In May, sampling of herbaceous and shrubby vegetation was carried out using the “point and line-intercept” method. This method consisted of collecting data in 3 transects of 20 meters per plot, at points 50 cm apart. All herbaceous species present at each point of the transect that touched a stick were recorded and those that we were unable to identify in the field were collected for identification in the laboratory.
In addition, pollinating insects were sampled across 100m long transects per plot. All pollinating insects found along the transect were recorded and those not identified in the field were collected for identification in the laboratory.
The identification of vegetation and insects is taking place in the laboratories of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon with the help of botanists and entomologists with extensive experience in identifying plants and insects of Portuguese fauna and flora. This will be a decisive step towards monitoring the ecosystem services of the montado ecossystem through grazing management.
Collection and identification of insects and plants in the laboratory and data entry.