Fermín Martín-Piera

Phylogenetic relationships of Iberian dung beetles (Coleoptera: scarabaeinae): insights on the evolution of nesting behavior.

A phylogeny of the main lineages of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) from the Iberian Peninsula was based on partial nucleotide sequences (about 1221 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II genes of 33 taxa. Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed the validity and composition of most of the recognized tribes within the subfamily. Interestingly, the Onitini showed an evolutionary rate significantly higher than that of the other tribes. The molecular phylogeny supports a sister-group relationship of the tribes Onitini and Oniticellini + Onthophagini. A close relationship of Scarabaeini, Gymnopleurini, and Sisyphini is also suggested but lacks bootstrap support. Surprisingly, the Coprini, which had always been related to the Oniticellini and Onthophagini, were placed closer to the Scarabaeini, Gymnopleurini, and Sisyphini. The inferred molecular phylogeny was used to assess the main evolutionary trends of nesting behavior. Our results suggest tentative single origins for both the tunneling and the rolling behaviors, and the possibility that the rolling behavior could have been lost secondarily in Copris.

Ecology and biogeography of dung-beetle communities (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) in an iberian mountain range

The role of the Eastern Mountains of the Iberian Central System (EMICS) as both a barrier to the dispersion of, and ecologic refuge for, Scarabaeoidea dung beetles is studied. An Ecogeographic Patterns comparison method (EP = set of ecologic features common to, and present geographic range shared by, a group of species) to weight the historical and ecological causes of geographic distribution is proposed. This method is based on the assumption that species now sharing geographic ranges, with common structural and nonstructural features, also have a (to some extent) common evolutionary history. The data studied indicate that (i) fauna of the N and S slopes are identical. Euroturanian and Mediterranean species, and those which belong to the Scarabaeidae family, predominated in all samples. Except for very few species, the EMICS have not impeded dispersal of Scarabaeoidea dung beetles; minor regional differences should be explained in terms of ecological causes. (ii) The variation in abundance, richness, characteristic species, systematic composition and EP was found to relate mainly with altitude. Principally endemic, European or wider-range species of the Aphodiidae and Geotrupidae families, prevented from dispersing toward lower altitudes by a climatic discontinuity, colonize the higher altitudes, having taken refuge in the EMICS after Pleistocene glaciations. (iii) The explanation of the causes of the present vertical distribution of Scarabaeoidea dung beetles in the EMICS must take into account the historical events there, and major modifications of the geographic distribution of the species inhabiting it. The agreement of inferences drawn from EP analysis with those drawn from paleontologic and phylogenetic evidence (for some species) supports the use of EP, and validates the assumption made in their application.

Dung Beetle Geographic Diversity Variation Along a Western Iberian Latitudinal Transect (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract To explore the richness and geographic turnover of dung beetle assemblages (Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae) inhabiting the Western Iberian peninsula, a latitudinal north–south transect was carried out in Portuguese territory. Estimators of alpha, beta, and gamma diversities were used, as well as the ratio Scarabaeinae/Aphodiinae, which puts into evidence some dung beetle community spatial characteristics. Clustering methods were also used to ascertain relationships between biogeographical Portuguese regions and geographical patterns of species replacement. Although Scarabaeinae appears mainly responsible for overall and regional richness, Aphodiinae richness was rather low everywhere except for the southernmost plot of the transect investigated. The scarcity of Aphodiinae species is reflected in the Scarabaeinae/Aphodiinae ratio, a score that is, however, clearly biased toward the Aphodiinae in almost all the Iberian Peninsula. For this reason the pairwise turnover in species composition between sites is mainly determined by the variation in Scarabaeinae species. Peaks of β-diversity, especially for Scarabaeinae, and clusters from dendrograms are highly consistent with physioclimatic subregions of Portugal, thus suggesting a correspondence between biogeographic and environmental boundaries.

Area Networks for Conserving Iberian Insects: A Case Study of Dung Beetles (col., Scarabaeoidea)

Possibilities to create an efficient network of areas for the conservation of Iberian dung-beetle biodiversity were investigated. Data were taken from ‘BANDASCA’, a 15,740 record dung-beetle database with information for 101,996 specimens. The greatest species richness and phylogenetic diversity are found in the Iberian Central System cordilleras, while those of range-size rarity are in the southernmost corner of the Iberian Peninsula and in the coastal plains of the Guadalquivir basin. Additionally, broad regional score trends of these variables reach a maximum in a smaller northeastern, and a larger southeastern region (Baetic and sub-Baetic mountains). Major Central and Southern Spain dung-beetle hotspots contain many of the UTM grid cells which delimit the near-minimum-set of areas hosting maximum dung-beetle biodiversity scores. They are viewed as the nucleus of a potential network of reserves. A UTM grid cell (30TXK1) where Onthophagus albarracinus, an endemic and demographically rare species inhabits the Sierra of Albarracín and ‘Montes Universales’, was detected as an irreplaceable area. Because of recent land use changes and rapid human-induced habitat transformation threatening dung-beetle fauna, caution should be taken not to recommend an in memoriam network of areas no longer hosting a fauna extinct today. The abandoning of traditional herding management in Europe threatens the preservation of grasslands where dung-feeding beetles play a major ecological role in maintaining pasture quality and livestock health. A return to more traditional herding methods would require stable dung-beetle populations. Any insect conservation planning in Spain would benefit from more biogeographical information for other insect groups.

Revision of the genus Amadotrogus Reitter, 1902 (n. stat.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae)

Abstract In this paper, the subgenus Amadotrogus Reitter, 1902 and its taxonomic status as a subordinate taxon of genus Amphimallon are reviewed. Two kinds of character sets are discussed; those relative to the external morphology of the adult and those of the male and female genitalia. Subgenus Amadotrogus is compared with its recognized allied genera in the same clade (Coca-Abia 1995) Amphimallon Berthold, 1827; Geotrogus Guérin, 1842; Monotropus Erichson, 1847; Pseudoapeterogyna Escalera, 1914 and Rhizotrogus Berthold, 1827 to asses the realtionships of these taxa. Phylogenetic analysis discloses that Amadotrogus, considered to be a subgenus of Amphimallon, has synapomorphic characters which justify its elevation to generic rank. Thus, genus Amadotrogus includes seven species distributed across the Northern Mediterranean basin. The type species, Amadotrogus quercanus (Burmeister, 1855), and six others, transferred from genus Rhizotrogus: Amadotrogus grassii (Mainardi, 1902), Amadotrogus insubricus (Burmeister, 1855), Amadotrogus oertzeni (Brenske, 1886), Amadotrogus patru- elis (Reiche, 1862), Amadotrougs truncatus (Brenske, 1886) and Amadotrogus vicinus (Mulsant, 1842) (Coca-Abia & Martín-Piera 1998). In addition, Rhizotrogus rugifrons Burmeister, 1855 is considered a new synonym of Amadotrogus vicinus. Rhizotrogus bolivari Martínez y Sáez, 1873, Amphimallon cata- launicum Báguena, 1956 and Rhizotrogus lajonquierei Baraud, 1970 are synonymized with Amadotrogus patruelis.