1), while stringent pre‐export controls, quarantine measures and risk analyses blocked new arrivals (Axis 2); parallel early‐detection teams and citizen‐science networks screened ports, airports and nurseries and triggered rapid eradication protocols (Axis 3), guided by a tiered framework of eradication, containment, control and mitigation chosen on feasibility and cost–benefit grounds (Axis 4). Simultaneously, national and international partnerships with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) ISSG (Invasive Species Specialist Group), CABI (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International) and other island regions fostered data exchange (Axis 5), targeted scientific research investigated invasion pathways and management efficacy (Axis 6) and a central observatory consolidated occurrence records and risk assessments (Axis 7). Meanwhile, outreach campaigns, industry training and school programmes rallied public awareness (Axis 8). The AZORES BIOPORTAL (ABP) is a regional e-infrastructure dedicated to the mobilisation, curation and dissemination of biodiversity data from the Azores. It provides centralised data repository for researchers, policy-makers and educators; validated species checklists, including endemic, native and introduced species; integration with national and international biodiversity networks, including PORBIOTA, GBIF and LifeWatch ERIC; and tools for data visualisation and access, supporting conservation, ecological research and environmental management. ABP follows the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and supports open science. Mapping the occurrence of both native (endemic and non endemic) and exotic species is of key importance for the PRIBES project and the ABP intiative.A total of 243 vascular plant taxa were recorded across São Jorge Island, encompassing 89 families. These records correspond to 4,524 individual plant occurrences, including repeated observations of the same species across different sites. As each photographic observation is tied to unique geographic coordinates, all recorded specimens represent new spatial records for the Island’s flora. Amongst the taxa, 53 are considered endemic to the Azores, 131 are introduced, 58 are native and one species (Dracaena draco (L.) L.) is of indeterminate status. These correspond to 1,773 individual occurrences of endemic taxa, 1779 introduced, 970 native and one with indeterminate status. At the family level, 31 families include endemic taxa, 63 include introduced taxa, 34 include native taxa and one family contains a taxon of indeterminate status.The inventory includes several noteworthy Azorean endemics, spanning both ferns and flowering plants. Amongst the ferns, notable records include Crisped Buckler Fern Dryopteris crispifolia Rasbach, Reichst. & Vida, Azorean Buckler Fern Dryopteris azorica (Christ) Alston and Azorean Rockcap Fern Polypodium macaronesicum subsp. azoricum (Vasc.) Rumsey, Carine & Robba. Iconic flowering species and woody endemics recorded during the survey comprise Azorean Cherry Prunus lusitanica subsp. azorica (Mouill.) Franco, Azorean Buckthorn Frangula azorica Grubov, Azorean Eyebright Euphrasia grandiflora Hochst. ex Seub., Azorean Greater-hawkbit Leontodon filii (Hochst. ex Seub.) Paiva & Ormonde and Narrow-lipped Butterfly Orchid Platanthera micrantha (Hochst. ex Seub.) Schltr. Additional endemic taxa include Azorean Dock Rumex azoricus Rech.f., Azorean Holly Ilex azorica Gand., Azorean Umbrella Milkwort Tolpis azorica (Nutt.) P. Silva and the hemiparasitic Azorean Dwarf Mistletoe Arceuthobium azoricum Wiens & Hawksw. Other significant native species recorded include the ferns Wilson's Filmy-fern Hymenophyllum wilsonii Hook., Killarney Fern Vandenboschia speciosa (Willd.) G.Kunkel and Scaly Tongue-fern Elaphoglossum hirtum (Sw.) C.Chr., Cretan Thyme Thymus caespititius Brot., Many-stalked Spike-rush Eleocharis multicaulis (Sm.) Desv. and the more common native Firetree Morella faya (Aiton) Wilbur.Amongst the most problematic surveyed exotic invasive plant species are the Ginger Lily Hedychium gardnerianum Sheppard ex Ker-Gawl., Knotweed Persicaria capitata (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) H.Gross, Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser., Crofton Weed Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Australian Cheesewood Pittosporum undulatum Vent. and the Wandering Jew Tradescantia fluminensis Vell., as well as the American Pokeweed Phytolacca americana L.