02786nas a2200265   4500008004100000245012600041210006900167260000800236300001200244490000700256520204200263653001102305653001002316653002002326653001702346653001602363653001602379653001702395653001202412653001302424653001102437100001702448700002102465856003402486       2002                        eng d00aSearching for a predictive model for species richness of Iberian dung beetle based on spatial and environmental variables0 aSearching for a predictive model for species richness of Iberian  cFeb  a158-1730 v163 aIn Mediterranean countries, inventories of many animal groups particularly insects, are incomplete or nonexistent. Hence, a feasible spatial picture of unequally surveyed areas is required to ascertain which faunistic surveys are good enough to produce reliable estimates of species richness. We used generalized linear models to build a multiple-regression function through which we predicted the distribution of Iberian dung beetle species richness. Given the scarcity and unevenness of the species-richness spatial distribution, the number of records of a dung beetle database (BANDASCA), falling within each of the 50 x 50 km grid squares, was chosen as a measure of the sampling effort for that square. Examining the asymptotic relationship between the number of dung-beetle species and database records for each physioclimatic Iberian subregion, we found that 82 grid squares (32% of the total) were adequately sampled. Dung-beetle species richness was related in each of these 82 cells to 24 explanatory variables. Curvilinear functions, interaction terms, and the significant third-degree polynomial terms of latitude and longitude were included to model species-richness distribution. The final model accounted for 62.4% of the total deviance after we eliminated seven outlier squares, with maximum elevation, grassland area, land-use diversity, forest area, geological diversity, interaction of terrestrial area and maximum elevation, and interaction between calcareous rock, and geological diversity and latitude being the most significant independent variables. The residuals of the function were not spatially autocorrelated, and we validated the final model by a jackknife procedure. Large and environmentally complex hotspots in the Iberian Central, Baetic, and Subbaetic mountain ranges stand out from the emerging map of species richness. Further detailed research is required to determine the complementarity of the faunas of these two main hotspots, the key question in conservation planning for a dung-feeding beetle.10aAfrica10aatlas10aautocorrelation10abiodiversity10abutterflies10acommunities10aconservation10ainsects10apatterns10aplants1 aLobo, J., M.1 aMartin-Piera, F.  u<Go to ISI>://00017372640001601851nas a2200253   4500008004100000245007700041210006900118260000800187300001400195490000700209520117100216653001601387653002401403653001501427653001401442653001101456653001301467653001301480653002101493653001501514653001801529100001601547856003401563       2002                        eng d00aBiogeographic crossroads as priority areas for biodiversity conservation0 aBiogeographic crossroads as priority areas for biodiversity cons  cDec  a1480-14870 v163 aThreats to biodiversity outpace the resources of the conservation community and necessitate careful prioritization of conservation actions. I suggest that targeting the regions where biogeographic assemblages intersect - " biogeographic crossroads" - is a strategy that may achieve significant conservation economy by focusing on areas that satisfy many conservation criteria. I used a combination of data on Scarabaeine beetles in Bolivia and on other taxa and locations from the literature to consider the short- and long-term benefits of conserving these biogeographic crossroads. Biogeographic crossroads are areas of high species richness and beta diversity, often across many taxonomic groups. They are also regions where representativeness can be achieved with relative efficiency. Recent evidence that ecotones may be loci of evolution suggests that evolutionary processes such as speciation and coevolution may be conserved at biogeographic crossroads. Biogeographic crossroads appear to be areas of high conservation priority and opportunity in both the short and long term and require increased attention in the process of setting conservation priorities.10aassemblages10acomplementary areas10acongruence10adiversity10aforest10ahotspots10apatterns10aspecies richness10astrategies10atiger beetles1 aSpector, S.  u<Go to ISI>://00017942010000902728nas a2200169   4500008004100000245009000041210006900131260000800200300001200208490000700220520214400227100001502371700002102386700001702407700001702424856011702441       2002                        eng d00aSpecies-richness correlations of six different taxa in Swedish seminatural grasslands0 aSpeciesrichness correlations of six different taxa in Swedish se  cApr  a430-4390 v163 aAn important question in conservation biology, is whether the biodiversity of different taxa is correlated. We studied the extent to which the number of species of six different taxa-plants. birds, butterflies, bumblebees, ground beetles, and dung beetles-in 31 Swedish seminatural grasslands covary,, and whether species diversity, can be related to habitat variables, During 1990 and 1997 we surveyed plants and animals with appropriate techniques for each taxa and mapped the grassland habitat. fit general. correlations between taxa were few. Grassland plant diversity (currently used as an indicator for conservation value) was Bumblebee diversity was significantly only, significantly positively correlated to total bird diversity related to both total and grassland butterflies, whereas there was a significant negative relationship between grassland birds and dung beetles. Plants, birds, bumblebees, rind butterflies showed significant similarities in patterns of species composition, as did birds, butterflies, grassland butterflies, and ground beetles. The total number of plants and both subsets of birds (total and grassland) were significantly positively related to area, whereas there was a significant negative association between area and dung-beetle, diversity. The diversity of both butterflies and bumblebees was significantly, negatively related to The proportion of short-grazed field layer. Bumblebees showed a positive relationship with junipers, whereas ground beetles and grassland birds were negatively associated with trees. The total number of bird species was Positively influenced 17). the occurrence of shrubs. Our results suggest that neither the species richness of grassland plants nor that other of the surveyed taxa can be used as an indicator for total biodiversity, The lack of similar patterns of species composition among taxa also makes it difficult to define functional groups with similar habitat demands. Until we have more detailed knowledge of the demands; of species and taxa. it is important that we direct management efforts so that we provide a wide spectrum of grassland characteristics.1 aVessby, K.1 aSöderström, B.1 aGlimskar, A.1 aSvensson, B.  uhttps://scarabnet.myspecies.info/species-richness-correlations-six-different-taxa-swedish-seminatural-grasslands