Body size and leg length variation in several species of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) along a rainfall and altitudinal gradient in the Negev Desert (Israel)

Journal of Arid Environments

Volumn 34, Issue 4, 1996, Pages 477-489

  Krasnov, B ^a   Ward, D ^a   Shenbrot, G ^a  

^a BEN GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV   (Israel)

Author keywords

altitude; body size; leg length; rainfall gradient; tenebrionid beetles

Indexed keywords

ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT; BODY SIZE; DARKLING BEETLE; LEG LENGTH; RAINFALL;

ISRAEL, NEGEV DESERT;

ADESMIA METALLICA; COLEOPTERA; ERODIUS EDOMITUS; SEPIDIUM DATHAN; TENEBRIONIDAE; ZOPHOSIS COMPLANATA;

EID: 0030424175     PISSN: 01401963     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1006/jare.1996.0126     Document Type: Article

References (45)

1. Abramsky, Z. (1988). The role of habitat and productivity in structuring desert rodent communities. Oikos, 52: 107-114.
2. Abramsky, Z. & Rosenzweig, M.L. (1984). Tilman's predicted productivity-diversity relationship shown by desert rodents. Nature, 309: 150-151.
3. Ahearn, G. (1971). Ecological factors affecting population sampling of desert tenebrionid beetles. American Midland Naturalist, 86: 385-406.
4. Alsopp, P.G. (1980). The biology of false wireworms and their adults (soil-inhabiting Tenebrionidae) (Coleoptera): a review. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 70: 343-379.
5. Ayal, Y. & Merkl, O. (1994). Spatial and temporal distribution of tenebrionid species (Coleoptera) of the Negev Highlands, Israel. Journal of Arid Environments, 27: 347-361.
6. Ben-David, R. & Mazor, E. (1988). Stages in the evolution of Makhtesh Ramon and its drainage system. Israel Journal of Earth Sciences, 37: 125-136.
7. Brénière, J. (1960). Note sur Gonocephalum simplex Fabr. coléoptère ténébrionida nuisible au tabac de Madagascar. Agronomie tropicale, 15: 414-433.
8. Brosa, M., Pener, M.P. & Borut, A. (1983). On the adaptive significance of leg length in diurnal tenebrionid beetles of the genus Adesmia (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 76: 821-824.
9. Brown, J.H. (1973). Species diversity of seed eating desert rodents in sand dune habitats. Ecology, 54: 775-787.
10. Clayton, D. (1991). Assortative mating in the dune beetle Erodius sauditus (Tenebrionidae: Erodiini) in Kuwait. Journal of Arid Environments, 21: 81-89.
11. Crespi, B.J. (1989). Variable selection and size-related mating patterns in natural populations of Elaphrothrips tuberculatus: A path analysis. American Midland Naturalist, 122: 142-150.
12. Délye, G. (1957). Observations sur la fourmi Saharienne Cataglyphis bombycina Rog. Insectes Sociaux, 4: 77-82.
13. Délye, G. (1969). Perméabilité de l'integument et résistance aux températures élevées de quelques Arthropodes sahariens. Bulletin de la Sociiété Entomologique de France, 74: 51-55.
14. Dreisig, H. (1980). Daily activity, thermoregulation and water loss in the tiger beetle, Cicindella hybrida. Oecologia, 44: 376-389.
15. Dreisig, H. (1990). Thermoregulatory stilting in tiger beetles, Cicindella hybrida L. Journal of Arid Environments, 19: 297-302.
16. Edney, E.B. (1971). The body temperature of tenebrionid beetles in the Namib desert of southern Africa. Journal of Experimental Biology, 55: 253-272.
17. Günster, A. (1995). Grass cover distribution in the central Namib - a rapid method to assess regional and local rainfall patterns of arid regions? Journal of Arid Environments, 29: 107-114.
18. Hamilton, W.J., III (1975). Coloration and its thermal consequences for diurnal desert insects. In: Hadley, N.F. (Ed.), Environmental Physiology of Desert Organisms, pp. 67-89. Stroudberg: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross. 283pp.
19. Haverfield, L.E. (1965). A note on the mating ritual and biology of Eleodes hispilabris convexa. Journal of Kansas Entomological Society, 38: 389-391.
20. Heatwole, H. & Harrington, S. (1989). Heat tolerances of some ants and beetles from the pre-Saharan steppe of Tunisia. Journal of Arid Environments, 16: 69-78.
21. Issar, A. (1983). Emerging ground water, a triggering factor in the formation the makhteshim (erosion cirques) in the Negev and Sinai. Israel Journal of Earth Sciences, 32: 53-61.
22. Kabanov, V.A. (1978). Biology of Oodescelis polita Sturm in the forest steppe and steppe zones of the European part of the USSR. Vestnik zoologii, N1: 47-51. (In Russian).
23. Krasnov, B.R. (1995). Spatial structure of darkling beetle community in Makhtesh Ramon. Israel Journal of Zoology, 41: 100-101.
24. Krasnov, B.R. & Ayal, Y. (1995). Seasonal changes in darkling beetle communities (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the Ramon erosion cirque, Negev highlands, Israel. Journal of Arid Environments, 31: 335-347.
25. Koch, C. (1962). The Tenebrionidae of southern Africa. XXXI. Comprehensive notes on the tenebrionid fauna of the Namib desert. Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 24: 61-106.
26. Matteson, J.W. (1966). Colonization and mass production of the false wireworm Eleodes suturalis. Journal of Economic Entomology, 59: 26-27.
27. McCauley, D.E. (1979). Geographic variation in body size and its relation to the mating structure of Tetraopes populations. Heredity, 42: 143-148.
28. McCauley, D.E. & Wade, M.J. (1978). Female choice and the mating structure of a natural population of the soldier beetle Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus. Evolution, 32: 771-775.
29. McLain, D.K. (1982). Density dependent sexual selection and positive phenotypic assortative mating in natural populations of the soldier beetle, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus. Evolution, 36: 1227-1235.
30. McLain, D.K. (1985). Clonal variation in morphology and assortative mating in the soldier beetle, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus (Coleoptera: Cantharidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 25: 105-117.
31. McLain, D.K. & Boromisa, R.D. (1987). Male choice, fighting ability, assortative mating, and the intensity of sexual selection in the milkweed longhorn beetle, Tetraopes tetraopththalmus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 20: 239-246.
32. Medvedev, G.S. (1965). Adaptations of leg structure in desert darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Entomological Review, 44: 473-485.
33. Morgan, K.R. (1985). Body temperature regulation and terrestrial activity in the ectothermic beetle Cicindella tranquebarica. Physiological Zoology, 58: 29-37.
34. Nativ, R. & Mazor, E. (1987). Rain events in an arid environment - their distribution and ionic and isotopic composition patterns: Makhtesh Ramon Basin, Israel. Journal of Hydrology, 89: 205-237.
35. Nicolson, S.W., Bartholomew, G.A. & Seely, M.K. (1984). Ecological correlates of locomotion speed, morphometrics and body temperature in three Namib Desert tenebrionid beetles. South African Journal of Zoology, 19: 131-134.
36. Roberts, C.S., Seely, M.K., Ward, D., Mitchell, D. & Campbell, J.D. (1991). Body temperatures of Namib desert tenebrionid beetles: their relationship in laboratory and field. Physiological Entomology, 16: 463-475.
37. Seely, M.K. (1973). Factors controlling reproduction of certain Namib Desert tenebrionids. Madoqua, 2: 63-65.
38. Seely, M.K. & Mitchell, D. (1987). Is the subsurface environment of the Namib Desert dunes a thermal haven for chthonic beetles? South African Journal of Zoology, 22: 57-61.
39. Slobodchikoff, C. (1983). Water balance and temperature preferences, and their role in regulating activity times of tenebrionid beetles. Oikos, 40: 113-119.
40. Tohmé, G. (1975). Ecologie, biologie de la reproduction et ethologie de Messor ebeninus Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicoidea-Myrmicidae). Bulletin Biologique de la France et de la Belgique, 109: 171-251.
41. Ward, D. & Olsvig-Whittaker, I. (1993). Plant species diversity at the junction of two desert biogeographic zones. Biodiversity Letters, 1: 172-185.
42. Ward, D. & Seely, M.K. (1996a). Adaptation and constraint in the evolution of the physiology and behaviour of the Namib desert tenebrionid beetle genus Onymacris. Evolution, 50: 1231-1240.
43. Ward, D. & Seely, M.K. (1996b). Behavioural thermoregulation of six Namib Desert tenebrionid beetle species. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 89: 442-451.
44. Ward, D., Olsvig-Whittaker, L. & Lawes, M. (1993). Vegetation-environment relationships in a Negev Desert erosion cirque. Journal of Vegetation Science, 4: 83-94.
45. Wright, D.P. (1972). Rearing Eleodes suturalis without diapause. Journal of Economic Entomology, 65: 17-31.