EUROPEAN TOPIC CENTRE ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Introduction to the updated Article 17 checklists for species and habitats Expert group on Reporting under the Nature Directives 15th March 2016 Introduction to the updated Article 17 checklists for species and habitats Introduction The present note is an introduction to the Art 17 checklists which will be made available to members of the Expert Group on Reporting after its March meeting. The note aims at explaining the different steps undertaken by ETC/BD to prepare a draft updated version of the Art 17 checklists for the 2013-2018 reporting cycle. It includes a summary of the principles retained to prepare the lists, taking into account the various comments received from Member States after the meeting of the Expert Group on Reporting in November 2015, as well as a number of taxonomic choices that were made. The note also indicates the type of feedback needed from members of the Expert Group on Reporting. I. From 2007-2012 to 2013-2018 checklists The proposed draft checklists for 2013-2018 reporting were prepared as follows: - Compilation of the checklist from the 2007-2012 reporting; - Addition of Annex I habitats and Annex II species for Croatia, based on information reported in the Natura 2000 database; - Integration of information on habitats and species from the delayed Greek Art 17 delivery; - Dealing with taxonomic issues with the aim to propose a more updated list of species names under which Member States should report; - Pre-assignment of category of occurrence to each habitat/species, using the typology presented in III). Pre-assignment of marginal occurrence category was based on a review by ETC/BD of species reported with low populations in a given region/ country. II. Dealing with changes in species taxonomy A common understanding by Member States of species names is a crucial condition for merging the reports in order to compare information across countries and to produce an EU level assessment of the conservation status. The basic rule in aligning the species checklist with the current taxonomy is to report at the species level in line with current understanding of the taxonomy. Since there is no up-to-date taxonomical reference covering all species groups in Europe, any modification of the Art. 17 checklist should be based on available scientific literature. Following a review of the scientific literature and taking into account comments and recommendations made by Member States (see Annex 3), a preliminary update of the species names is proposed by the ETC/BD. It should be stressed however that this update is not exhaustive and unsolved taxonomic problems remain for a few species. In order to ensure a proper cross-link with the 2007-2013 reporting, each species is listed with 1) the species name used in the previous reporting round and 2) a recommended name for the 2013-2018 reporting. The following steps were undertaken: - Cross-linking between the ‘recommended names’ and the reference code list of species used for Natura 2000 to identify mismatches in species names; - Looking at comments and proposals by Member States for use of scientific names for selected species. When possible proposals were integrated to further development of checklist; 2 Expert group on Reporting 15 March 2016 Introduction to the updated Article 17 checklists for species and habitats - Checking the available information from global taxonomical references (e.g. Catalogue of Life, Fauna Europea, Eur+Med PlantBase), regional or national databases (e.g. DynTaxa in Sweden, TaxRef in France) and regional or national checklists; - In case of conflicting taxonomical opinions or in a situation where authors acknowledge that further studies are needed to clarify the taxonomy of a species, the species name recommended is the one used for the last reporting (very often the name in the Habitats Directive). The modification of a name is related to three types of issues: change in nomenclature, taxonomic split and change of concept. 1. Nomenclature change (without change of concept) (one-to-one) In this case, the concept of the species (the populations it covers) is clearly outlined, but there are several names in use. A taxon name can be outdated or invalid, or the genus was modified and thus the species name will change. When there is no change of concept from the species listed in the annexes of the Directive, the change of name does not modify the understanding of the species by the Member States. 2. Taxonomical split (one-to-many) In this case, the species has been revised and now represents more than one species. Table 2 in Annex 1 provides an overview of species for which taxonomical splits have been reported by Member States as well as ETC/BD recommendations to submit either separate Art 17 reports for the reporting period 2013-2018 or a joint report covering several newly recognised species. The ETC/BD proposal follows the principles outlined above and discussed at the Expert group meeting in November 2015. In some exceptional situations, if the newly described species cannot be distinguished and they have a sympatric occurrence (they occur in the same geographical area), the recommended name for reporting will be the name listed in the Habitats Directive which can cover several newly recognised species. 3. Merging of the taxon into a larger taxonomical concept (many-to-one) When a species is now included in a larger species concept, it often loses its specific or even subspecific status. When the valid name relates to a species which is not targeted by annexes of the Directive, the Member States will consider the interpretation of the species at the time when the annexes of the Directive were drafted or amended. For example Anacamptis urvilleana is now considered a synonym for Anacamptis pyramidalis which is a relatively common and widespread species not included in the Directive. However, for the purpose of reporting the name Anacamptis pyramidalis should refer exclusively to the Maltese population(s) previously known as Anacamptis urvilleana (Anacamptis pyramidalis). Annex 2 presents a list of plant species for which discrepancies between taxonomical sources remain or for which the proposed name affects the understanding of the species. Members of the Expert Group on Reporting are invited to comment on this list. 3 Expert group on Reporting 15 March 2016 Introduction to the updated Article 17 checklists for species and habitats III. Review of categories of occurrence The Article 17 Checklists indicate the presence of habitats/species in Member States biogeographical or marine regions. In the previous document entitled ‘Principles for updating the Article 17 checklist for species’, tabled by ETC/BD at the EGR meeting in November 2015, a first proposal for revised categories of occurrence was presented. In the present note a simplified and revised version of the list, also including relevant categories for habitats, is presented in Table 1. More details and examples on these categories will be provided in the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for reporting. Table 1: Summary of categories of occurrence applying to habitats/species and need for reporting Code Description Reporting HABITATS SPECIES PRE The habitat type is present in the region or the species Mandatory report X X occurs regularly in the region1. ARR Newly arriving species that do not represent a Mandatory at NA X permanent component of the fauna or flora of a least partial report biogeographical/marine region, but which have started to be recorded recently within the region since 2000 and are still expanding their natural range EXa Species which became extinct (in a biogeographical or Mandatory report NA X marine region) after the Habitats Directive came into force in the Member State. This category includes species for which the last record (even if it was a single individual) was noted after the date when the Directive came into force in the Member State; these species previously had a permanent/regular occurrence in the region. This category also applies for species for which (the last/the only) reproducing population within the region became extinct after the Directive came into force but which still occur as vagrant or occasional (vagrant individuals from populations in neighbouring countries/regions are present). EXp Species which became extinct (in a biogeographical or Recommended NA X marine region) prior to the Habitats Directive coming into report force in the Member State but after the nineteen-forties. but This category includes species which had previously stable Mandatory in case occurrence in the region and for which the last record (even of a restoration/ if it was a single individual) was before the date when the reintroduction plan Directive came into force. MAR Species/ habitat of marginal occurrence, i.e. principally in one Species/habitat to No report No report region (or Member State) with population/area extending to be included in a neighbouring region (or Member State), where the checklist but no abundance of a species/ area of habitat is insignificant. report Marginal populations are closely connected to the main population occurring in the neighbouring region or Member State (for example immigration of individuals) so their favourable status can be achieved only in relation with the main population. 1 The species or habitat types which do not occur in the area of Cyprus where the Community acquis applies at present are noted N/R. 4 Expert group on Reporting 15 March 2016 Introduction to the updated Article 17 checklists for species and habitats OCC Occasionally occurring species (also called ‘vagrant’). Recommended at NA X Occasional species are species which do not have stable least partial report and regular occurrence in the biogeographical/marine region and which number of specimens is insignificant. Reproduction within a biogeographical/marine region is not recorded or is very sporadic.