Vertical Stratification of Beetles in Deciduous Forest Communities in the Centre of European Russia

Alexander B Ruchin,Leonid V Egorov

doi:10.3390/d13110508

Alexander B Ruchin, Leonid V Egorov

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/d13110508

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Abstract

Studies on the vertical distribution of arthropods in temperate forests have revealed the uneven vertical distribution of communities. Many factors influence these patterns simultaneously. However, there are still many questions related to the vertical distribution of Coleoptera in deciduous forests of the temperate zone. The research was carried out within the territory of the Republic of Mordovia (the center of the European part of Russia). Fermental traps with a bait made of fermenting beer with sugar were used to collect Coleoptera. The collections were carried out from May to September 2020 at five sites in a deciduous forest. We set traps at a height of 1.5, 3.5, 7.5 and 12 m above the ground) on the branches of trees. Ninety-two species were identified at the end of studies at different heights. The families Nitidulidae (15 species), Cerambycidae (14 species), Elateridae (7 species), Curculionidae (7 species) and Scarabaeidae (7 species) had the greatest species diversity. The greatest species diversity was recorded at a height of 1.5 m, while the smallest one was recorded at a height of 7.5 m. The minimum number of specimens was recorded at a height of 12 m. The largest differences in the Jaccard similarity index were obtained between samples from a height of 1.5 and 12 m. The Shannon’s diversity index was higher near the ground than in the tree crowns (at heights of 7.5 and 12 m), and the Simpson index had the opposite tendency. Glischrochilus hortensis and to a lesser extent Cychramus luteus preferred to live in the lowest layers of deciduous forest (1.5 m). Cryptarcha strigata was mainly found with relatively high numbers at heights of 3.5 m and 7.5 m. The abundance and occurrence of Protaetia marmorata and Quedius dilatatus were higher in the uppermost layers of the crowns. The number of saproxylic beetle species at heights of 3.5–12 m was almost the same, while in the surface layer it decreased. The number of anthophilic beetle species was also lower at a low altitude. Our data confirm the relevance of sampling in forest ecosystems at different altitudes while studying arthropod biodiversity.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilForests are three-dimensional ecosystems where all organisms are distributed along various horizontal ecological gradients, e.g., [1,2,3], and along the vertical gradient between forest litter and tree crowns [4]
Glischrochilus hortensis and to a lesser extent Cychramus luteus preferred to live in the lowest layers of deciduous forest
Ninety-two species were identified as a result of studies at different heights of deciduous forests in the temperate zone of the European part of Russia

Summary

Introduction

Forests are three-dimensional ecosystems where all organisms are distributed along various horizontal ecological gradients, e.g., [1,2,3], and along the vertical gradient between forest litter and tree crowns [4]. Many studies have been conducted on the vertical stratification of different insect orders. They revealed certain patterns in their preferences in forest ecosystems, including Lepidoptera [5,6,7], Hymenoptera [8,9,10,11], Neuroptera [12,13], Diptera [14,15,16], and others [17,18]. Cerambycidae diversity in Canadian forests was higher in canopy than in undergrowth, whereas abundance was higher in undergrowth iations

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