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Djazia Toutah

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (4): 845-880

    Djazia Toutah, Mohammed Bouzouina, Amine Ghelamallah & José Serrano
    Seasonal changes in carabid assemblages of Mostaganem, Algeria (Coleoptera Carabidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.4.845.880

    ABSTRACT
    Seasonal changes in carabid assemblages (Coleoptera Carabidae) inhabiting four sites near Mostaganem (NW Algeria) were investigated from April 2019 to March 2020 by means of pitfall trapping. Notable changes were found in all sites. In a citrus orchard (31 species, 710 specimens) spring breeders were more frequent. An olive grove (34 species, 1219 specimens) was dominated by Orthomus abacoides (974 specimens). Activity-density was concentrated in spring and autumn. An Eucalyptus forest (21 species, 292 specimens) showed unexpected species diversity and is a secondary habitat for large predators and forest taxa. In a fallow humid zone, a high number of species (80) and specimens (4366) were captured. Activity-density peaked in spring but was intense in all seasons. Hygrophilous and generalist taxa were dominant throughout all seasons. Seasonal changes are thought to be due to varying phenology and life cycle of species. Diversity was influenced by a few dominant species in all sites, but it was high in the fallow humid zone and decreased in cultivated areas. Comparison between sites was difficult because of the heterogeneity of species composition, which also applies to other Algerian cultivated lands, forests, and wetlands. Fine ecological tunning to environmental factors and random dispersal of taxa are likely causing seasonal faunal heterogeneity.