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Orchard and riparian habitats enhance ground dwelling beetle diversity in Mediterranean agro-forestry systems

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Abstract

The relative contribution of mixed orchard and riparian vegetation patches to local and regional diversity of Mediterranean landscapes dominated by cork-oak woodlands was tested in 2006–2007 using ground, rove and darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Tenebrionidae). Mixed orchard and riparian gallery habitats recorded higher values of abundance and species richness for overall beetle species, although most darkling beetle species were associated with the sclerophyllous cork-oak woodlands. Ground and rove beetle community structure changed from the orchard and riparian habitats to samples placed 100 m away into the surrounding cork-oak woodland, i.e., non-cork-oak patches enhanced beta diversity within the landscape mosaic. Analysis of ground beetle traits concerning moisture preferences revealed a higher proportion of hygrophilous species in mixed orchard and riparian gallery habitats while xerophilous species were dominant within the cork-oak woodlands. The results of this study suggested that land-use management promoting the maintenance of habitat heterogeneity enhances biodiversity conservation of important hygrophilous and xerophilous species, and subsequently the sustainable use of Mediterranean agro-forest mosaics.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the anonymous reviewers who provided invaluable comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. This study was sponsored by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through a research project (POCTI/BIA-BDE/61122/2004) and a PhD grant to P. Martins da Silva (SFRH/BD/37976/2007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Rua Ernesto de Vasconcelos Ed, C2-2ºPiso, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal

    Pedro Martins da Silva, Carlos A. S. Aguiar, Israel de Faria e Silva & Artur R. M. Serrano

  2. IMAR–Coimbra Interdisciplinary Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, Largo Marquês de Pombal, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal

    Pedro Martins da Silva

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  1. Pedro Martins da Silva
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  2. Carlos A. S. Aguiar
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  3. Israel de Faria e Silva
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  4. Artur R. M. Serrano
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Correspondence to Pedro Martins da Silva.

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da Silva, P.M., Aguiar, C.A.S., de Faria e Silva, I. et al. Orchard and riparian habitats enhance ground dwelling beetle diversity in Mediterranean agro-forestry systems. Biodivers Conserv 20, 861–872 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9987-6

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