Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 37(2) 1994

Issue:

VOL 37(2) 1994

Keywords:

Diversity, Aphodiinae, Scarabaeoidea, Cantabrian Mountains, Iberian Peninsula

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Biogeography of Aphodiinae from the Phytogeographic Orocantabrica Province (Cantabrian Range, Spain (Col. Scarabaeoidea)

• Eduardo GALANTE
• Zdzisława STEBNICKA

Abstract:

A faunistic composition of Aphodiinae caught in the Phytogeographic Orocantabrica Province (Cantabrian Mountains, North of Spain) is presented. Results are based on three years (1986-1988) of systematic sampling in 53 localities selected according to phytogeographic characteristics. A total of 45 species have been studied, including three species collected outside of the area in question. The results show the high species richness (about 40% of Aphodiinae of the Iberian fauna) with a significant share of eurocaucasic biogeographical elements and Iberian endemics. As a whole the Orocantabrica Province supports a high biodiversity. The specific richness of Aphodiinae (Shannon index H’, E and Margalef index D_Mg) remains high throughout the whole territory. The highest Aphodiinae diversity corresponds to the eastern phytogeographic subsectors (Altocarriones, Picoeuropeano and Ubiñense subsectors) and the highest specific rich­ness of Aphodiinae species was found in the June/July period. With respect to the altitudinal distribution, 76% of species occurred in the 1000-1500 m altitude range and the endemic species appeared above 1000 m altitude. The necessity of protecting areas and habitats in this region is indicated.