Journal
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
Volume 20, Issue 4, Pages 861-872Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10531-010-9987-6
Keywords
Montado mosaic; Sclerophyllous woodland; Land-use intensification; Coleoptera; Beta diversity; Moisture traits
Funding
- Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [POCTI/BIA-BDE/61122/2004, SFRH/BD/37976/2007]
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [SFRH/BD/37976/2007] Funding Source: FCT
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The relative contribution of mixed orchard and riparian vegetation patches to local and regional diversity of Mediterranean landscapes dominated by cork-oak woodlands was tested in 2006-2007 using ground, rove and darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Tenebrionidae). Mixed orchard and riparian gallery habitats recorded higher values of abundance and species richness for overall beetle species, although most darkling beetle species were associated with the sclerophyllous cork-oak woodlands. Ground and rove beetle community structure changed from the orchard and riparian habitats to samples placed 100 m away into the surrounding cork-oak woodland, i.e., non-cork-oak patches enhanced beta diversity within the landscape mosaic. Analysis of ground beetle traits concerning moisture preferences revealed a higher proportion of hygrophilous species in mixed orchard and riparian gallery habitats while xerophilous species were dominant within the cork-oak woodlands. The results of this study suggested that land-use management promoting the maintenance of habitat heterogeneity enhances biodiversity conservation of important hygrophilous and xerophilous species, and subsequently the sustainable use of Mediterranean agro-forest mosaics.
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