Sand pits as habitats for beetles (Coleoptera): does area affect species number and composition?

Lönnberg, Lina; Jonsell, Mats

doi:10.1007/s10531-012-0225-2

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The most attractive to bees were the wastelands resulting from extractive industry. Also, earlier studies showed that sand pits or gravel pits are important habitats readily colonized by various insect species, including rare ones, with specific environmental or food requirements (Lönnberg and Jonsell 2012;Heneberg et al 2013). Quarries belong to specific environments in the landscape with bare soil patches maintained by regular human disturbances and occupied mainly by synanthropic vegetation.…”

Section: Attractiveness Of Wastelandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wastelands: their attractiveness and importance for preserving the diversity of wild bees in urban areas

Twerd

Banaszak‐Cibicka

2019

J Insect Conserv

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Urban wastelands are important substitute habitats for many insect species, but their value for the protection of wild bees is still poorly studied. We assessed species richness, abundance, and the diversity of wild bees in wastelands that differed in area (2-35 ha), stage of ecological succession, location (suburbs or closer to the city centre), and history of land use. In the investigated plots, we recorded 42% of all bee species reported from Poland. The attractiveness of wastelands was positively correlated with the coverage of blooming herbs, coverage of shrubs and low trees, and the area of the wasteland. An increase in isolation of the habitat patches, the percentage contribution of alien species, annuals, and low grasses (< 25 cm) negatively affected the diversity of Apiformes. Considering the history of land use, we found that the bees were most attracted to wastelands resulting from extractive industry (sand and clay pits), and grassy habitats located in the suburbs, e.g. at sites grazed earlier by sheep. Wastelands in areas directly influenced by the chemical industry were the least attractive to bees. Analyses of quantitative and qualitative similarity of bees in various habitat types showed that three habitat types were the most similar to grasslands in the suburbs (the least disturbed habitats): degraded grasslands located closer to the city centre, extraction pits, and old fields. The presented results indicate that urban wastelands, including some post-industrial sites, can be important secondary habitats for wild bees. Thus, proper management of urban natural resources should cover both the formally managed areas and the so-called unproductive spaces, which have been undervalued so far.

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Section: Attractiveness Of Wastelandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wastelands: their attractiveness and importance for preserving the diversity of wild bees in urban areas

Twerd

Banaszak‐Cibicka

2019

J Insect Conserv

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“…We argue that, beyond vegetation, soil texture must also be considered in order to allow local animal communities to establish in restored areas. This opportunity should also be taken to promote and preserve valuable open sand habitats on quarrying sites (Lönnberg & Jonsell ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the dynamics of a ground‐dwelling beetle population exposed to quarry exploitation and restoration practices

Eufrázio

Oliveira

Miralto

et al. 2020

Restoration Ecology

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Quarry exploitation and restoration practices are expected to have overarching and contrasting impacts on animal communities. Although many studies describe these impacts, they generally overlook the effects on population dynamics and individual movements. We assessed the impacts of quarry exploitation and restoration activity on population dynamics, individual movement, and habitat use of a sand-dwelling specialist beetle (Scarites cyclops). The study was performed on three plots: one adjacent to the margin of quarry exploitation, another subjected to restoration practices, and a control plot with no disturbance. A capture-mark-recapture approach was undertaken to estimate population parameters, movement, and habitat use. In the exploitation plot S. cyclops exhibited lower probability of recapture and lower apparent survival, as well as many movements fleeing away from quarry limits. Habitat suitability modeling showed that the exploitation plot provided better habitat conditions for the species than the restoration plot. It exhibited higher bare ground cover with scattered clumps of vegetation and higher proportions of fine sand (<0.4 mm). In the restoration plot, S. cyclops population showed a lower abundance, with a higher rate of recaptures, and a more limited dispersal ability of the individuals. There is an apparent early stage of colonization by S. cyclops in the restoration plot, but movements may already be hampered by unsuitable habitat restoration (higher herbaceous cover and different soil texture). We suggest preserving suitable habitat patches in the vicinity of the impacted areas and providing dispersal routes. Beyond vegetation, soil texture must be considered to allow local animal communities to establish in restored areas.

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“…Apalus bimaculatus inhabits open sandy areas (Lönnell and Edelsjö 2004), a habitat that has declined in Northern Europe following changes in land use where a reduction in grazing and forest fires has promoted re-vegetation of these areas (Emanuelsson 2009). Unless active vegetation removal is carried out, this habitat usually becomes over-grown and unsuitable for sand-living beetles within a decade (Lönnell and Edelsjö 2004; Lönnberg and Jonsell 2012). Thus, the habitat specialisation of A. bimaculatus has resulted in this species having a highly fragmented distribution in central and southwest Sweden (Cederberg 2003, Lönnell and Edelsjö 2004; Lönnell 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of landscape structure and habitat composition on the presence of the threatened parasitic sand-living beetleApalus bimaculatus(Coleoptera: Meloidae)

Ahlbäck

Berggren

2013

Can Entomol

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Apalus bimaculatus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Meloidae) is a beetle currently managed for conservation in Sweden. The species inhabits at-risk ephemeral and patchily distributed sandy habitats. However, little is known about its ecology and the factors important for its distribution. We censused 158 discrete sand patches within 31 potential sites for A. bimaculatus and examined which environmental variables predicted the probability of finding the beetle. Apalus bimaculatus was found at 17 sites, its presence at sand-patch scale was positively correlated with sand-patch area, sand temperature, and medium-sized sand grains. Although the beetle is assumed to be a parasite on the solitary bee, Colletes cunicularius (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), presence of the bee was a very weak predictor for A. bimaculatus, while other sand-living Hymenoptera were a strong predictor. At site-level scale, the beetle was positively correlated with total amount of sandy habitat and presence of sand-living Hymenoptera. Our study suggests that management strategies for this species should not consider sandy habitats equally. Rather, management efforts should focus on maintaining sites with larger total sandy areas, creating larger sand patches with medium-grained sand and a high degree of sun exposure. We also highlight that biotic interactions between the beetle and sand-living Hymenoptera are still poorly understood but potentially important for successful A. bimaculatus management.

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Sand pits as habitats for beetles (Coleoptera): does area affect species number and composition?

Cited by 10 publications

References 32 publications

Wastelands: their attractiveness and importance for preserving the diversity of wild bees in urban areas

Wastelands: their attractiveness and importance for preserving the diversity of wild bees in urban areas

Unraveling the dynamics of a ground‐dwelling beetle population exposed to quarry exploitation and restoration practices

The effect of landscape structure and habitat composition on the presence of the threatened parasitic sand-living beetleApalus bimaculatus(Coleoptera: Meloidae)

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