EDP Baixo Sabor: Herpetology – Baseline Studies [2009]
Citation
Cabral J A, Barros P, Vale-Gonçalves H M, Figueira R (2020). EDP Baixo Sabor: Herpetology – Baseline Studies [2009]. Version 1.6. EDP. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/qxceio accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-08-31.Description
The dataset contains 708 records of 13 amphibian and 13 reptile species recorded in the lower reaches of the Sabor River (NE Portugal), and that were included in the baseline studies to define biodiversity offsets of the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric Dam, promoted by EDP – Energias de Portugal, S.A.. Data was collected between March and November 2009, during thirty five (n=35) days/nights of field sampling carried out in the area to be flooded by the two reservoirs, and within a 5-km buffer around each reservoir. Surveys involved transects, dip-netting in waterbodies, and casual observations along trails and roads. Each individual observed was identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, its position was recorded, and in case of capture it was released thereafter in the same place. All captures were conducted in accordance with the Portuguese laws and carried out under authorized licences 186/2009/CAPT (Instituto da Conservacão da Natureza e Florestas).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 was collected in the area to be flooded by the two reservoirs of the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric dams, and within a 5-km buffer around each reservoir. The areas in the region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, within the municipalities of Torre de Moncorvo, Alfândega da Fé, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Mogadouro.Sampling
Surveys involved a number of complementary methodologies, which were expected to achieve a good coverage of the various reptile and amphibian species occurring in the study area. Specifically, the following methods were used: 1. Visual observation of water bodies (e.g., temporary ponds, small reservoirs, cattle ponds, streams, and rivers), often with binoculars, to detect adult amphibians and aquatic reptiles; 2. Dip-netting in waterbodies, mainly to detect the larval stages of amphibian species; 3. Visual observations during terrestrial transects distributed across the study area, each one involving a maximum of 20-minute observations, or a maximum length of 200m; 4. Visual observations along roads, from a car driven at constant speed of 50km/h, to detect the carcasses of amphibians and reptiles, as well as live individuals crossing the road; these surveys were carried out both at night and during the day; 5. Acoustic detection of the calls of anurans, at night during the breeding season, in points scattered across the study area; 6. Opportunistic observations in points scattered across the area, outside systematic sampling periods.Method steps
- The original source provided localities with rectangular UTM coordinates, datum ED50. The transformation to geographic coordinates, datum WGS84, was performed using Quantum GIS. Additionally, geographic administrative regions at the municipality and district level were obtained overlaying the sampling points with CAOP 2015 (DGT 2015).
- The original provided source contained species canonical names. The full scientific name, including name authorship, and higher taxon ranks, were obtained from the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, using an OpenRefine script.
Additional info
This dataset was collected by researchers of the Laboratory of Applied Ecology (https://www.lea.web.pt/apresentacao) of the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, under contract with EDP - Energias de Portugal S.A.Taxonomic Coverages
Nearly all amphibian and reptile observations reported in the dataset involved the identification of individuals to the species level.
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Animaliarank: kingdom
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Chordatarank: phylum
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Reptiliarank: class
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Amphibiarank: class
Geographic Coverages
The data was collected within the watershed of the lower reaches of the Sabor river (NE Portugal). Specifically, field surveys were made in the area to be flooded by the two reservoirs of the Baixo Sabor Hydroelectric dams, and within a 5-km buffer around each reservoir. The areas in the region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, within the municipalities of Torre de Moncorvo, Alfândega da Fé, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Mogadouro.
Bibliographic Citations
- Holzer, A. 2003. Vegetation ecological studies at the lower course of Sabor river (Trás-os-Montes, NE-Portugal ). Diploma Thesis, University of Bremen. -
- DGT, Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal, 2015. Available from: http://www.dgterritorio.pt/cartografia_e_geodesia/cartografia/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal__caop_/caop__download_/carta_administrativa_oficial_de_portugal___versao_2015_2/. -
Contacts
João Alexandre Cabraloriginator
position: Researcher
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
1349-017 Lisboa
PT
Telephone: +351-259350238
email: jcabral@utad.pt
homepage: http://www.lea.web.pt
Paulo Barros
metadata author
position: Researcher
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
Telephone: +351-259350238
email: pbarros@utad.pt
homepage: http://www.lea.web.pt
Hélia Marisa Vale-Gonçalves
metadata author
position: Researcher
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
Telephone: +351-259350238
homepage: http://www.lea.web.pt
Rui Figueira
metadata author
position: Researcher
Instituto Superior de Agronomia
Tapada da Ajuda
Lisboa
1349-017 Lisboa
PT
Telephone: +351 213653165
email: ruifigueira@isa.ulisboa.pt
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8351-4028
João Madeira
administrative point of contact
position: Manager
EDP - Energia de Portugal
Av. 24 Julho, 12, Torre Nascente, Piso 4
Lisbon
1249-300 Lisboa
PT
email: Joao.Madeira@edp.pt