Assessment Rationale:

Pseudoblothrus oromii is a cave-adapted species known from a single island, S. Jorge (Azores, Portugal). It has a very small Extent of Occurrence (EOO = 4 km²) and Area of Occupancy (AOO = 4 km²). The species is rare and only known from a single subpopulation in the lava tube of Gruta da Beira. The area surrounding the cave is heavily impacted by human activities. Further research is needed into its population, ecology and life history. A habitat management plan is needed and one is anticipated to be developed during the coming years. We also suggest as future measures of conservation the regular monitoring of the species (every ten years) and limiting access to the cave. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), mostly due to its small Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO) and the decline in habitat quality.

Geographic Range:

Pseudoblothrus oromii is an Azorean-endemic, cave-adapted pseudoscorpion species known from a single island, S. Jorge (Azores, Portugal) (Borges et al. 2010), and occurring in a single cave; the lava tube of Gruta da Beira. The Extent of Occurrence (EOO) is 4 km² and the maximum estimated Area of Occupancy (AOO) is 4 km². 

Population:

The species is rare and only known from a single subpopulation on S. Jorge island. The area surrounding the cave is heavily impacted by human disturbance.

Current Population Trend: Decreasing 

Habitat and Ecology

There is limited information regarding this species' ecology and life history. Gruta da Beira is a 200 m long lava tube opening on a slope near a urbanised area. The surrounding area is highly disturbed by agricultural fields, mostly intensive pasture. The genus Pseudoblothrus is exclusively cave-dwelling (Mahnert 1990). Specimens were found near the entrance of the cave, under rotting wood and other organic litter. It is a cavernicolous (i.e. a troglobitic species) predator and/or saprophagous species.

Systems: Terrestrial 

Major Threat(s):

The main current threats to this species are the degradation of habitat quality due to the impact of urbanisation, agriculture activities, agricultural and domestic pollution, and recreational cave visitation. However, there are several future potential threats: climatic changes (see Ferreira et al. 2016) that can change the conditions inside the cave; changes in the road infrastructure around the cave; potential human recreational activities with cave visitation and geological events (volcanic activity and earthquakes).

Conservation Actions

The species is protected by regional law (RAA 2012), however, the cave where it occurs is not protected. Land-use changes are one of the main current and future threats, and conservation measures should be extended beyond the cave. Further research is needed into its population, ecology and life history; and a monitoring plan for the invertebrate community is necessary in order to contribute to the conservation of this species. As a future conservation measure, the limiting of visits to the cave could be considered. A habitat management plan is needed and one is anticipated to be developed during the coming years.