Dynamic change of ground-dwelling beetle community in a gobi desert of the middle of Hexi Corridor and its influencing factors

doi:10.17520/biods.2022343

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: The purpose of the study is to further understand the species/genus composition and activity rhythms of ground-dwelling beetles of gobi.
Methods: From January to December during 2018 and 2020, the number of individuals and species of ground-dwelling beetles in a gobi desert of the Hexi Corridor were continuously observed with pitfall traps, and the climatic elements of the region were observed.
Results: (1) Ground-dwelling beetles of the gobi were composed of 21 species from 5 families, including carabid, chrysomelid, curculionid, geotrupid and tenebrionid, and Microdera kraatzi alashanica, Blaps gobiensis and Lethrus potanini were the dominant species; (2) The activity rhythm of ground-dwelling beetles in gobi had obvious seasonal variations. The activity period of ground-dwelling beetles were from March to October, the activity density of ground-dwelling beetles peaked in April to July, and the species richness of ground-dwelling beetles peaked in May; (3) The activity density of ground-dwelling beetles increased significantly in 2019 with increased precipitation, and the species richness and diversity index of ground-dwelling beetles decreased significantly in 2018 with decreased precipitation; (4) The type of feeding and individuals size of ground-dwelling beetles affected their activity rhythm. The years of increased precipitation increased the activity density of the curculionid of phytophagous and some species of the tenebrionid, and the response of the activity density of some species of tenebrionid showed a certain hysteresis with precipitation; (5) The change of precipitation and temperature strongly affected the activity rhythm of ground-dwelling beetles. The number of individuals and species of ground-dwelling beetles had a significant quadratic and exponential relationship with monthly average precipitation and temperature. The response of phytophagous and predatory beetles to the change of precipitation and temperature were more sensitive than those of beetles of saprophagy, the response of large beetles to the change of precipitation were more sensitive than those of medium and small beetles.
Conclusion: The change of precipitation and temperature affect the activity rhythm of gobi ground-dwelling beetles, and the responses of different ground-dwelling beetle species to them are different due to their different physiological and ecological characteristics, which affect the dynamic changes of the ground-dwelling beetles communities.

Key words: the middle of Hexi Corridor, gobi, ground-dwelling beetles, community dynamics, functional traits

Yongyi Lin, Yongzhen Wang, Yilin Feng, Wenzhi Zhao, Junwei Gao, Jiliang Liu. Dynamic change of ground-dwelling beetle community in a gobi desert of the middle of Hexi Corridor and its influencing factors[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2022, 30(12): 22343.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2022343

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2022/V30/I12/22343

Figures/Tables 8

References 39

[1]	Barrows C (2012) Temporal patterns of abundance of arthropods on sand dunes. The Southwestern Naturalist, 57, 262-266. DOI URL
[2]	Bartholomew A,El Moghrabi J (2018) Seasonal preference of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) for shrub vegetation due to high temperatures, not predation or food availability. Journal of Arid Environments, 156, 34-40. DOI URL
[3]	Bezborodov V, Shabalin S (2015) Lamellicorn beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) of Sakhalin Island: Taxonomical structure, fauna, ecology and zoogeography. Caucasian Entomological Bulletin, 11, 317-325. DOI URL
[4]	Carpaneto GM, Fattorini S (2001) Spatial and seasonal organisation of a darkling beetle (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) community inhabiting a Mediterranean coastal dune system. Italian Journal of Zoology, 68, 207-214. DOI URL
[5]	Cloudsley-Thompson JL (2001) Thermal and water relations of desert beetles. Naturwissenschaften, 88, 447-460. DOI URL
[6]	de Los Santos A, Ferrer F, Crist TO (2006) Thermal habitat and life history of two congeneric species of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on Tenerife (Canary Islands). Journal of Arid Environments, 65, 363-385. DOI URL
[7]	Duncan FD, Dickman CR (2001) Respiratory patterns and metabolism in tenebrionid and carabid beetles from the Simpson Desert, Australia. Oecoligica, 129, 509-517.
[8]	Elek Z, Lövei GL (2007) Patterns in ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages along an urbanisation gradient in Denmark. Acta Oecologica, 32, 104-111. DOI URL
[9]	Feng YM, Wu B, Yao AD, Cao XY, Cong RC, Yao B, Wang F, Lu Q (2014) A study on classification system and inventory of gobi. Acta Geographica Sinica, 69, 391-398. (in Chinese with English abstract) DOI
	[ 冯益明, 吴波, 姚爱冬, 曹晓阳, 丛日春, 姚斌, 王锋, 卢琦 (2014) 戈壁分类体系与编目研究. 地理学报, 69, 391-398.] DOI
[10]	Feng YM, Wu B, Zhou N, Che TT, Wang F, Cong RC, Cao YL, Lu Q (2013) Gobi classification system based on remote sensing image recognition. Journal of Desert Research, 33, 635-641. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 冯益明, 吴波, 周娜, 车腾腾, 王锋, 丛日春, 曹燕丽, 卢琦 (2013) 基于遥感影像识别的戈壁分类体系研究. 中国沙漠, 33, 635-641.]
[11]	Gibb H, Grossman BF, Dickman CR, Decker O, Wardle GM (2019) Long-term responses of desert ant assemblages to climate. Journal of Animal Ecology, 88, 1549-1563. DOI PMID
[12]	He Q, Wang XP, Yang GJ (2011) Species diversity of carabid beetles in desert-steppe in Yanchi of Ningxia, China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 31, 923-932. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 贺奇, 王新谱, 杨贵军 (2011) 宁夏盐池荒漠草原步甲物种多样性. 生态学报, 31, 923-932.]
[13]	Jia L, Zhang JY, Ren GD (2019) Spatial distribution pattern of Tenebrionidae and its relationships with meteorological factors in Alxa Plateau, China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 30, 3316-3326. (in Chinese with English abstract) DOI
	[ 贾龙, 张建英, 任国栋 (2019) 阿拉善高原拟步甲空间分布格局及其与气象因子的关系. 应用生态学报, 30, 3316-3326.] DOI
[14]	Krasnov B, Ayal Y (1995) Seasonal changes in darkling beetle communities (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the Ramon erosion cirque, Negev Highlands, Israel. Journal of Arid Environments, 31, 335-347.
[15]	Kwok ABC, Wardle GM, Greenville AC, Dickman CR (2016) Long-term patterns of invertebrate abundance and relationships to environmental factors in arid Australia. Austral Ecology, 41, 480-491. DOI URL
[16]	Langlands PR, Brennan KEC, Pearson DJ (2006) Spiders, spinifex, rainfall and fire: Long-term changes in an arid spider assemblage. Journal of Arid Environments, 67, 36-59. DOI URL
[17]	Liang HB, Yu PY (2000) Species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) predating oriental armyworm (Lepidoptera: Notuidae) in China. Natural Enemies Insects, 22, 160-167. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 梁宏斌, 虞佩玉 (2000) 中国捕食粘虫的步甲种类检索. 昆虫天敌, 22, 160-167.]
[18]	Liu JL, Li FR, Liu CG, Liu QJ (2012) Influences of shrub vegetation on distribution and diversity of a ground beetle community in a Gobi desert ecosystem. Biodiversity and Conservation, 21, 2601-2619. DOI URL
[19]	Liu JL, Li FR, Liu QJ, Niu RX (2010) Seasonal variation of ground dwelling arthropod communities in an arid desert of the middle Heihe River Basin. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 19, 161-169. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 刘继亮, 李锋瑞, 刘七军, 牛瑞雪 (2010) 黑河中游干旱荒漠地面节肢动物群落季节变异规律. 草业学报, 19, 161-169.]
[20]	Liu JL, Zhao WZ, Li FR (2015) Distribution of ground arthropod community in arid desert in the middle reaches of Heihe River. Arid Zone Research, 32, 1192-1200. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 刘继亮, 赵文智, 李锋瑞 (2015) 黑河中游荒漠地面节肢动物分布特征. 干旱区研究, 32, 1192-1200.]
[21]	Liu JL, Zhao WZ, Li FR (2015) Effects of shrub presence & shrub species on ground beetle assemblages (Carabidae, Curculionidae and Tenebrionidae) in a sandy desert, northwestern China. Journal of Arid Land, 7, 110-121. DOI URL
[22]	Lou QZ, Xu YC, Ma JH, Lü ZZ (2011) Diversity of ground-dwelling beetles within the southern Gurbantunggut Desert and its relationship with environmental factors. Biodiversity Science, 19, 441-452. (in Chinese with English abstract) DOI URL
	[ 娄巧哲, 徐养诚, 马吉宏, 吕昭智 (2011) 古尔班通古特沙漠南缘地表甲虫物种多样性及其与环境的关系. 生物多样性, 19, 441-452.] DOI
[23]	Lu T, Wang HZ, Wang X, Chen TF, Yang SW, Zhang XM (2001) Study on the biological properties of Lethrus apterus. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 9, 287-289, 295. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 鲁挺, 王辉珠, 汪玺, 陈天福, 杨生武, 张新民 (2001) 无翅大头粪金龟生物学特性研究. 草地学报, 9, 287-289, 295.] DOI
[24]	Nielsen UN, Ball BA (2015) Impacts of altered precipitation regimes on soil communities and biogeochemistry in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Global Change Biology, 21, 1407-1421. DOI PMID
[25]	Paknia O, Grundler M, Pfeiffer M (2013) Species richness and niche differentiation of darkling beetles (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae) in Mongolian steppe ecosystems. In: SteppeEcosystems: Management and Restoration (eds Biological Diversity, Prieto MBM, Diaz JT), pp. 47-72. Nova Science Publishers, New York.
[26]	Pfeiffer M, Enkhmunkh B (2013) Diversity and community pattern of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in arid Mongolia. Wissenschaftliche Beiträge Der Martin- Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 12, 251-266.
[27]	Polis G (1991) Complex trophic interactions in deserts: An empirical critique of food-web theory. The American Naturalist, 138, 123-155. DOI URL
[28]	Ren GD, Yu YZ (1999) The Darkling Beetles from Deserts and Semi-deserts of China (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Hebei University Publishing House, Baoding. (in Chinese)
	[ 任国栋, 于有志 (1999) 中国荒漠半荒漠的拟步甲科昆虫. 河北大学出版社, 保定.]
[29]	Sackmann P, Flores GE (2009) Temporal and spatial patterns of tenebrionid beetle diversity in NW Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Arid Environments, 73, 1095-1102.
[30]	Shen YC, Wang XH, Cheng WM, Wu JF, Lu Q, Feng YM (2016) Integrated physical regionalization of stony deserts in China. Progress in Geography, 35, 57-66. (in Chinese with English abstract) DOI
	[ 申元村, 王秀红, 程维明, 吴金凤, 卢琦, 冯益明 (2016) 中国戈壁综合自然区划研究. 地理科学进展, 35, 57-66.] DOI
[31]	Stapp P (1997) Microhabitat use and community structure of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in shortgrass prairie: Effects of season shrub and soil type. The American Midland Naturalist, 137, 298-311. DOI URL
[32]	Thomas DB (1979) Patterns in the abundance of some tenebrionid beetles in the Mojave Deseret. Environmental Entomology, 8, 568-574.
[33]	Wang J, Lü ZZ, Yin F (2016) The influence of landscape heterogeneity on diversity of ground beetles in arid regions. Journal of Environmental Entomology, 38, 67-76. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 王晶, 吕昭智, 殷飞 (2016) 干旱区景观异质性对地表甲虫多样性的影响. 环境昆虫学报, 38, 67-76.]
[34]	Whicker AD, Tracy CR (1987) Tenebrionid beetles in the shortgrass prairie: Daily and seasonal patterns of activity and temperature. Ecological Entomology, 12, 97-108.
[35]	Xu YC, Lou QZ, Ma JH, Lü ZZ (2013) Darkling beetles diversity in southern marginal zone of the Gurbantonggut desert. Arid Zone Research, 30, 674-680. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 徐养诚, 娄巧哲, 马吉宏, 吕昭智 (2013) 古尔班通古特沙漠南缘拟步甲的物种多样性. 干旱区研究, 30, 674-680.]
[36]	Yang GJ, He HM, Wang XP (2012) The time structure and population dynamics of the desert-steppe darkling beetle community in Yanchi, Ningxia, China. Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology, 49, 1610-1617. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 杨贵军, 贺海明, 王新谱 (2012) 盐池荒漠草地拟步甲昆虫群落时间结构和动态. 应用昆虫学报, 49, 1610-1617.]
[37]	Yu LQ, Li JW, Li JQ, Cong RC, Lu Q (2014) Classification and specialty of the natural resources in the desert and Gobi ecosystem in China. Journal of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University (Natural Science Edition), 35, 59-66. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 于琳倩, 李景文, 李俊清, 丛日春, 卢琦 (2014) 中国沙漠、戈壁自然资源分类体系及其组成特点. 内蒙古农业大学学报(自然科学版), 35, 59-66.]
[38]	Zhang JY, Jia L, Yu YZ (2004) The biological characteristics of blaps gobiensis (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Journal of Ningxia University (Natural Science Edition), 25, 264-267. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[ 张建英, 贾龙, 于有志 (2004) 戈壁琵甲(鞘翅目: 拟步甲科)生物学特性的研究. 宁夏大学学报(自然科学版), 25, 264-267.]
[39]	Zheng LY, Gui H (1999) Insect Classification. Nanjing Normal University Press, Nanjing. (in Chinese)
	[ 郑乐怡, 归鸿 (1999) 昆虫分类. 南京师范大学出版社, 南京.]

地表甲虫 Ground-dwelling beetles	月降水量 MP		月平均温度 MAT
地表甲虫 Ground-dwelling beetles	r	P	r	P
群落 Community
所有地表甲虫
活动密度 Activity density	0.33	0.116	0.56	0.005
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.40	0.052	0.56	0.005
捕食性甲虫 Predatory beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.69	< 0.001	0.69	0.001
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.69	< 0.001	0.66	< 0.001
植食性甲虫 Herbivorous beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.72	< 0.001	0.37	0.076
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.76	< 0.001	0.44	0.032
腐食性甲虫 Detritivorous beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.17	0.435	0.49	0.015
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.14	0.525	0.45	0.029
个体大小 Body size
大甲虫 Large beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.43	0.035	0.50	0.013
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.45	0.028	0.49	0.016
中甲虫 Medium beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.28	0.193	?0.10	0.646
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.37	0.076	?0.02	0.929
小甲虫 Small beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.19	0.369	0.64	< 0.001
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.21	0.333	0.73	< 0.001
主要甲虫种 Dominant beetle species
波笨粪金龟 Lethrus potanini	0.60	0.002	0.13	0.552
大甜菜象 Cleonus verrucosus	0.45	0.029	0.71	< 0.001
深洼齿足象 Deracanthus jakovlevi	0.54	0.007	0.26	0.214
宽突东鳖甲 Anatolica sternalis	?0.25	0.232	?0.34	0.105
戈壁琵甲 Blaps gobiensis	0.34	0.107	0.45	0.028
中华砚甲 Cyphogenia chinensis	0.15	0.498	0.51	0.011
洛氏脊漠甲 Pterocoma loczyi	0.04	0.837	0.17	0.420
阿小鳖甲 Microdera kraatzi alashanica	0.20	0.340	0.64	< 0.001
克氏扁漠甲 Sternotrigon kraatzi	0.19	0.375	0.57	0.004

地表甲虫 Ground-dwelling beetles	月降水量 MP		月平均温度 MAT
地表甲虫 Ground-dwelling beetles	r	P	r	P
群落 Community
所有地表甲虫
活动密度 Activity density	0.33	0.116	0.56	0.005
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.40	0.052	0.56	0.005
捕食性甲虫 Predatory beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.69	< 0.001	0.69	0.001
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.69	< 0.001	0.66	< 0.001
植食性甲虫 Herbivorous beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.72	< 0.001	0.37	0.076
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.76	< 0.001	0.44	0.032
腐食性甲虫 Detritivorous beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.17	0.435	0.49	0.015
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.14	0.525	0.45	0.029
个体大小 Body size
大甲虫 Large beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.43	0.035	0.50	0.013
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.45	0.028	0.49	0.016
中甲虫 Medium beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.28	0.193	?0.10	0.646
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.37	0.076	?0.02	0.929
小甲虫 Small beetles
活动密度 Activity density	0.19	0.369	0.64	< 0.001
物种丰富度 Species richness	0.21	0.333	0.73	< 0.001
主要甲虫种 Dominant beetle species
波笨粪金龟 Lethrus potanini	0.60	0.002	0.13	0.552
大甜菜象 Cleonus verrucosus	0.45	0.029	0.71	< 0.001
深洼齿足象 Deracanthus jakovlevi	0.54	0.007	0.26	0.214
宽突东鳖甲 Anatolica sternalis	?0.25	0.232	?0.34	0.105
戈壁琵甲 Blaps gobiensis	0.34	0.107	0.45	0.028
中华砚甲 Cyphogenia chinensis	0.15	0.498	0.51	0.011
洛氏脊漠甲 Pterocoma loczyi	0.04	0.837	0.17	0.420
阿小鳖甲 Microdera kraatzi alashanica	0.20	0.340	0.64	< 0.001
克氏扁漠甲 Sternotrigon kraatzi	0.19	0.375	0.57	0.004