Impact of Off-Road Vehicle Use on Dune Endemic Coleoptera

Authors: Van Dam, Alex R.; Van Dam, Matthew H.

Source: Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 101, Number 2, March 2008 , pp. 411-417(7)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

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Abstract:

Scarab diversity in the Algodones Dunes (Imperial Co., CA) was assessed using a series of light-bucket transects to ascertain the impact of off-road vehicle (ORV) use. We compared dune endemic scarab species on the dunes south of Hwy. 78 that receive intense ORV use and the populations on the protected dunes north of Hwy. 78. We also compared the total numbers of Coleoptera collected. Our data indicate that unprotected dunes experienced a significant decline in Coleoptera populations, diversity, and species evenness. These results demonstrate that ORV use has a severe negative impact on Coleoptera that inhabit sand dunes.

Keywords: off-road vehicle; dune conservation; Pseudocotalpa; Coleoptera

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2008-03-01

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Annals of the Entomological Society of America is published in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Annals especially invites submission of manuscripts that integrate different areas of insect biology, and address issues that are likely to be of broad relevance to entomologists. Articles also report on basic aspects of the biology of arthropods, divided into categories by subject matter: systematics; ecology and population biology; arthropod biology; arthropods in relation to plant diseases; conservation biology and biodiversity; physiology, biochemistry, and toxicology; morphology, histology, and fine structure; genetics; and behavior.
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