Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter niches

High temperatures that prevail at sun-exposed sites such as heaths, depressions, or on slopes, increase the risk of desiccation for rove beetles (Staphylinidae). Therefore, atmospheric and sub-atmospheric humidity determine the microclimates and thus habitat preference and activity of xerothermophil...

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Main Authors: Andreas KLEEBERG, Udo STEINHÄUSER, Gunnar LISCHEID
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 2024-07-01
Series:European Journal of Entomology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202401-0030_xerothermophilous-species-of-rove-beetles-coleoptera-staphylinidae-in-dry-warm-habitats-prefer-their-wetter.php
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author Andreas KLEEBERG
Udo STEINHÄUSER
Gunnar LISCHEID
author_facet Andreas KLEEBERG
Udo STEINHÄUSER
Gunnar LISCHEID
author_sort Andreas KLEEBERG
collection DOAJ
description High temperatures that prevail at sun-exposed sites such as heaths, depressions, or on slopes, increase the risk of desiccation for rove beetles (Staphylinidae). Therefore, atmospheric and sub-atmospheric humidity determine the microclimates and thus habitat preference and activity of xerothermophilous species. In the nature reserve Marienfließ, a heathland in the south of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Northeast German Lowlands, air temperature and humidity were recorded year-round along a transect at 10 sites, i.e. where the vegetation was more dense and more humid than where the vegetation was sparse and it was drier, using data loggers placed in the litter layer that recorded the conditions every 30 min in 2021. Monthly visits were made to determine the biomass of vegetation, soil and litter properties, edaphic rove beetle fauna and total abundance and and that of individual species at 1 m2 sites. Statistical analysis of 365 diurnal cycles per site, with pronounced amplitude in air temperature and humidity, clearly delineated the cooler and more humid sites from warmer and drier ones. Between 10 and 22 of the 30 xerothermophilous species (73.3%), such as, e.g. Quedius persimilis Mulsant & Rey, 1876, Xantholinus gallicus Coiffait, 1956, Cousya longitarsis (Thomson, 1867) and Euaesthetus superlatus Peyerimhoff, 1937, were recorded only at the cooler and moist sites on the heath. Comparison of the abundances and distribution of species revealed that the xerothermophilous heath-dwelling and desiccation-prone species prefer rather constant environmental conditions, i.e. niches in cool and moist habitats on warm and dry heathland.
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spelling doaj-art-13ac8f6b4dd54640879fb4a8ee0dfc8e2024-12-16T15:30:56ZengInstitute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of ScienceEuropean Journal of Entomology1210-57591802-88292024-07-01121128429510.14411/eje.2024.030eje-202401-0030Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter nichesAndreas KLEEBERG0Udo STEINHÄUSER1Gunnar LISCHEID2Zum Alten Windmühlenberg 26, D-12524 Berlin, Germany; e-mail: a.g.kleeberg@t-online.deMillionenweg 7, D-19395 Plau am See, Germany; e-mail: udosteinhaeuser@aol.comLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, D-15374 Müncheberg, Germany; e-mail: lischeid@zalf.deHigh temperatures that prevail at sun-exposed sites such as heaths, depressions, or on slopes, increase the risk of desiccation for rove beetles (Staphylinidae). Therefore, atmospheric and sub-atmospheric humidity determine the microclimates and thus habitat preference and activity of xerothermophilous species. In the nature reserve Marienfließ, a heathland in the south of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Northeast German Lowlands, air temperature and humidity were recorded year-round along a transect at 10 sites, i.e. where the vegetation was more dense and more humid than where the vegetation was sparse and it was drier, using data loggers placed in the litter layer that recorded the conditions every 30 min in 2021. Monthly visits were made to determine the biomass of vegetation, soil and litter properties, edaphic rove beetle fauna and total abundance and and that of individual species at 1 m2 sites. Statistical analysis of 365 diurnal cycles per site, with pronounced amplitude in air temperature and humidity, clearly delineated the cooler and more humid sites from warmer and drier ones. Between 10 and 22 of the 30 xerothermophilous species (73.3%), such as, e.g. Quedius persimilis Mulsant & Rey, 1876, Xantholinus gallicus Coiffait, 1956, Cousya longitarsis (Thomson, 1867) and Euaesthetus superlatus Peyerimhoff, 1937, were recorded only at the cooler and moist sites on the heath. Comparison of the abundances and distribution of species revealed that the xerothermophilous heath-dwelling and desiccation-prone species prefer rather constant environmental conditions, i.e. niches in cool and moist habitats on warm and dry heathland.https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202401-0030_xerothermophilous-species-of-rove-beetles-coleoptera-staphylinidae-in-dry-warm-habitats-prefer-their-wetter.phpheathlandbeetleswater losshabitat preferencedata loggerair temperaturehumiditygermany
spellingShingle Andreas KLEEBERG
Udo STEINHÄUSER
Gunnar LISCHEID
Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter niches
European Journal of Entomology
heathland
beetles
water loss
habitat preference
data logger
air temperature
humidity
germany
title Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter niches
title_full Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter niches
title_fullStr Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter niches
title_full_unstemmed Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter niches
title_short Xerothermophilous species of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in dry-warm habitats prefer their wetter niches
title_sort xerothermophilous species of rove beetles coleoptera staphylinidae in dry warm habitats prefer their wetter niches
topic heathland
beetles
water loss
habitat preference
data logger
air temperature
humidity
germany
url https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202401-0030_xerothermophilous-species-of-rove-beetles-coleoptera-staphylinidae-in-dry-warm-habitats-prefer-their-wetter.php
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