Types of geographical distribution of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) in Central Europe

Michael Schmitt,Thomas Rönn

doi:10.3897/zookeys.157.1798

Abstract

A comparison of the geographical distribution patterns of 647 species of Chrysomelidae in Central Europe revealed 13 types of distribution: (1) widely distributed, (2) southern, (3) southeastern, (4) southwestern, (5) northern, (6) eastern, (7) south east quarter, (8) south west quarter, (9) fragmented, (10) montane, (11) subalpine & alpine, (12) scattered, (13) unusual, and irregular patterns produced by insufficient data. Some of these distributions are trivial (e. g. northern, eastern, etc., alpine) but others are surprising. Some cannot be explained, e. g. the remarkable gaps in the distribution of Chrysolina limbata (Fabricius, 1775) and in Aphthona nonstriata (Goeze, 1777). Although our 63.000 records are necessarily tentative, we found that the distribution maps from these data reflect in many cases the common knowledge on the occurrence of leaf beetles in specific areas.

Highlights

Distribution data of organisms are necessary for basic research, as they provide insights into their potential ecological interactions and the colonisation of a given area
As they considered it necessary to compile the available data on the zoogeography of Chrysomelidae, the 18 enthusiasts formed a working group on leaf beetle faunistics (CHRYFAUN): Ulf Arnold (Schöneiche, Germany), Wolfgang Bäse (Rheindorf, Germany), Ron Beenen (Nieuwegein, The Netherlands), Bozidar Drovenik (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Manfred Döberl (Abensberg, Germany), Dieter Erber (24.02.1933 - 28.02.2004, Giessen, Germany), Frank Fritzlar (Jena, Germany), Elisabeth Geiser (Salzburg, Austria), Uwe Heinig (Berlin, Germany), Horst Kippenberg (Herzogenaurach, Germany), Michael Langer (Niederwiesa, Germany), Winrich Mertens (Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany), “Theo” Michael Schmitt, Matthias Schöller (Berlin, Germany), Dieter Siede, Walter Steinhausen (München, Germany), and Andrzej Warchałowski (Wroclaw, Poland)
The highest number of records lie in areas where either amateur coleopterists clubs (Rhineland, Baden-Württemberg) or individual collectors (e.g., The Netherlands: Utrecht, Germany: Berlin) are very active, or at touristically and faunistically attractive sites, e. g

Summary

Introduction

Distribution data of organisms are necessary for basic research, as they provide insights into their potential ecological interactions and the colonisation of a given area. In the autumn of 1987, a group of 18 amateur and professional coleopterists working on leaf beetles decided to co-operate in continuing the faunistics project of Adolf Horion (12.07.1888 – 28.05.1977) He had published a series of 12 volumes on the geographic distribution of beetles in Central Europe between 1941 and 1974 but could not complete his project of treating all coleopteran families. As they considered it necessary to compile the available data on the zoogeography of Chrysomelidae, the 18 enthusiasts formed a working group on leaf beetle faunistics (CHRYFAUN) (those whose names and last names are given in Italics left the group in the meantime): Ulf Arnold (Schöneiche, Germany), Wolfgang Bäse (Rheindorf, Germany), Ron Beenen (Nieuwegein, The Netherlands), Bozidar Drovenik (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Manfred Döberl (Abensberg, Germany), Dieter Erber (24.02.1933 - 28.02.2004, Giessen, Germany), Frank Fritzlar (Jena, Germany), Elisabeth Geiser (Salzburg, Austria), Uwe Heinig (Berlin, Germany), Horst Kippenberg (Herzogenaurach, Germany), Michael Langer (Niederwiesa, Germany), Winrich Mertens (Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany), “Theo” Michael Schmitt ( in Greifswald, Germany), Matthias Schöller (Berlin, Germany), Dieter Siede ( in Retterath, Germany), Walter Steinhausen (München, Germany), and Andrzej Warchałowski (Wroclaw, Poland)

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