A species inventory on the island of Koltur: Setting the baseline for long-term monitoring Eitt yvirlit yvir sløg av plantum og dýrum í Koltri: grundarlagið undir framtíðar yvirvøku
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Published
Aug 12, 2025
Agnes-Katharina Kreiling
Jón Aldará
Kolbrún í Haraldsstovu
Hans Jørgen Andersen
Oliver Bechberger Moritz Fahldieck Vladimir I. Gusarov
Michael Haas
Jógvan Fróði Hansen
Jostein Kjærandsen Thomas Kompa Karl A. Thomsen Birna V. Trygvadóttir Fjallstein
Mark Welch Bjørn Patursson Leivur Janus Hansen
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5378-2331
Jón Aldará
Kolbrún í Haraldsstovu
Hans Jørgen Andersen
Oliver Bechberger Moritz Fahldieck Vladimir I. Gusarov
Michael Haas
Jógvan Fróði Hansen
Jostein Kjærandsen Thomas Kompa Karl A. Thomsen Birna V. Trygvadóttir Fjallstein
Mark Welch Bjørn Patursson Leivur Janus Hansen
Abstract
A species inventory was conducted on the island of Koltur (Faroe Islands) between 2019 and 2024, serving as a baseline for future monitoring of the terrestrial ecosystem of the island. The resulting species checklist is presented here. The inventory focussed on terrestrial species of birds, plants and invertebrates and resulted in a total of 519 species recorded from the island since 2019. Among those, 56 were birds, 146 plants, and 316 invertebrates, mainly insects. A high number of invertebrates were new records for Koltur (242) as well as for the Faroe Islands in general (49).
Úrtak
Margfeldið í Koltri var kannað árini 2019 til 2024. Kanningin er grundarlagið fyri framtíðar kanningum, sum fara at vísa, hvussu vistskipanin á oynni fer at broytast. Høvuðsdentur var lagdur á fugl, plantur og ryggleys dýr á landi. Tilsamans vóru 520 sløg skrásett í oynni hesi árini; 56 fuglasløg , 146 plantusløg og 318 sløg av ryggleysum dýrum. 242 av hesum ryggleysu dýrunum eru ongantíð fyrr skrásett í Koltri, og 49 eru nýggj fyri Føroyar.
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Keywords
Terrestrial ecology, species diversity, birds, plants, invertebrates, Faroe Islands, Vistfrøði, Lívfrøðiligt margfeldi, Ryggleys dýr, Føroyar, Fuglar, Plantur
References
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Bengtson, S.-A. (1988). Färöarnas och islands häckande fåglar—En översikt. Gardar, XIX, 5–31.
Bengtson, S.-A., & Bloch, D. (1983). Island land bird population densities in relation to island size and habitat quality on the Faroe Islands. Oikos, 41(3), 507–522.
Bengtson, S.-A., Enckell, P. H., Bloch, D., & Erling, H. (2004). Spiders (Araneae) in the Faroe Islands: An annotated checklist and an update on inter-island distributions. Fróðskaparrit, 52, 54–72.
Bengtson, S.-A., & Hauge, E. (1979). Terrestrial Invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: I. Spiders (Araneae): Check-list, distribution, and habitats. Fauna Norvegica, Series B, 26, 59–83.
Boertmann, D., Sørensen, S., & Pihl, S. (1986). Sjældne Fugle på Færøerne i årene 1982-1985. Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift, 80, 121–130.
Bruun, B. (1969). Nordamerikanske Fugle i Skandinavien. Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift, 63, 185197.
Christiansen, H. G., & Hansen, E. (1998). An Island Biogeographical Analysis of the Flora in the Faroe Islands. Fróðskaparrit, 46, 17–32.
eBird. (2021). eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application] [Dataset].
Einarsson, Á., Stefánsdóttir, G., Jóhannesson, H., Ólafsson, J. S., Már Gíslason, G., Wakana, I., Gudbergsson, G., & Gardarsson, A. (2004). The ecology of Lake Myvatn and the River Laxá: Variation in space and time. Aquatic Ecology, 38(2), 317–348. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AECO.0000032090.72702.a9
Enckell, P. H., & Rundgren, S. (1983). Terrestrial invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: V. Earthworms (Lumbricidae): Distribution and habitats. Fauna Norvegica, Series A, 4, 11–20.
Fernández-Palacios, J. M., Kreft, H., Irl, S. D. H., Norder, S., Ah-Peng, C., Borges, P. A. V., Burns, K. C., De Nascimento, L., Meyer, J.-Y., Montes, E., & Drake, D. R. (2021). Scientists’ warning – The outstanding biodiversity of islands is in peril. Global Ecology and Conservation, 31, e01847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01847
Fosaa, A. M. (2004). Altitudinal distribution of plant communities in the Faroe Islands. Fróðskaparrit, 51, 217–236.
Frahm, C., Ivan, O., Jensen, S., & Sørensen, S. (1986). Færøerne [Trip report].
Gilg, O., Sittler, B., Sabard, B., Hurstel, A., Sané, R., Delattre, P., & Hanski, I. (2006). Functional and numerical responses of four lemming predators in high arctic Greenland. Oikos, 113(2), 193–216. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2006.0030-1299.14125.x
Gillespie, M. A. K., Alfredsson, M., Barrio, I. C., Bowden, J. J., Convey, P., Culler, L. E., Coulson, S. J., Krogh, P. H., Koltz, A. M., Koponen, S., Loboda, S., Marusik, Y., Sandström, J. P., Sikes, D. S., & Høye, T. T. (2020). Status and trends of terrestrial arthropod abundance and diversity in the North Atlantic region of the Arctic. Ambio, 49(3), 718–731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01162-5
Gíslason, G. M. (2021). The Aquatic Fauna of the North Atlantic Islands with Emphasis on Iceland. In E. Panagiotakopulu & J. P. Sadler (Eds.), Biogeography in the Sub‐Arctic (pp. 103–112). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118561461.ch5
Hannon, G. E., Arge, S. V., Fosaa, A. M., Mahler, D. L., Olsen, B., & Richard H. (2009). Faroe Islands. In R. G. Gillespie & D. A. Clague (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Islands (pp. 291–297). University of California Press.
Hansen, K. (1964). Vascular plants in the Faeroes. Dansk Botanisk Arkiv, 24(3).
Jóhansen, J. (1982). Vegetational development in the Faroes from 10.000 BP to the present. Danmarks Geologiske Undersøgelser. Årbog 1981, 111–136.
Kauri, H. (1980). Terrestrial invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: II. Harvest-spiders (Opiliones). Fauna Norvegica, Series B, 27, 72–75.
Magnússon, B., Magnússon, S. H., Ólafsson, E., & Sigurdsson, B. D. (2014). Plant colonization, succession and ecosystem development on Surtsey with reference to neighbouring islands. Biogeosciences, 11(19), 5521–5537. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-5521-2014
Marteinsson, V., Klonowski, A., Reynisson, E., Vannier, P., Sigurdsson, B. D., & Ólafsson, M. (2015). Microbial colonization in diverse surface soil types in Surtsey and diversity analysis of its subsurface microbiota. Biogeosciences, 12(4), 1191–1203. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-1191-2015
Meidell, B. A., & Solhøy, T. (1990). Terrestrial Invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: VI Myriapods: Check-list, distribution, and habitats. In A. Minelli (Ed.), Proceedings of the 7th International Congress of Myriapodology (pp. 413–427). Brill.
Ólafsson, E., & Ingimarsdóttir, M. (2009). The land-invertebrate fauna on Surtsey during 2002–2006. Surtsey Research, 12, 113–128.
Salomonsen, F. (1935). Aves. In S. Jensen, W. Lundbeck, & T. Mortensen (Eds.), The Zoology of the Faroes, Volume III, Part II (pp. 1–269). Andr. Fred. Høst & Søn.
Solhøy, T. (1981). Terrestrial invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: IV. Slugs and snails (Gastropoda): Checklist, distribution, and habitats. Fauna Norvegica, Series A, 2, 14–27.
Spärck, R., Tuxen, S. L., Jensen, A. S., Lundbeck, W., & Mortensen, T. (Eds.). (1928). The Zoology of the Faroes. Andr. Fred. Høst & Søn.
Williamson, K. (1944). Regional survey of Koltur, Faeroe Islands.
Bengtson, S.-A. (1988). Färöarnas och islands häckande fåglar—En översikt. Gardar, XIX, 5–31.
Bengtson, S.-A., & Bloch, D. (1983). Island land bird population densities in relation to island size and habitat quality on the Faroe Islands. Oikos, 41(3), 507–522.
Bengtson, S.-A., Enckell, P. H., Bloch, D., & Erling, H. (2004). Spiders (Araneae) in the Faroe Islands: An annotated checklist and an update on inter-island distributions. Fróðskaparrit, 52, 54–72.
Bengtson, S.-A., & Hauge, E. (1979). Terrestrial Invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: I. Spiders (Araneae): Check-list, distribution, and habitats. Fauna Norvegica, Series B, 26, 59–83.
Boertmann, D., Sørensen, S., & Pihl, S. (1986). Sjældne Fugle på Færøerne i årene 1982-1985. Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift, 80, 121–130.
Bruun, B. (1969). Nordamerikanske Fugle i Skandinavien. Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift, 63, 185197.
Christiansen, H. G., & Hansen, E. (1998). An Island Biogeographical Analysis of the Flora in the Faroe Islands. Fróðskaparrit, 46, 17–32.
eBird. (2021). eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application] [Dataset].
Einarsson, Á., Stefánsdóttir, G., Jóhannesson, H., Ólafsson, J. S., Már Gíslason, G., Wakana, I., Gudbergsson, G., & Gardarsson, A. (2004). The ecology of Lake Myvatn and the River Laxá: Variation in space and time. Aquatic Ecology, 38(2), 317–348. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AECO.0000032090.72702.a9
Enckell, P. H., & Rundgren, S. (1983). Terrestrial invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: V. Earthworms (Lumbricidae): Distribution and habitats. Fauna Norvegica, Series A, 4, 11–20.
Fernández-Palacios, J. M., Kreft, H., Irl, S. D. H., Norder, S., Ah-Peng, C., Borges, P. A. V., Burns, K. C., De Nascimento, L., Meyer, J.-Y., Montes, E., & Drake, D. R. (2021). Scientists’ warning – The outstanding biodiversity of islands is in peril. Global Ecology and Conservation, 31, e01847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01847
Fosaa, A. M. (2004). Altitudinal distribution of plant communities in the Faroe Islands. Fróðskaparrit, 51, 217–236.
Frahm, C., Ivan, O., Jensen, S., & Sørensen, S. (1986). Færøerne [Trip report].
Gilg, O., Sittler, B., Sabard, B., Hurstel, A., Sané, R., Delattre, P., & Hanski, I. (2006). Functional and numerical responses of four lemming predators in high arctic Greenland. Oikos, 113(2), 193–216. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2006.0030-1299.14125.x
Gillespie, M. A. K., Alfredsson, M., Barrio, I. C., Bowden, J. J., Convey, P., Culler, L. E., Coulson, S. J., Krogh, P. H., Koltz, A. M., Koponen, S., Loboda, S., Marusik, Y., Sandström, J. P., Sikes, D. S., & Høye, T. T. (2020). Status and trends of terrestrial arthropod abundance and diversity in the North Atlantic region of the Arctic. Ambio, 49(3), 718–731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01162-5
Gíslason, G. M. (2021). The Aquatic Fauna of the North Atlantic Islands with Emphasis on Iceland. In E. Panagiotakopulu & J. P. Sadler (Eds.), Biogeography in the Sub‐Arctic (pp. 103–112). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118561461.ch5
Hannon, G. E., Arge, S. V., Fosaa, A. M., Mahler, D. L., Olsen, B., & Richard H. (2009). Faroe Islands. In R. G. Gillespie & D. A. Clague (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Islands (pp. 291–297). University of California Press.
Hansen, K. (1964). Vascular plants in the Faeroes. Dansk Botanisk Arkiv, 24(3).
Jóhansen, J. (1982). Vegetational development in the Faroes from 10.000 BP to the present. Danmarks Geologiske Undersøgelser. Årbog 1981, 111–136.
Kauri, H. (1980). Terrestrial invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: II. Harvest-spiders (Opiliones). Fauna Norvegica, Series B, 27, 72–75.
Magnússon, B., Magnússon, S. H., Ólafsson, E., & Sigurdsson, B. D. (2014). Plant colonization, succession and ecosystem development on Surtsey with reference to neighbouring islands. Biogeosciences, 11(19), 5521–5537. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-5521-2014
Marteinsson, V., Klonowski, A., Reynisson, E., Vannier, P., Sigurdsson, B. D., & Ólafsson, M. (2015). Microbial colonization in diverse surface soil types in Surtsey and diversity analysis of its subsurface microbiota. Biogeosciences, 12(4), 1191–1203. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-1191-2015
Meidell, B. A., & Solhøy, T. (1990). Terrestrial Invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: VI Myriapods: Check-list, distribution, and habitats. In A. Minelli (Ed.), Proceedings of the 7th International Congress of Myriapodology (pp. 413–427). Brill.
Ólafsson, E., & Ingimarsdóttir, M. (2009). The land-invertebrate fauna on Surtsey during 2002–2006. Surtsey Research, 12, 113–128.
Salomonsen, F. (1935). Aves. In S. Jensen, W. Lundbeck, & T. Mortensen (Eds.), The Zoology of the Faroes, Volume III, Part II (pp. 1–269). Andr. Fred. Høst & Søn.
Solhøy, T. (1981). Terrestrial invertebrates of the Faroe Islands: IV. Slugs and snails (Gastropoda): Checklist, distribution, and habitats. Fauna Norvegica, Series A, 2, 14–27.
Spärck, R., Tuxen, S. L., Jensen, A. S., Lundbeck, W., & Mortensen, T. (Eds.). (1928). The Zoology of the Faroes. Andr. Fred. Høst & Søn.
Williamson, K. (1944). Regional survey of Koltur, Faeroe Islands.
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