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Scaccini D, Bartolozzi L, Zilioli M, Di Giulio A, Ruzzier E. Distribution of the genus Platycerus Geoffroy (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) in Italy. Biodivers Data J 2024; 12:e127088. [PMID: 38974673 PMCID: PMC11226855 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.12.e127088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Stag beetles are saproxylic species that are associated with deadwood in the larval stage and play an important role in forest ecosystem dynamics. In Italy, Platyceruscaprea and Platyceruscaraboides are two small, elusive stag beetle species, whose known distribution is often limited or referring to old records. New information The present contribution increases the knowledge on the Italian distribution of P.caprea and P.caraboides, adding 70% more sites when compared to previously published records. Ecological traits, especially related to the altitude-elevation distribution in Italy, are also described for these saproxylic beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Scaccini
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment – University of Padua, Legnaro, Padua, ItalyDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment – University of PaduaLegnaro, PaduaItaly
| | - Luca Bartolozzi
- Museo Zoologico "La Specola", Florence, ItalyMuseo Zoologico "La Specola"FlorenceItaly
| | - Michele Zilioli
- Natural History Museum, Corso Venezia, Milan, ItalyNatural History Museum, Corso VeneziaMilanItaly
| | - Andrea Di Giulio
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, viale G. Marconi 446, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Science, Roma Tre University, viale G. Marconi 446RomeItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, ItalyNBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | - Enrico Ruzzier
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, viale G. Marconi 446, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Science, Roma Tre University, viale G. Marconi 446RomeItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, ItalyNBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
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Thomaes A, Barbalat S, Bardiani M, Bower L, Campanaro A, Fanega Sleziak N, Gonçalo Soutinho J, Govaert S, Harvey D, Hawes C, Kadej M, Méndez M, Meriguet B, Rink M, Rossi De Gasperis S, Ruyts S, Jelaska LŠ, Smit J, Smolis A, Snegin E, Tagliani A, Vrezec A. The European Stag Beetle ( Lucanus cervus) Monitoring Network: International Citizen Science Cooperation Reveals Regional Differences in Phenology and Temperature Response. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12090813. [PMID: 34564253 PMCID: PMC8466357 DOI: 10.3390/insects12090813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary International cooperation is needed to prevent the loss of threatened species. To evaluate the situation, standardised monitoring is an important tool. Involving the general public (citizen science) can play a crucial role in realising such international monitoring. Here we report on the start-up and initial findings of the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network (ESBMN), an international network of stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) monitoring schemes using the same protocol. This network aims to regularly assess local and international changes in the population of the stag beetle. Therefore, an internationally standardised protocol was agreed and a website was created where volunteers can create a transect and submit the data of their transect walks. Currently, the number of transects and transect walks submitted is increasing annually and will soon allow trend analysis. Our initial experience with the ESBMN shows that volunteers need more guidance and encouragement to avoid them dropping out of the project. In conclusion, we believe this system of international cooperation can be used for other charismatic insects in order to evaluate their threatened status and plan conservation actions. Abstract To address the decline in biodiversity, international cooperation in monitoring of threatened species is needed. Citizen science can play a crucial role in achieving this challenging goal, but most citizen science projects have been established at national or regional scales. Here we report on the establishment and initial findings of the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network (ESBMN), an international network of stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) monitoring schemes using the same protocol. The network, started in 2016, currently includes 14 countries (see results) but with a strong variation in output regarding the number of transects (148 successful transects in total) and transect walks (1735). We found differences across European regions in the number of stag beetles recorded, related to phenology and temperature, but not for time of transect start. Furthermore, the initial experiences of the ESBMN regarding international cooperation, citizen science approach, and drop-out of volunteers is discussed. An international standardised protocol that allows some local variation is essential for international collaboration and data management, and analysis is best performed at the international level, whereas recruiting, training, and maintaining volunteers is best organised locally. In conclusion, we appeal for more joint international citizen science-based monitoring initiatives assisting international red-listing and conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arno Thomaes
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), 1000 Brussels, Belgium
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Marco Bardiani
- Raparto Carabinieri Biodiversità di Verona, Centro Nazionale Carabinieri Biodiversità ‘Bosco Fontana’, 46045 Marmirolo, Italy;
| | - Laura Bower
- People’s Trust for Endangered Species, London SW8 4BG, UK;
| | | | - Natalia Fanega Sleziak
- Department of Biosystems (BIOSYST), Catholic University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - João Gonçalo Soutinho
- Associação Bioliving, 3850-635 Frossos, Portugal;
- CIBIO/InBIO—Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sanne Govaert
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Environment, Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Deborah Harvey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK;
| | - Colin Hawes
- Independent Researcher, Bentley IP9 2BS, UK;
| | - Marcin Kadej
- Department of Invertebrate Biology, Evolution and Conservation, University of Wrocław, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland; (M.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Marcos Méndez
- Area of Biodiversity and Conservation, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, Spain;
| | - Bruno Meriguet
- Office Pour Les Insectes et Leur Environnement, 78280 Guyancourt, France;
| | - Markus Rink
- Hirschkäferfreunde-Nature Two e.V., 56859 Alf, Germany;
| | - Sarah Rossi De Gasperis
- Department of Biology-Natural History Museum ‘La Specola’, University of Florence, 50125 Florence, Italy;
| | | | - Lucija Šerić Jelaska
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - John Smit
- European Invertebrate Survey—The Netherlands/Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2300 Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Adrian Smolis
- Department of Invertebrate Biology, Evolution and Conservation, University of Wrocław, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland; (M.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Eduard Snegin
- Biology and Chemistry Department, Belgorod State University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia;
| | - Arianna Tagliani
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Al Vrezec
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
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Satomi D, Koshio C, Tatsuta H, Kudo S, Takami Y. Latitudinal variation and coevolutionary diversification of sexually dimorphic traits in the false blister beetle Oedemera sexualis. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:4949-4957. [PMID: 31031956 PMCID: PMC6476772 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual traits are subject to evolutionary forces that maximize reproductive benefits and minimize survival costs, both of which can depend on environmental conditions. Latitude explains substantial variation in environmental conditions. However, little is known about the relationship between sexual trait variation and latitude, although body size often correlates with latitude. We examined latitudinal variation in male and female sexual traits in 22 populations of the false blister beetle Oedemera sexualis in the Japanese Archipelago. Males possess massive hind legs that function as a female-grasping apparatus, while females possess slender hind legs that are used to dislodge mounting males. Morphometric analyses revealed that male and female body size (elytron length), length and width of the hind femur and tibia, and allometric slopes of these four hind leg dimensions differed significantly among populations. Of these, three traits showed latitudinal variation, namely, male hind femur was stouter; female hind tibia was slenderer, and female body was smaller at lower latitudes than at higher latitudes. Hind leg sizes and shapes, as measured by principal component analysis of these four hind leg dimensions in each sex, covaried significantly between sexes, suggesting coevolutionary diversification in sexual traits. Covariation between sexes was weaker when variation in these traits with latitude was removed. These results suggest that coevolutionary diversification between male and female sexual traits is mediated by environmental conditions that vary with latitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Satomi
- Graduate School of Human Development and EnvironmentKobe UniversityKobeJapan
| | - Chiharu Koshio
- Department of BiologyNaruto University of EducationTokushimaJapan
| | - Haruki Tatsuta
- Faculty of AgricultureUniversity of the RyukyusOkinawaJapan
| | - Shin‐ichi Kudo
- Department of BiologyNaruto University of EducationTokushimaJapan
| | - Yasuoki Takami
- Graduate School of Human Development and EnvironmentKobe UniversityKobeJapan
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