The observations conducted between May and October 2014 in the protected areaÂ "The Forests in the Southern part of Cândeşti Piedmont" clearly show three species ofÂ protected saproxylic beetles: Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo and Morimus asperÂ funereus. The Quercus forests, which are dominant in that area, ensure optimal livingÂ conditions for the species L. cervus and M. asper funereus, which are common species inÂ this site. Several aspects are presented that concern the period of activity of theÂ individuals, sex ratio, the presence of predators and the distribution map of the species.Â The species C. cerdo was only found on Quercus sp, and the small number of theÂ individuals counted in the area show that the species does not benefit from favourableÂ development conditions. A number of pressures identified make the rational managementÂ of this protected area to be extremely important

Barbuceanu, Daniela

Boruz, Violeta

Niculescu, Laurentiu

Niculescu, Mariana

Stoleriu, Cristian

Ursu, Adrian

Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series

Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201518PROTECTED SAPROXYLIC COLEOPTERA IN "THE FORESTS IN THESOUTHERN PART OF THE CÂNDEŞTI PIEDMONT", A ROMANIANNATURA 2000 PROTECTED AREADANIELA BĂRBUCEANU1, MARIANA NICULESCU2, VIOLETA BORUZ3,LAURENŢIU NICULESCU2, CRISTIAN STOLERIU4, ADRIAN URSU41. University of Piteşti, Faculty of Sciences, email: daniela_barbuceanu@yahoo.com2 University of Craiova, Faculty of Agriculture3 Botanical Garden, Craiova4 "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iaşi, Faculty of Geografy and Geology*Corresponding author, e-mail: mniculescum@yahoo.comKeywords: Natura 2000, saproxylic beetles, biology, distribution, conservation.ABSTRACTThe observations conducted between May and October 2014 in the protected area"The Forests in the Southern part of Cândeşti Piedmont" clearly show three species ofprotected saproxylic beetles: Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo and Morimus asperfunereus. The Quercus forests, which are dominant in that area, ensure optimal livingconditions for the species L. cervus and M. asper funereus, which are common species inthis site. Several aspects are presented that concern the period of activity of theindividuals, sex ratio, the presence of predators and the distribution map of the species.The species C. cerdo was only found on Quercus sp, and the small number of theindividuals counted in the area show that the species does not benefit from favourabledevelopment conditions. A number of pressures identified make the rational managementof this protected area to be extremely important.INTRODUCTIONSaproxylic insects have a major role in the degradation of dead wood. Speight (1989)(in Buse et al., 2007) defines saproxylic insects as “invertebrates dependent, in their lifecycle, on dead wood or very old trees”. The dramatic reduction in the area covered byforests in Europe over the last century has significantly affected the populations ofsaproxylic insect species, and as a result many of them have acquired the status ofprotected species being among the most threatened in Europe (Speight (1989) (inThomaes et al., 2008).Such insects are Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus 1758), Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus 1758and Morimus asper funereus Mulsant 1862. Prior to the present study, mentions aboutthese species were scarce in this area. In the entomological collection of the “GrigoreAntipa” Museum of Natural History there are specimens of L. cervus collected in theforests from Dâmboviţa County (Stan, 2013).This paper presents data on the biology, ecology, and the distribution map ofprotected beetle species in the protected area "The Forests in the Southern part ofCândeşti Piedmont" ROSCI 0344.MATERIAL AND METHODThe area designated by the European Directive 92/43 as a site of Communityimportance has an area of 4,313 ha, of which 95.3% is a forest ecosystem. The area’scoordinates are: N 44º 55' 16'' lat and E 25º 15' 9'' long. The site is located in the southernpart of the Cândeşti Piedmont, and its altitude ranges between 201 m in the south areaand 485 m in the north area. To identify the three species of invertebrates observationswere conducted in the period May to October 2014, in the three parts of the protectedarea: Ludeşti (the northern part of the area) Lucieni (the middle part of the area) andCrânguri (the southern part of the area) (Fig. 1 and 2). In the Ludeşti part, which occupiesAnalele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201519most of the SCI, habitats 9170 (Galio-Carpinetum oak-hornbeam forests), 91Y0 (Dacianoak and hornbeam forests), 9130 (Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests) are to be found, anda small area of 91M0 (Pannonian-Balkanic turkey oak-sessile oak forests), which areheterogeneous in age. In Lucieni the majority habitat is 91Y0, present and habitat 91M0;these are young forests of trees in the oak group, most of which are 50, 60 years old.Figure 1. Map of area and protected saproxylic coleoptera distribution, Ludeşti(the northern part of the area)Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201520Figure 2. Map of area and protected saproxylic coleoptera distribution,Crânguri (the southern part of the area - above) and Lucieni (the middle partof the area - below)In Crânguri, where the majority is habitat 91M0, in the median area, there isunderbrush of oaks about 15 years old, of high density, which are not fit for the insectspecies monitored in this study. Also, in this part of area, was observed timber theft.Old Quercus sp., Fagus sylvatica, Carpinus betulus, etc. trees inspected: old trunks,cracked century-old trees, fallen trees, etc., stacks of wood from logged trees, paths, forestroads. In suitable areas transects were defined, whose length was 100 m and width 20 m– S = 2000 m2, over which the individuals observed were counted, on trunks and litter,and after the end of the flight period, the exoskeletons of Lucanus cervus and Cerambyxcerdo..Observations were conducted concerning the sex of the individuals, the insectbehaviour, and the habitat type. The sex ratio was calculated (Simionescu, 1984).The mapping was done simultaneously with the inventory of the species. Based onthe presence of adults, larvae or their exoskeletons, and the characteristic habitats ofAnalele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201521those species, the coordinates were recorded of the reporting areas needed for themapping of the distribution.The year 2014 was characterized by a regime of excessive rainfall.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSIn the ROSCI0344 protected area three invertebrates species of Communityinterest were identified: Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo and Morimus asper funereus.I. Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus 1758)Lucanidae Family, Coleoptera OrderStatus: Habitats Directive 92/43/CEE, Annex II; in Romania - OUG 57/2007 Annex 3.Biology and ecologyIn Europe, the interest taken by specialists over the last few years has supplementedthe gaps regarding the biology and ecology of this species (Hawes, 2008; Thomaes et al.,2008; Harvey et al., 2011).According to the data in the literature, males appear about a week before females,usually in late May. In southern areas of Europe, they were reported in early April, while innorthern areas, their emergence is delayed (Harvey et al., 2011).In the special conditions in the year 2014, in the protected area, according to ourobservations, adult activity lasts from early May until the latter half of August.While last active males are shown on 12 July, females are also shown in thesubsequent observation trips, including that on 9 August. The trips made in late Augustconfirmed that the species completed its active period.The literature mentions intense flight in June and the former half of July, but thenumerous couples in their mating period observed during the 23 to 25 May mark theintense activity of the species as early as the end of May (Fig. 3). Individuals that are in theprocess of mating are observed at different times of the day: 11 o’clock, 14 o’clock, 16o’clock. If at the beginning of the flight period it is males that dominate, towards the end ofthe flight only females are present.Our observations showed immature and late-age larvae in rotting trunks of oaktreeand hornbeam; the larvae in one trunk were the same age. Among the predators, the mostoutstanding are the badger (Meles meles), the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the fox (Vulpesvulpes), which are mentioned in the literature (Harvey, 2011).The data recorded in situ reveal the dominance of males, with a percentage of68.5%, with an above-par sex-ratio (Fig. 4). However, these values deviate from thenormal because the small number of live specimens did not allow a statistical calculationbased on them.The distributionThe species was observed in habitats where species of Quercus (91Y0, 91M0, 9170)grow, and rarely in habitats with Fagus sylvatica (9130), in the entire area (Fig. 1 and 2).The suitable habitat has been provided by the forests of various oak species for over 45years, which ensure optimal conditions for their development and flight. The presence ofrotten logs and trunks, dried trees, woody debris left after logging, provides the bestconditions for the development of this species. Our observations confirm the high densityof L. cervus individuals in the edges of forests. Thus, during the 28 August observations inthe northern area, near the village of Ludeşti, in a forest corresponding to the 9170 habitat,very good conditions are met for L. cervus, which reaches a density of 23 individuals/2,000 square meters in the edge of forest. Such abundant areas are only found inisolation. During the observations in the entire area, from May to October 2014, 517individuals were identified, both males and females, many of which were in the form ofwhole or fragmented exoskeleton. We consider the species as being common in the area.Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201522Compared to the national level, the population size is between 2-15%. We considerthat the species falls in class 6 (5,000 – 10, 000 i).a                                                            bFigure 3. The mating: a. Lucanus cervus; b. Morimus funereus(25.05.2014, Lucieni Forest)Figure 4. Sex-ratio in saproxylic ColeopteraII. Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus 1758Cerambycidae Family, Coleoptera OrderStatus: Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, Annex II and IV; in Romania - OUG 57/2007Annex 3 and 4A.Biology and ecologyThis species prefers old forests of oaks, but such forests are very rare in thisprotected area. In the conditions specific to the year 2014, the field data, though scarcedue to the small population of the species in the area and the bad weather conditions,confirm the period of activity for adults: from May until the end of August. On thefavourable plateaus covered in oak trees, the species is observed in association with L.cervus, which confirms the data from the literature (Panin and Săvulescu, 1961). Theobservation on 29 August highlights an association of the three insect species protected:C. cerdo, L. cervus and M. asper funereus, in the northern area, in a 91Y0 habitat, aged68.531.556.443.601020304050607080male female male femaleLucanus cervus Morimus funereusAnalele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201523about 70 years. Our observations revealed that species only in the wood of the Quercusspecies, and the exploration of the zone indicates a very small area of the preferredhabitats, i.e. oak forests made up of trees over 70 years of age.DistributionIn the area, the species was observed in the following types of habitat: 91Y0, 91M0and 9170. The entire area were inventoried, and it was found only in Ludeşti and Crânguri(Fig. 1 and 2). In the Lucieni forest, only a part of the area have trees of about 80-100years, but the species was not found. In Ludeşti forests, which are made of oak trees, andheterogeneous in age, 100-130 year old trees of the oak group are only to be met inisolation, so the insect species is rare.C. cerdo larvae inhabit century-old trees in clearings or edges of forests, being athermophilous species. Exploiting secular trees has led to a drastic reduction in thepopulations of the species in the area.The small number of individuals counted (11 individuals) suggests that, in the area,the species does not benefit from favourable conditions for development. Compared to thenational level, the population size is below 2%. We consider that the species falls in class2 (50-100 i). The conservation status of the species was assessed as unfavourable-inadequate. Through proper management the needed habitat requirements can beassured, and thus provide the viability of the species over time.III. Morimus asper funereus Mulsant 1862Cerambycidae Family, Coleoptera OrderStatus: Habitats Directive 92/43/CEE, Annex II; in Romania – OUG 57/2007 Annex 3.Biology and ecologyThe literature mentions that adult activity begins fairly early, in April, and continuesuntil September (Vrezec et al., 2010; Dojnov et al., 2012). In the conditions of the year2014, the activity of the adults takes place from the latter half of April until the first half ofAugust. Occasionally, individuals are observed as late as October. Thus, on 1 and 2 Mayalready shows mating in this species. It is a species of nocturnal, and also daytime activity(Fig. 3). Individuals were observed in both sunny and cloudy days.The recorded data show male dominance, with a 56.4% share, the sex ratio valuebeing above par: 1.3 (Fig. 4). The adults were found near the trunks and stumps, onrecently felled trees and logs, on the stem of old trees, or on dried branches in the lowerlevel, or else on completely dry trees belonging to different kinds of timber: species ofQuercus, Fagus sylvatica, Robinia pseudacacia, Prunus avium. Quite frequently, femaleswere observed on Quercus petraea – 59.6%, followed by Quercus robur with a percentageof 13.46% (Fig. 5). Although it appears that beech is the preferred wood species in thissite, with its predominance of oak species in the habitat, the species is commonlyencountered on species of Quercus.Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201524Figure 5. Location of Morimus funereus females on  woody species (%)DistributionAdults were observed in all the area, where they found conditions that could ensuretheir long-term viability (Fig. 1 and 2). Unlike L. cervus, which prefers sunny forests with arare tree stratum, this species was equally found in forests with higher density of trees andshrubs, but in the fringe areas. However, the species was not found in habitats thatseemed favourable during the adult activity period. This is due to habitat fragmentationcaused by the low dispersion capacity of individuals incapable of flight, and also byanthropogenic factors. As many as 59 active individuals were identified, both males andfemales, during the activity period of the species, namely from 1 May until 9 August, afterwhich field observations no longer record this species, although the habitats inventoriedare favourable. However, during the 17 October a live male was observed, which can beattributed to the very hot weather in the autumn.This flightless species has a low dispersion of its populations, namely a majorfragmentation of its habitat. Although it has the same living area as L. cervus, thepopulation size is smaller. We consider the species as being common in the area.Compared to the national level, the population size is between 2-15%. We consider thatthe species falls in Class 5 (1,000 – 5,000 i).CONCLUSIONSIn the protected area ROSCI0344 the protected saproxylic beetles Lucanus cervus,Cerambyx cerdo and Morimus asper funereus were identified.We consider the species L. cervus and M. asper funereus to be common in the area,as optimal living conditions are ensured.The species Cerambyx cerdo fails to have the needed habitat requirements, andrestoring habitat and its population is a long process. The species was shown to live inforests older than 70 years, but it takes time for trees to reach the appropriate age rangeand be inhabited by the species. By means of a firm management of the site the suitablehabitat can be provided, and thus the viability of the species in time.AKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis study has been conducted by the financial support of the European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF) under the Operational Programme Environment, Priority Axis4, the project “The inventory and mapping the distribution of the habitats and species inthe site Natura 2000 – ROSCI0344, The forests in the Southern part of the CândeştiPiedmont”, beneficiary: ARCES (Romanian Association for Culture, Education, and Sport).1.92 3.85 5.775.779.6113.4659.6Prunus avium Quercus cerris Fagus sylvatica Robinia pseudacaciaQuercus frainetto Quercus robur Quercus petraeaAnalele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 201525BIBLIOGRAPHY1. Buse, J., Schroder, B., Assmann, T., 2007 - Modelling habitat and spatial distributionof an endangered longhorn beetle – A case study for saproxylic insect conservation,Biological Conservation, 137: 372-381.2. Dojnov, B., Vujcic, Z., Bozic, N., Margetic, A., Vujcic, M., Nenadovic, V., Ivanovic,J., 2012 - Adaptations to captive breeding of the longhorn beetle Morimus funereus(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae); application on amylase study, J Insect Conserv, 16: 239–247. doi: 10.1007/s10841-011-9411-x.3. Harvey, Deborah, Gange, A., Hawes, C. Markus, Rink, 2011 - Bionomics anddistribution of the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus (L.) across Europe, Insect Conservationand Diversity, 4: 23–38.4. Hawes C., 2008 - The stag beetle Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera:Lucanidae): a mark-release-recapture study undertaken in one United Kingdom residentialgarden, Rev. Écol. (Terre Vie), vol. 63: 131-138.5. Niculescu, Mariana, Iulian Bercea, Gerald Matei, Silvestru Ilie Nuta, Ion Iovu,Stefan Aurelian Ciupitu, Calin Salceanu, 2009: Researches about Quercuscerris forests situated in the North-East of Dolj County, Analele Universitatii din Craiova,Agricultura, Montanologie/ Annals of the University of Craiova, Agriculture, Montanology,Cadastre series, http://old.agro-craiova.ro/index.php/aamc/article/view/322/300 , vol.XXXIX/B6. Panin, S., Săvulescu, N., 1961 - Insecta, Coleoptera, Fam. Cerambycidae, vol. X, fasc.3, Ed. Academiei R.P.R., 523 pp.7. Simionescu, V., 1984 - Lucrări practice de ecologie, Litogr. Universitatea „AlexandruIoan  Cuza”, Iaşi, 193 pp.8. Stan, Melania, 2013 - Romanian species of lucanids (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea:Lucanidae) in the collections of “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History,Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle «Grigore Antipa», Vol. LVI (2):  pp. 173–184.9. Thomaes, A., Kervyn, T., Maes, D., 2008 - Applying species distribution modelling forthe conservation of the threatened saproxylic Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), BiologicalConservation, vol.141: 1400-1410.10. Vrezec, A., Ambrozic, S., Kapla, A., 2010 - Biology and ecology of flightlesscerambycid Morimus funereus (Muslant, 1862) as a background for monitoring application:laboratory and largescale field study, Book of abstracts, 6th European Symposium on theconservation of saproxylic beetles, Ljubljana, pp. 20.

PROTECTED SAPROXYLIC COLEOPTERA IN "THE FORESTS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CÃ‚NDEŞTI PIEDMONT", A ROMANIAN NATURA 2000 PROTECTED AREA

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PROTECTED SAPROXYLIC COLEOPTERA IN "THE FORESTS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CÃ‚NDEŞTI PIEDMONT", A ROMANIAN NATURA 2000 PROTECTED AREA

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Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series