Understanding the Coleoptera community at the tree-line using taxonomic and functional guild approaches

Abstract

1. Mountain species are at the forefront of climate change disruption, and montanesaproxylic Coleoptera are facing large- and small-scale changes in their surroundings.Saproxylic Coleoptera are both functionally and taxonomically diverse and are therepresentatives of an imperilled fauna confronted with the realities of a changinglandscape. Understanding the effects of elevation and other forest characteristics onsaproxylic and non-saproxylic Coleoptera is a step towards predicting the future oftaxonomic and functional group biodiversity at the tree-line and on mountains.2. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of elevation and other forestcharacteristics on the biodiversity of montane Coleoptera at the tree-line usingboth taxonomic and functional feeding guild classifications.3. Our results suggest that abundance of saprotrophs is closely linked to the densityof large trees rather than the volume of wood. Edge effects and elevation seem todrive abundance patterns of some species and also influence taxonomic and func-tional guild community patterns differently. Finally, we discuss the implications ofclimate change and land abandonment to future Coleoptera community structure.