Aspetti biogeografici delle comunità di Carabidi (Coleoptera, Carabidae) dei sistemi costieri italiani

Abstract

Biogeographia vol. XXIII ~ 2002 (Pubblicato il 1° ottobre 2002) Biogeografia degli ambienti costieri Aspetti biogeografici delle comunita di Carabidi (Coleoptera, Carabidae) dei sistemi costieri italiani AUGUSTO VIGNA TAGLIANTI, SIMONE FATTORINI Dzfartime7zto di Biologia Animals‘ 6 de[[’Uomo (Zoologizz), U72z'11er5z't:‘z di Roma qLzz Sapienzzz ’: Vizzle a’ell’Uniz1em't2z, 32 — 1-001 8 5 Roma Key words: Italy, coastal areas, ecology, biogeography, Carabids SUMMARY Out of a total of ca. 1,300 species of carabid beetles recorded from Italy, at least some 400 inhabit coastal areas, due to the high extent of the Italian coasts (covering bioclimatically different regions) and the general hygrophilic preference of these insects. However, the actual number of species strictly associated with coastal habitats (stenoecious species) is very low (some 50). The following main habitat types can be recognised: (1) rocky coasts; (2) sandy shores; (3) dunes; (4) low maquis; (5) plant associations with Szzlicorzzizz; (6) plant associations with P/2rzzg77zite:; and (7) plant associations with jmzczzr. The carabid beetles stenoecious for the rocky coasts include only three Mediterranean Bembidiini: Ocydromzzs :tez'71bue/J/eri, Lymnrtezmz nig7'apireI177z, and Lymizrzezzm rzlzeillei. Sandy shores harbour the Mediterranean Pzzr/zllelamorp/J1/5 Izzevigzzrzz: (a predaceous species feeding on talitrids and strictly associated with the eulittoral zone), the W—Mediterranean Emyne/zritz comp]/zizrztzz (a threatened species today), and two Dyschiriini: the W—Mediterranean D}/so/Jz'rz'115 mz771idia1:, and the E—Mediterranean Dysc/Jiriotles bzzcillur. The carabid beetles living in the Italian dune systems include the following stenoecious species: Sczzritex /mp/z7'im, a \W—Mediterranean species, and Cryptop/1072115 me/mic/J0[z'cztr, an Euro—Mediterranean species, both widely distributed in Italian coastal areas; Mrt.rm'm5 (leg)/pz‘z'tzc1ts, a W—Medirerranean species, with a scattered distribution in southern Italy; Cryptop/10ml: fizli/zzr and C. lizigiasux, two Mediterranean species, the Italian distribution of which appear restricted to Sardinia and Sicily, and to some Tyrrhenian and Adriatic stations, respectively; A77ItlI'll c/Jloratiaz, a N—African species restricted to Sardinia; Czzkzt/J11: malli: a W—Palearctic species, restricted to Sardinia and Sicily. Some 20 stenoecious species (belonging to Afrotropico— Indo—Meditertanean, W—Mediteri'anean, E—Mediterranean, Mediterranean, Turano—European, W—Palearctic, S— European, Centralasiatic—Europeo—Mediterranean distributional types), inhabit Salicaiwia plant associations, which appear the most speciose and zoogeographically varied habitat. By contrast, the P/imgmites plant associations are less speciose, harbouring only 6 stenoecious species each, most of whicl1 belonging to northern distributional types. Six stenoecious species also occur in fzuzczzr plant association. A biogeographically interesting component of the carabid fauna inhabiting the Italian coastal areas is represented by transadriatic and transionian species. Most of these species occur in Italy only along Ionian and S—Adriatic coasts, which represent the westernmost limit of their ranges. As these species are widely distributed East to the Italian peninsula, their occurrence in Italy with scattered populations appears to be better explained by ecological factors than historical events. A few species appear restricted to Sardinia, where they have been probably imported. Finally, Czmzbxzrgrzznulatzzs occurs, in the Italian coastal systems, with two subspecies, probably originated as a consequence of Pleistocene isolation.