Monitoring arthropods under the scope of LIFE-SNAILS project: I - Santa Maria Island baseline data with implementation of the Index of Biotic Integrity

Based on the 33 available samples (11 sites x 3 sampling periods), we recorded a total of 118 taxa of arthropods (of which 94 were identified at species or subspecies level), belonging to three classes, 14 orders and 62 families. From the 94 identified taxa, a total of 21 species were endemic, 31 native non-endemic, 32 introduced and 10 indeterminate. We also provide additional information of the habitat quality (Index of Biotic Integrity), including general habitat and dominant species composition.We registered three new records to the Island, the native bug <i>Piezodoruslituratus</i> (Fabricius, 1794) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae), the Azorean endemic beetle <i>Phloeosinusgillerforsi</i> Bright, 1987 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) and the exotic ant <i>Hypoponerapunctatissima</i> (Roger, 1859) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and one new record for the Azores Archipelago, the native beetle <i>Cephenniumvalidum</i> Assing & Meybohm, 2021 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae).This publication not only contributes to the conservation of highly threatened endemic molluscs, through an assessment of habitat quality, based on arthropod communities and habitat description (e.g. native or exotic vegetation), but also provides an updated inventory of arthropods from Santa Maria Island.