Nature exploration trail

NATURE EXPLORATION TRAIL

Surrounded by mosaics of cultivated land, the natural biodiversity of the Quinta Ciência Viva das Cerejas e das Ideias includes species of fauna and flora representative of the biological richness of the Serra da Gardunha, classified as a Regional Protected Landscape and part of the Natura 2000 protected areas network.

Although it has a strong component of human intervention, with a special emphasis on cherry orchards and softwood forests, this mountain system preserves areas with natural and semi-natural formations boasting valuable biological diversity, characterized by chestnut groves ( Castanea sativa ), oak ( Quercus robur ), and black oak ( Quercus pyrenaica ). It is in this context that the fork-oak ( Asphodelus bento-rainhae ), a portuguese endemic exclusive to the Serra da Gardunha, emerges. This area is also characterized by heathland and cistus heathland and by the occurrence of the iberian spiny broom ( Echinospartum ibericum ), a plant endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.

The fauna is quite diverse and includes several species adapted to the agricultural environment and proximity to natural areas, such as the red-toothed shrew ( Sorex granarius ), the white-toothed shrew ( Crocidura russula ) and the european hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus ).

Between mammals, it is not uncommon to find the beech marten ( Martes foina ), the european badger ( Meles meles ), the genet ( Genetta genetta ), the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) and, occasionally, the wild boar ( Sus scrofa ).

In waterways and wetlands, the otter ( Lutra lutra ), the viperine water snake ( Natrix maura ), and the water lizard ( Lacerta schreiberi ) are prominent.

Amid the amphibians, the lusitanian salamander ( Chioglossa lusitanica ) and the marbled newt ( Triturus marmoratus ) are worth mentioning.

Included in the passerines are the common starling ( Sturnus vulgaris ), the blackbird ( Turdus merula ), the great tit ( Parus major), the goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis ), the grey-throated bunting ( Emberiza cia ), and the common blackbird ( Curruca communis ).

In addition to these, other species are present such as the white wagtail ( Motacilla alba ), the common warbler ( Luscinia megarhynchos ), the european robin ( Erithacus rubecula ), the golden starling ( Regulus ignicapilla ), the sooty barnacle ( Emberiza hortulana ), and the european bee-eater ( Merops apiaster ).

As for birds of prey, we can observe the booted eagle ( Hieraaetus pennatus ), the red kite ( Milvus milvus ), and the montagu's harrier ( Circus pygargus ). Among the birds of prey with crepuscular or nocturnal habits, we find the tawny owl ( Strix aluco ).

In the insect kingdom, it is worth highlighting the existence of the marsh fritillary ( Euphydryas aurinia ), which, given its importance and fragility, is the only butterfly species in Portugal that is protected by the Habitats Directive and is also listed in Annex II of the Bern Convention(Convention on Wildlife and Natural Habitats in Europe).

However, bees are some of the main pollinators of cherry orchards, with special scientific attention being given to  Andrena lusitania , a species discovered in 2021 in this region as part of a research project on pollinating insects linked to the University of Coimbra.