Salt lakes of La Mancha (Central Spain): A hot spot for tiger beetle (Carabidae,Cicindelinae) species diversity |
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Authors: | Paula C Rodríguez-Flores Jorge Gutiérrez-Rodríguez Ernesto F Aguirre-Ruiz Mario García-París |
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Institution: | 1.Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, MNCN–CSIC. José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2. 28006 Madrid. España;2.Fundación Global Nature, Calle Real, 48, Local A. Las Rozas. Madrid. 28231 |
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Abstract: | The tiger beetle assemblage of the wetlands of La Mancha (central Spain) comprises nine species: Calomera
littoralis
littoralis, Cephalota
maura
maura, Cephalota
circumdata
imperialis, Cephalota
dulcinea, Cicindela
campestris
campestris, Cicindela
maroccana, Cylindera
paludosa, Lophyra
flexuosa
flexuosa, and Myriochila
melancholica
melancholica. This assemblage represents the largest concentration of tiger beetles in a single 1º latitude / longitude square in Europe. General patterns of spatial and temporal segregation among species are discussed based on observations of 1462 specimens registered during an observation period of one year, from April to August. The different species of Cicindelini appear to be distributed over space and time, with little overlapping among them. Three sets of species replace each other phenologically as the season goes on. Most of the species occupy drying or dried salt lakes and salt marshes, with sparse vegetation cover. Spatial segregation is marked in terms of substrate and vegetation use. Calomera
littoralis and Myriochila
melancholica have been observed mainly on wet soils; Cephalota
circumdata on dry open saline flats; Cephalota
dulcinea and Cylindera
paludosa in granulated substrates with typical halophytic vegetation; Cephalota
maura is often present in man-modified areas. Cephalota
circumdata and Cephalota
dulcinea are included as species of special interest in the list of protected species in Castilla–La Mancha. Conservation problems for the Cicindelini assemblage arise from agricultural activities and inadequate use of sport vehicles. Attempts at restoring the original habitat, supressing old semi-industrial structures, may affect the spatial heterogeneity of the lakes, and have an effect on Cicindelinae diversity. |
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Keywords: | Coleoptera" target="_blank">Coleoptera Habitat selection Phenology Behaviour Conservation Salt marshes Lakes |
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