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Dispersal differences of a pest and a protected C erambyx species ( C oleoptera: C erambycidae) in oak open woodlands: a mark–recapture comparative study
Author(s) -
TORRESVILA LUIS M.,
MENDIOLADIAZ FRANCISCO J.,
SÁNCHEZGONZÁLEZ ÁLVARO
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/een.12355
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , biology , ecology , pest analysis , woodland , interspecific competition , population , demography , botany , sociology
1. Cerambyx welensii ( C w) and C erambyx cerdo ( C c) are two large saproxylic beetles living on Q uercus trees in the W estern P alearctic whose current pest and legal status differs markedly. C w is an emerging pest involved in oak decline while C c is an internationally protected species. 2. Acquiring knowledge of the ecology, demography and behaviour of C w and C c in forests harbouring mixed populations is a demanding task to optimise their management or protection. Here, we report the results of a mark–recapture study on the flight behaviour and dispersal potential of both species in holm oak open woodlands. 3. Average flights, dispersal rates and diffusion models were remarkably similar in C w and C c, reflecting a low‐dispersal tendency and sedentary behaviour. However, a subset of adults in both species exhibited a huge propensity to disperse and flew more than 1 km. An aggregated distribution of dispersal distances suggested that a behavioural polymorphism might underlie the flight pattern. 4. Adults moved preferentially in those spatial directions with neighbouring trees, while prevailing winds did not significantly affect dispersal patterns. The main interspecific differences were as follows: (i) C c performed longer crosswind flights than C w on windy days; (ii) C c tended to fly farther than C w at low temperatures; and (iii) adult feeding improved dispersal but only in small C w females. Moon phase did not affect flight activity. 5. The results are discussed in an effort to interpret how these ecological and behavioural differences might shape the life history of both congeneric species when they live in sympatry in dehesa woodlands.