Enzymatic Activity of Soil on the Occurrence of the Endangered Beetle ICheilotoma musciformis/I in Xerothermic Grasslands

• Published in: Insects (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-05, Vol.15 (5)
• Main Authors: Futa, Barbara, Kulik, Mariusz, Kajtoch, Lukasz, Mazur, Milosz A, Jazwa, Malgorzata, Scibior, Radoslaw, Wielgos, Justyna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beetles; Endangered species; Environmental aspects; Enzymes; Grasslands; Soil research; Soil science
• ISSN: 2075-4450; 2075-4450
• DOI: 10.3390/insects15050307

This study aimed to elucidate the factors contributing to the limited presence of Cheilotoma musciformis in Poland, with a specific focus on soil characteristics affecting both vegetation and insect populations. It examined how soil enzyme activity influences the occurrence of Ch. musciformis in the xerothermic grasslands of Southern Poland. Sites inhabited by the beetle were typically subject to extensive grazing by farm animals or recent bush clearance, contrasting with control plots situated on unused or overgrazed xerothermic grasslands. Soils in beetle-inhabited sites exhibited significantly higher levels of enzyme activity, total organic carbon, and total nitrogen, along with lower pHKCl compared to control sites. These findings suggest the beetle’s reliance on extensively grazed xerothermic grasslands. Given that grazing practices influence the behavior of preferred host plant species, effective protection planning for Ch. musciformis -inhabited grasslands should carefully consider changes in soil biochemical properties and vegetation structure. This work attempts to find the reasons for the rather limited range of occurrence of Cheilotoma musciformis in Poland, based on soil properties, which affects both the plant cover and the entomofauna. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of soil enzyme activity on the occurrence of Ch. musciformis in xerothermic grasslands in Southern Poland. The sites inhabited by the beetle were most often extensively grazed by farm animals or had recently been cleared of bushes. The control plots were in wasteland. The soils of most sites with Ch. musciformis were characterized by significantly higher activity of the tested enzymes and higher content of total organic carbon and total nitrogen, as well as lower pHKCl compared to the control sites. The higher enzymatic activity of soils in sites with the beetle than in the control sites may indicate the dependence of the occurrence of this beetle on the presence of patches of extensively grazed xerothermic grasslands. Grazing influences the behavior of preferred host plant species. Therefore, when planning active protection of xerothermic grasslands inhabited by Ch. musciformis , changes in the biochemical properties of the soil and vegetation structure should be taken into account.