ENDEMIC AND RARE COLLEMBOLA DISTRIBUTION IN HIGH ENDEMISM AREAS OF SOUTH PORTUGAL - A CASE-STUDY

We studied the Collembola Populations from High Endemism Areas (HEA) i n the Algarve (Portugal) in order to look for endemic or rare species and obtain information on the origin and maintenance of endemism in th is region. Here, five well defined ecological areas have revealed good examples of endemicity mainly concerning Phanerogames but also severa l Arthropod groups. The overall analysis revealed three groups of site s among the studied areas: (a) Serra de Monchique, (b) coastal 'wet' b iotopes (salt marshes and dunes) and (c) other 'dry' coastal and inlan d sites (Sagres, Pinewood and Barrocal sites). In these areas we have found 15 endemic Collembolan species (8 species to Portugal and I to I berian Peninsula) and 23 species not yet referred to Portugal (20 spec ies) or to the Iberian Peninsula (3 species), which contribute to enha nce the real biological value of these sites in terms of biodiversity conservation. (C) Elsevier, Paris.