Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Spanish

Tunisia is a very important World Natural Heritage Site, and no scientific exploitation of its resources regarding insect fauna has taken place. In this study, we present the first work on Carabidae collected fromexpeditions to the Ichkeul and El Feidja national parks between 2012 and 2013. A total of 52 species classified into 33 genera, 14 tribes, and 6 subfamilies were found. Five of the captured species are endemic to North Africa; and two species, Acinopus haroldi Schaum, 1863 and Cryptophonus litigiosus litigiosus (Dejean, 1829) were recorded for the first time in Tunisia.

Keywords

Endemic Ichkeul National Park El Feidja National Park Tunisia fauna

Introduction

The family Carabidae, or ground beetles, currently inclu des about 40,000 (Thiele 1977) to 50,000 species (Desender 1987) but Gaston 1991 consider it could be about 60,000 spe cies. This family is characterized by a very wide adaptive success on the multiple ecological conditions encountered worldwide. They are able to colonize almost all terrestrial ha bitats and represent an important part of the ground-dwelling invertebrate predators. Furthermore, Carabidae are a relevant indicator group which was used for biodiversity research, ecological surveillance, and research in the domain of envi ronmental change (Latty 2006). Besides that, ecologists em ploy endangered and endemic species to prioritize the crea tion of protected areas (Brooks et al. 2006). Studies on the distribution and survival of many Carabidae species along different habitats serve to consolidate our level of knowledge of the effects of environmental and climate change (Vaibhao et al. 2013; Kerr et al. 2007). Species checklists are effective tools in the domain of natural science. They are directly rela ted to any program of species conservation. Carabidae fauna from Tunisia is rather unknown in comparison to other zoo geographical areas such as Europe. Only a few studies cover the topic of ground beetles in Tunisia so far Bedel (1895), Peyerimhoff (1909) and Normand (1933), or recently leading to the discovery of new species (Guéorguiev 2012; Quéinnec and Ollivier 2012; Ghannem et al. 2014). In general, no Tu nisian or African law, referring to insects' protection exists, and, Tunisia does not have a red list of threatened species adapted to its territory. Only the International Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) exists as a baseline data. It is, therefore, essential to determine a list of species requiring urgent protection measures. In addition, natural heritage si tes play an important role in the conservation ecological sys tems and biodiversity. This survey aims to update the Cara bidae checklist in order to improve the knowledge on ground beetles in Tunisia, particularly in case of two national parks Ichkeul and El Feidja, and in order to establish a first list of heritage species (endemic and new species to the country).

Material and methods

Study area. Specimens were collected from El Feidja national park and Ichkeul national park during 2012-2013. The study areas were located in the northern Tunisia.

Site 1. Ichkeul National Park (37'08'51.31″N 9°40′ 03.18 E, altitude: 46 masl).

Situated 25 km to the southeast of Bizerte and 15 km from the cities of Menzel Bourguiba and Mateur, it surrounds a wetland, with lake Ichkeul in the middle, occupying a surface of 150 kmβ being one of the most important bird sanctuaries of North Africa. Vegetation of the park is characterized mainly by Olea europaea L.

Ichkeul has been registered since 1977 as a Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO MAB program, in 1979 as a World Heritage Site Natural and Cultural and in 1980 as a Wetland of International Importance under the RAMSAR Convention. It is important to mention that Ichkeul station was the first national park in the world that has benefit from this international status. In Tunisia, the value of Ichkeul National Park is linked to its diversity of habitats and taxonomic groups (Hollis et al. 1986).

Site 2. El Feidja (36°46'09.17″N 8°39′00.14"E; altitude: 571 masl).

This national park is located 100 km to the south of Mediterranean Sea, near the frontier with Algeria. The park is the natural environment of the Kroumirie, which is the wettest region of Tunisia. The soil is rich in humus and slightly acid and the most important component of vegetation are Quercus faginea Lam., 1785, Ilex aquifolium L., Celtis australis L., Salix pedicellata Desf., 1799, Ficus carica L., and Populus alba L. (Rossler 1996).

Sampling methods. Ground beetles were sampled using 20 pitfall traps. Traps were installed in different sites. Each trap was filled with acetic acid diluted to 30 % in order to kill and preserve samples. Additionally, some other specimens were collected by hand. Once the beetles were entrapped, the samples were separated and stored in plastic sacs. Dates, locations, and number of carabids were recorded. The specimens were identified using the guides by: Jeannel (1941; 1942) and Antoine (1955; 1957; 1959; 1961; 1962) and later confirmed by Mr. Olegario Del Junco (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain), and Pr. Ildefonso Ruiz-Tapiador (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain). The permanent preparations of the collected material were deposited in the collections of the Faculty of Science of Bizerte, Tunisia.

In general, we followed the classification suggested by Bouchard et al. (2011).

Results and discussion

There were found 52 species from 33 genera and 6 subfamilies found in Northern Tunisia parks represented in 274 individuals. All registered species belong to the following subfamilies: Nebriinae (one tribe, two genera, and two species), Omophroninae (one tribe, one genus, and one species), Apotominae (one tribe, one genus, and two species), Trechinae (two tribes, nine genera, and nine species), Brachininae (one tribe, one genus, and six species), and Harpalinae (eight tribes, 21 genera, and 32 species). The registered taxa are listed below.

Subfamily NEBRIINAE Laporte, 1834

Tribe Nebriini Laporte, 1834

Nebria (str.) andalusia Rambur, 1837

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 2♀♀; 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Fresh place, under stones, and under dead leaves.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Italy, Portugal, Spain (Antoine 195; Löbl and Smetana, 2003).

Nebria (str.) rubicunda Quensel, 1806

Material examined. El Feidja: 3♀♀; 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Fresh environment near streams, under fragments of dead leaves and wood.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955). Europe: Spain (Löbl and Smetana 2003). This species exists in Andalusia, and is considered an insect of Betic-riffian origin insect that spread eastward until Tripolitania (Antoine 1955).

Subfamily OMOPHRONINAE Bonelli, 1810

Tribe Omophronini Bonelli, 1810

Phrator variegatum seurati Alluaud, 1935

Material examined. El Feidja: 3♂♂, 2♀♀; 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Under pieces of wood and dead leaves.

Distribution. Subspecies endemic to Tunisia (Valainis 2009).

Subfamily APOTOMINAE Le Conte, 1853

Tribe Apotomini LeConte, 1853

Apotomus rufithorax Pecchioli, 1838

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 3♀♀; 27.V.2012.

Collection sites. Under stones.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain, Italy (Sardinia, Sicily), France, Corsica, Greece (Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Apotomus clypeonitens canadensis Jedlicka, 1961

Material examined. El Feidja: 7♂♂, 3♀♀; 27.V.2012; 4♂♂, 1♀; 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Clayey ground under stones in a damp environment.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Tunisia. Europe: Italy (Sicily) (Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Subfamily TRECHINAE Bonelli, 1810

Tribe Bembidiini Stephens, 1827

Asaphidion stierlini (Heyden, 1880)

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 1♀♀, 22.V.2012.

Collection sites. Edges of running water.

Distribution. North Africa: Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Nepha genei (Küster, 1847)

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂; 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Edge of ponds, rivers and streams. Hydrophilic species.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Greece, Italy (Sardinia), Portugal, Spain, (Bonavita and Taglianti 2005).

Ocyturanes dudichi (Csiki, 1928)

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 3♀♀, 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Edge of the sand of streams. According Zaballos (1984) is a Europhilic species.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain, France, Portugal (Antoine 1955. Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Nejacirtense Netolitzky, 1914

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 2♀♀, 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Edge of rivers and streams.

Distribution. Endemic species for North Africa, distributed in Algeria and Tunisia (Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Subtribe Tachyina Motschulsky, 1862

Tachys scutellaris Stephens, 1828

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 3♀♀, 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Salt ground, along the ponds and streams.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Canary Island, Egypt, Morocco. Europe: France, Italy, Portugal, Spain (Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Polyderis algiricus (Lucas, 1848)

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 1♀♀, 27.III. 2013.

Collection sites. Edge of a stream.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Canary Island, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia. Europe: France, Italy (Sicilia), Spain (Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Sphaerotachys haemorrhoidalis Ponza, 1805

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 1♀♀, 27.III. 2013.

Collection sites. Sand banks of running water and under stones in a very humid salty ground.

Species heavily hygrophile (Thérond 1975; Zaballos 1984).

Distribution. North Africa: Tunisia, Morocco, Canary Island, Egypt. Europe: Spain, Italy, France (Löbl and Smetana 2003; Antoine 1955).

Tribe Trechini Bonelli, 1810

Subtribe Trechina Bonelli, 1810

Trechus rufulus Dejean, 1831

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 2♀♀, 27.III. 2013.

Collection sites. Wet field, under stone at the edge of a stream.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Italy (Sicily and Sardinia), Spain (Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Trechus obtusus Erichson, 1837

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 2♀♀, 27.III. 2013.

Collection sites. Species collected under dead leaves.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Italy, Spain (Zaballos 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Subfamily BRACHININAE Bonelli, 1810

Tribe Brachinini Bonelli, 1810

Subtribe Brachinina Bonelli, 1810

Brachinus (str.) efflans Dejean & Boisduval, 1829

Material examined. El Feidja: 3♂♂, 1♀♀, 08.III.2012.

Collection sites. Under stones near a permanent watercourse. The former citations of B. efflans from Tunisia are included as a variety of Brachinus crepitans Linné, 1758 (Bedel 1895) from Haïdra and under the synonym Brachinus etslans Dejean, 1830 in 2003 (Löbl and Smetana 2003). However the new record confirms the presence of this elusive species.

Distribution. North Africa: Western Morocco (from Casablanca to Tangier and the Middle Atlas), Algeria, Tunisia. Europe: Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal, Spain (Machard 1993; Ruiz and Zaballos 2001; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Brachinus (str.) crepitans Linné, 1758

Material examined. Ichkeul: 3♂♂, 2♀, 17.1.2013.

Collection sites. Under a stone in a wet limestone terrain and in a humus soil.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Medium Europe and Southern Asia: Syria (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Brachinus (Brachynolomus) immaculicornis Dejean, 1825

Material examined. Ichkeul: 3♂♂, 5♀, 17.1.2013; El Feidja: 2♂♂, 1♀, 26.II.2012.

Collection sites. Under stones in a clay-wet ground.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain, Italy, France (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Brachinus (Brachynidius) sclopeta (Fabricius, 1792)

Material examined. Ichkeul: 3♂♂, 2♀♀, 17.1.2013; El Feidja: 1♂♂, 2♀♀, 21.III.2013.

Collection sites. Wet clay soil in a coastal ground under stones.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain (Serrano et al. 1990; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Brachinus (Brachynoaptinus) mauretanicus Bedel, 1914

Material examined. Ichkeul: 4♂♂, 2♀, 17.II.2013; El Feidja: 3♂♂, 1♀♀, 21.III.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and under plant debris in wet clay soil.

Distribution. North Africa: Morocco, Tunisia (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955). Endemic to North Africa.

Brachinus (Cnecostolus) exhalans Rossi, 1792

Material examined. Ichkeul: 4♂♂, 18♀, 18.1.2013.

Collection sites. Salty marshy ground.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Albania, Armenia, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain (Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Subfamily HARPALINAE Bonelli, 1810

Tribe Chlaeniini Brullé, 1834

Subtribe Chlaeniina Brullé, 1834

Chlaenites spoliatus spoliatus (Rossi, 1792)

Material examined. Ichkeul: 3♂♂, 1♀♀, 21.II.2012; 2♂♂, 2♀♀, 16.1.2013; El Feidja: 5♂♂, 2♀♀, 13.V.2013.

Collection sites. Found in the flooded fields, live under stones and under plant debris.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Canary Island, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia. All temperate Europe and South and Central Asia (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Chlaenius velutinus auricollis Géné, 1839

Material examined. Ichkeul: 2♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 16. I.2013; El Feidja: 2♂♂, 1♀♀, 13.V.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and roots of plants. It is a coastal species bound with running water (Bonadona 1971; Thérond 1975; Novoa 1975). In the park El Feidja, its behavior is similar, but also appears on the shores of lakes (Ichkeul case).

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia. Europe: France, Greece, Germany, Italy (Sicily and Sardinia), Portugal, Spain, (Bedel 1895; Serrano et al. 1990; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Trichochlaenius chrysocephalus (Rossi, 1790)

Material examined. Ichkeul: 3♂♂, 2♀♀, 11.II.2012; 1♂♂, 3♀♀, 16.1.2013.

Collection sites. Collected at theedges of stagnant water. It is a species of meso-hygrophilous behavior. In the study area we sometimes noticed a herd behavior and are frequently captured by living together with various species of Brachinus Weber.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Trichochlaenius aeratus varvasi Laporte, 1834

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 3♀♀, 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones in a wet clay soil.

Distribution. Endemic to North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia (Antoine 1955; Serrano 2003).

Chlaeniellus olivieri (Crotch, 1870)

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 3♀♀, 27.III.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and roots of vegetables at the edge of running water. It has a behavior similar to the previous species, is cited on the point of the current waters (Bonadona, 1971), of stagnant waters (Antoine 1955) and from swampy zones (Georges, 1994). It is a western Mediterranean element.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Greece, Germany, Croatia, Spain, Italy (Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Tribe Harpalini Bonelli, 1810

Subtribe Harpalina Bonelli, 1810

Carterus (str.) rotundicollis Rambur 1837

Material examined. El Feidja: 4♂♂, 2♀, 27. III. 2013; Ichkeul: 1♂♂, 3♀♀, 16. I. 2013.

Collection sites. Under stones in clayey-wet grounds.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Italy, Portugal, Spain (Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Carterus(str.) interceptus Dejean, 1830

Material examined. Ichkeul: 3♂♂, 1♂♀, 16. I. 2013.

Collection sites. Wet clay soil under stones.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Portugal, Spain (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Amblystomus mauritanicus Dejean, 1829

Material examined. Ichkeul: 1♀♀; 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Clay soil under stone.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Italy, Spain (Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Ophonus (str.) opacus Dejean, 1829

Material examined. Ichkeul: 1♂♂, 2♂♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Under limestone in a wetland.

Distribution. North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco. Europe: France, Portugal, Italy, Spain (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Harpalus (str.) distinguendus (Duftschmid, 1812)

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 1♀♀, 28. VI.2012.

Collection sites. Under stones and plant debris. Its tendency to dry and hot zones was demonstrated by Lindroth (1992); using as preference Thiele (1977) for light soils and its tolerance for a certain degree of salinity (10 %) (Verdier and Quezel 1951). Kegel (1990) affirms that 62 % of the daily activity comes true during diurnal period.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco. Asia Minor, Caucasus, Medium Europe (Antoine 1955; Wrase 2009).

Harpalus (str.) neglectus Serville, 1821

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 2♀, 26. VI.2012; Ichkeul: 2♂♂, 3♀♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and under leaf Itter in clay soil, sometimes in sandy soil.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Medium and Northern Europe (Bedel 1895; Jeannel 1941; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Harpalus (str.) serripes (Quensel, 1806)

Material examined. Ichkeul: 3♂♂, 2♀♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and under dead leaves.

According to Lindroth (1975), this appropriate species of xerophilic zones with wide-spread herbaceous vegetation, as well as other authors associate it with sandy soils and limestone (Jeannel 1942; Jeanne 1971c; Lindroth 1975; Therond 1975).

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Medium and Mediterranean Europe, England (Bedel 1895; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Acinopus haroldi Schaum, 1863

Material examined. Ichkeul: 3♂♂, 2♀♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Wet field under stones.

Distribution. Endemic for North Africa, where it was discovered for the first time in Morocco (Atlantic coast, from Tanger to Agadir) (Antoine 1955). First record from Tunisia.

Acinopus grassator Coquerel, 1858

Material examined. Ichkeul: 1♂, 2♀♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Sandy clay ground under stones.

Distribution. North Africa: Morocco (Melilla) (Antoine 1955), Algeria (Oran) (Bedel 1895).

Parophonus hispanus Rambur, 1838

Material examined. Ichkeul: 1♂♂, 2♀♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. The specimen was found on sandy soil between the debris of vegetation.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Italy, Spain (Sciaky 1992; Zaballos and Jeanne 1994).

Parophonus hespericus Jeanne, 1985

Material examined. Ichkeul: 4♂♂, 2♀♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and plant debris, most often colonization with P. hispanus Rambur.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Italy, Spain (Jeanne and Zaballos 1986; Sciaky 1992).

Cryptophonus litigiosus litigiosus (Dejean, 1829)

Material examined. Ichkeul: 2♂♂, 2♀♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Under a stone and under plant debris.

Distribution. Palearctic region. North Africa: Algeria, Egypt. Europe: France, Italy, Portugal. Asia: Palestine; Turkey, Spain, Syria (Bedel 1895; Löbl and Smetana 2003; Serrano 2003). First record from Tunisia.

Subtribe Stenolophina Kirby, 1837

Bradycellus lusitanicus Dejean, 1829

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 1♀♀, 26. III.2013.

Collection sites. Under stone in a wet field.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Italy, Spain (Bedel 1895; Serrano et al. 1990; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Stenolophus teutonus (Schrank, 1781)

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 2♀♀, 13. V.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and debris in a humid place.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Canary Islands, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Malta, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine. Asia: Syria, Turkey (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Zaballos 1993; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003; Curcic and Stojanovic 2011).

Tribe Lebiini Bonelli, 1810

Subtribe Dromiusina Bonelli, 1810

Apristuss triatipennis Lucas, 1846

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♀♀, 23. IV.2013.

Collection sites. Gravel at the edge of waters.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia (Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003). It is an endemic element for North Africa.

Microlestes corticalis (Dufour, 1820)

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 3♀♀, 17.III.2013.

Collection sites. Under dead leaves and plants bass in an argilo-sandy ground. It is a species that is found in sandy soils (Zaballos 1984) and clay (Cardenas 1985).

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Canary Island, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain. Central Asia (Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Microlestes mauritanicus Lucas, 1846

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 2♀, 23.V.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and under plant debris.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Italy (Sicily), Spain (Andalusia) (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Tribe Platynini Bonelli, 1810

Olisthopus fuscatus Dejean, 1828

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 1♀♀, 24.VI.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and plant debris in a dry field with grass. According Bonadona (1971) is completely indifferent to salinity and hides under rock and at the base of plants.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Italy, Portugal, Spain (Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Tribe Pterostichini Bonelli, 1810

Subtribe Pterostichina Bonelli, 1810

Poecilus (Parapedius) decipiens Waltl, 1835

Material examined. Ichkeul: 2♂♂, 3♀♀, 16. I.2013; El Feidja: 3♂♂, 1♀♀, 6. III.2012

Collection sites. Under stones and under plant debris.

Distribution. North Africa: Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain (Andalusia) (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Poecilus (Coelipus) crenulatus Dejean, 1828

Material examined. Ichkeul: 2♂♂, 4♀♀, 16. I.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones and plant debris.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Poecilus (Carenostylus) purpurascens (Dejean, 1828)

Material examined. Ichkeul: 5♂♂, 2♀♀, 16.1.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones in a marshy area.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: France, Greece, Portugal, Spain (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Poecilus (str.) tyrrhenicus Csiki, 1930

Material examined. Ichkeul: 4♂♂, 7♀♀, 16. I.2013; El Feidja: 2♂♂, 5♀♀, 27. III.2012.

Collection sites. Under stones and plant debris.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain (Andalusia) (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Tribe Sphodrini Laporte, 1834

Subtribe Calathina Laporte, 1834

Calathus (Bedelinus) circumseptus Germar, 1824

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♂♂, 4♀♀, 13.V.2013.

Collection sites. Under feet of trees and under stones in a wet ground and at the edge of a stream.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Albania, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain (Antoine 1955; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003; Serrano et al. 2003).

Calathus (Neocalathus) mollis Marsham, 1802

Material examined. El Feidja: 3♂♂, 1♀♀, 21.V.2012.

Collection sites. Under stones and in feet of tree.

Distribution. North Africa: Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Germany, France (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Serrano et al.1990; Machard 1993; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Subtribe Synuchina Lindroth, 1956

Platyderus ruficollis Marshamm, 1802

Material examined. Ichkeul: 1♂♂, 2♂♀, 16.1.2013.

Collection sites. Under stones.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Western Europe (Bedel 1895; Antoine 1955; Machard 1993).

Tribe Zabrini Bonelli, 1810

Subtribe Amarina Zimmermann, 1832

Amara (str.) familiaris Duftschmid, 1812

Material examined. El Feidja: 1♂♂, 2♂♀; 22.VI.2012.

Collection sites. Under dead leaves, in fields and along ways, running to the sun.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Greece (Bedel 1895; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

Tribe Zuphiini Bonelli, 1810

Subtribe Zuphiina Bonelli, 1810

Zuphium (str.) olens Rossi, 1790

Material examined. El Feidja: 2♀♀; 22.VI.2013.

Collection sites. Dead leaves.

Distribution. North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Europe: Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Greece (Bedel 1895; Löbl and Smetana 2003).

The results of this study indicate that there is a highly diverse fauna of Carabidae in both parks. In this survey, a total of 52 species belonging to 6 subfamilies were collected from two different localities. Of the six subfamilies studied here, Harpalinae was the most abundant with 32 species (61.5 % of total). According to Lorenz (2005) the subfamily Harpalinae is the largest group of ground beetles with 19,000 species. Eight of the species (15.3 % in total) were common to both parks.

Within the other subfamilies, two species, Acinopus haroldi Schaum, 1863 and Cryptophonus litigiosus litigiosus (Dejean, 1829) from Ichkeul national park are new records for the fauna of Tunisia. Endemic species represent a par ticular class of rare species (Gaston 1994). Five species are endemic to the North Africa: Neja cirtense Netolitzky, 1914, Apristus striatipennis Lucas, 1846, Trichochlaenius aeratus varvasi Laporte, 1834 (El Feidja national park), Acinopus ha roldi Schaum, 1863 (Ichkeul National Park) and Brachinus (Brachynoaptinus) mauretanicus Bedel, 1914 (both parks). Hence, one subspecies, Phrator variegatum seurati Alluaud, 1935 (El Feidja National Park) is endemic to Tunisia. The global species richness of ground beetles varied between sampling sites (Fig. 1); the highest value was recorded in El Feidja national park (37 species); in Ichkeul national park were recorded 24 species. Also, the higher abundance of spe cimens was observed in El Feidja with 146 individuals; where the most representative species were: Apotomus clypeonitens canadensis Jedlicka, 1961, Chlaenites spoliatus spoliatus (Rossi, 1792) and Poecilus (str.) tyrrhenicus Csiki, 1930. In Ichkeul the abundance obtained was 126 individuals, where the most abundant species were: Poecilus (str.)tyrrhenicus Csiki, 1930, Trichochlaenius chrysocephalus (Rossi, 1790), Chlaenites spoliatus spoliatus (Rossi, 1792), Brachinus (Brachynolomus) immaculicornis Dejean, 1825 and Poecilus (Carenostylus) purpurascens (Dejean, 1828). In other study sites, Ghannem et al. (2014) recorded five species of Carabi dae, from Bou Hedma National Park southern Tunisia. Dajoz (1982) recorded eight Carabidae species, from southern Tu nisia. In addition, in Algeria, in Mont Babor National Park, Benkhlil and Doumandji (1992) have been captured 28 spe cies of Carabidae. Remini (2007) sampled in Ben Aknoun National Park, five species of Carabidae. Within Fezzan (desertic area of 15,000 kmβ located in Libya), 19 Carabidae were recorded by Peyerimhoff (1948). In comparison with the previous sites, the high species richness refers to the sites seems to be related to altitude, vegetation, soil, availability of trophic resources, structural complexity of the environment and the degree of disturbance. Different abiotic factors can influence the activity of carabid beetles and associated taxa in different climates (Moraes et al. 2013). The difference can attribute to the affinity and adaptation by local species to their habitats (Erwin et al. 2005). According to Loreau (1978) deciduous litter can provide favorable microclimatic condi tions, and creates a complex spatial structure through gene rating stratification that may allow the coexistence of some ground beetle species.

In this study, we noticed that there is no great difference in species richness sorted by abundance specific level, which proliferates despite the study sites are geographically distant from each other. This will demonstrate the importance of the conservation of these sites (national parks since 1980 and 1956) which are relevant for the entire ecosystem and in particular the species of Carabidae.

This study constitutes a guide for future taxonomical and ecological research of Tunisian species. With more long-term and periodic work the checklist of Carabidae from Tunisia can be updated with new findings of different species.

The presence of such ground beetles' biodiversity at the El Feidja and the Ichkeul National Parks can only approve their heritage significance. Managers of this biodiversity hot spot are required to entrust more interest and conservation efforts, reducing the unsustainable practices (overgrazing, fire…) that exist in these "protected" area. Sustainable management of these heritages requires taking into account all functions and uses that the both parks have to offer (ecological, economic, tourism…) and their integration to management reflections undertaken by the different concerned parties.

Figure 1.

Abundance (N) and species richness (S) variation in sampling sites.

Footnotes

Acknowledgements

We thank to Mr. Olegario Del Junco (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain) and Dr. Ildefonso Ruiz-Tapiador Aparicio (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), who helped us for the identification of specimens.

References

ANTOINE

1955

Coléoptéres Carabiques du Maroc (lére par tie)

Mémoires de la Société des Sciences Naturelles et Physiques du Maroc, Nouvelle série, Zoologie 11–176

ANTOINE

1957

Coléoptères Carabiques du Maroc (3éme partie)

Mémoires de la Société des Sciences Naturelles et Physiques du Maroc, Nouvelle série, Zoologie 3180–314

ANTOINE

1959

Coléoptères Carabiques du Maroc (3éme partie)

Mémoires de la Société des Sciences Naturelles et Physiques du Maroc, Nouvelle série, Zoologie 6315–465

ANTOINE

1961

Coléoptères Carabiques du Maroc (4éme partie)

Mémoires de la Société des Sciences Naturelles et Physiques du Maroc, Nouvelle série, Zoologie 8467–537

ANTOINE

1962

Coléoptères Carabiques du Maroc (5éme partie)

Mémoires de la Société des Sciences Naturelles et Physiques du Maroc, Nouvelle série, Zoologie 9535–692

BEDEL

1895 Catalogue raisonné des Coléoptères du Nord de l'Afrique Société Entomologique de France

BENKHLIL

DOUMANDJI

1992

Notes écologiques sur la composition et la structure du peuplement des Coléoptères dans le parc national de Babor (Algérie)

Faculty of medicine. Landbouww. University of Gent 57 3617–621

BONADONA

1971

Catalogue des Coléoptères carabiques de France

Nouvelle Revue d'Entomologie. Toulouse11–77

BONAVITA

VIGNA TAGLIANTI

2005

Le Alpi orientali come zona di transizione di bembidini (Coleoptera Carabidae)

Biogeographia (Biogeografia delle Alpi e Prealpi centroorientali) 26203–228

10.

BOUCHARD

BOUSQUET

DAVIES

ALONSO-ZARAZAGA

LAWRENCE

LYAL

NEWTON

REID

SCHMITT

SLIPINSKI

SMITH

2011

Familygroup names in Coleoptera (Insecta)

ZooKeys 881–972

11.

BROOKS

T. M.

MITTERMEIR

R. A.

DA FONSECA

G. A.

GERLACH

HOFFMANN

LAMOREUX

J. F.

RODRIGUES

A. S.

2006

Global biodiversity conservation priorities

Science 313 578358–61

12.

CARDENAS

1985Coleópteros Carabidae de la cuenca del Bembézar (Sierra Morena Central, Córdoba)Tesis doctoral. Universidad de Córdoba126 p.

13.

CURCIC

S. B.

STOJANOVIC

D. V.

2011

New data on the Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of Mt. Fruška Gora (Northern Serbia)

Acta Entomologica Serbica 16 145–59

14.

DAJOZ

1982

Les peuplements de Coléoptères terricoles de Tunisie

Cahiers des Naturalistes 3833–67

15.

DESENDER

1987 Bemonsterings methodologie, levenscyclus en evolutionaire ecologie van het dispersi evermogen Dissertation doctorale, Rijksuniversiteit Gent

16.

ERWIN

T. L.

PIMIENTA

M. C.

MURILLO

O. E.

ASCHERO

2005

Mapping patterns of ß – Diversity for beetles across the western amazon basin: a preliminary case for improving inventory methods and conservation strategies

Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 5672–85

17.

FOCARILE

1964

Gli Asaphidion del gruppo flavipes L., con particulare riguardo alla fauna italiana

Memorie della Societa Entomologica Italiana 4397–120

18.

GASTON

K. J.

1991

The magnitude of global insect species richness

Conservation Biology 5283–296

19.

GASTON

K. J.

1994RarityChapman & HallLondon205 р.

20.

GEORGES

1994

Inventaire des coléopterès carabiques (Coleoptera, Carabidae) du marais Poitevin (France, Facade Atlantique)

Quaderni della Stazione di Ecologia, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale. Ferrara 6205–223

21.

GHANNEM

KHALLOUFI

BOUMAIZA

2014

Primera contribución al conocimiento de los insectos del Parque Nacional Bou Hedma de Túnez

Revista Gaditana de Entomología 1203–210

22.

GUÉORGUIEV

2012

Laemostenus (Sphodroides) tiouirii, a new troglophile beetle from Tunisia (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Historia Naturalis Bulgarcia 2069–74

23.

HOLLIS

G. E.

AGNEW

C. T.

BATTARBEE

R. W.

CHISNALL

FISHER

R. C.

FLOWER

GOLDSMITH

F. B.

PHETHMEAN

S.J.

SKINNER

STEVENSON

A. С.

WARREN

WOOD

J. B.

1986 Modelling and management of the internationally important wetland at garaet El Ichkeul, Tunisia IWRB, Publication No. 4, Slimbridge, Great Britain.

24.

JEANNE

1967cCarabiques de la Peninsule Iberique (6ª note)Actes de la Societe Linneenne de Bordeaux 104 131–19

25.

JEANNE

1971cCarabiques de la Peninsule Iberique (12ª note)Bulletin de la Societe Linneenne de Bordeaux 1 9203–220

26.

JEANNE

ZABALLOS

J. P.

1986 Catalogue des coléoptères carabiques de la Péninsule Ibérique Suppl. Bull. Soc. Linn. Bordeaux

27.

JEANNEL

1941Coléoptères Carabiques lere partie. Faune de France 39LechevalierParis573 p.

28.

JEANNEL

1942Coleóptères Carabiques 2eme partie. Faune de France 40LechevalierParis1143 p.

29.

KEGEL

1990Diurnal activity of Carabid Beetles living on arable landIn:The role of ground beetles in ecological and environmental studies Stork

Intercepted

Andover. England62 p.

30.

KERR

J. T.

KHAROUBA

H. M.

CURRIE

D. J.

2007

The macroecological contribution to global change solutions

Science 3161581–1584

31.

LATTY

E. F.

WERNER

S. M.

MLADENOFF

D. J.

RAFFA

K. F.

SICKLEY

T. A.

2006

Response of ground beetle (Carabidae) assemblages to logging history in northern hardwood-hemlock forests

Forest Ecology and Management 222 1335–347

32.

LINDROTH

C. H.

1975 The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica vol 15(1)

Brill Scandinavian Science Press

Leiden-Copenhagen

33.

LINDROTH

C. H.

1992Ground beetles (Carabidae) of Fennoscandia: a zoogeographical study: Part 3. General analysis with a discussion on biogeographical principles814 p.

34.

LÖBL

SMETANA

2003Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, vol. 1-7Apollo BooksStenstrup1. 819 р.

35.

LOREAU

1978

Etude de la distribution des Carabidae dans la vallée du Viroin (Belgique)

Annales de la Société Zoologique de Belgique 107129–146

36.

LORENZ

2005 A systematic list of extant ground beetles of the world (Coleoptera "Geadephaga": Trachypachidae and Carabidaeincl. Paussinae, Cicindelinae, Rhysodinae) Published by the author

Tutzing, Germany

37.

MACHARD

1993

Contribution to the knowledge of Caraboidea Morocco

The Entomology 49 6317–321

38.

MEHENNI

M. T.

1993Recherche écologiques et biologiques sur les Coléoptères des Cédraies algériennesThèse Doctorat. Université Houari Boumediene. Bab Ezzouar, Algérie320 p.

39.

MORAES

R. M.

MENDONÇA

M. D. S.

Jr. Ott

2013

Carabid beetle assemblages in three environments in the Araucaria humid forest of southern Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 57 167–74

40.

NORMAND

1933

Contribution au catalogue des Coléoptères de la Tunisie

Bulletin de la Société d'histoire naturelle d'Afrique du Nord 24149–168

41.

NOVOA

1975

Los Carabidae de la Sierra de Guadarrama I. Inventario de especies y Biogeografía

Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural (Biológica) 7399–147

42.

PEYERIMHOFF

P. D.

1909

Nouveaux coléoptères du Nord-Africain (10e note)

Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 10277–279

43.

PEYERIMHOFF

P. D.

1948

Mission française au Fezzan Fazzan (février-avril 1944 et mai-juin 1947). Insects Coléoptères. Mission scientifique du Fezzan Fazzan (1944-1945)

Zoologie 51–84

44.

QUÉINNEC

OLLIVIER

2012

Deux nouveaux Trechus de Tunisie (Coleoptera Carabidae Trechini) et discussion sur le complexe « fulvus » en Afrique du Nord

Bulletin Mensuel de la Société Linnéenne de Lyon 822–14

45.

REMINI

2007Etude faunistique du parc zoologique de Ben AknounThèse Magister. Institut national Agronomique.El- Harrach, Algérie244 р.

46.

ROSSLER

1996

Definition and acquaintance with natural heritage in the international and Arab contexts

The Third Regional Training Course on Conservation and Management of Natural Heritage in Arab Countries. Egyptian National UNESCO Commission, National MAB Committee, MAB Bulletin Bulld' Egypte 13 3/44–9

47.

RUIZ-TAPIADOR

ZABALLOS

J. P.

2001

The Caraboidea (Coleoptera) of the Montes of Toledo (Central Spain)

Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa 2911–31

48.

SCIAKY

1992

Revisione dei Selenophorina paleartici occidentali (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Harpalinae)

Bollettino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura 24 137–65

49.

SERRANO

2003 Catalogo de los Carabidae (Coleoptera) de la Peninsula Iberica, Monografias S.E.A. vol. 9 Sociedad Entomologica Entomológica Aragonesa

Zaragoza

50.

SERRANO

LENCINA

J. L.

ANDUJAR

2003

Distribution patterns of Iberian Carabidae (Insecta, Coleoptera)

Graellsia 59129–153

51.

SERRANO

ORTIZ

GALIÁN

1990

Los Carabidae de lagunas y ríos de la Submeseta Sur, España (Coleoptera, Adephaga)

Boletín de la Asociación española de Entomología 14199–210

52.

SPEIGHT

MARTÍNEZ

LUFF

1986

The Asaphidion (Col. Carabidae) species occurring in Great Britain and Ireland

Proceedings and Transactions of the British Entomological and Natural History Society 1917–21

53.

THEROND

1975Catalogue des Coléptères de la Camargue et du Gard. 1ère partieSociete d'Etude des Sciences Naturelles de Nîmes 1015–95

54.

THIELE

H. U.

1977 Carabid Beetles in their environments Springer Verlag

Berlin. Heidelberg. New York

55.

VAIBHAO

VARSHA

VISHWANATH

2013

Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of Melghat Tiger Reserve, Central India

Journal on New Biological Reports 2 2173–176

56.

VALAINIS

2009

A review of genus Omophron Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Mediterranean fauna and distribution

Acta Biologica Universitatis Daugavpiliensis 9 163–72

57.

VERDIER

QUEZEL

1951

Les populations de carabiques dans la région littorale languedocienne. Leurs rapports avec le sol et sa couverture végétale

Vie et Milieu 269–94

58.

WRASE

D. W.

2009

New or interesting records of carabid beetles from Europe, Madeira, northern Africa, Turkey, from the near East, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Pakistan, with nomenclatorial and taxonomic notes (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Bembidiini, Brachinini, Cyclosomini, Elaphrini, Harpalini, Lebiini, Nebriini, Platynini, Pterostichini, Scaritini, Sphodrini, Zabrini)

Linzer Biologische Beitraege 41901–935

59.

ZABALLOS

J. P.

1984 Los Carabidae y Paussidae (Coleoptera) del oeste del Sistema Central Tesis Doctoral. Universidad de Salamanca

60.

ZABALLOS

J. P.

1993

Los carábidos (Col. Caraboidea) de la Sierra de Gredos (España Central)

Eos 6983–99

61.

ZABALLOS

J. P.

JEANNE

1994 Nuevo Catálogo de los Carábidos (Coleoptera) de la Península Ibérica. Monografías S.E.A. 1 Sociedad Entomológica, Aragón

Zaragoza

62.

GHANNEM

BEJAOUI

BOUMAIZA

2017. New records, notes on distribution and species diversity of Carabidae (Coleoptera) from Tunisia National Parks. Revista Colombiana de Entomología 43 (1): 69–76. Enero-Junio 2017. ISSN 0120-0488.

New Records,Notes on Distribution and Species Diversity of Carabidae (Coleoptera) from Tunisia National Parks

Abstract

Keywords

Introduction

Material and methods

Results and discussion

Footnotes

Acknowledgements

References