EDP Foz-Tua: Large Mammals: river crossings - reference situation/early exploration phase. Compensatory Measures Monitoring Program (MC40B.1 and MC40B.2) [2017-2020]
Citation
Cabral J A, Travassos P, Barros P, Braz L, Carvalho D, Vale-Gonçalves H, Gomes C, Faria S, Múrias T (2023). EDP Foz-Tua: Large Mammals: river crossings - reference situation/early exploration phase. Compensatory Measures Monitoring Program (MC40B.1 and MC40B.2) [2017-2020]. EDP. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/nap3yu accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-01.Description
The dataset contains records of large mammals (Mammalia) and other fauna (Herpetofauna, Aves) collected in the lower valley of the River Tua to assess the river crossing potential after the implementation of the Compensatory Measure MC40B.1 (implemented in in spring 2016) and MC40B.2 (implemented in winter 2017), included in the Compensatory Measures Program (PMC) of the Foz Tua Hydroelectric Dam, promoted by EDP – Energias de Portugal, S.A. Data were collected between November 2017 and December 2020 in two bridges, using visual prospection (points and/or transects), stone powder and camera trapping (2 cameras per site). Both direct (visual observation, photos) and indirect (feaces, tracks/trails) signs were used to confirm the presence of the target species/groups (the identification up to the species levels was not always possible).Purpose
This dataset is part of a broader initiative whereby the company EDP - Energias de Portugal S.A. will made available biodiversity data collected during impact assessment and biological monitoring studies.
Sampling Description
Study Extent
The data were collected in two bridges over the Tua river, Abreiro and Brunheda up to 25 km from the mouth, in the municipalities of Alijó, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Murça, Vila Flor and Mirandela.Sampling
The survey covered two of the three bridges in the river Tua lower valley: Abreiro (MC40B.1) and Brunheda (MC40B.1 and MC40B.2), using the same methodology for both sub-measures. Sampling was carried out using a combination of (a) daytime pedestrian transects along the bridge deck to look for evidences of presence (faeces and footprints) and/or the presence of animals (dead or alive), and (b) the use of stone powder on the side of the road, provided the ideal conditions (i.e., absence of rain or wind strong) were met, in order to detect the presence of footprints and tracks/trails at night. Stone dust was placed at both ends of the bridges (but inside the deck) and at both ends of the adapted passage, only on the sidewalk, on each side of the road. These methodologies could be complemented with camera-trapping, if the safety conditions for the use of these devices were met. Each bridge was visited once a day, preferably in the early morning, for five consecutive days. Whenever possible, all evidences were identified “in situ” to the species level or, when this was not possible (e.g. deformed/incomplete footprints or broken/incomplete fecal samples), up to top-most hierarchical taxonomic group. The cases where no positive identification was possible where also accounted for, being recorded as “undetermined species”. Additionally, all probable signs of actual crossing through the bridges and/or in the adapted passage were recorded. A probable crossing of an individual of a species was considered when the footprints or trails were found in at least two places where the stone dust was placed, one at each end of the bridge, with the same direction of travel on the same sampling day. In same cases, the quality of the evidences (e.g., very old, broken or incomplete faeces, or unclear footprints), or the similarity between the species remains, prevented a species-specific identification, but could be attributable to several competing species. Accordingly, the following “species complexes” were used: “wild cat/domestic cat/genet (Felis silvestris/F. catus/Genetta genetta)”, “wild cat/domestic cat (Felis silvestris/F. catus)” and “beach marten/European pine marten (Martes foina/M. Martes)”. In this context, it is important to mention that some canid footprints attributed to the domestic (or feral) dog, were large enough to be compatible with those of Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus), a species that could potentially occur in the area, since there were three confirmed packs in the region in the last Wolf National Census (Pimenta et al., 2005). However, as all canids directly observed included large dogs, in the absence of photographic records and/or other unequivocal evidence (e.g., faeces) of the presence of wolf, all Canid footprints not clearly identified as dogs, were attributed to the species complex “domestic/feral dog/Iberian wolf (Canis spp.)”Quality Control
All identifications were performed by qualified techniciansMethod steps
- To be completed
Taxonomic Coverages
The taxonomic coverage of this dataset spans 1 phylum, 2 classes, 4 orders, 5 families, 11 genera (8 of mammals) and 9 species (6 of mammals).
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Animaliarank: kingdom
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Chordatarank: phylum
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Amphibiarank: class
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Mammaliarank: class
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Anurarank: order
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Caudatarank: order
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Carnivorarank: order
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Bufonidaerank: family
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Salamandridaerank: family
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Canidaerank: family
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Felidaerank: family
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Mustelidaerank: family
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Viverridaerank: family
Geographic Coverages
The data were collected in three bridges over the Tua river, Abreiro (MC40B.1) and Brunheda (MC40B.1 and MC40B.2) up to 25 km from the mouth, in the municipalities of Alijó, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Murça, Vila Flor and Mirandela.
Bibliographic Citations
- Pimenta V., Barroso I., Álvares F., Correia J., Ferrão da Costa G., Moreira L., Nascimento J., Petrucci-Fonseca F., Roque S. & Santos E. 2005. Situação populacional do Lobo em Portugal: resultados do Censo Nacional 2002/2003. Relatório Técnico. Instituto de Conservação da Natureza/Grupo Lobo. Lisboa, 158pp+Anexos. -
Contacts
João Alexandre Cabraloriginator
position: General Coordinator
CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Quinta de Prados
Vila Real
5001-801 Vila Real
PT
email: jcabral@utad.pt
Paulo Travassos
originator
position: Scientific Coordinator
CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Quinta de Prados
Vila Real
5001-801 Vila Real
PT
Paulo Barros
originator
position: Filedwork Coordinator
CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Vila Real
PT
Luís Braz
originator
position: Technician
CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Vila Real
PT
Diogo Carvalho
originator
position: Technician
CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Vila Real
PT
Hélia Vale-Gonçalves
originator
position: Technician
CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Vila Real
Carla Gomes
originator
position: Technician
CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Vila Real
PT
Sandra Faria
originator
position: Technician
CITAB - Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agro-ambientais e Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Vila Real
PT
Tiago Múrias
metadata author
position: Researcher
CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto
Campus Agrário de Vairão
Vairão
4485-661 Vairão
PT
email: tdsantos@cibio.up.pt
João Madeira
administrative point of contact
position: Manager
EDP - Energias de Portugal
Av. 24 de Julho, 12, Torre Nascente, Piso 4
Lisbon
1249-300 Lisboa
PT
email: Joao.Madeira@edp.pt