An inordinate fondness for beetles

Abstract

In this paper we consider the extent of our knowledge of global beetle diversity. Depending on the estimates adopted, some 70–95% of all beetle species remain to be formally described, and at the current rate of progress it could be more than 200 years until the task is completed. One of the reasons for this is the difficulty of adequately sampling tropical beetle faunas and thereby ensuring sufficient material is available to taxonomists for comparative studies. Despite this, recent years have seen significant advances in our understanding of beetle taxonomy, biology, ecology and biogeography, and we are now in a good position to apply this understanding to ecological and management issues. Saproxylic (dead-wood-associated) beetles are used to illustrate this latter point.

The spatial and temporal distributions of arthropods in forest canopies: uniting disparate patterns with hypotheses for specialisation

“…They include the most diverse and important pollinators (Bawa et al, 1985;Bawa, 1990; van Dulmen, 2001;Ollerton, Winfree & Tarrant, 2011), herbivores (Coley & Barone, 1996), and predators (Floren, Biun & Linsenmair, 2002) in the arboreal environment. Yet we have a poor understanding of how most arboreal insect species are distributed in time and space or the identity and extent of the causal factors responsible for those distribution patterns, especially in tropical rainforests where possibly 70-90% of species are unknown to science (Grove & Stork, 2000;May, 2000;Hamilton et al, 2010;Mora et al, 2011). Even for described species, we know very little regarding distribution patterns, habitat preferences, and the nature of their inter-and intra-specific interactions, or how any of these factors have influenced the evolution of biodiversity and foodweb dynamics, or generated current distribution patterns.…”

Short-term responses of ground-active beetles to alternative silvicultural systems in the Warra Silvicultural Systems Trial, Tasmania, Australia

“…This is an excellent group with which to explore the response of arthropods to forest management practices. Beetles are an extremely rich component of terrestrial biodiversity, comprising an estimated one fifth of described terrestrial species (Grove and Stork, 2000), and currently about a third of all species recorded at the Warra Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site (Forestry Tasmania, unpublished data), in which the SST is embedded. Beetle species vary in dispersal ability, trophic position, habitat requirements, and sensitivity to forest management (Lawrence and Britton, 1994;Spence et al, 1996;Driscoll and Weir, 2005;Pearce and Vernier, 2006;Driscoll, 2008).…”

Species richness and complementarity of beetle faunas in a mediterranean-type biodiversity hotspot

“…Though the richness of the insect faunas of mediterranean regions are on par with, if not greatly exceeding, their plant species richness (Procheş and Cowling 2006;Powell and Hogue 1979), they have received very little attention. Adequately understanding the processes underlying species richness in these regions, assessing the threats, and conserving these processes demand a broader taxonomic foundation (Kremen et al 1993;Fisher 1999;Margules and Pressey 2000;Grove and Stork 2000;Ferrier et al 2004).…”