Journal of Environmental Biology July 2006, 27(3) 515-521 (2006) ©Triveni Enterprises, Lucknow (India) For personal use only Free paper downloaded from: www.jeb.co.in Commercial distribution of this copy is illegal

Distribution and diversity of ground in Başkonuş mountain National Park of

Sakine Serap Avgın Çukurova University, Art & Science Faculty, Department of Biology, Balcalı, Adana, Turkey.

(Received: 2 November, 2005 ; Accepted: 12 March, 2006)

Abstract: This study was carried out in National Park Başkonuş Mountain (Kahramanmaraş, Turkey), in Mediterranean region from April to October of 2004 and 2005. A total 31 species of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) were recorded in the pitfall traps. Among them, Carabus (Archicarabus) gotschi caramanus Fairmaire, 1886, Carabus (Procrustes) coriaceus mopsucrenae Peyron, 1858 and Nebria (Nebria) hemprichi Klug, 1832 were the most abundant species. Distribution, diversity and monthly distribution of species in steppes, forest edge and forest interior, and chorotypes and ecology of these species were separately given in this study. It was recorded that the diversity of ground beetles was significantly higher in the forest edge and steppes than in the forest interior. There was no significant difference in the diversity of ground beetles in the steppes and the forest edge.

Key words: Ground beetles, Ecology, Başkonuş mountain.

Introduction angustofolius , Teucrium polium L., Scutellaria orientalis L.

Başkonuş mountain National Park and is located subsp. santolinoides (Hausskn. ex Bornm.) Edmondson and within the boundaries of Kahramanmaraş province, Turkey, in Cerastium brachypetalum Pers. subsp. roeseri (Boiss. and Heldr.) Nyman. the Mediterranean region (Fig. 1). The altitude of Başkonuş mountains ranges between 600 and 1780 m. In this area 1010 hectare forest field is present in Başkonuş bedrock of Mesozoic and Paleozoic era is present (Pamir, mountain. This region is very important for its forest in Turkey. In 1975; Varol, 2003). Common soil formations in the area are this region, research about is rare and there is no work reddish brown Mediterranean soils, brown forest soils and done on ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) so far. brown non-calcareous forest soils (Varol, 2003). The ground beetles have been an important study This area has a Mediterranean climate with dry group in ecological research. Because they are diverse and summers and warm and rainy winters. The seasonal abundant, their ecology and systematics are relatively well precipitation regime during the year is winter, spring, autumn known, and they seem to be highly sensitive to habitat changes and summer. This is a typical first variant of the East and, thus, good indicators of environmental change (Thiele, Mediterranean climate (Varol, 2003). 1977; Ings and Hartley, 1999 ; Magura et al., 2000 ; Melnychuk

The study area lies within the Mediterranean et al., 2003). There are many quantitative studies on the phytogeographical region. The three main vegetation types distribution of ground beetles in various habitats in the world. In (Varol, 1999; Varol, 2003) which can be distinguished in the most of these studies, ground beetles were collected in pitfall study area are; 1. Macchie vegetation, from 300 to 600m, traps. Pitfall traps are very useful to find species that escape consisting evergreen shrubs. Common species include simple collection, to determine the relative abundance, Quercus coccifera L., Styrax officinalis L., Arbutus unedo L., simultaneous sampling of several habitats and to document Pistacia terebinthus L. subsp. palaestina (Boiss.) Engler and daily and seasonal rhythms (Thiele, 1977; Epstein and Kulman, Cotinus coggyria Scop. 2. Forest vegetation, from 600 to 1780 1990). Using pitfall traps, a study was conducted on the effects m, occupying different zones depending on local climatic of habitat structure on the ground community composition conditions, altitude and direction. The common tree species in of a regenerating native forest in the Deeside region of this belt area are Pinus brutia Ten., Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold northeast Scotland (Ings and Hartley, 1999), and in another subsp. nigra var. caramanica (Loudon) Rehder, Cedrus libani research on habitat distribution and seasonal occurrence of A.Rich., Abies cilicica (Antinori and Kotschy) Carr. subsp. carabid beetles during the growing seasons in east central cilicica which is the most abundant tree species of the region, Minnesota (Epstein and Kulman, 1990). A similar work was Taxus baccata L., Fagus orientalis Lipsky, Ostrya carpinifolia carried out on habitat based conservation priorities for carabid Scop. and Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. subsp. glutinosa. 3. beetles within the Picos de Europa National Park, Northern Steppe vegetation, mostly found just above the timberline at (Gutierrez et al. , 2004) and the effects of nature 1600 m in the clearing forest which develops with degradations management practice on carabids in the Aggtelek National Park of Abies and Cedrus forests in the area. The dominant species in (Magura et al. , 2000). In many works, researches of this plant belt are Astragalus plumosus Willd. var. plumosus , about carabid beetles in their enviroments were performed Astragalus angustifolius Lam. subsp. angustifolius var. (Gandhi et al. , 2001; Armstrong and McKinlay, 1997; Allegro

516 Sakine Serap Avgin

Fig. 1: Map showing the location of Başkonuş Mountain. and Sciaky, 2003; Döring and Kromp, 2003). The traps were emptied monthly. The species collected in pitfall

Many researches have been done on the ecology of traps every month were given in Table 1. Among them, Carabus carabids in the world. However, these kinds of studies were (Archicarabus ) gotschi caramanus Fairmaire, 1886, Carabus very rare in Turkey. The aim of the present study is to (Procrustes ) coriaceus mopsucrenae Peyron, 1858 and Nebria determine the distribution, diversity and monthly distribution of (Nebria ) hemprichi Klug, 1832 were the most abundant species. ground beetles in the steppes, forest edge and forest interior The information obtained about the ecology of ground beetles and chorotypes has been given below. and their ecology in National Park Başkonuş Mountain (Kahramanmaraş, Turkey), in Mediterranean Region. Genus: Brachinus Weber, 1801 Ecology: The species belonging to this genus were mostly Materials and Methods collected from the traps in forest edge and mostly in the region

The materials of this investigation were collected where the steppe vegetation dominated. Bombardier beetles are from Başkonuş mountain (Kahramanmaraş, Turkey) from April found often in open country on clay soils, mostly in higher to October in 2004 and 2005 using pitfall traps. The pitfall traps number. The larvae of all Brachinidae are probably parasite consisted of plastic cups filled with 25% ethylene glycol set into (Trautner and Geigenmüller, 1987). the ground. The pitfall traps were establihed in forest interior 1. Brachinus (Brachynidius) bodemeyeri Apfelbeck, 1904 (dominated by specially tree species A. cilicica , C. libani ), forest Chorotype: Turano-European (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, edge and steppes. The traps were emptied monthly (Epstein 1999). and Kulman, 1990; Armstrong and McKinlay, 1997; Magura et 2. Brachinus (Brachynidius) brevicollis Motschulsky, 1844 al., 2000). The specimens were dissected in the laboratory. Chorotype: Turano-Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, Materials were then identified to species using keys in Müller 1999). (1926), Jeannel (1941), Jeannel (1942), Lindroth (1974), 3. Brachinus (Brachynidius) explodens Duftschmid, 1812 Lindroth (1985), Lindroth (1986), Trautner and Geigenmüller Chorotype: Asiatic-European (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, (1987), Hurka (1996). Some unidentified species were 1999). identified and those already identified were checked with Prof. Augusto Vigna Taglianti and Dr. Paolo Bonavita in . The Genus: Calosoma Weber, 1801 specimens were deposited in the Biology Department of Ecology: These species were collected from the traps kept in Çukurova University. the forest interior. They range from lowlands to mountains, more common only at the time of mass occurrence of lepidoptera Results and Disscussion forest pests (Hurka, 1996). They mostly prey on caterpillars.

A total of 31 species were recorded in Larval development is very short, only 2-3 weeks. Larvae are the pitfall traps, between April and October in 2004 and 2005. predatory, too (Trautner and Geigenmüller, 1987).

Distribution of ground beetles in Baskonus mountain, Turkey 517

4. Calosoma (Calosoma ) sycophanta (Linné, 1758) They are preferably active at night (Trautner and Geigenmüller, Chorotype : Palearctic (Holarctic) (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1987; Hurka, 1996). They are carnivorous beetles, preying 1999). mostly upon small like diptera larvae, collembola and mites. The ability of flight is not well known (Lindroth, 1985). Genus: Carabus Linné, 1758

Ecology: The species belonging to this genus were collected 12. Nebria ( Nebria ) hemprichi Klug, 1832 from the traps put interior of the forest. They preferably feed on Chorotype: East-Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). earthworms, snails, slugs, and numerous insects. They also feed on carrion and sometimes even on vegetable matters. Genus: Duméril, 1806 Digestion is extraintestinal. Usually single eggs are laid in the Ecology: In this study, a sample belonging to this genus was ground. The larval development takes several weeks. Larvae collected from the trap put in the forest interior. They live in the are predators. Pupation takes place in the ground. Almost all litter-layer of forests, heaths, or meadows and, some at shores. species are mainly active at night. For their defense they spray They are active during the day. The species are diurnal, sun acid fluids from their anal glands and salivate digestive ferment. loving insects, very rapid in their movements. They are visually Wings are reduced in nearly all species (Lindroth, 1985; hunting beetles, preying upon mites, collembola and other Trautner and Geigenmüller, 1987). arthropods. The larvae have specialized on collembola to a

5. Carabus ( Archicarabus ) gotschi caramanus Fairmaire, greater extent than have the adults (Lindroth, 1985; Trautner 1886 and Geigenmüller, 1987; Hurka, 1996).

Chorotype: South Anatolia (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). 13. Notiophilus rufipes Curtis, 1829

Chorotype: Europe (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). 6. Carabus ( Procrustes ) coriaceus mopsucrenae Peyron, Genus: Trechus Clairville, 1806 1858 Ecology: Only one species belonging to this genus was Chorotype: South east Anatolia (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, collected from the traps in both the forest interior and the forest 1999). edge. The species mostly live near waters, in the litter layer of 7. Carabus ( Lamprostus ) mulsantianus mulsantianus forests, or alpine, some in caves or partly subterraneous. Most Morawitz, 1886 species are wingless. They are predominantly found on open, Chorotype: South east Anatolia (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, rather dry ground with short vegetation of grasses etc., usually 1999). on sandy or gravelly, often clay-mixed soil. The species prefer 8. Carabus ( Procerus ) syriacus weidneri Lassalle, 1990 somewhat shaded ground like in cabbage fields thus occurring Chorotype: South central Anatolia (Casale and Vigna under the plants. The adults prey upon eggs and may Taglianti, 1999). play an important role in the natural control of certain insect

Genus: Leistus Fröhlich, 1799 pests, among them is the cabbage root fly (Lindroth, 1985; Ecology: The species belonging to this genus were collected Trautner and Geigenmüller, 1987; Hurka, 1996). from the traps put in both the forest interior and the forest edge. 14. Trechus ( Trechus ) quadristriatus (Schrank, 1781) These species are found in different habitats, some species Chorotype: Turano-Europeo-Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna montane to subalpine. The species of this genus occur among Taglianti, 1999). debris in more or less shady places, where they prey upon Genus: Tapinopterus Schaum, 1858 mites, collembola, etc. They are nocturnal (Lindroth, 1985; Ecology: Only one species was collected belonging to this Trautner and Geigenmüller, 1987). genus from the traps both the forest interior and the forest edge. 9. Leistus ( Leistus ) caucasicus Chaudoir, 1867 15. Tapinopterus ( Nesosteropus ) samai Straneo, 1986 Chorotype: South west-Asiatic (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, Chorotype: South east Anatolia endemic (Casale and Vigna 1999). Taglianti, 1999).

10. Leistus ( Pogonophorus ) hermonis Piochard de la Genus: Dinodes Bonelli, 1810 Brûlerie, 1875 Ecology: In this study, this genus was collected from the traps Chorotype: East Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, at the region of steppe where vegetation dominated. These 1999). species live in moderately dry, and moist, moderately moist 11. Leistus ( Pogonophorus ) spinibarbis rufipes meadows near water, steppes, lowlands (Hurka, 1996). Chaudoir, 1843

Chorotype: Anatolia (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). 16. Dinodes ( Dinodes ) decipiens (L. Dufour, 1820) Genus: Nebria Latreille, 1802 Chorotype: Europeo-Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). Ecology: Only one species belonging to this genus was collected in high numbers from the traps in the forest edge and Genus: Ophonus Dejean, 1821 also in the forest interior with higher numbers in the latter. Most Ecology: The species belonging to this genus were collected species are found in humid habitats and are common in from the traps in forest edge and mostly at the region of steppe woodland, parks, shaded grassland, lowlands and mountains. where vegetation dominated. These species are brachypterous,

518 Sakine Serap Avgin rarely macropterous. They occur in dry, open habitats, usually different kinds of moderately dry ground with sparse vegetation, on gravelly, clay mixed chalky soil with short, sparse achieving its greatest abundance on sandy soil. It is a common vegetation, e.g. in dry meadows and grassland, often on inhabitant of dry meadows, grassland, dunes and heaths, also southern hill sides. The species are regularly found in company on agricultural land and in thin forests, mainly of Pinus. It is with Harpalus, Brachinus , etc. (Lindroth, 1986; Trautner and frequent in the fields up to the lower alpine region. It is chiefly Geigenmüller, 1987; Hurka, 1996). carnivorous (Lindroth, 1986; Hurka, 1996).

17. Ophonus ( Hesperophonus ) azureus (Fabricius, 1775) 26. ( Calathus ) syriacus Chaudoir, 1863 Chorotype: Centralasiatic-Europeo-Mediterranean (Casale Chorotype: South-west Asiatic (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). 1999).

18. Ophonus ( Hesperophonus ) cribricollis (Dejean, 1829) 27. Calathus ( Neocalathus ) melanocephalus Chorotype: Turano-European (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, melanocephalus (Linné, 1758) 1999). Chorotype: Anatolia (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999).

19. Ophonus ( Hesperophonus ) subquadratus (Dejean, Genus : Laemostenus Bonelli, 1810 1829) Ecology : In this study, only one species belonging to this Chorotype: Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). genus was collected from the traps which were put in the forest Genus: Harpalus Latreille, 1802 interior. These species are found in humid in and shady Ecology: The species belonging to this genus were collected habitats, several species in caves (Trautner and Geigenmüller, from the traps in the forest edge and mostly at the region of 1987). steppe where vegetation dominated. Many species are partly or 28. Laemostenus ( Laemostenus ) venustus (Dejean, 1828) preferably phytophagous, at least as imago (Trautner and Chorotype: East Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, Geigenmüller, 1987). These species are found in unshaded 1999). habitats; steppe, vineyards, fields, fallows; lowlands to hills Genus: Cymindis Latreille, 1806 (Hurka, 1996). Ecology: The species belonging to this genus were collected 20. Harpalus (Harpalophonus ) honestus demelti from the traps which were put in the forest edge and where Korge, 1962 steppe vegetation dominated. These species are found in dry, Chorotype Anatolia (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). unshaded habitats, steppe, especially rock steppe, lowlands to

21. Harpalus ( Harpalophonus ) serripes serripes (Quensel hills, mostly sparse vegetation, especially on sandy or clayey in Schönherr, 1806) soils (Trautner and Geigenmüller, 1987; Hurka, 1996).

Chorotype: Anatolia (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). 29. Cymindis ( Cymindis ) andreae Ménétriés, 1832

22. Harpalus ( Harpalophonus ) smaragdinus (Duftschmid, Chorotype: Turano-Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1812) 1999).

Chorotype: Asiatic-European (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 30. Cymindis ( Menas ) miliaris (Fabricius, 1801) 1999). Chorotype: Turano-European (Casale and Vigna Taglianti,

23. Harpalus ( Harpalophonus ) sulphuripes sulphuripes 1999).

Germar, 1824 Genus: Syntomus Hope, 1838 Chorotype: Turkey (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). Ecology: In this study, only a sample belonging to this genus Genus: Acinopus Dejean, 1821 was collected from the traps which were put in the region where Ecology: The species belonging to this genus were collected steppe vegetation dominated. These species are found in in the traps mostly at the region of steppe where vegetation different habitats, preferably on sandy soils often in heath or in dominated and the forest ledge. These species are found in the litter layer at sunny edges of forests. The species of self digged burrows under stones, probably phytophagous for Syntomus are carnivorous beetles and have spring propagation the most part (Trautner and Geigenmüller, 1987). (Lindroth, 1986; Trautner and Geigenmüller, 1987).

24. Acinopus ( Acinopus ) laevigatus laevigatus 31. Syntomus fuscomaculatus (Motschulsky, 1844) Ménétriés, 1832 Chorotype: Turano-Mediterranean (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, Chorotype: Anatolia (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, 1999). 1999).

25. Acinopus ( Acinopus ) picipes (Olivier, 1795) As in this research, many researches about the Chorotype: Turano-European (Casale and Vigna Taglianti, diversity of ground beetles and effect of habitat structure on 1999). ground beetles were carried out in the national parks of different Genus: Calathus Bonelli, 1810 countries (Debinski and Brussard, 1994; Gutierrez et al. , 2004). Ecology: Many species belonging to this genus were collected It was observed that the diversity of ground beetles was from the traps which were put in the forest interior. These significantly higher in the forest edge, which is the place where commonly distributed species usually live in open country on the forest starts, and steppes than in the forest interior in

Distribution of ground beetles in Baskonus mountain, Turkey 519

520 Sakine Serap Avgin

Distribution of ground beetles in Baskonus mountain, Turkey 521

Başkonuş mountain. There was no significant difference in the Europa National Park, Northern Spain. Biol. Conserv., 115 , 379- diversity of ground beetles of the steppes and the forest edge. 393 (2004). A similar result was also obtained in the research carried out in Hurka, K.: Carabidae of the Czech and Slovak Republics. ( Eds: V. oak- hornbeam forest in Hungary (Molnar et al. , 2001). Kabourek). Zlin, . Kabourek. pp. 1-565 (1996). Ings, T.C. and S.E. Hartley: The effect of habitat structure on carabid This also emphasized the edge effect on ground communities during the regeneration of a native scottish forest. beetles, because forested habitats were usually significantly For. Ecol. Manage . 119 , 123-136 (1999). less diverse than the open areas (Magura and Tothmeresz, Jeannel, R.: Coléoptères Carabiques. Première partie. Faune de 1998; Molnar et al. , 2001). Also, the monthly distribution of . Librairie de la Facultè des Sciences. 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Correspondence to : Sakine Serap Avgın Çukurova University, Art & Science Faculty Department of Biology, Balcalı, Adana, Turkey E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +90-3223386084-2488.