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Nature protection areas of Europe are insufficient to preserve the threatened beetle Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): evidence from species distribution models and conservation gap analysis
Author(s) -
BOSSO LUCIANO,
SMERALDO SONIA,
RAPUZZI PIERPAOLO,
SAMA GIANFRANCO,
GARONNA ANTONIO P.,
RUSSO DANILO
Publication year - 2018
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.12485
Subject(s) - threatened species , longhorn beetle , natura 2000 , habitat , national park , conservation status , near threatened species , nature reserve , ecology , biology , protected area , endangered species , gap analysis (conservation) , geography
1. Natura 2000 network ( N 2000) and national protected areas ( NPA s) are recognised as the most important core ‘units’ for biological conservation in E urope. 2. Species distribution models ( SDM s) were developed to detect the potential distribution of the rare and threatened cerambycid beetle Rosalia alpina L . in E urope, and the amount of suitable habitat within the N 2000 network [special areas of conservation ( SAC s) and special protection areas ( SPA s)], NPA s (e.g. national parks, regional parks, state reserves, natural monuments and protected landscapes) and the overall European protected area network ( EPAN ) ( N 2000 + NPA s) was quantified. 3. According to this analysis, the suitable habitat for R. alpina in E urope amounts to c . 754 171 km 2 and stretches across substantially uninterrupted areas from P ortugal to R omania (west to east) and from G reece to G ermany (south to north). The overlay between the existing system of conservation areas in E urope ( N 2000 and NPA s) and the binary map for R. alpina showed that only c . 42% of potential habitat is protected. SACs and SPA s protect c . 25% and 21% of potential habitat, respectively. However, because the two site types often spatially overlap, when taken together the entire N 2000 network protects c . 31% of potential habitat. Instead, NPA s offer a degree of protection of c . 29%. Overall, almost 60% of the area potentially suitable for the species is unprotected by the EPAN , an aspect that should be considered carefully when planning the conservation of this beetle at a large scale. 4. These results may also help to focus field surveys in selected areas where greater chances of success are encountered to save resources and increase survey effectiveness.