From climate zone to microhabitat—environmental factors affecting the coastal distribution of tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in the south-eastern European biodiversity hotspot

PeerJ

article

Radomir Jaskuła¹  Mateusz Płóciennik¹  Axel Schwerk² 

[1] Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology/Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz;Laboratory of Evaluation and Assessment of Natural Resources, Faculty of Horticulture, Biotechnology and Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW

关键词: Coleoptera;    Cicindelidae;    Black Sea Coast;    Balkan Peninsula;    Habitat specialisation;    Bioindicators;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.6676

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background Tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) are predatory insects usually occurring in various sandy habitats. In south-eastern Europe, especially in lowland areas located close to the sea coast, the diversity of Cicindelidae is one of the highest in the Palaearctic realm. Although previous studies conducted in different areas of the world show that many species are habitat specialists, unfortunately little is known about environmental factors affecting the diversity and distribution of tiger beetles in this region. Material and Methods Habitat preferences for 12 tiger beetles taxa were analysed. Over 100 samples collected in eight countries located in coastal areas of the Black and Mediterranean Seas were studied, for which climate data, macrohabitat types, and soil parameters (soil humidity, salinity, pH, and structure) were investigated. Results Most studied Cicindelidae were characterised by narrow or very narrow habitat specialisation and did not co-occur with other ones, including 11 taxa found as habitat specialists occurring only in one or two types of macrohabitat. The most eurythopic species was Calomera littoralis nemoralis which occupied four macrohabitat types. The climatic zone, altitude, and humidity were found as the most important factors in the distribution of the studied tiger beetle species. Salt marshes and sandy sea beaches were noted as the most diverse macrohabitat types. Discussion Tiger beetle fauna of south-eastern Europe consists mainly of habitat specialists sensitive to environmental changes, which makes these beetles perfect bioindicators. Moreover, as a great number of studied Cicindelidae taxa occur in habitats which are under a significant human impact, we suggest that in the studied area the group can be successfully used as a flagship taxon for insect and nature conservation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY