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Description and conservation status of a new subspecies of Cicindela tranquebarica (Coleoptera : Cicindelidae), from the San Joaquin Valley of California, USA
Abstract
This paper describes a new subspecies of oblique-lined tiger beetle, Cicindela tranquebarica joaquinensis, from the San Joaquin Valley of California. This new subspecies is most closely related to C. t. vibex with which it intergrades along the margins of the San Joaquin Valley. The maculation pattern of C. t. joaquinensis, like that of C. t. arida is characterized by being reduced to only the apical lunules. However, C. t. arida is significantly smaller in body size, has microserrations on the elytra, is restricted to the Death Valley area and thus well separated from C. t. joaquinensis by both distance and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A study of collection records indicated C. t. joaquinensis was historically present throughout much of the San Joaquin Valley in alkali sink or flat habitats. A search of the historic and many additional sites with these habitats produced only three extant populations of C. t. joaquinensis, all in patches of habitat that were less than three hectares in size. The extirpation of most populations of this beetle was caused by habitat loss from intense agricultural development in the San Joaquin Valley, especially cultivation for crops, cattle grazing, and water diversions and modifications related to irrigation. Increased vegetation is also reducing the open areas in the habitats needed by this species. Because of the very few and small extant populations and the elimination of nearly all of the alkali sink habitat, C. t. joaquinensis should be considered for endangered status by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
... The pronounced habitat specificity of most Nearctic tiger beetles has led to their importance as indicators in arthropod conservation efforts (Pearson and Cassola 1992;Pearson and Carroll 1997;Pearson et al. 2006). Factors most likely to result in population decline of tiger beetles species are encroaching vegetation and human perturbations, including water diversion, conversion of habitats to other uses, and livestock grazing (Hill and Knisley 1992;Knisley and Schultz 1997;Pearson and Vogler 2001;Knisley and Haines 2007;Knisley 2011). ...
... Cicindela tranquebarica Herbst, a species with distribution throughout most of the U.S. and southern Canada, has five subspecies occurring in California including the recently described C. t. joaquinensis Knisley and Haines which historically occupied some of the same areas of the San Joaquin Valley as Cy. lunalonga (Knisley and Haines 2007). Kippenhan (2007) documented the inability to located Cy. terricola continua at its type locality in San Bernardino County as well as the diminished distribution of Cy. terricola susanagreae within the Owen's Valley of eastern California. ...
Surveys for adult Cylindera (s. str.) lunalonga (Schaupp) (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae) were conducted between 2001 and 2011 at over 80 sites throughout the species’ historic range in the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Previously considered extirpated from the Valley, these surveys resulted in finding adults at 18 sites, several with large populations (>50 individuals). As suggested by historic records, our studies confirmed that the Valley populations of Cy. lunalonga occur in what were historically wetland sites, but are now lowland agricultural croplands. Adults were always associated with wet, muddy soil within and along the edges of irrigation ditches. A comparison of morphology, behavior, habitat, and conservation is made with the only known extant Sierra Nevada population.
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... Areas of intense irrigation may damage tiger beetles habitats by lowering of the water table and desiccating surface and near surface soil moisture needed by larvae. Tiger beetles believed to have declined as a result of this impact are the very rare C. t. joaquinensis in the San Joaquin Valley (Knisley and Haines, 2007 ), C. praetextata LeConte along the lower Colorado and Virgin Rivers (Knisley, unpublished studies), C. oregona maricopa in Arizona (D. L. Pearson, pers. comm.), and C. willistoni sulfontis Rumpp and C. nevadica citata Rumpp in the Sulphur Springs Valley, Arizona (Pearson et al., 2006 ). ...
... arenicola (Bouff ard et al., 2009 , C. circumpicta johnsoni in Missouri (Brown andMacCrae, 2003), C. formosa in Montana (Winton, 2009), C. f. rutilovirescens Rumpp (Knisley et al., 2001b ), C. highlandensis (Knisley and Hill, 1992 ;Knisley, 2005 ), C. lunalonga (Woodcock et al., 2007), C. nevadica lincolniana (USFWS, 2005), C. ohlone (USFWS, 2000), C. patruela (Mawdsley, 2007a ), C. puritana (Knisley and Fenster, 2009 ), C. t . joaquinensis (Knisley and Haines, 2007 ), and C. waynei (Bouff ard et al., 2009 ) ( Figure 1J ). Consequently, the conservation status of many of these species could be improved by implementing disturbance regimes to counter the loss of open habitat. ...
This review summarizes the literature and some primary data on the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on tiger beetle habitats, including how this may help or harm populations of rare species, and how understanding these effects is important in tiger beetle conservation and management. The main focus is on U.S. species but relevant literature from other regions of the world is included. First I discuss tiger beetle habitats and the importance of open patches, then review how human disturbances may be essential for creating these open areas of habitat but may also negatively impact populations and act as limiting factors. The factors discussed are: (1) vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian foot traffic; (2) livestock grazing and other animal activities; (3) soil movement and deposition; (4) irrigation and cultivation; and (5) dams, diversions and shoreline structures. Finally, I review the threat of encroaching vegetation from natural succession and invasive species into rare tiger beetle habitats and how implementing disturbance regimes may counter this threat and be used in conservation and management of rare tiger beetles.
... Cicindela tranquebarica joaquinensis Knisley and Haines (Fig. 3F) 1+ (1) was recently described from three sites in the San Joaquin Valley (Tulare and Kings counties) of California as part of a study of its conservation status (Knisley and Haines, 2007). Follow up surveys of over 100 sites including six historic ones found three additional sites (Knisley and Haines, 2010a). ...
This study evaluates the conservation status of all of the United States species and subspecies of tiger beetles on the basis of the published literature, unpublished reports, museum and private collections, our personal field work and contact with collectors. We provide a brief summary of the status of the four species already listed and the two candidates for listing by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We indicate three taxa believed to be extinct and evaluate 62 others that we deem sufficiently rare to be considered for listing as endangered or threatened. We used a 1, 2, 3 grading system that is generally comparable to the terminology of critically imperiled, imperiled, and vulnerable designations, respectively, used in NatureServe Explorer. Fifty-two of these taxa are from the western states and Texas and most of them are named subspecies with extremely limited distributions and habitats. We assigned seven taxa a 1+ grade, our highest level of rarity and/or threats; of these there is presently sufficient information available to consider two of them-- Cicindelidia floridana Cartwright and Cicindela tranquebarica joaquinensis Knisley and Haines-- as the U. S. forms most in danger of extinction. Future prospects for conservation and listing of tiger beetles seem bleak because of the limited budget and personnel available for Endangered Species in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the current economic and political climate in the United States.
Beetles, the most diverse group of insects, are often abundant in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Many species are under threat from human changes to natural environments, and some are valuable tools in conservation, because they respond rapidly to changes that occur. Knowledge of these responses, of both abundance and composition of assemblages, enable use of some beetles to monitor environmental changes. Beetles impinge on humanity on many ways: as cultural objects, desirable collectables, major pests and competitors for resources need by people, as beneficial consumers of other pests, and by ensuring the continuity of vital ecological processes. This book is the first major global overview of the importance of conservation of beetles, and brings together much hitherto scattered information to demonstrate the needs for conservation, and how it may be approached. It is a source of value to students, research workers, conservation biologists and ecosystem managers as an introduction to the richness and importance of this predominant component of invertebrate life.
In a search for patterns within the history of scientific studies, historians have analysed several fields from physics (Nye 1996), astronomy, and computer software (Leadbeater and Miller 2004) to biology (Killingsworth and Palmer 1992; Pearson and Cassola 2007). Are there steps common to all scientific endeavour? What recognisable patterns of change take place and what are the significant factors causing the changes? How can they best be compared? © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. All rights are reserved.
All scientific names of Trachypachidae, Rhysodidae, and Carabidae (including cicindelines) recorded from America north of Mexico are catalogued. Available species-group names are listed in their original combinations with the author(s), year of publication, page citation, type locality, location of the name-bearing type, and etymology for many patronymic names. In addition, the reference in which a given species-group name is first synonymized is recorded for invalid taxa. Genus-group names are listed with the author(s), year of publication, page citation, type species with way of fixation, and etymology for most. The reference in which a given genus-group name is first synonymized is recorded for many invalid taxa. Family-group names are listed with the author(s), year of publication, page citation, and type genus. The geographical distribution of all species-group taxa is briefly summarized and their state and province records are indicated.
One new genus-group taxon, Randallius new subgenus (type species: Chlaenius purpuricollis Randall, 1838), one new replacement name, Pterostichus amadeus new name for Pterostichus vexatus Bousquet, 1985, and three changes in precedence, Ellipsoptera rubicunda (Harris, 1911) for Ellipsoptera marutha (Dow, 1911), Badister micans LeConte, 1844 for Badister ocularis Casey, 1920, and Agonum deplanatum Ménétriés, 1843 for Agonum fallianum (Leng, 1919), are proposed. Five new genus-group synonymies and 65 new species-group synonymies, one new species-group status, and 12 new combinations (see Appendix 5) are established.
The work also includes a discussion of the notable private North American carabid collections, a synopsis of all extant world geadephagan tribes and subfamilies, a brief faunistic assessment of the fauna, a list of valid species-group taxa, a list of North American fossil Geadephaga (Appendix 1), a list of North American Geadephaga larvae described or illustrated (Appendix 2), a list of Geadephaga species described from specimens mislabeled as from North America (Appendix 3), a list of unavailable Geadephaga names listed from North America (Appendix 4), a list of nomenclatural acts included in this catalogue (Appendix 5), a complete bibliography with indication of the dates of publication in addition to the year, and indices of personal names, supraspecific names, and species-group names.
The family of tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) is an appropriate indicator taxon for determining regional patterns of biodiversity because (1) its taxonomy is stabilized; (2) its biology and general life history are well understood, (3) individuals are readily observed and manipulated in the field, (4) the family occurs world-wide and in a broad range of habitat types; (5) each species tends to be specialized within a narrow habitat; (6) patterns of species richness are highly correlated with those of other vertebrate and invertebrate taxa; and (7) the taxon includes species of potential economic importance. Logistical advantages provide some of the strongest arguments for selecting tiger beetles as an appropriate indicator taxon. Species numbers of tiger beetles are relatively well known for 129 countries. Eight countries alone account for more than half the world total of 2028 known species. Species numbers are also indicated for eleven biogeographical zones of the world. For gridded squares across North America, the Indian subcontinent, and Australia, species richness of tiger beetles, birds, and butterflies shows significant positive correlations. However, tiger beetle species numbers can be reliably determined within fifty hours on a single site, compared to months or years for birds or butterflies, and the advantage of using tiger beetles in conservation biology is evident
The family of tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) is an appropriate indicator taxon for determining regional patterns of biodiversity because; (1) its taxonomy is stabilised; (2) its biology and general life history are well understood; (3) individuals are readily observed and manipulated in the field; (4) the family occurs world-wide and in a broad range of habitat types; (5) each species tends to be specialised within a narrow habitat; (6) patterns of species richness are highly correlated with those of other vertebrate and invertebrate taxa; and (7) the taaxon includes species of potential economic importance. Logistical advantages provide some of the strongest arguments for selecting tiger beetles as an appropriate indicator taxon. Species numbers of tiger beetles are relatively well known for 129 countries. Eight countries alone account for more than half the worlds total of 2028 known species. Species numbers are also indicated for eleven biogeographic zones of the world. For gridded squares across North America, the Indian subcontinent, and Australia, species richness of tiger beetles, birds and butterflies show significant positive correlations. However, tiger beetles species numbers can be relaibly determined within 50 hours on a single site, compared to months or years for birds or butterflies, and the advantage of using tiger beetles in conservation biology is evident.
Intraspecific and geographic variations in Cicindela dorsalis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)
- H P Boyd
- R W Rust
Boyd, H. P. and R. W. Rust. 1984. Intraspecific and geographic variations in Cicindela dorsalis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 36: 221-239.
Checklist of the Cicindelidae. The Tiger Beetles Plexus Publishers
- H P Boyd
- Associates
Boyd, H. P. and Associates. 1982. Checklist of the Cicindelidae. The Tiger Beetles Plexus Publishers. Marlton, New Jersey. U.S.A. 31 pp.
Geographic variation in Cicindela tranquebarica Herbst (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)
- G Kritsky
- L Horner
Kritsky, G. and L. Horner. 1998. Geographic variation in Cicindela tranquebarica Herbst (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae). Cicindela 30: 13-32.
Effects of habitat change from ecological succession and human impact on tiger beetles
- C B Knisley
- J M Hill
Knisley, C. B. and J. M. Hill. 1992. Effects of habitat change from ecological succession and human impact on tiger beetles. Virginia Journal of Science 43: 335-340.
The biology of tiger beetles and a guide to the species of the South Atlantic States Special Publication No. 5. Virginia Museum of Natural History
- C B Knisley
- T D Schultz
Knisley, C. B. and T. D. Schultz. 1997. The biology of tiger beetles and a guide to the species of the South Atlantic States Special Publication No. 5. Virginia Museum of Natural History. Martinsville, Virginia. U.S.A. 210 pp.
A field guide to the tiger beetles of the United States and Canada. Identification, Natural History, and Distribution of the Cicindelidae
- D L Pearson
- B C Knisley
- C J Kazilek
Pearson, D. L., B. C. Knisley, and C. J. Kazilek. 2006. A field guide to the tiger beetles of the United States and Canada. Identification, Natural History, and Distribution of the Cicindelidae Oxford University Press. New York, NY. U.S.A. 303 pp.