> The results obtained highlight the importance of the ponds, not only because of the high specific richness, but also because of the occurrence of unique and endangered species.

 

The LIFE Charcos Project team has compiled all the current and historical ecological information on the Mediterranean Temporary Ponds. Thus, establishing a benchmark of the biodiversity assessment in this habitat, in the Site of Community Importance of the Southwest Coast of Portugal.

To accomplish this task, the ponds were visited regularly to make a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the present biodiversity, such as diversity of plants, amphibians, micromammals, branchiopds, among others.

As a result, 248 plant species were identified, ranging from 13 to 72 in each pond. To note the occurrence of 11 plant species with protection status or restricted distribution, in which Caropsis verticilato-inundata stands out because it is considered as a priority species in the Habitats Directive.

Caropsis verticilato-inundata - Photografy of Carla Pinto Cruz - UÉ

In the amphibians, of the 13 species that occur in the temporary ponds, the most detected were: Iberian Spadefoot Toad, Iberian ribbed newt, Mediterranean Tree Frog, Common parsley frog,  Iberian painted frog, and Southern marbled newt.

Iberian painted frog (Discoglossus galganoi).  Photografy of Bruno H. Martins

Common parsley frog  (Pelodytes sp.).  Photografy of Bruno H. Martins

For micromammals, such as Cabrera's vole and the Southwestern water vole, the most important temporary ponds for these species are located in the region of Vila Nova de Milfontes, Odemira.

Seventeen species of bats were aldo identified, including some critically endangered species such as the Moorish horseshoe bat which was recorded in only two Mediterranean Temporary Ponds.

As for Crustaceans - Large Branchiopoda,  the temporay ponds host six species, representing 50% of the total species occurring in temporary wetlands in mainland of Portugal. The presence of the tadpole-shrimp (Triops vicentinus), endemic to the Algarve coast, it was verified in 13 temporary ponds of Vila do Bispo county.

  Tadpole- shrimp (Triops vicentinus) - Photografy of Liliana Barosa - LPN

Also worth mentioning is Clam-shrimp (Cyzicus grubei), a shrimp species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, which was only recorded in 3 temporary ponds in Sagres. Another very rare species of clam-shrimp is the Maghrebestheria maroccana, it was recorded in a single temporary pond around Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Regarding the fairy-shrimp, Branchipus cortesi, Tanymastix stagnalis and Chirocephalus diaphanus were also confirmed in these surveys.