TY - JOUR

T1 - Potential biodiversity map of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae)

T2 - environmental characterization, land-uses and analyses of protection areas in Southern Patagonia

AU - Rosas, Yamina Micaela

AU - Peri, Pablo L.

AU - Carrara, Rodolfo

AU - Flores, Gustavo E.

AU - Pedrana, Julieta

AU - Martínez Pastur, Guillermo

N1 - Funding Information: This research is part of the Doctoral Thesis of YMR (Faculty of Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales in the Universidad Nacional de la Plata). Research by GEF was supported by CONICET, Argentina and NSF DEB-1754630. Funding Information: This research is part of the Doctoral Thesis of YMR (Faculty of Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales in the Universidad Nacional de la Plata). Research by GEF was supported by CONICET, Argentina and NSF DEB-1754630. Publisher Copyright: © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Different methodologies had been developed for species management and conservation based on modelling of potential biodiversity at regional scales. However, most of these models were fitted for umbrella species (e.g. big mammals) rather than micro-fauna. Beetles should be included to improve conservation strategies due to their functional roles and vulnerability in arid environments. The maps of potential biodiversity (MPB) based on different potential habitat suitability (PHS) maps are useful to indicate high biodiversity areas. Firstly, we aim to elaborate a MPB of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) based on 10 species PHS maps inhabiting Santa Cruz Province (Argentina). Then, we analysed the MPB an environmental gradients and land-use variables. We explored 41 potential variables to develop PHS maps. The MPB was included into a GIS project, and was analysed considering climatic and topographic variables, ecological areas and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, also sheep density, desertification and protected area network. The modelled showed great variability in their habitat requirements (e.g. temperature), where marginality (PHS differs from the available conditions) and specialization (environmental condition range of PHS) determined three species groups. MPB increased from grasslands in the NE to shrublands in the SE, and was higher with SOC, sheep density and desertification degree. Protection areas included lower MPB for darkling beetles, where provincial reserves have a major conservation role compared with national parks. MPB allowed us to understand the potential trade-offs with the environment and human uses. This gave us a tool to development new strategies (e.g. land-sparing) for management and conservation.

AB - Different methodologies had been developed for species management and conservation based on modelling of potential biodiversity at regional scales. However, most of these models were fitted for umbrella species (e.g. big mammals) rather than micro-fauna. Beetles should be included to improve conservation strategies due to their functional roles and vulnerability in arid environments. The maps of potential biodiversity (MPB) based on different potential habitat suitability (PHS) maps are useful to indicate high biodiversity areas. Firstly, we aim to elaborate a MPB of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) based on 10 species PHS maps inhabiting Santa Cruz Province (Argentina). Then, we analysed the MPB an environmental gradients and land-use variables. We explored 41 potential variables to develop PHS maps. The MPB was included into a GIS project, and was analysed considering climatic and topographic variables, ecological areas and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, also sheep density, desertification and protected area network. The modelled showed great variability in their habitat requirements (e.g. temperature), where marginality (PHS differs from the available conditions) and specialization (environmental condition range of PHS) determined three species groups. MPB increased from grasslands in the NE to shrublands in the SE, and was higher with SOC, sheep density and desertification degree. Protection areas included lower MPB for darkling beetles, where provincial reserves have a major conservation role compared with national parks. MPB allowed us to understand the potential trade-offs with the environment and human uses. This gave us a tool to development new strategies (e.g. land-sparing) for management and conservation.

KW - Conservation

KW - Habitat suitability

KW - Landscape scale

KW - Marginality/specialization

KW - Trade-offs

U2 - 10.1007/s10841-019-00170-w

DO - 10.1007/s10841-019-00170-w

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85070733277

VL - 23

SP - 885

EP - 897

JO - Journal of Insect Conservation

JF - Journal of Insect Conservation

SN - 1366-638X

ER -