Vulnerability of Megacephala (<i>Grammognatha</i>) <i>euphratica euphratica</i> Latreille & Dejean, 1822 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in natural and disturbed salt marsh and salt meadow habitats in Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the differentiation between populations inhabiting Megacephala euphratica euphratica & Dejean, 1822 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in natural and disturbed salt marsh habitats in Göksu (Mersin Province) and Çukurova (Adana Province) Deltas in Turkey, for the period of 2005 and 2010. Correlation between anthropogenic effects (cattle grazing and drainage channels) and population dynamics of M. e. euphratica was calculated. Population dynamic of M. e. euphratica was not stable during the study years in the disturbed salt marsh and was found as rapidly descent according to the natural habitat. Cluster analysis used to quantify the associations of population of M. e. euphratica between sampling years showed that variation of the population of insect species in the natural habitats was not different from each other in the different years as much as in the disturbed habitats. The results showed that population density of the species were more rapidly decreased in the disturbed salt marsh habitats than the natural ones. Threatened category of M. e. euphratica was investigated according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Categories and its current situation in terms of being a threatened species was also discussed.

Keywords: Distribution, ecology, habitat preferences, IUCN, threatened factors, Megacephala euphratica euphratica.