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Niche Specialization and Conservation Biology of Cicindela nevadica lincolniana

Tierney R. Brosius
01 Jan 2010-
TL;DR: This work presents a meta-analysis of captive Rearing and Mortality Analysis of Cicindela nevadica lincolniana, a sympatric tiger beetle assemblage, and its role in the conservation of the Salt Creek tiger beetle.
Abstract: 13 Introduction 14 Methods and Materials 17 Results 20 Discussion 21 Tables and Figures 29 Chapter 2 Captive Rearing and Mortality Analysis of Cicindela nevadica lincolniana Abstract 35 Introduction 36 Methods and Materials 41 Results 44 Discussion 46 Tables and Figures 5835 Introduction 36 Methods and Materials 41 Results 44 Discussion 46 Tables and Figures 58 Chapter 3 Behavioral niche partitioning in a sympatric tiger beetle assemblage Abstract 62 Introduction 63 Methods and Materials 67 Results 6962 Introduction 63 Methods and Materials 67 Results 69 Discussion 71 Tables and Figures 75 Chapter 4 Using the visual arts to promote the conservation of the Salt Creek tiger beetle Abstract 89 Introduction 9089 Introduction 90 Methods and Materials 95 Results and Discussion 97 Tables and Figures 103 Summary and Conclusions 109 Literature Cited 112

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Citations
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Journal Article•DOI•
Tiger Beetles: The Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity of the Cicindelids

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Paul M. Choate1•
University of Florida1
01 Dec 2002-Florida Entomologist

24 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
The Nature of Nebraska: Ecology and Biodiversity

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John Pearson
01 Oct 2002-The Annals of Iowa

15 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Behavioral niche partitioning in a sympatric tiger beetle assemblage and implications for the endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle

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Tierney R. Brosius1, Leon G. Higley2•
Augustana College (Illinois)1, University of Nebraska–Lincoln2
17 Sep 2013-PeerJ
TL;DR: Results of this study strongly indicate that competition among these species for resources has been reduced by the adaptation of different thermoregulatory behaviors such as spending time in shallow water, avoiding the sun during the hottest parts of the day, and by positioning their body against or away from the soil.
Abstract: How behavioral patterns are related to niche partitioning is an important question in understanding how closely related species within ecological communities function. Behavioral niche partitioning associated with thermoregulation is well documented in tiger beetles as a group. Co-occurring species of salt flat tiger beetles have adapted many thermoregulatory behaviors to cope with this harsh ecosystem. On first examination these beetles appear to occur in overlapping microhabitats and therefore compete for resources. To determine if behavioral niche partitioning is allowing multiple species to occur within the same harsh salt flat ecosystem we observed Cicindela nevadica lincolniana, Cicindela circumpicta, Cicindela fulgida, and Cicindela togata between 8:00 h and 21:00 h and recorded all behaviors related to thermoregulation using a digital voice recorder. Results of this study strongly indicate that competition among these species for resources has been reduced by the adaptation of different thermoregulatory behaviors such as spending time in shallow water, avoiding the sun during the hottest parts of the day, and by positioning their body against or away from the soil. The endangered C. n. lincolniana appears to rely most heavily on the shallow water of seeps for their diurnal foraging behavior (potentially limiting their foraging habitat), but with the advantage of allowing foraging during the hottest times of the day when potential competitors are less frequent. Ironically, this association also may help explain C. n. lincolniana's susceptibility to extinction: beyond the loss of saline wetlands generally, limited seeps and pools even within remaining saline habitat may represent a further habitat limitation within an already limited habitat.

14 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Determining Optimum Soil Type and Salinity for Rearing the Federally Endangered Salt Creek Tiger Beetle, Cicindela (Ellipsoptera) nevadica lincolniana Casey (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Cicindelinae)

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Stephen M. Spomer, Gary J. Brewer, Michael I. Fritz, Robert R. Harms, Kay A. Klatt, Aimee M. Johns, Sarah A. Crosier, Joseph A. Palmer 
01 Oct 2015-Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society
TL;DR: Effective rearing methods are needed to recover the federally endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle, Cicindela (Ellipsoptera) nevadica lincolniana Casey, a subspecies that occurs exclusively in saline wetlands and seeps along Little Salt Creek in Lancaster County, Nebraska.
Abstract: Effective rearing methods are needed to recover the federally endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle, Cicindela (Ellipsoptera) nevadica lincolniana Casey, a subspecies that occurs exclusively in saline wetlands and seeps along Little Salt Creek in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Experiments were initiated to determine soil type and salinity concentrations appropriate for stimulating female oviposition in laboratory settings to produce larvae and/or adults for reintroduction to native habitats. In 2013, there were highly significant differences between native soil and a sand/loess soil mixture, but no differences between two salinity levels, 0.354 M and 0.5 M. In 2014, using only a sand/loess soil mixture, there were again no differences between the test salinity levels. A sand/loess soil mixture of either 0.354 M or 0.5 M salinity was determined to be optimum for egg production.

7 citations

Journal Article•DOI•
Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink

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Della Garelle1•
University of Colorado Colorado Springs1
01 Jan 2012-Journal of Wildlife Diseases

7 citations

References
More filters
Journal Article•DOI•
Evidence for food as a limiting resource in the life cycle of tiger beetles ( Coleoptera: Cicindelidae).

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David L. Pearson1, C. B. Knisley2•
Arizona State University1, Pennsylvania State University2
01 Jan 1985-Oikos
TL;DR: Field observations established that the feeding levels of wild larvae and adults in several habitats over five years was lower than the level which produced maximum offspring and survival in the laboratory, except on permanent pond edges where food was abundant.
Abstract: Using an assemblage of tiger beetles in SE Arizona, USA, as test organisms, the potential for food as a limiting resource in each of the life cycle stages was determined. Laboratory experiments established at what levels food quantity affected adults and larvae. Adult females at low feeding levels produced significantly fewer eggs and larvae than females at high feeding levels. Larvae at low feeding levels took significantly longer to pass through all three larval stages, and their pupae and emergent adults were significantly smaller than those individuals raised at higher feeding levels. Large adults survived longer than small adults when deprived of food. Small adult females produced fewer eggs and larvae at low feeding levels than larger conspecific females at the same feeding levels. Field observations established that the feeding levels of wild larvae and adults in several habitats over five years was lower than the level which produced maximum offspring and survival in the laboratory, except on permanent pond edges where food was abundant. Year to year fluctuations in food availability indicated that food in some habitats was more likely limiting in some years than others.

97 citations

"Niche Specialization and Conservati..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Tiger beetles are highly sensitive to food availability in both larval development and fecundity (Pearson and Knisley 1985, Knisley and Juliano 1988), therefore, it is likely that sympatric tiger beetles in this system are competing for food resources....

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  • ...Here we examine behavioral mechanisms for niche partitioning along with improving techniques for captive rearing protocol and increasing public awareness about the conservation of this local insect....

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  • ...It is also clear that the amount of food (and potentially quality of food) consumed by the female beetle is also of vital importance for egg production (TB per obs, Pearson and Knisley 1985)....

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  • ...The amount of prey items consumed by adult females is directly tied to their ability to lay larger numbers of eggs (Pearson and Knisley 1985)....

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  • ...For example, soil moisture, larval competition, parasitoids, and prey abundance all have large impacts on larval survival (Palmer 1976, Palmer 1979, Knisley and Pearson 1981, Hori 1982, Pearson and Knisley 1985, Knisley and Juliano 1988, Hoback et al. 2000, Allgeier 2005)....

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Journal Article•DOI•
The role of bioindicators in estuarine management

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James G. Wilson1•
Trinity College, Dublin1
01 Mar 1994-Estuaries
TL;DR: In this paper, the recommended bioindicators for estuarine conditions are plankton; for contaminant loads, a range of species with different feeding types; and for system status, a eurytolerant species, such as the musselMytilus edulis for laboratory monitoring or a “target” species such as Macoma balthica for field monitoring.
Abstract: Estuarine organisms can be considered three ways as bioindicators—first, as indicators of a defined set of environmental conditions, second, as indicators of contaminant loads on the system, and third, as indicators of the overall health of the system. By their very nature, estuarine organisms are eurytolerant and this, along with the various stratagems that have evolved to cope with the problems of life in estuaries results in a confusing picture for the estuarine manager. The recommended bioindicators for estuarine conditions are plankton; for contaminant loads, a range of species with different feeding types; and for system status, a eurytolerant species, such as the musselMytilus edulis for laboratory monitoring or a “target” species such as the clamMacoma balthica for field monitoring. However, it would be unwise to rely on a single indicator, and the recommendation is that the final choice, and preferably choices, be tailored to the desired goal.

76 citations

"Niche Specialization and Conservati..." refers background in this paper

  • ...The greater the precision these conditions can be defined (life history requirements, habitat features, natural enemies, etc.) the more useful the bioindicator (Wilson 1994)....

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Journal Article•DOI•
Species longevity as a function of niche breadth: Evidence from fossil crinoids

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Thomas W. Kammer1, Tomasz K. Baumiller2, William I. Ausich3•
West Virginia University1, University of Michigan2, Ohio State University3
01 Mar 1997-Geology
TL;DR: High-resolution stratigraphic and taxonomic data indicate that species longevities among Paleozoic (Mississippian) crinoids (Echinodermata) were affected by differences in niche breadth, and support the hypothesis that specialist clades have higher species richness.
Abstract: High-resolution stratigraphic and taxonomic data indicate that species longevities among Paleozoic (Mississippian) crinoids (Echinodermata) were affected by differences in niche breadth. A strong positive relationship exists between niche breadth, measured as the number of environments occupied by a species, and stratigraphic range. The robustness of this pattern is verified by a variety of rarefaction and statistical techniques confirming the long-held supposition that among animals ecological “generalists” have greater species longevities than ecological “specialists.” The results also support the hypothesis that specialist clades have higher species richness.

74 citations

"Niche Specialization and Conservati..." refers background in this paper

  • ...An organism‟s risk of extinction is linked to the width of its ecological niche (Kammer et al. 1997, Kotiaho et al. 2005)....

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  • ...Some suggest that those individuals residing in a narrow niche are the first individuals most likely to succumb to extinction (Kammer et al. 1997, Kotiaho et al. 2005)....

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  • ...Organisms that are highly specialized, such as in the case of C. n. lincolniana, are thought to be more susceptible to extinction due to habitat destruction (Kammer et al 1997, Kotiaho et al. 2005)....

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  • ...Evidence suggests that variability within an ecologically functional trait is relevant to determining the cause of niche breadth (Roughgarden 1972, Kammer et al 1997, Kotiaho et al. 2005)....

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  • ...Organisms that are highly specialized tend to 16 be more susceptible to extinction when their habitats are disrupted (Kammer et al. 1997, Kotiaho et al. 2005)....

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Journal Article•DOI•
Daily activity, thermoregulation and water loss in the tiger beetle Cicindela hybrida.

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Hans Dreisig
01 Jan 1979-Oecologia
TL;DR: The tiger beetle Cicindela hybrida is a diurnal predator inhabiting open sandy areas and measurements of body temperatures in the field show that tiger beetles have partial regulation, and it is suggested that this is because the cost of thermoregulation is low, but prey is not abundant enough to allow a full exploitation of this, and predation (hunger) interferes with the thermoreGulation.
Abstract: 1. The tiger beetle Cicindela hybrida is a diurnal predator inhabiting open sandy areas. The activity pattern on a sunny day in May with a mean maximum surface temperature of 40°C is described (Fig. 2). The inactive period is spent in burrows in the sand and it is suggested that a threshold of 19°C releases the daily round of activity (Fig. 5). The animals appear on the sand between 7.00 and 10.00 and the number reaches a maximum at 34–42°C (surface temp.). The duration of the activity period is indirectly determined by the number of available prey which is maximal at 36°C and decreases both at higher and lower temperatures. Mean onset and termination of activity occur at about 28°C (surface temp.) when the expected capture rate is 3 per hour. In actograph experiments, onset was controlled by the illumination and occurred several hours before “dawn” (Fig. 9). 2. The preferred body temperature is at about 35°C and thermoregulatory behaviour patterns are used in order to approach this. At low ambient temperatures, body temperature is increased by sun-basking, while at high temperatures stilting is used to prevent it from increasing above 35°C. If the temperature becomes intolerably high, the animals dig into the sand (Figs. 8, 16). Measurements of body temperatures in the field show that tiger beetles have partial regulation (Fig. 10) and it is suggested that this is because the cost of thermoregulation is low, but prey is not abundant enough to allow a full exploitation of this, and predation (hunger) interferes with the thermoregulation. 3. An estimation of the daily water loss under field conditions is presented based on measurements of the water loss in the laboratory at different temperatures and relative humidities. These values are weighted by the times actually spent at different combinations in the field (Figs. 17, 19). The loss amounts to about 10% per day of initial body weight, and it is concluded that tiger beetles have not evolved any special adaptations with respect to this factor.

69 citations

"Niche Specialization and Conservati..." refers background in this paper

  • ...How tiger beetles allocate their time in relation to temperature has been studied extensively (Dreisig 1980, Dreisig 1981, Dreisig 1984....

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  • ...There is a long history of thermoregulation studies that focus on tiger beetles and that link thermoregulation behaviors to rescource partitioning (Dreisig 1980, Dreisig 1981, Dreisig 1984....

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Journal Article•DOI•
Life‐Histories and Larval Habits of the Tiger Beetles (Cicindelidæ).

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Victor Ernest Shelford
01 Mar 1908-Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

66 citations

"Niche Specialization and Conservati..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Shelford (1908) used well ventilated glass-roofed vivariums....

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  • ...Shelford (1908) is responsible for providing the foundation for what we know about the life history of many North American tiger beetles....

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  • ...Cicindela as a group of insects is well studied and many rearing techniques have become well established for a variety of species (Shelford 1908, Soans & Soans 1972, Palmer 1978, Palmer 1979, Hori 1982, Knisley 1997, Knisley and Hill 2005, Allgeier 2005)....

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  • ...Shelford (1908) also created cages made from glass plates separated by glass tubing that corresponded to the width of the prothorax of the species he was studying....

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  • ...As part of his research on the 7 life histories of North American tiger beetles Shelford (1908) reared at least 11 species of tiger beetles in the lab....

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