Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effectiveness of three sampling methods to survey saproxylic beetle assemblages in Mediterranean woodland

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Insect Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The choice of sampling methods to survey saproxylic beetles is a key aspect to assessing conservation strategies for one of the most endangered assemblages in Europe. We evaluated the efficiency of three sampling methods: baited tube traps (TT), window traps in front of a hollow opening (WT), and emergence traps covering tree hollows (ET) to study richness and diversity of saproxylic beetle assemblages at species and family levels in Mediterranean woodlands. We also examined trap efficiency to report ecological diversity, and changes in the relative richness and abundance of species forming trophic guilds: xylophagous, saprophagous/saproxylophagous, xylomycetophagous, predators and commensals. WT and ET were similarly effective in reporting species richness and diversity at species and family levels, and provided an accurate profile of both the flying active and hollow-linked saproxylic beetle assemblages. WT and ET were the most complementary methods, together reporting more than 90 % of richness and diversity at both species and family levels. Diversity, richness and abundance of guilds were better characterized by ET, which indicates higher efficiency in outlining the ecological community of saproxylics that inhabit tree hollows. TT were the least effective method at both taxonomic levels, sampling a biased portion of the beetle assemblage attracted to trapping principles, however they could be used as a specific method for families such as Bostrichiidae, Biphyllidae, Melyridae, Mycetophagidae or Curculionidae Scolytinae species. Finally, ET and WT combination allows a better characterization of saproxylic assemblages in Mediterranean woodland, by recording species with different biology and linked to different microhabitat types.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander KNA (2004) Revision of the index of ecological continuity as used for saproxylic beetles. English nature research report 574. English Nature, Peterborough

  • Alexander KNA (2008) Tree biology and saproxylic Coleoptera: issues of definitions and conservation language. Rev Écol (Terre Vie) 63:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Alinvi O, Ball JP, Danell K, Hjältén J, Petterson RB (2007) Sampling saproxylic beetles assemblages in dead wood logs: comparing window and eclector traps to traditional bark sieving and a refinement. J Insect Conserv 11:99–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allemand R, Aberlenc HP (1996) Un método eficaz de muestreo para la entomofauna de las zonas frondosas: la trampa atrayente aérea. Bol SEA 14:23–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison JD, Borden JH, Seybold SJ (2004) A review of the chemical ecology of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera). Chemoecol 14:123–150

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alonso-Zarazaga MA (2002) Presencia de dos especies de Anthribidae (Coleoptera) en la Península Ibérica. Bol SEA 31:141–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Berti F, Flechtmann C (1986) A model of ethanol trap to collect Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Insecta, Coleoptera). Revista I.P.E.F. 34:53–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouget C, Brustel H (2009a) Saproxylic Coleoptera. In: Bouget C, Nageleisen LM (eds) Forest insect studies: methods and techniques. Key consideration for standardisation. Les dossiers forestiers, vol 19. Office National des Forêts, Paris, pp 100–105

  • Bouget C, Brustel H (2009b) Window flight traps. In: Bouget C, Nageleisen LM (eds) Forest insect studies: Methods and techniques. Key consideration for standardisation. Les dossiers forestiers, vol 19. Office National des Forêts, Paris, pp 100–105

  • Bouget C, Brustel H, Brin A, Noblecourt T (2008a) Sampling saproxylic beetles with window flight traps: methodological insights. Rev Écol (Terre Vie) 10:21–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouget C, Brustel H, Zagatti P (2008b) The French information system on saproxylic beetle ecology (FRISBEE): an ecological and taxonomical database to help with the assessment of forest conservation status. Rev Écol (Terre Vie) 10:33–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouget C, Brustel H, Brin A, Valladares L (2009) Evaluation of window flight traps for effectiveness at monitoring dead wood associated beetles: the effect of ethanol lure under contrasting environmental conditions. Agric Forest Entomol 11:143–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brin A (2008) Le bois mort et les Coléoptères associés dans les plantations de pin maritime (Pinus pinaster L.): implications possibles pour la gestion durable des forêts et l’élaboration d’indicateurs de biodiversité. Dissertation, Université Bordeaux I, École Doctorale Sciences et Environnements

  • Brin A, Bouget C, Brustel H, Jactel H (2011) Diameter of downed woody debris does matter for saproxylic beetle assemblages in temperate oak and pine forests. J Insect Conserv 15:653–669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brin A, Bouget C, Valladares L, Brustel H (2012) Are stumps important for the conservation of saproxylic beetles in managed forests? Insights from a comparison of assemblages on logs and stumps in oak-dominated forests and pine plantations. Insect Conserv Diver. doi:10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00209.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Bußler H, Müller J (2009) Vacuum cleaning for conservationists: a new method for inventory of Osmoderma eremita (Scop., 1763) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and other inhabitants of hollow trees in Natura 2000 areas. J Insect Conserv 13:355–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chao A, Shen TJ (2003) Nonparametric estimation of Shannon’s index of diversity when there are unseen species in sample. Environ Ecol Stat 10:429–433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chao A, Shen TJ (2010) Program SPADE (Species prediction and diversity estimation). http://chao.stat.nthu.edu.tw

  • Chen H, Boutros PC (2011) VennDiagram: a package for the generation of highly-customizable Venn and Euler diagrams in R. BMC Bioinformat 12:35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke K, Gorley R (2006) PRIMER version 6: user manual/tutorial. PRIMER-E, Plymouth

    Google Scholar 

  • Colas G (1974) Guide de l’entomologiste. L’entomologiste sur le terrain - préparation et conservation des insectes et des collections. N. Boubée and Cie Press, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Colwell RK (2005) EstimateS: statistical estimation of species richness and shared species from samples. Version 8.0 users’ guide and application. http://purl.oclc.org/estimatescomputerprogram/

  • Dajoz R (1980) Écologie des insectes forestièrs. Gauthier-Villars, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Dajoz R (2001) Entomología forestal: los insectos y el bosque. Ediciones Mundi-Prensa, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies ZG, Tyler C, Stewart GB, Pullin AS (2008) Are current management recommendations for saproxylic invertebrates effective? A systematic review. Biod Conserv 17:209–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erbilgin N, Raffa KF (2001) Kairomonal range of generalist predators in specialized habitats: responses to multiple phloeophagous species emitting pheromones vs. host odors. Entomol Exp App 99:205–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ewers RM, Didham KR (2006) Confounding factors in the detection of species responses to habitat fragmentations. Biol Rev Camb Phisol Soc 81:117–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faith DP, Minchin PR, Belbin L (1987) Compositional dissimilarity as a robust measure of ecological distance. Plant Ecol 69:57–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gouix N (2011) Gestion forestière et Biodiversité, les enjeux de conservation d’une espèce parapluie: Limoniscus violaceus (Coleoptera). Dissertation, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, École Doctorale de la Diversité du Vivant

  • Gouix N, Brustel H (2011) Emergence trap, a new method to survey Limoniscus violaceus (Coleoptera: Elateridae) from hollow trees. Biod Conserv 21:421–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero A (1988) Feromonas sexuales de insectos. In: CSIC (ed) Insecticidas biorracionales. CSIC, Madrid, pp 272–296

  • Hammer Ø, Harper DAT, Ryan PD (2001) PAST: Paleontological Statistics Software Package for Education and Data Analysis. Palaeontol Electron 4:9. http://jaynewilkins.suite101.com/free-statistical-package-download-past-a178982#ixzz1sBK2aDXI

  • Haslett JR (2007) European Strategy for the conservation of invertebrates. Reversing the effects of intensive agriculture and forestry, and of industry and urbanisation. Nat Environ 145:47–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson PA, Seaby RMH (2002) Species diversity and richness. Version 3.02. Pisces Conservation Ltd, Lymington

  • Hyvärinen E, Kouki J, Martikainen P (2006) A comparison of three trapping methods used to survey forest-dwelling Coleoptera. Eur J Entomol 103:397–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson N (2009) Habitat requirements and preservation of the beetle assemblages associated with hollow oaks. Dissertation, Linköping University

  • Jansson N, Coskum M (2008) How similar is the saproxylic beetle fauna on old oaks (Quercus spp.) in Turkey and Sweden? Rev Écol (Terre Vie) 10:91–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Weslien J, Ehnström B (1998) Substrate requirements of red-listed saproxylic invertebrates in Sweden. Biod Conserv 7:749–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsell M, Schroeder M, Larsson T (2003) The saproxylic beetle Bolitophagus reticulatus: its frequency in managed forests, attraction to volatiles and flight period. Ecography 26:421–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jost L (2006) Entropy and diversity. Oikos 113:363–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen TH, Forsyth A (2005) Trap spacing and transect design for dung beetles biodiversity studies. Biotropica 37:322–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longino JT, Coddington J, Colwell RK (2002) The ant fauna of a tropical rain forest: estimating species richness three different ways. Ecology 83:689–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magurran AE (2004) Measuring biological diversity. Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcos-García MA, Micó E, Quinto J, Briones R, Galante E (2010) Lo que las oquedades esconden. Cuadernos de Biodiversidad 34:3–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Martikainen P, Kalia L (2004) Sampling saproxylic beetles: lessons from a 10-year monitoring study. Biol Conserv 120:171–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martikainen P, Kouki J (2003) Sampling the rarest: threatened beetles in boreal forest biodiversity inventories. Biod Conserv 12:1815–1831

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Micó E, Juárez M, Sánchez A, Galante E (2011a) Action of the saproxylic scarab larva Cetonia auraetiformis (Coleoptera: Scaraboides: Cetoniidae) on woody substrates. J Nat Hist 45:2527–2542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Micó E, García-López A, Brustel H, Padilla A, Galante E (2013) Explaining the saproxylic beetle diversity of a protected Mediterranean area. Biodivers Conserv. doi:10.1007/s10531-013-0456-x

  • Micó E, Marcos-García MA, Quinto J, Ramírez A, Ríos S, Padilla A, Galante E (2011b) Los árboles añosos de las dehesas ibéricas, un importante reservorio de insectos saproxílicos amenazados. Elytron 24:89–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller DR, Rabaglia RJ (2009) Ethanol and (−)-α-Pinene: attractant Kairomones for Bark and Ambrosia Beetles in the Southeastern US. J Chem Ecol 35:435–448

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno CE, Barragán F, Pineda E, Pavón NP (2011) Reanálisis de la diversidad alfa: alternativas para interpretar y comparar información sobre comunidades ecológicas. Rev Mex Biodiv 82:1249–1261

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieto A, Alexander KNA (2010) European red list of saproxylic beetles. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg

    Google Scholar 

  • Økland B (1996) A comparison of three methods of trapping saproxylic beetles. Eur J Entomol 93:195–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozanne CMP (2005) Sampling methods for forest understory vegetation. In: Leather S (ed) Insect sampling in forest ecosystems. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 58–76

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez Moreno I (1997) Principales métodos biotécnicos empleados en el control de plagas. Bol SEA 20:127–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinto J, Marcos-García MA, Díaz-Castelazo C, Rico-Gray V, Brustel H, Galante E, Micó E (2012) Breaking down complex saproxylic communities: understanding sub-networks structure and implications to network robustness. PLoS ONE 7:e45062

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ranius T, Hedin J (2001) The dispersal rate of a beetle, Osmoderma eremita, living in tree hollows. Oecologia 126:363–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranius T, Jansson N (2002) A comparison of three methods to survey saproxylic beetles in hollow oaks. Biodivers Conserv 11:1759–1771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricarte A, Jover T, Marcos-García MA, Micó E, Brustel H (2009) Saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) from a Mediterranean forest: towards a better understanding of their biology and species conservation. J Nat Hist 43:583–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saint-Germain M, Buddle CM, Drapeau P (2006) Sampling saproxylic Coleoptera: scale issues and the importance of behavior. Environ Entomol 35:478–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlaghamersky DJ (2003) Saproxylic invertebrates of foodplains, a particular endangered component of biodiversity. In: Manson F, Nardi G, Tisato M (eds) Dead wood: a key to biodiversity. Proceedings of the International Symposium May 2003. Mantova, Italy

  • Schlyter F (2007) Semiochemical in the life of bark feeding weevils. In: Lieutier F, Day KR, Battisti A, Grégoire JC, Evans HF (eds) Bark and wood borers insects in living trees in Europe: a synthesis. Springer, Netherlands, pp 351–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibata E, Sato S, Sakuratani Y, Sugimoto T, Kimura F, Ito F (1996) Cerambycid beetles (Coleoptera) lured to chemicals in forests of Nara prefecture, Central Japan. Ann Entomol Soc Am 89:835–842

    Google Scholar 

  • Siitonen J (2001) Forest management, coarse woody debris and saproxylic organisms: fennoscandian boreal forests as an example. Ecol Bull 49:11–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirami C, Jay-Robert P, Brustel H, Valladares L, Le Guilloux S, Martin JL (2008) Saproxylic beetles assemblages of old holm-oak trees in Mediterranean region: role of a keystone structure in a changing heterogeneous landscape. Rev Écol (Terre Vie) 10:101–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Speight MCD (1989) Saproxylic invertebrates and their conservation. Nature and environment, vol 42. Council of Europe, Strasbourg

  • StatSoft Inc (2007) STATISTICA (data analysis software system). Version 8.0. www.statsoft.com

  • Sverdrup-Thygeson A, Birkemoe T (2009) What window traps can tell us: effect of placement, forest openness and beetle reproduction in retention trees. J Insect Conserv 13:183–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sverdrup-Thygeson A, Skarpaas O, Ødegaard F (2010) Hollow oaks and beetle conservation: the significance of the surroundings. Biodivers Conserv 19:837–852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CD (2000) Dispersal and extinction in fragmented landscapes. Proc R Soc B 267:139–145

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vaquero de la Cruz J (1997) Flora vascular y vegetación. In: García Canseco V (ed) Parque Nacional de Cabañeros. Ecohábitat, Madrid, pp 95–154

  • Viñolas A, Soler J, Muñoz Batet J (2012) Nuevos registros y nuevas localizaciones de coleópteros para la Península Ibérica y en especial para el Paratge Natural de l’Albera, Girona (Coleóptera). Elytron 25:3–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter S, Möller GC (2008) Microhabitats in lowland beech forests as monitoring tool for nature conservation. Forest Ecol Manag 255:1251–1261

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the assistance given by A. Viñolas, A. Verdugo, F. Soldati, O. Rose, J. C. Otero, M. A. Alonso-Zarazaga, A. Herrmann, J. L. Zapata, J. P. Tamisier, G. Liberti, C. Pérez, R. Allemand, T. Noblecourt, P. Leblanc, and L. Chékir. We should also like to thank the research Projects CGL2008-04472, CGL2009-09656 and CGL2011-23658 of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and LIFE-07/NAT/00762 of the European Commission LIFE-Nature. Cabañeros’ Park Administration for their continuous collaboration and assistance; A. P. Martínez-Falcón and A. García-López for their good advice with the analyses; T. Jover and R. Briones for their help with the databases.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad CIBIO, Universidad de Alicante, Ctra. de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, Alicante, Spain

    Javier Quinto, María de los Ángeles Marcos-García, Eduardo Galante & Estefanía Micó

  2. École d’Ingénieurs de Purpan, INPT, Université de Toulouse, UMR Dynafor 1201, 75 voie du T.O.E.C, 31076, Toulouse, Cedex 03, France

    Hervé Brustel

Authors
  1. Javier Quinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. María de los Ángeles Marcos-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hervé Brustel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eduardo Galante
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Estefanía Micó
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Javier Quinto.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 53 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Quinto, J., Marcos-García, M.d.Á., Brustel, H. et al. Effectiveness of three sampling methods to survey saproxylic beetle assemblages in Mediterranean woodland. J Insect Conserv 17, 765–776 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-013-9559-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-013-9559-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation