Functional species traits of carabid beetles living in two riparian alder forests of the Sila plateau subject to different disturbance factors (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

• Published in: Fragmenta entomologica Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 37 - 44
• Main Authors: Mazzei, Antonio, Bonacci, Teresa, Gangale, Carmen, Pizzolotto, Roberto, Brandmayr, Pietro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 30.06.2015
• Subjects: Alnus glutinosa; anthropogenic activities; Carabidae; cattle; Coleoptera; cropland; forests; grazing; harvesting; insects; landscapes; stenotopic species; wilderness; wood
• ISSN: 0429-288X; 2284-4880
• DOI: 10.4081/fe.2015.132

We studied carabid beetle assemblages found in riparian black alder forests in the Sila plateau (Southern Apennines). These carabid assemblages are characterized by a high incidence of endemic small-sized, low dispersal, highly stenotopic (hygrophilic), and trophycally specialized species. To evaluate the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on these insects, we compared carabid assemblage of an old undisturbed forest (65-170y, wilderness landscape) with that of a younger, partly grazed stand (40-60y, cropland landscape). The carabid assemblage of the disturbed stand was characterized by a higher number of species, but showed a lower incidence of zoophagous specialists and brachypterous beetles, with many species probably coming from an adjacent cropland. However, the disturbed stand maintains almost 80% of the core species found in the older forest, which suggests that these insects are not particularly sensitive to disturbance factors represented by periodic wood harvesting and extensive cattle grazing.