@article {1431,
	title = {Inferring species decline from collection records: roller dung beetles in Italy (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)},
	journal = {Diversity and Distributions},
	volume = {13},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {903-919},
	abstract = {The decline of roller dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in Italy, at national and regional level, was described using a database of both literature and unpublished data, since the late of 19th century. The probability of finding roller species was assessed for each decade of the 20th century in order to detect changes in their dis- tribution and status. An analysis of decline was performed using a complementary approach of different extinction indexes, according to IUCN criteria. During the 20th century, both the absolute number of records and the UTM cells where roller beetles were found increased clearly as a consequence of the escalation of entomo- logical surveys. Nevertheless, comparing R species (rollers) with all the scarab dung beetles from the first to the last quarter of the 20th century, the relative frequency of roller records decreased by 31\%, while the relative number of occupied UTM cells dropped by 23\%. Six roller species showed a significant decline in Italy from the first to the second part of the 20th century, and nine in the last 30years. Other two species disappeared from the majority of the northern regions. Finally, the values of all the extinction indexes were strongly correlated and detected a high risk of extinction in Italy for six species. A gradual change in land use during the last three decades, consisting of a reduced extension of grasslands in favour of either intensive agriculture or reforestation after abandonment of livestock raising, was likely the main factor inducing decline and local extinction of roller species. },
	keywords = {COLEOPTERA, Conservation biogeography, decline, extinction index, Italy, land use change, Scarabaeidae},
	author = {Carpaneto, Giuseppe M. and Mazziotta, Adriano and Valerio, Laura}
}
@article {1923,
	title = {How does the knowledge about the spatial distribution of Iberian dung beetle species accumulate over time?},
	journal = {Diversity and Distributions},
	volume = {13},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {772-780},
	abstract = {Different distribution maps can be obtained for the same species if localities where species are present are mapped at different times. We analysed the accumulation of information over time for a group of dung beetle species in the Iberian Peninsula. To do this, we used all available information about the distribution of the group as well as data on selected species to examine if the process of discovery of species distribution has occurred in a climatically or spatially structured fashion. Our results show the existence of a well-defined pattern of temporal growth in distributional information; due to this, the date of capture of each specimen can be explained by the environmental and spatial variables associated to the collection sites. We hypothesize that such temporal biases could be the rule rather than the exception in most distribu- tional data. These biases could affect the weighting of environmental factors that influence species distributions, as well as the accuracy of predictive distribution models. Systematic surveys should be a priority for the description of species geographical ranges in order to make robust predictions about the consequences of habitat and climate change for their persistence and conservation. },
	keywords = {Biodiversity databases, collecting biases, distribution maps, Dung beetles, Iberian Peninsula, spatial distribution, species distribution ranges},
	author = {Lobo, Jorge M. and Baselga, Andres and Hortal, Joaquin and Jimenez-Valverde, Alberto and Gomez, Jose F.}
}
