TY - JOUR

T1 - Belowground carabid beetle diversity in the western Palaearctic

T2 - Effects of history and climate on range-restricted taxa (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

AU - Schuldt, Andreas

AU - Assmann, Thorsten

PY - 2011/5/20

Y1 - 2011/5/20

N2 - Broad-scale patterns of subterranean diversity are a fascinating but neglected part of biodiversity research. Carabid beetles adapted to belowground habitats form a particularly species-rich part of the subterranean fauna. We studied large-scale diversity patterns of these belowground carabids across the western Palaearctic and evaluated potential impacts of historical and contemporary environmental conditions on the distribution of these taxa, using available species richness and environmental data at country level. Regression modelling and variation partitioning showed a strong relationship between species richness and range in elevation. Potential effects of climatic variables, mainly those related to ambient energy input, were much weaker. We discuss the implications of this combination of effects, which suggests, concordant with the absence of subterranean carabids in northern and highest richness in southern Europe, a strong prevailing influence of historical processes on current richness distributions of these taxa. Previous studies did not provide clear indications for such an influence. In contrast to more mobile and widespread carabid beetles,dispersal limitation due to high adaptation of belowground carabids to subterranean habitats has probably hindered their re-colonization of former permafrost and glaciated regions. Hotspots of highest belowground diversity are located in regions with an assumed long-term stability of environmental conditions, correlating with patterns of other dispersal-limited taxa such as many endemic plants. Our study provides important new information in the discussion of potential determinants of the distinct geographic patterns of belowground diversity. Moreover, it contributes to a better understanding of range size related differences previously found in the distribution of diversity and environmental dependencies of widespread and range-restricted species within the highly diverse carabid beetles.

AB - Broad-scale patterns of subterranean diversity are a fascinating but neglected part of biodiversity research. Carabid beetles adapted to belowground habitats form a particularly species-rich part of the subterranean fauna. We studied large-scale diversity patterns of these belowground carabids across the western Palaearctic and evaluated potential impacts of historical and contemporary environmental conditions on the distribution of these taxa, using available species richness and environmental data at country level. Regression modelling and variation partitioning showed a strong relationship between species richness and range in elevation. Potential effects of climatic variables, mainly those related to ambient energy input, were much weaker. We discuss the implications of this combination of effects, which suggests, concordant with the absence of subterranean carabids in northern and highest richness in southern Europe, a strong prevailing influence of historical processes on current richness distributions of these taxa. Previous studies did not provide clear indications for such an influence. In contrast to more mobile and widespread carabid beetles,dispersal limitation due to high adaptation of belowground carabids to subterranean habitats has probably hindered their re-colonization of former permafrost and glaciated regions. Hotspots of highest belowground diversity are located in regions with an assumed long-term stability of environmental conditions, correlating with patterns of other dispersal-limited taxa such as many endemic plants. Our study provides important new information in the discussion of potential determinants of the distinct geographic patterns of belowground diversity. Moreover, it contributes to a better understanding of range size related differences previously found in the distribution of diversity and environmental dependencies of widespread and range-restricted species within the highly diverse carabid beetles.

KW - Biology

KW - cave fauna

KW - endogeic

KW - geographic range

KW - insects

KW - latitudinal gradient

KW - macroecology

KW - permafrost

KW - subterranean

KW - Cave fauna

KW - Endogeic

KW - Geographic range

KW - Glaciations

KW - Insects

KW - Latitudinal gradient

KW - Macroecology

KW - Permafrost

KW - Subterranean

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960012070&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/af88698f-63ec-3f99-ade0-d5dd8ac7698c/

U2 - 10.3897/zookeys.100.1540

DO - 10.3897/zookeys.100.1540

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 21738427

VL - 100

SP - 461

EP - 474

JO - ZooKeys

JF - ZooKeys

SN - 1313-2989

IS - SPEC. ISSUE

ER -