Darkling beetle communities were studied on the coastal dune system which borders a protected area (Castelporziano Presidential Estate) along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Monthly samplings were conducted in three plant associations along a transect from the seaward slope of the dune to the innermost one. Within a bulk of common species found in all three plant associations, some of them showed quantitative differences at the habitat level. Most species showed similar phenology with a summer drop, only one being a temporal specialist solely active in summer. As a whole, plant cover seems to influence species abundance, while phenology is probably moulded by climatic changes like late summer rainfalls.
Spatial and seasonal organisation of a darkling beetle (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) community inhabiting a Mediterranean coastal dune system
FATTORINI, SIMONE
2001-01-01
Abstract
Darkling beetle communities were studied on the coastal dune system which borders a protected area (Castelporziano Presidential Estate) along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Monthly samplings were conducted in three plant associations along a transect from the seaward slope of the dune to the innermost one. Within a bulk of common species found in all three plant associations, some of them showed quantitative differences at the habitat level. Most species showed similar phenology with a summer drop, only one being a temporal specialist solely active in summer. As a whole, plant cover seems to influence species abundance, while phenology is probably moulded by climatic changes like late summer rainfalls.Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
