eScarabMEX: The electronic coleopterofauna of Mexico
The eScarabMEX project focuses on beetles, which are the most diverse group of insects, particularly the Superfamily Scarabaeiodea, which has approximately 1,900 species in Mexico. Although knowledge of this group of insects is good in Mexico for certain groups, it is mainly restricted to specialists. To date, there is no electronic or accessible information in the country on taxonomy, diversity, distribution, natural history or economic importance. The project is an institutional initiative (INECOL) that aims to fill this knowledge gap, to provide relevant information on the biology, ecology, distribution and conservation status of the species, allowing greater dissemination and disclosure of this group of insects, so that people interested in learning about them, as well as organizations or private and government agencies interested in them, can have immediate access to them. On the other hand, from the e-Scarab.mx in electronic format, the information provided there by specialists in the different groups can be updated immediately.
Biological inventories are the first and most important activity in diversity, restoration and conservation studies and have been proposed as a national priority research model. Among insects, beetles stand out as a model bioindicator group because they are sensitive to disturbance and reflect diversity patterns of other taxa, facilitating the estimation of diversity and the effect of environmental change, in addition to obtaining information to implement conservation strategies. This project aims to form a broad reference framework on ecological, historical and anthropogenic aspects that affect the assemblages of lamelicorn beetle communities and that allow generating a comprehensive vision of the biological diversity of the region, vulnerability of priority areas or species and potential negative impact, which facilitate the design of conservation strategies.
Some of the main activities carried out are:
- Systematic collections in different states.
- Dissection, assembly and determination of collected specimens.
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Construction of a scientific entomological collection.
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Inventories of local fauna species.
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Preparation of a database with collection records.
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Preparation of distribution maps and analysis of distribution, diversity and biogeography.
Taxonomy, phylogenetic systematics and evolution of phytophagous beetles (Melolonthidae)
Beetles of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea have been widely studied as an indicator group of habitat transformation, as well as for the analysis of biogeographic patterns, ecological interaction networks, etc. However, their study has been strongly biased towards the guild of copronecrophagous beetles, due to their ease of collection, moderate diversity, and relatively well-known taxonomy, while phytophagous beetles (Melolonthidae) have been little used, initially due to the challenges that their collection effort represents, their high diversity and their complex taxonomy. This group is formed by phytophagous and saprophagous species with nocturnal habits, considered as a bioindicator group with great heuristic value to study disturbance, due to their high diversification, varied ecosystem services, high number of species restricted to primary forests and high number of endemisms (50% approx.). In general terms, considering Brown's 12 criteria (1991) to qualify the best bioindicator groups, Melolonthidae have higher scores than copronecrophages in their taxonomic and ecological diversification, and ecological fidelity, but lower in the level of biological, ecological and taxonomic knowledge, as well as in the predictable response to disturbances, that is, due to lack of knowledge and not due to intrinsic ecological characteristics. Diversity for Mexico records 1290 species of phytophagous beetles (Melolonthinae, Dynastinae, Rutelinae, Cetoniinae), which together present at least 10 trophic guilds, while copronecrophages record 607 species.
This long-term project aims to undertake comprehensive studies on the systematics, natural history and evolution of photophilous beetles (Melolonthidae) to increase their diversity and use as a bioindicator group, and to understand their evolutionary history and distribution patterns.
Patterns of morphological evolution in Melolonthidae beetles
In general terms, the head is usually the primary structure to be recognized for its functional importance and extraordinary structural complexity, as it contains the largest sensory system in the body, a large number of structural modules, and great morphological diversity adapted to very diverse feeding habits. It can also present the development of hypertrophied structures such as horns and projections due to the effect of sexual selection, which gives it enormous morphological diversity in different lineages of various animal groups, therefore it is an ideal tagma for evolutionary studies.
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We are interested in studying the phenotypic expression patterns of different groups of beetles, especially the quantification of morphological divergence vs. taxonomic diversity, morphological coordination, and the effect of feeding habits and ecological resources.
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Analysis of head shape and feeding habits shows that the shape and size of some structural modules are strongly correlated with the type of diet. In addition, at the level of adjacent structural modules, there is a morphological compensation effect with respect to size, with some parts increasing but others being reduced, and at the level of separate structures, there is a notable covariation that demonstrates coordinated functional interaction. The study of the interaction between the environment and different structural modules is of utmost importance to understand the mechanisms of morphological diversity.
Analysis of functional connectivity between La Malinche and Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Parks, and identification of priority areas for conservation
Habitat fragmentation is considered the greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, leading to the genetic isolation of populations to the point of making them unviable. Therefore, the identification and protection of landscape elements that allow connectivity between populations, communities and ecological processes is a key element for conservation.
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The conservation status and level of connectivity between the La Malinche and Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Parks are currently unknown. These mountains belong to the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and are of great importance because they are home to a great biological diversity, including more than 20 endemic species and provide extremely important ecosystem services for the center of the country (water capture, carbon capture and storage). However, the accelerated growth of the Central Mexico Region (MRC) Megalopolis, made up of Mexico City and the metropolitan areas of Morelos, Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla, Tlaxcala and Querétaro, puts the remaining natural vegetation at risk.
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This proposal addresses the generation of knowledge that will help conserve the ecosystems associated with the MRC and its biodiversity by developing strategies that allow the conservation of species and biological and ecological processes impacted by human activity. We will address this challenge in a comprehensive and innovative way, using the most recent advances in population genetics, conservation biology and ecology, as well as cutting-edge analytical tools (environmental genomics, remote sensors and power distribution models), which will allow us to estimate the biological richness of the remaining vegetation and identify those areas that allow connectivity between both parks.
Insects associated with Mexican temperate forests
Temperate forests are communities of trees that inhabit mountainous areas with a temperate to cold climate and with notable diversity in the country: 50% of pine species and 33% of oak species in the world are endemic to Mexico. In addition, their ecosystemic importance is enormous; they retain rainwater, counteract erosion, reduce the risk of flooding, capture large amounts of carbon dioxide and return oxygen, offer habitat for many organisms, and provide many resources such as wood.
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​From a historical point of view, mountains are important because they present a phenomenon of overlapping biotas, with affinities and colonization processes with different origins and ages, which generates high diversity and endemism; The peaks of high mountains isolate and promote speciation, or the mountain ranges that cross the country can function as biological corridors that promote biotic exchange, and are therefore interesting for studies that analyze their biodiversity, as well as the biogeographic influences and ecological factors that participate in species assemblages.
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​There are many problems regarding their protection, exploitation and current state, such as illegal logging, forest fires, poaching and illegal trafficking of species, in addition to climate change.
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​In Mexico, temperate forests occupy only 16% of the territory and despite their importance, knowledge is scarce for many groups of invertebrates. Many species and supraspecific taxa of beetles are endemic or strongly associated with temperate forests, some of the most distinctive being Parabyrsopolis Ohaus, Homoiosternus Ohaus, Rutelisca Bates, Ectinoplectron Ohaus, Pantodinus Burmeister, and some species of the genera Chrysina Kirby, Orizabus Fairmaire, Geotrupes Latreille, among others.
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The first and most important activity in studies of diversity, conservation and ecological restoration are biological inventories, as they allow us to know what and how to conserve biological resources, and the use of bioindicator taxa such as beetles, represent an adequate analysis tool due to their sensitivity to change, ecological specificity and easy capture.