The phylogeny and limits of Elateridae (Insecta,Coleoptera): is there a common tendency of click beetles to soft‐bodiedness and neoteny?

Kundrata, R. & Bocak, L. (2011). The phylogeny and limits of Elateridae (Insecta, Coleoptera): is there a common tendency of click beetles to soft‐bodiedness and neoteny? —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 364–378. Phylogenetic relationships in Elateroidea were investigated using partial 18S and 28S rDNA and rrnl and cox1 mtDNA sequences with special interest in the phylogeny of Elateridae and the position of soft‐bodied lineages Drilidae and Omalisidae that had been classified as families in the cantharoid lineage of Elateroidea until recently. Females in these groups are neotenic and almost completely larviform (Drilidae) or brachypterous (Omalisidae). The newly sequenced individuals of Elateridae, Drilidae, Omalisidae and Eucnemidae were merged with previously published datasets and analysed matrices include either 155 taxa with the complete representation of fragments or 210 taxa when some fragments were missing. The main feature of inferred phylogenetic trees was the monophyly of Phengodidae + Rhagophthalmidae + Omalisidae + Elateridae + Drilidae with Omalisidae regularly occupying a basal node in the group; Drilidae were embedded as a terminal lineage in the elaterid subfamily Agrypninae and soft‐bodied Cebrioninae were a part of Elaterinae. The soft‐bodied males and incompletely metamorphosed females originated at least three times within the wider Elateridae clade. Their atypical morphology has been considered as a result of long evolutionary history and they were given an inappropriately high rank in the previous classifications. The frequent origins of these modifications seem to be connected with modifications of the hormonal regulation of the metamorphosis. The superficial similarity with other soft‐bodied lineages, such as Cantharidae, Lycidae, Lampyridae, Phengodidae and Rhagophthalmidae is supposed to be a result of homoplasious modifications of the ancestral elateroid morphology due to the incomplete metamorphosis. The results of phylogenetic analyses are translated in the formal taxonomic classification. Most Drilidae are placed in Elateridae as a tribe Drilini in Agrypninae, whilst Pseudeuanoma and Euanoma are transferred from Drilidae to Omalisidae. The subfamily Cebrioninae is placed in Elaterinae as tribes Cebrionini and Aplastini. Oxynopterini, Pityobiini and Semiotini are lowered from the subfamily rank to tribes and classified in Denticollinae.     

Are habitat islands islands? Woodliving beetles (Coleoptera) in deciduous forest fragments in boreal forest

Modern forestry has changed the fire dynamics in the boreal forest and as a result the size and number of deciduous forest patches have been reduced as well as the number of deciduous trees within the coniferous forest This has exaggerated the insularity of deciduous forest patches within the boreal coniferous forest zone In this paper I examine whether the diversity of beetles living in dead stems of deciduous trees follows the relationship with patch area to be predicted from island biogeographic theory, and to what extent the species assemblages differ between large and small patches and single deciduous trees within managed coniferous forests Three larger patches of deciduous forest (>120 ha) arisen as successions after forest fires in the late 1880's are compared with 6 small (<20 ha) patches of similar origin No difference in diversity could be detected between large and small patches A statistically significant difference between assembly composition was detected using matrix regression between a matrix of observed assembly similarities and a hypothetical similarity matrix based on the type of area in which the plot was situated (large- small or matrix) Finally I examined the distribution of the 56 most common beetle species over the habitat types investigated Thirty four species did not show any Significant habitat preference, 12 were found more often in clear-cut areas than expected 5 were over-represented in small patches, and 4 in large areas My explanation to this apparent lack of insularity effects is the relative recent commencement of intensive forestry in these areas and the fact that the matrix is of rather high quality that is inhabitable for numerous beetle species Thus the patches may be viewed as incipient islands still exchanging biota with their surroundings     

Relationship between land uses and diversity of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in the southern Atlantic forest of Argentina: which are the key factors?

The loss of natural habitats is one of the main drivers of biodiversity decline. Anthropogenic land uses preserving biotic and abiotic conditions of the native ecosystem are more suitable to preserve the native biodiversity. In this study, we explored changes in species richness and composition in different land uses of the southern Atlantic forest, considering three independent factors: (1) canopy (presence–absence), (2) type of vegetation (native–exotic) and (3) livestock (presence–absence). We expected a gradient of response in the richness and composition of the native forest dung beetle community, from land uses preserving canopy and native vegetation to open land uses with exotic vegetation. Dung beetles were sampled in protected native forests and four land uses, using two potential food resources: human dung and carrion. The species richness and composition of each habitat, as well as differences in composition and the influence of factors over diversity, were then analyzed. As expected, our results showed that land uses preserving canopy and native vegetation maintain the dung beetle diversity of the native forest. Moreover, while the three factors analyzed influenced dung beetle diversity, canopy cover was the main driver of dung beetle diversity loss. The main conclusion of this study is that the conservation of canopy (either native or exotic) is determinant to preserve highly diverse dung beetle communities and subsequently, the ecological functions performed by this taxon. However, the ecophysiological mechanism behind the response of dung beetles to habitat disturbance is poorly understood.     

Early effects of forest regeneration with selective and small scale clear-cutting on ground beetles (Coleoptera,Carabidae) in a Norway spruce stand in Southern Bavaria (Höglwald)

This study investigates the early effects of forest regeneration with selective, and small scale clear-cutting, on ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) community composition in a homogenous, mature spruce forest in Southern Bavaria (Höglwald), Germany. Carabid beetles were sampled with pitfall-, emergence-, and window-traps, from 1999 to 2001 during a pre-treatment year, the year of cutting, and the year after cutting. In the spruce stand we found a relatively low species richness with few dominating species. Selective cutting preserved this carabid assemblage. At the clear-cuts carabid species richness increased in the year of cutting, because of the invasion of small open field species, and the persistence of most forest species. Also, number of individuals increased due to higher numbers caught in the window-traps. The first open habitat species appeared just a few months after felling. However, in the next year the numbers of individuals, especially of forest species,were drastically reduced. Also, the number of species decreased, and was just slightly higher than on the control plot (mature stand). According to the DCA (detrended correspondence analysis) forest interior species had the same habitat preferences as net building spiders (Amaurobiidae, Linyphiidae) and other families of beetles (Staphylinidae, Curculionidae). Several groups of open habitat species responded positively on different patches found in the clear-cut: (1) diversity ofground vegetation, respectively coverage of shrubs, (2) favour for moist patterns, and water filled ruts (together with Gastropoda), or (3) low coverage of ground vegetation (together with free hunting spiders, Lycosidae). Different structures side by side (mature forest, selective cutting, open areas) may improve diversity on a forest scale. Small openings can serve as an important retreat for open habitat species. However, if clear-cuts become the dominant element, forest species maybe threatened. With selective cutting species richness of carabids is not improved; however, the remaining forest carabid species may be preserved during the early phase of the regeneration process.     

Darwin’s legacy to rove beetles (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae): A new genus and a new species,including materials collected on the Beagle’s voyage

A species of xanthopygine rove beetles is described and figured here as Darwinilus sedarisigen. n. and sp. n. The holotype was collected by Charles Darwin in Bahía Blanca, Argentina on the Beagle’s voyage. The contributions of Charles Darwin to rove beetle systematics are summarized briefly.     

Assemblages of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in humid forest habitats of different stages of succession in the Puszcza Knyszyńska Forest (northeastern Poland)

During a period of three years (2006-2008) the carabid fauna in wet and humid forest habitats of different stages of succession was studied at the Puszcza Knyszynska (north-east part of Poland). The aim of this study was to determine how the assemblages of the carabid fauna change in relation to the ongoing process of succession. Using pitfall traps, 24 plots were sampled. The plots were located in stands of different age, from two year old plantations to more than 100 year old forests. Additionally, the stands were ordered in three moisture classes (wet, humid and very humid) and two classes of soil richness. As indicators for change in the carabid fauna in relation to age of the stands Mean Individual Biomass (MIB), species diversity and share of forest species were used. By applying multivariate statistics the relation of the different habitat characteristics to changes in the carabid fauna was examined. During the study 8903 individuals belonging to 57 species were collected. Pterostichus niger represented 28% of the total catches and therefore the most common species. Another common species, Pterostichus melanarius, contributed to 13% of the total catch. This species was caught at every plot, even in the old forests. In contrast to the results obtained by Szyszko (1990) for fresh and dry pine stands, in this study the relation of MIB with the age of forest was not significant. Although the number of species was rather constant, the number of individuals belonging to the group of forest species significantly increased with the ageing of the forest. The multivariate analysis showed a relationship with ageing of the stands and soil richness rather than with moisture and size of the forest. According to the present paper, clear cuttings in wet and humid habitats do not cause a strong degradation of the carabid fauna.     

Eretes diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Central Europe – witnesses of climate change?

Records of the predaceous diving beetles of the genus Eretes Laporte, 1833 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Central Europe are summarised. While old records from the beginning of the twentieth century from the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania belong to Eretes griseus (Fabricius, 1781), a species which has not been recaptured in Central Europe for nearly the last hundred years, recently collected specimens from Hungary and Slovakia belong to E. sticticus (Linnaeus, 1767) and represent its first records in these countries as well as in Central Europe. The first specimens were collected at light during hot summer nights and may document a recent spreading of the species from the Mediterranean. In addition, the occurrence of E. sticticus is formally confirmed in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Israel, Libya, South European Territory of Russia, and Tunisia.     

Influence of Incubation Conditions on Hydrolysis Efficiency and Iodine Enrichment in Baker’s Yeast

The influence of incubation conditions, enzyme type, hydrolysis time, and potassium iodide concentration on hydrolysis and iodine enrichment were studied in supernatant and pellets of Saccharomyces cervisiae hydrolysates. The type of enzyme used and incubation time significantly influence hydrolysis efficiency and protein concentration in supernatant and pellet. The highest protein hydrolysis efficiency was obtained by 24-h incubation with papain. Significantly lower values were observed for pepsin and autolysis. The potassium iodide concentration influences the iodine content of supernatant and pellet, but not hydrolysis. Iodide enrichment of supernatant and pellet depends on the concentration of iodide using during incubation. High concentration of iodide and long incubation times were the conditions for optimal iodide enrichment and high-protein hydrolysates. The optimal hydrolysis efficiency and iodine enrichment were obtained during 24-h incubation with papain in a 4.5-mM potassium iodide medium. The efficiency reached 98.22% with iodine concentrations of 2,664.91 and 9,200.67 μg/g iodine in pellet and supernatant, respectively.     

Forest–farm edge effects on communities of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) under different landscape structures

In fragmented landscapes, ecological processes may be significantly influenced by edge effects, but few data are available for edge effects across forest–farmland edges. We investigated patterns of species richness, abundance, and species composition in ground beetles across forest–farm edges in two different agro-forest landscapes in Korea. Nine and five sites were selected from Hwaseong, a fragmented landscape, in 2011 and 2012, respectively, while eight sites were selected from Hoengseong, a relatively well-protected landscape, in 2012. Ground beetles were collected by pitfall trapping. Species richness was higher in the surrounding habitat than in the forest interior or edge in both Hwaseong and Hoengseong. However, in Hwaseong, species richness of the forest edge was similar to that of the forest interior, while in Hoengseong forest edge species richness was intermediate between that of the forest interior and surrounding areas. In addition, non-metric multidimensional scaling based on the combined data of both locations showed that the species composition of ground beetles in the forest edge was more similar to that of the forest interior than the surrounding areas, although some open-habitat species occurred at the forest edges. Three characteristic groups (forest specialists, edge-associated species, and open-habitat species) of ground beetle species were detected by indicator value analysis. In our study, ground beetle assemblages differed in the forest edges of two agro-forest landscapes, suggesting that the edge effect on biota can be influenced by landscape structure.     

Reinforcing the foundations of ornithological nomenclature: Filling the gaps in Sherborn’s and Richmond’s historical legacy of bibliographic exploration

Due to its public popularity, ornithology has a huge corpus of scientific publication for a relatively small number of species. Although there are global checklists of currently recognised taxa, there has been only limited, mainly individual, effort to build a nomenclatural database that the science of ornithology deserves. This is especially true in relation to concise synonymies. With the arrival of ZooBank and the Biodiversity Heritage Library, the time has come to develop synonymies and to add fuller bibliographic detail to databases. The preparation for both began at the start of the 20^th century with extensive work by Sherborn and Richmond. I discuss their legacy, offer notes on significant work since then, and provide suggestions for what remains to be done. To make solid the foundations for ornithological nomenclature and taxonomy, especially for synonymies, ornithologists will need to collaborate much more and contribute to the digital infrastructure.     

Contributions to the knowledge of subterranean trechine beetles in southern China’s karsts: five new genera (Insecta,Coleoptera, Carabidae,Trechinae)

Recent discoveries reveal that southern China’s karsts hold the most diverse and morphologically modified subterranean trechine beetles in the world, albeit the first troglobitic blind beetle was only reported in the early 1990’s. In total, 110 species belonging to 43 genera of cavernicolous trechines have hitherto been recorded from the karsts of southern China, including the following five new genera proposed below: Shiqianaphaenops Tian, gen. n., to contain two species: Shiqianaphaenops majusculus (Uéno, 1999) (= Shenaphaenops majusculus Uéno, 1999, comb. n.), the type species from Cave Feng Dong, Shiqian, Guizhou, and Shiqianaphaenops cursor (Uéno, 1999) (= Shenaphaenops cursor Uéno, 1999, comb. n.), from Cave Shenxian Dong, Shiqian, Guizhou; and the monotypic Dianotrechus Tian, gen. n. (the type species: Dianotrechus gueorguievi Tian, sp. n., from Cave Dashi Dong, Kunming, Yunnan), Tianeotrechus Tian & Tang, gen. n. (the type species: Tianeotrechus trisetosus Tian & Tang, sp. n., from Cave Bahao Dong, Tian’e County, Guangxi), Huoyanodytes Tian & Huang, gen. n. (the type species: Huoyanodytes tujiaphilus Tian & Huang, sp. n., from Longshan, Hunan) and Wanhuaphaenops Tian & Wang, gen. n. (the type species: Wanhuaphaenops zhangi Tian & Wang, sp. n., from Cave Songjia Dong, Chenzhou, Hunan).     

The Influence of Photoperiod,Light Starting Time and Type of Food on Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)’s Fecundity and Longevity

Biology Bulletin - Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) dried fruit moth was used in this study. The influence of photoperiod, light starting time and type of food on P. interpunctella’s...     

Occurrence of pathogens in Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and in other spruce bark beetles from the wilderness reserve Dürrenstein (Lower Austria)

The study presents new data on spatial distribution of bark beetle pathogens, on changes in frequency over several years and on their prevalence during different time periods within a year from several locations within the wilderness reserve Dürrenstein (Lower Austria). The occurrence of pathogens was investigated in Ips typographus (during five years), in Pityogenes chalcographus (during two years) and in Ips amitinus (in one year). In total, seven pathogen species could be detected in I. typographus. The most dominant pathogen species were the Ips typographus-Entomopoxvirus (ItEPV), the sporozoan species Gregarina typographi and the microsporidium Chytridiopsis typographi; the latter two pathogen species were recorded every year and at about similar high (G. typographi) or low (C. typographi) rates, the ItEPV in strongly varying rates. The neogregarine Mattesia cf. schwenkei and the two microsporidia Nosema typographi and Unikaryon montanum were found in I. typographus only sporadically and the rhizopodan species Malamoeba scolyti was found once. The number of infected males and females was relatively similar with almost all pathogen species in most of the years except U. montanum, which occurred exclusively in females. Three pathogen species were recorded in P. chalcographus which were Gregarina typographi, Mattesia cf. schwenkei and Chytridiopsis typographi. Two pathogen species were observed in I. amitinus, Gregarina typographi and Chytridiopsis typographi.     

Latitudinal and elevational patterns of phylogenetic structure in forest communities in China’s mountains

Science China Life Sciences - The phylogenetic structure incorporates both ecological and evolutionary processes to explain assembly of a local community. The “phylogenetic niche...     

Effect of climate and competition on radial growth of Pinus massoniana and Schima superba in China’s subtropical monsoon mixed forest

Tree growth is affected by many exogenous and endogenous factors, especially climate and competition. To address the issue of how these factors influence tree growth under global warming, dendroclimatology combined with competition analysis was used to examine the radial growth response of two major species – Pinus massoniana and Schima superba in subtropical monsoon mixed forests in southern China. For growth-climate relationship analysis, residual and ARSTAN chronologies of these two species were compared for the response function analysis over the past several decades. In terms of competition analysis, annual basal area increment (BAI) over several time intervals was calculated and linear mixed model techniques were employed. Several distance-independent competition indices were measured, including density (N), basal area (BA), and sum of diameter at breast height (SDBH). For competition trees with greater diameter (GR) than the subject tree, NGR, BAGR, SDBHGR were also calculated. Growth-climate relationship analysis suggested that tree growth varied in response to climate and was mostly correlated with minimum, mean and maximum air temperature as indicated by the adjusted R² value. Summer and winter temperatures had a negative effect on tree growth, while early spring temperature showed positive effects. Competition analysis suggested that subtropical trees had been affected by competition in varying degrees. Trees in the oldest forest had the most competition stress, while trees in younger forests were less affected by competition according to the adjusted R² value. Given that subtropical forests in China have been found to have more smaller trees with recent warming, it is expected that these forests will experience a decreasing effect of competition in near future. This can have profound effects on forest productivity and carbon sequestration potentials in Chinese subtropical forests.     

New data on the fauna and systematics of Palaearctic species of the click-beetle subfamily Agrypninae Candèze, 1857 (Coleoptera,Elateridae)

New data on the distribution and taxonomy of some Palaearctic species of click-beetles of the subfamily Agrypninae are given. The external morphology and genitalia of the previously unknown females of Compsolacon korotjaevi Gur. and C. agrestis (Vats et Kash.) comb. n. are described. Several taxa are recorded from the following territories for the first time: the genus Eumoeus Cand. from the Palaearctic Region, the species Compsolacon agrestis comb. n. and C. himalayanus Jag. from Afghanistan, Compsolacon turkestanicus (Schw.) from Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, Danosoma conspersum (Gyll.) from Kazakhstan, Lacon quadrinodatus Lew. from Russia, and L. unicolor (Cand.) from Iraq. Several Northern Indian species of Agrypnus Esch. are transferred to Compsolacon Rtt., and their systematic positions are briefly discussed: C. agrestis, C. inlustris (Vats et Kash.), C. jacksoni (Vats et Kash.), C. kuluensis (Vats et Kash.), C. maisus (Vats et Kash.), C. planocorpus (Vats et Kash.), C. rameshi (Vats et Kash.), C. repercussus (Vats et Kash.), C. solanensis (Vats et Kash.), C. souslapisus (Vats et Kash.), C. subargillus (Vats et Kash.), C. subfaenum (Vats et Kash.) and C. sublapideus (Vats et Kash.) (all comb. n.). The following new combinations are also established: Compsolacon aequalis (Cand.) comb. n. and Compsolacon brachychaetus (Kollar) comb. n. (both ex Lacon). The following new synonymies are established: Lacon funebris (Sols.) = Adelocera grisea Schw., syn. n.; = Adelocera incompta Kr., syn. n.; Eumoeus murrayi Cand. = Tetralobus quadrifoveatus Vats et Kash., syn. n.     

Assemblage structure and altitudinal distribution of lady beetles (Coleoptera,Coccinellidae) in the mountain spruce forests of Pol’ana Mountains,the West Carpathians

In two successive years we recorded a total of 3,636 individuals and 17 species of adult lady beetles (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in the spruce forests of Pol’ana Mts (the West Carpathians) at altitudes ranging from 600 m to 1,300 m a.s.l. Four lady beetle species were documented as predominating (dominance of abundance > 5%) over the study period. They were the following: Aphidecta obliterata (1,828 individuals and 50.3%), Coccinella septempunctata (634 individuals and 17.4%), Adalia conglomerata (594 individuals and 16.3%) and Anatis ocellata (279 individuals and 7.7%). The assemblages of lady beetles differed among the areas and also between the years. The season revealed neglegible effect on distribution of lady beetles, whereas the effect of altitude was more pronounced. A. conglomerata preferred the areas at lower altitude (600–725 m) to those at middle (900–925 m) and/or upper altitude (1,250–1,300 m). In contrast, A. obliterata and C. septempuctata were most abundant in the area at middle altitude. The altitudinal location of area partly explained the variability in abundance of lady beetles. The first ordination axis constructed by means of correspondence analysis (CA) represented an altitudinal gradient and accounted for 19.4% of the total variance of the species data. The great proportion of lady beetle species not typically associated with spruce and/or other coniferous trees than spruce (70.6%, n = 17) may be explained by an ecotonal effect.