At the interface of historical and present-day ecology: ground beetles in woodlands and open habitats in Upper Galilee (Israel)

Abstract

Mediterranean landscapes have been used by humans for thousands of years, particularly some areas of the East Mediterranean, e.g. in Israel. This land use has had profound effects on the dynamics of the woodlands in time and space, with the result that woodland regeneration has only been possible during periods of low human population density and hence low levels of grazing. The aim of this paper is therefore to find out how woodland species have been able to cope with the rapidly changing habitats. For this purpose, ground beetles were sampled over a period of one year using 10 pitfall traps per study site at two sites located in the Upper Galilee (northern Israel). The sites comprise two old-growth woodlands, two recent woodlands and two open habitats. The wing development of all sampled species was checked. Carabid beetles belonging to 21 genera and 34 species were found. Most individuals were found in old-growth woodlands On the basis of a detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), the habitat preferences of three ground beetle groups could be distinguished: old-growth woodland species, species of recent woodlands and species of open habitats. We found that two-thirds of the group of open habitat species are brachypterous and three out of the four woodland species are macropterous. Since woodlands with a long ecological continuity are also important for other groups of organisms such as saproxylic beetles, we recommend the conservation of all woodland development stages in the study area.

Saproxylic beetle assemblages in the Mediterranean region: Impact of forest management on richness and structure

“…This alarming development is in contrast with the overall importance of the region as a biodiversity hotspot (Yom-Tov and Tchernov, 1988). Open spaces are important habitats for Israels biodiversity (Filser and Prasse, 2008;Timm et al, 2009). In order to find effective solutions to conserve a maximum of biodiversity in the region, more research and a management strategy for the remaining open space is urgently needed.…”

Pseudomaquises in SW Bulgaria as a habitat for the ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

“…In recent woodlands (less than 50 years old) at an altitude of about 700 m a.s.l., dominated by about 5 m high Quercus calliprinos Webb. trees, 21 species belonging to 12 genera were found (Timm et al 2009). Thirty-two carabid species were captured in juniper maquis formations in five sampling sites in Greece (Kaltsas et al 2012).…”

The ground beetle tribe Platynini Bonelli, 1810 (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the southern Levant: dichotomous and interactive identification tools, ecological traits, and distribution

“…This study is based on the examination of specimens (i) observed and/or collected during field trips of the authors in Israel, Jordan andEgypt (between 2004 and, (ii) collected in context of ecological surveys (e.g., Timm et al 2009), and/or (iii) stored in entomological collections (incl. historical collections).…”

“…Probably an autumn and winter breeder. Timm et al (2009) caught three individuals in a survey with pitfall traps open continuously for an entire year and these exclusively in November and December. A newly hatched beetle at the end of March on the Golan Heights.…”