It is known by everyone that there are greenspaces on Oporto. But did you know that these areas are crucial to the urban development?

Last weekend (3rd and the 4th of March), there has been a series of lectures about endangered species, their purpose still stands – mobilize the citizens to preserve the biodiversity of our planet, where the endangered species grow in each year. The last lecture “Large measures for small species - from urban green spaces for the protection of animals such as fireflies, badgers and toads-midwives, stimulates our interest for this animals story.

The fireflies are beetles that belong to the Lampyridae family. About 2 000 different species of fireflies have been discovered. This bug can be found on warm regions, as well as moist ecosystems (like lakes, swamps or forests) of every part of the world, they appear more frequently on the summer nights. An adult firefly lives for about two months and can grow up to two and a half centimeters. The familiar florescent light comes from its abdomen, where the luminescent organ is located.

Did you know that in Gaia, on the Biological Park, during the month of June, you can watch as they color your summer nights?

The badger is a midsize carnivorous, social and digs complex tunnels with the purpose of sheltering its group. It’s very common in Portugal, and although being easily spotted, we rarely see it due to his nighttime and discreet habits. It belongs to the Mustelidae family. They grow between sixty-seven and eighty centimeters in length and its tail goes up to nineteen centimeters. In Portugal a badger weight goes up to 10 kilograms.

It lives in the whole Eurasia with temperate climate, except the North of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Russia, being exclusively present in some islands from the Mediterranean. The badger can be found in abundance in the whole Continental Portugal. The main reasons for their endangerment are the deforestation, getting run over by cars and fragmentation of their habitat.

And don’t forget! The badgers are very opportunistic, be careful, they can steal and run with your belongings!

Restricted to the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula, the Iberian midwife toad has a peculiar feature: the males carry the eggs on their back and although it is a small sized specie, they ensure the survival of most of its offspring’s. This amphibian has usually less than four and a half centimeters, brown color with dark spots ( dark brown, grey or green) on its body, usually the female is larger than the male.

In Portugal it is mainly found south from the Tejo river and its presence on Porto is decreasing.

The main reasons for its endangerment are the destruction of moist ecosystems and the deforestation of the Mediterranean forest. Commonly found on low and average heights, mainly on sandy soils.

This cycle of lectures, organized within the Photo Ark exhibition, carried out by the American photographer Joel Sartore, by the Biodiversity Gallery - Centro Ciência Viva extends until April. The next sessions will take place on the 24th (Forest habitats and biodiversity in geosites: challenges of forest management in fire protection and protection of endangered species) and on the 25th of March (Conservation of the oceans and marine ecosystems)

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Author: Susana Martinho