|
|
Biology of myrmecophilous beetles
Bažilová, Jana ; Šobotník, Jan (advisor) ; Klimeš, Petr (referee)
Ants represent an insect group with a great ecological importance, and they are also a valuable source of food for a wide range of predators, parasitoids and social parasites. Myrmecophilous beetles make a significant part of these organisms. According to the specific selection pressures, myrmecophiles reveal a lot of adaptations, such as modifications of the body shape, functions of their extremities and new exocrine glands. These adaptations vary among species differing by the degree of their integration into an ant colony. Non-integrated species live near ant nests as predators and the hosts' behaviour towards them is always hostile. They are protected by thick and sclerotized cuticle, defensive substances and strategic behaviour. Integrated species are adopted by the host colony based on the imitation of hosts' recognition factors. These species have access to the hosts' nests, where they feed on ant larvae and pupae or they are fed directly by the ants. This thesis describes specific adaptations for life associated with ants, which are exploited by various myrmecophilous species. In several chapters it characterizes myrmecophilous organisms, their morphological adaptations, chemical mimicry and behavioural strategies used during interactions with the host. Keywords: myrmecophily, inkvilinism,...
|
|
|
Interplay of succession and seasonality reflects resource utilization in an ephemeral habitat
SLÁDEČEK, František
The temporal aspects, succession, seasonality, of coprophilous beetles? assemblage were studied for the first time in Central Europe. Specifically all beetles? families were targeted including both the coprophagous and predatory species. In general, the pattern of species successional turn-over resembles the patterns retrieved from Northern Europe, however with the late successional species optima shifted towards earlier days of succession. The successional position of coprophages species reflets their oviposion strategy, while the predatory species are separated according to their size. The seasonal displacement applies predominantly to the species presented in the later part of succession.
|
|
|
Communities of epigeic beetles (Coleoptera) in the different types of green belts in fields
ŠEBÍK, Jakub
SUMMARY The assemblages of epigeic beetles were studied in various types of agroecosystems in the submontaneous area of Novohradske hory (South Bohemia, Czech republic). The research took place in years 2009 and 2011. There were sown various types of crops, in the target places, on which were established either biobelts (research 2009) or permanent green belts with trees and shrubs (research 2011) in past. The aim of the study was to assess, whether or how these landscape structures influence epigeic beetles. The datas were gathered by sampling ground beetles with ground traps. The collected material was put then through identification and this was the base for assessing the parameters of landscape structures influence on epigeic beetles. These parameters were: the species diversity, the abundance and the ammount of relict species. It was collected 3099 beetles and it was managed to identify 54 species at all. The interest groups of invertebrates were ground beetles/carabids (Carabidae) and rove beetles (Staphylinidae). The results differed for both groups. The rove beetles were generally more abundant, than ground beetles and most of them were found in crops in the year 2009. The lowest numbers were caught in crops 2011. There was a quite remarkable contrast between these two results. The species diversity of rove beetles was too lower, than the ground beetles? one. The results of biodiversity seemed to be strange so as the abundance was. The diversity was the highest in the crops 2009 and the slowest in the crops 2011. Nearly the same diversity was found in biobelts, which are really different type of habitat. The carabids? abundance was not so oscillating like by the rove beetles. They were the most abundant in biobelts and the less in permanent belts. The abundance in crops in both years was nearly the same. The species diversity was highest in permanent belts and the lowest in crops in the year of 2009. The results about antropic influence on epigeic beetles assemblages, based on ecological characteristics of beetles, were eventually raised. It was established, that all the populations are strongly affected by human. The results say, that habitats like biobelt and permanent belt seem to have a positive impact on epigeic beetles assemblages, namely on relict or rare beetles survival. The results have very disparate and sometimes contradictory nature, thus cannot be sumarized.
|
|
| |
|
|
Biodiversity of staphylinid beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in the Bohemian Forest - recent state, endangered species and their biotopes
Boháč, Jaroslav ; Matějíček, J.
More than 300 species of staphylinid beetles were found on 68 lokalities in the Bohemian Forest. 75 (23%) species of the all fauna belong to the Red list of the CR (5 critically endangered species, 27 endangered species and 43 vulnerable species). The most important biotopes for staphylinids in the Bohemian Forest are: petasites fringes of montane brooks, reedes and tall-sedge beds, foret springs, fens and transitional, mires, raised bogs, screes subalpine tall-forb vegetation, meadows and pastures, forest fringe vegetation, montane grey alder galleries, ravine dry pine, beech and spruce forests.
|
guest ::
