Spatio-temporal variation of scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in two oak biotopes of Ouled Bechih Forest, Souk-Ahras region (north-eastern Algeria)

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the results of a comparative study with the objective of studying the spatio-temporal variation in the abundance and richness of scarab beetles in two oak biotopes (cork oak – Quercus suber and zeen oak – Q. canariensis) of the Ouled Bechih Forest in the Souk-Ahras region of north-eastern Algeria during 2017. Two sampling techniques were used: pitfall traps and bidirectional glass traps. During the study period 6022 individuals were collected and 17 species of the family Scarabaeidae were identified. The results of nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis H-test) show that there is a significant difference in abundance and richness between the two biotopes and from March to August. These two biodiversity parameters were greater in the cork oak than in the zeen oak forests. The activity of the scarab beetles was much higher in the dry season, but lower in the rainy season. The phytophagous species were most influenced by seasonality, especially in the cork oak biotopes, whereas the coprophagous ones remained relatively constant in both habitats.