Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to compare soil beetle (Coleoptera) species composition between two sites on the Borborema Plateau in Northeastern Brazil. We collected 483 individuals belonging to 23 Coleoptera families and 75 species/morphospecies. On the east face of the Borborema Plateau (Areia-PB) we collected a total of 332 individuals representing 58 species/morphospecies and 21 families. On the west face (Cabaceiras-PB) we collected 151 individuals representing 24 species/morphospecies and eight families. Among the 75 total species/morphospecies collected, 51 occurred exclusively on the eastern face of the plateau and 17 occurred exclusively on the west face. Only seven morphospecies were sampled in both areas. The marked difference in beetle assemblage species composition between the west and east sides of the Borborema Plateau suggests that the positioning and climatic variations maintain and promote high levels of beetle diversity in northeastern Brazil.
Highlights
The orographic effect is an important driver of climate
We address the following questions: (1) How many beetles species are found on both the east and west face of the plateau? (2) How does the richness and abundance of beetle species vary between the west and east side of the plateau? and (3) How does beetle species composition change at the outer edges of this east-west gradient? A dearth of taxonomic information is recognised as one of the major obstacles in the conservation of biodiversity in Northeast Brazil (COLEMAN, 2015; HORTAL et al, 2015), and information about species distribution and assemblage composition are crucial to land management and conservation best practices
Beetles were studied in two areas, located 85 km apart, on the Borborema Plateau (Figure 1)
Summary
Mountains force air masses upward, cooling the air and resulting in precipitation on the windward side. By the time the air mass crosses the mountain, it has lost most of its moisture, resulting in less precipitation on the leeward side of mountain or range (ROE, 2005; JUNQUAS et al, 2016). The orographic effect, promotes changes in temperature and humidity, which may affect species distribution (GUEDES ALCOFORADO-FILHO et al, 2003; ANDRADE et al, 2006; OLIVEIRA; ANDRADE; FÉLIX, 2006). This phenomenon occurs on the coast of Northeastern Brazil (UVO; BERNDTSSON, 1996; LYRA; OLIVEIRAJÚNIOR; ZERI, 2014). How this process shapes soil beetle species assemblages still unknown
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