PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 2 / Sesion Carteles 2: Invasive Species / Invasivas
Wednesday, January 11 / Miercoles, 11 de Enero, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Salon Yucatan, Lobby Level, Fiesta Americana

Distribution of seven introduced ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Quebec and their potential range expansion since 1975.

Mercado, Alida^*,1, Buddle, Christopher¹, ¹ McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada

ABSTRACT- The study of introduced insects is of interest since they can be used as biological control agents, they may be potential pests, or they may displace native species. Seven species of ground beetles, introduced into North America from Europe, were selected as focal taxa for a distribution study in Quebec. The species selected were collected during an intensive two-year survey (2003-2004) at the Morgan Arboretum (SW Quebec)., and their provincial distributions were determined by examining specimens from three major insect collections: the Lyman Entomological Museum (LEM), the Ouellet-Robert Collection at the Universite de Montreal (QMOR) and the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa (CNC). The additional locality information was complied and compared to that reported by Larochelle (1975) in Les Carabidae du Quebec et du Labrador. Harpalus affinis (Schrank), Agonum muelleri (Herbst), Clivina fossor L., Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) and Carabus nemoralis Muller have a similar distribution to what was reported thirty years ago. Harpalus rufipes DeGeer, however, has drastically expanded its range to the south, as in 1975 it was only reported from the far eastern regions of Quebec. Bembidion obtusum Audinet-Serville has expanded its range from Ontario into southern Quebec. This species was not reported until 1975 for the province of Quebec. The introduced species might be better adapted to anthropogenic habitats than native species, but as they expand their distribution range they might have negative effects on native ground beetles through competition and predation. Introduced species are considered a serious threat to native fauna and they might have economic and ecological consequences, therefore updating distribution, and range expansion is relevant for conservation and biodiversity purposes.

SPANISH ABSTRACT- El estudio de los insectos introducidos es de interes ya que pueden utilizarse como agentes de control biologico, podrian ser plagas o podrian desplazar especies nativas. Siete especies de carabidos, introducidos a Norte America provenientes de Europa, se seleccionaron para un estudio de distribucion en Quebec. Las especies seleccionadas se colectaron en un estudio intensivo de dos años (2003-2004) en el Arboretum Morgan (Suroeste de Quebec). La distribucion en la provincia se determino examinando especimenes de tres colecciones principales de insectos : Museo Entomologico Lyman (LEM), la Coleccion Ouellet-Robert en la Universidad de Montreal (QMOR) y la Coleccion Nacional de Canada en Ottawa (CNC). La informacion adicional referente a su localizacion se recopilo y comparo con la reportada por Larochelle (1975) en el trabajo Les Carabidae du Quebec et du Labrador. Harpalus affinis (Schrank), Agonum muelleri (Herbst), Clivina fossor L., Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) y Carabus nemoralis Müller tienen una distribucion semejante a la reportada hace 30 años. Sin embargo, Harpalus rufipes DeGeer, tiene un drastico rango de expansion hacia el sur, ya que en 1975 solamente se reportaba en la region del este de Quebec. Bembidion obtusum Audinet-Serville ha expandido su rango de distribucion desde Ontario hacia el sur de Quebec. Las especies introducidas podrian estar mejor adaptadas a los habitats antropogenicos que las especies nativas, sin embargo como han incrementado su rango de distribucion podrian tener efectos negativos en los carabidos nativos debido a competencia y depredacion. Las especies introducidas se consideran una seria amenaza a la fauna nativa y podrian tener consecuencias economicas y ecologicas, por lo cual actualizar el rango de expansion y distribucion es relevante para propositos de conservacion y biodiversidad.