Intertidal Invertebrate Diversity of the Selvagens Islands: A Baseline Inventory
摘要
Oceanic islands are recognized as biodiversity hotspots, yet their marine intertidal ecosystems remain understudied. The Selvagens Islands, part of the Portuguese municipality of Funchal, Madeira, represent one of the most pristine marine environments in the eastern Atlantic, benefiting from strict protection since 1978. Despite their ecological importance, comprehensive data on their intertidal invertebrate fauna are limited. This study presents a baseline inventory of intertidal marine invertebrates recorded during field surveys in May 2024 at four locations on Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena. Using the SACFOR abundance scale, we documented 47 species across seven animal phyla. Species richness, and diversity varied substantially among locations, with the highest values observed at Selvagem grande, and the lowest at Selvagen Pequena. Mollusca showed the highest diversity (21 species), followed by Arthropoda (9 species) and Echinodermata (7 species). Seven species are newly recorded for the region: Pinctada imbricata (Röding