Evaluation of the entomological biodiversity of the Maamora forest

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Les chercheurs doivent citer cette ressource comme suit:

Habbaz, H., Maatouf, N., Rohi, L., 2025. Evaluation of the entomological biodiversity of the Maamora forest. Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15470/0z8ret

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L’éditeur et détenteur des droits de cette ressource est Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Ce travail est sous licence Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC-BY-NC) 4.0.

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Cette ressource a été enregistrée sur le portail GBIF, et possède l'UUID GBIF suivante : 00208a66-5b50-4eaf-b32b-1f36a88e94cf.  Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona publie cette ressource, et est enregistré dans le GBIF comme éditeur de données avec l'approbation du GBIF Spain.

Mots-clé

Inventory; Biodiversity; Beetles; Forest; Cork oak; Maamora; Morocco; Occurrence

Contacts

Couverture géographique

The Maamora forest is located between the cities of Salé and Kénitra, along the Atlantic coast in north-west Morocco (fig. 1). It extends eastwards along an area 40 km wide and 70 km long, following a bioclimatic gradient ranging from sub-humid to semi-arid (Belghazi and Mounir 2016). This forest covers approximately 135,000 hectares, including 71,000 hectares of commercial plantations and 64,461 hectares of cork oak woodlands (Belghazi and Mounir 2016), representing 17% of the total area of cork oak forests in Morocco and 25% of the area of Atlantic cork oak forests (Aafi 2007). The topography of the forest is mostly flat, interrupted by a southwest-northeast oriented hydrographic network that divides it into five distinct Cantons named A, B, C, D, and E, respectively, and distributed from the sea level up to 300 metres in elevation. The climate is of the Mediterranean type, tempered by the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. The average temperatures range between 1.8°C in January (year 2005) and 38°C in August (year 2012), with annual rainfall ranging from 403 to 557 mm, according to years. Rains is generally concentrated in November, December, and January, but their distribution can vary from year to year. The dry period is relatively long, lasting up to 6 months, but atmospheric humidity is high, especially in the western part, which partly compensates for the aridity of the climate. Climatic data classify the western sectors of the Maamora forest as "warm sub-humid bioclimate" and the eastern sectors as "temperate semi-arid bioclimate" (Belghazi and Mounir, 2016). The natural vegetation of the Maamora consists mainly of cork oak trees (Quercus suber L.) and a few specimens of the Maamora pear (Pyrus mamorensis Trabut), an endemic species to the region. Mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus L.), wild olive (Olea europaea ssp. oleaster), and green olive trees or mock privet (Phillyrea latifolia L.) are found on soils with shallow sand and red soil. The dwarf palm, Chamaerops humilis L., grows in dense clumps in the more open areas. Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea L.) can be found along the Atlantic coast, particularly around Lake Boughaba. The shrub and herb communities are highly diverse, with 402 recorded species (Métro and Sauvage 1955, Sauvage 1961, Aafi 2007). The parts of the forest which have been impacted by commercial plantations are covered with introduced species: pine (Pinus pinaster ssp, atlantica H. del Vill., Pinus halepensis Mill., and Pinus pinea L.), eucalyptus (mostly Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn), and black wattle (or tannin acacia) trees (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.).

Couverture taxonomique

Pas de description disponible

Couverture temporelle

Données sur le projet

Forests cover nearly 31% of the Earth's land surface and are home to 80% of the planet's terrestrial biodiversity (FAO 2020). Of the estimated 8 million species on Earth, 75% are insects (IPBES 2019). These forest ecosystems provide essential habitats for numerous plant and animal species (Shvidenko et al 2005). However, anthropogenic pressures and the intensification of extreme weather events are causing an alarming decline in global forest cover. This deforestation fragments and destroys natural habitats, negatively impacting biodiversity and the ecosystem services upon which human societies depend. Forests are home to a multitude of essential dendro-microhabitats, providing shelter, breeding sites, and food sources for numerous specialized species. Among these, certain insect groups play a crucial ecological role in maintaining the balance and health of forest ecosystems (Noriega et al 2018). These insects ensure natural population regulation, are essential for pollinating 75% of our crops, and contribute to the recycling of organic matter, improving soil quality. As a result, they are excellent bioindicators of the conservation status and health of forest ecosystems (Marage et al 2017). Insect biodiversity represents an invaluable natural heritage. However, in recent years, their populations have experienced an alarming decline due to the loss and fragmentation of semi-natural habitats, primarily caused by deforestation (Jactel et al 2021). Beetles are severely affected by anthropogenic disturbances due to their high habitat quality requirements (Loukou et al 2017). Insects thus serve as excellent bioindicators for assessing the ecological status of forest ecosystems and the effectiveness of conservation management practices. Before implementing conservation measures aimed at protecting iconic species and different functional groups, it is essential to conduct targeted inventories of certain insect groups considered as bioindicators. Moroccan forests harbor a remarkable biodiversity. Among the 24,000 animal and 7,000 plant species recorded, 1,700 are considered rare or threatened, with a high endemism rate of 11% for fauna and over 20% for vascular flora (ONEDD 2015). The Maamora forest, dominated by cork oak (Quercus suber L., 1753) and plantations of eucalyptus, acacia, and pine, is an emblematic example. Considered the largest contiguous cork oak forest in the world (Natividade 1956), it represents 17% of the total area of cork oak forests in Morocco and 25% of those in the Atlantic forests (Aafi 2007). The Maamora forest harbors a particularly rich vascular flora, representing 48% of the flora of Moroccan cork oak forests (Sauvage 1961) and 9.3% of the national flora (Benabid 2000). This significant botanical diversity is accompanied by an equally remarkable fauna, with over 700 species of arthropods (Villemant and Fraval 1991) and 150 species of birds (Cherkaoui et al 2007). These biological assets have earned the Maamora recognition as a Site of Biological and Ecological Interest (SIBE) by the study on Protected Areas in Morocco (AEFCS 1996). Knowledge of the status and trends of beetle species in Morocco is very limited. Moreover, there is no comprehensive list of rare or threatened species, especially in the context of climate change affecting forest ecosystems that are already fragile due to human activities. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct a status assessment of the Moroccan entomofauna to characterize insect communities present in sensitive natural areas and to determine priorities for the conservation and restoration of these environments. To gain deeper insights into the diversity, abundance, and ecological role of beetles in the Maamora forest, an inventory was conducted over two consecutive years (2021 and 2022). Passive and active sampling methods were combined along linear transects within the cork oak forest. The primary objective of this study is to assess the ecological status of the Maamora forest with a view to implementing sustainable management strategies aimed at preserving the functional biodiversity of Moroccan cork oak forests.

Les personnes impliquées dans le projet:

Méthodes d'échantillonnage

Several sampling methods were used: visual capture when checking the traps; and passive sampling systems with three types of traps: 1) window trapping (interception traps): the traps consisted of a large transparent plexiglass panel (73 cm x 42 cm) that intercepted the beetles that struck it in flight. The insects were collected in a gutter fixed at the base of the trap, filled with water, mixed with saline solution and a few drops of dishwashing detergent to reduce surface tension. This trapping method is effective for collecting xylophagous and saproxylic species (Ranius and Jansson 2002, Brustel 2004, Bouget et al 2008). Their position was 1.20 m from the ground, in plots where dead wood was present (Bouget and Noblecourt 2005). 2) Pitfall traps (Barber traps): the traps were made with plastic cups with a top diameter of 60 mm, placed with the opening at the ground level, and covered with wooden branches to prevent them from being trampled by animals. Pitfall traps allow for the capture of soil-dwelling invertebrates (Nageleisen and Bouget 2009). The distance between the traps was 20 metres. 3) Coloured bowls: these traps consisted of coloured bowls (yellow, orange, white, and blue) with a diameter of 15 cm and a height of 13 cm. They were filled halfway with a preservation mixture (soapy water + salt) and placed at a height of 1.5 m above the ground level, in cork oak clearings to attract species attracted to flowers. The different traps were installed at three stations in Cantons A, C, and E. In each station, 13 traps were set up at a distance ranging from 15 to 20 metres apart (eigth barber traps, four coloured traps one of each of the following yellow, white, orange, and blue colour - and one window trap). Traps were checked every three weeks for a 7-month period (April to October) during two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022). The specimens collected were first identified to the genus level using specific identification keys for each family.

Description des étapes de la méthode:

1. Several sampling methods were used: visual capture when checking the traps; and passive sampling systems with three types of traps: window trapping (interception traps): the traps consisted of a large transparent plexiglass panel (73 cm x 42 cm) that intercepted the beetles that struck it in flight. The insects were collected in a gutter fixed at the base of the trap, filled with water, mixed with saline solution and a few drops of dishwashing detergent to reduce surface tension. This trapping method is effective for collecting xylophagous and saproxylic species (Ranius and Jansson 2002, Brustel 2004, Bouget et al 2008). Their position was 1.20 m from the ground, in plots where dead wood was present (Bouget and Noblecourt 2005). Pitfall traps (Barber traps): the traps were made with plastic cups with a top diameter of 60 mm, placed with the opening at the ground level, and covered with wooden branches to prevent them from being trampled by animals. Pitfall traps allow for the capture of soil-dwelling invertebrates (Nageleisen and Bouget 2009). The distance between the traps was 20 metres. Coloured bowls: these traps consisted of coloured bowls (yellow, orange, white, and blue) with a diameter of 15 cm and a height of 13 cm. They were filled halfway with a preservation mixture (soapy water + salt) and placed at a height of 1.5 m above the ground level, in cork oak clearings to attract species attracted to flowers. The different traps were installed at three stations in Cantons A, C, and E. In each station, 13 traps were set up at a distance ranging from 15 to 20 metres apart (eigth barber traps, four coloured traps one of each of the following yellow, white, orange, and blue colour - and one window trap). Traps were checked every three weeks for a 7-month period (April to October) during two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022). The specimens collected were first identified to the genus level using specific identification keys for each family. Shannon-Wiener Index (H'): this index is used to assess the diversity of a community and is considered the best way to measure diversity (Dajoz 2008). Its formula is as follows: H^'=-∑_(i=1)^S▒〖pi ln⁡pi 〗. where S corresponds to the number of taxa collected and reflects the diversity of a sample; and pi corresponds to the proportion of species i relative to the total number of species (S) in the study area, calculated as follows: pi=ni/N This index allows us to quantify the heterogeneity of biodiversity in a study environment, and therefore observe its evolution over time. This index always ranges from 0 to ln S. The higher the value of the H' index, the greater the diversity. Simpson's Index (D): this index gives more weight to the most frequent species than to the total species richness. Its formula is: D=∑_(i=1)^S▒〖pi ²〗. This index always ranges from 0 to 1. Specific diversity is highest when the Simpson index is the lowest, close to 0, whereas biodiversity is lower when the value is close to 1. Evenness (E): the relative abundance structures of species determine evenness or the dominance component of diversity. The measure of evenness corresponding to the Shannon-Weaver index is calculated using the following formula: E=H'/(Log2 S) Jaccard Index (Ji+j): the Jaccard index considers the presence or absence of species. It allows us to highlight the similarities or differences (between populations) that have the greatest influence on the distribution of species between stations. This coefficient is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, between the species common to both stations and the total number of species present in these stations. It is expressed as follows: Ji+j=a/((a+b+c))×100 The values of the Jaccard index range from 0 to 100. The closer the values are to 100, the more qualitatively similar the two populations are. Trophic niche of the species All captured beetles were identified to the genus level using various identification keys. The diet of each species was ascertained by referring to the works of (Velle 2004, Bouget et al 2005, Brin and Brustel 2006).

Citations bibliographiques

1. Habbaz, H., Maatouf, N., Rohi, L., 2025. Evaluation of the entomological biodiversity of the Maamora forest. Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica, 23: 51- DOI: 10.32800/amz.2025.23.0051 https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2025.23.0051

Métadonnées additionnelles