Diversity of ground beetles in Tikjda forest, Algeria

Abstract

This paper presents the first data concerning the ground beetles assemblages associated with Pinus nigra mauretanica (Maire & Peyerimhoff, 1927) reserve, Djurdjura southerner, Algeria. Carabids were sampled from two sites which differ in their structural vegetation, site No. 2 being more disturbed and more open than site No. 1. As a result of this survey, 231 carabid beetles belonging to 32 species were collected, of which 53.12 % were common to both sites, while 37.50 % and 9.37 % were restricted to site No. 1 and site No. 2 respectively. Diversity indexes were higher in site No. 1. Statistical analysis showed a significant influence of vegetation type on the specific richness of carabid beetles. Disturbances and structural habitat parameters seem to be the major drivers structuring ground beetles assemblages and influencing species abundance, diversity and richness. Carabid richness and abundance in the studied area are lower in disturbed environments and higher when the forest vegetation cover is developed. Adaptive parameters of species, such as diet and seasonal distribution, showed that 57 % of the species (174 individuals) caught are predatory. Two activity periods of ground beetles were noted, the first one occurred in spring and early summer while the second was mainly autumnal. Our results showed the efficiency of pitfall trapping with 70 % of captured individuals and 38 % of carabid species. Among these taxa recorded in the two sites of Pinus nigra mauretanica reserve, six species have protected status in Algeria, Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus, Eurycarabus famini, Laemostenus algerinus, Calosoma inquisitor, Calosoma sycophanta and Sphodrus leucophthalmus, and four were endemic to North Africa, Calathus fuscipes algiricus, Calathus opacus, Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus and Bembidion fluviatile unctulum. According to the IUCN categories, four species are in danger of extinction, Sphodrus leucophthalmus, Chlaenius velutinus, Bembidion fluviatile unctulum and Brachinus sclopeta, four are very rare but without current endangerment, Agonum nigrum, Har-palus attenuates, Notiophilus biguttatus and Trechus obtusus, and two were strongly endangered, Calosoma inquisitor and Calosoma sycophanta. Three bioindicator species of forest quality were found, Calathus opacus, Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus and Notiophilus biguttatus.Резюме. В настоящей работе представлены первые данные о сообществах жужелиц, приуроченных к заповеднику для Pinus nigra mauretanica (Maire et Peyerimhoff, 1927) (Южаная Джурбжура, Алжир). Пробы жужелиц были отобраны на двух участках, различающихся по растительности, причём участок № 2 более нарушен и открыт, чем участок № 1. В результате этого фаунистического исследования был собран 231 экземпляр жуков-жужелиц, принадлежащих к 32 видам, из которых 53,12 % были общими для обоих участков, а 37,50 % и 9,37 % были ограничены только участками № 1 или № 2 соответственно. Показатели разнообразия выше были на участке № 1. Статистический анализ показал значительное влияние типа раститель...