Abstract
We report the Carabidae collected at the Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve (SANR) in Baha Province in southwestern Saudi Arabia during 2013–2015. In total, 62 carabid species and subspecies representing 39 genera, 17 tribes, and 10 subfamilies were identified, including one new species, Paussusminutulus Nagel & Rasool, sp. n, four new country records, and 24 species that are new provincial records for Baha. The carabid fauna was dominated by the Lebiini with 19 species. A high number of species were rarely collected (34 species) in comparison to the more abundant and common species (9 species). The highest number of species (52 species) was collected during autumn. The carabids of SANR are represented by a large component of Afrotropical faunal elements (28.1%) and smaller numbers of Oriental species (3.5%) and endemic taxa (5.3%). In comparison to Garf Raydah Nature Reserve in Asir Province, also in southwestern Saudi Arabia, SANR had an equal number of carabids sharing 64.5% of the species but with lower number of endemic elements. Our study can serve as a component for implementing a conservation plan for SANR using carabid beetles as sentinel taxa. These research results may support future ecological studies on SNAR carabids.
Highlights
Over the past three decades, numerous new wildlife protected areas have been established in Saudi Arabia (SA)
We report the Carabidae collected at the Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve (SANR) in Baha Province in southwestern Saudi Arabia during 2013–2015
These species include the description of a new species (Paussus minutulus sp. n.), three SA endemic species and six confined to Arabian Peninsula
Summary
Over the past three decades, numerous new wildlife protected areas have been established in Saudi Arabia (SA). Recent insect biodiversity survey and monitoring research projects in several protected areas in SA have been conducted by King Saud University Museum of Arthropods, Riyadh; resulting in several faunistic and ecological works being published (Aldhafer et al 2012, 2016; Sharaf et al 2013; Abdel-Dayem et al 2016, 2017, 2018; El-Hawagry et al 2016, 2017, 2018) One of these recent projects was focused on the insect biodiversity of Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve (SANR) in Baha Province in southwestern SA. 119 species of flies (Diptera) have been reported from the SANR (El-Hawagry et al 2016)
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