Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)

Zoology

FAUNA AND ECOLOGY OF SCARABEOIDEA COLEOPTERANS (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEOIDEA)

FROM THE SCIENTIFIC RESERVE “CODRII”

Elena BABAN1, Nina TÄLÄMBUTÄ2

'Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Academiei 1 str., 2028 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

baban. elenav@gmail. com 2 Free International University from Moldova

Abstract: The paper represents a study of fauna and ecology of coleopterans from the suprafamily Scarabaeoidea from the forest ecosystems of the scientific reserve “Codrii”. As result of the investigations during 2004—2014 in 7 forest types of the scientific reserve “Codrii” 79 species were identified from 29 genera and 3 families, of which 4 rare and endangered species included in the 3rd edition of the Red Book of Republic of Moldova. After trophic regime the fauna of scarabeoid coleopterans from the forest ecosystems of scientific reserve “Codrii” was composed of three trophic groups: 55% are coprophagous species, followed by phytophagous 41% and only 3% were xilophagous. The zoogeographical analysis was found that scarabeoid coleopterans fauna belongs to 8 zoogeographical elements: Trans-Palearctic, European, Euro-Siberian, cosmopolite, Holarctic, Euro-Caucasian, Euro-Mediterranean and Mediterranean, with the predominance of species with European area type (20%), Trans-Palearctic (19%) and Mediterranean - 17%.

Keywords: Coleoptera, ecology, fauna, zoogeography, trophic spectrum

Introduction

The problem of biodiversity conservation and especially in state protected areas is considered a problem at global level, as well as in the Republic of Moldova.

The Scientific reserve “Codrii” was created in 1971, total area of the reserve is of 5177 ha. The main purpose of the reserve is to preserve the most representative central European deciduous forests and the conservation of rare plant and animal species and communities, restoring the biodiversity of the most particular phytocenosis [22].

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea is one of the largest groups of beetles (approximately 31,000 species) spread over Terra with great diversity and morphological features that, from ecological point of view, are important links in food chains of ecosystems, contributing to the maintainance of ecological balance in natural and anthropic ecosystems [8]. In the fauna of Moldova, currently about 150 species are known, which constitutes about 75% of the country’s fauna.

The first studies of insect fauna in the study area were made by Miller and Zubovski at the beginning of XX century [16], who in the work Bessarabia Catalog listed 84 species of scarabeid beetles. In 30’s—40’sof the XX century new data on fauna of some scaraboid coleopterans in this area are presented in the works of Ienistea [14] W. Knektel, S. Panin [15] etc.

In the second half of the XX century different taxonomic and faunistic works appeared, completed with new data on ecology and biology by local and foreign specialists [12, 17, 18].

M A RI S I A, XXXVI, p. 87-94