THE PECULIARITIES OF THE SHIKHAN FAUNAS AND COMMUNITIES OF PHYTOPHAGOUS BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELOIDEA, CURCULIONOIDEA) NEAR THE TOWN OF STERLITAMAK, THE REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN

摘要

Based on original material, information on the species composition and general characteristics of the phytophagous Chrysomeloidea and Curculionoidea beetle faunas of Bashkortostan's shikhans is presented. These are unique natural objects representing limestone cone-shaped mountain remnants, Tratau, Kushtau and Yuraktau, that are located near Sterlitamak. An extremely high total species diversity of the leaf beetles and weevils on the shikhans (327 species from 8 families) has been revealed, comprising not less than 25 of the entire faunas of these groups in the forested steppe belt of the Volga Region and the Cis-Urals. Of the three shikhans, the fauna of Tratau with 283 species is the most species-rich and characteristic. Among the zonal complexes, the group of phytophagous beetles of steppe ecosystems (297 species; 90 of the species registered) is the most diverse on the shikhans. Arealogical and ecological analyses, both show the structure of the shikhan faunas being considerably original, characterized by a pronounced participation of both western and central Palaearctic species, many of which are located here at the meridional limits or within insular parts of their ranges. A large proportion of petrophilic steppe and desert-steppe forms and high concentrations of relict faunal elements of different origins are observed in the study faunas. The vast majority of the relicts are concentrated in petrophyte steppes, scree and rock outcrops of the shikhans, with their significant shares being trophically associated with relict and/or endemic plant species. Three relict species, Stephanocleonus ignobilis Pseudocleonus dauricus and Ceutorhynchus subpilosus, known in the republic from the shikhans alone have been proposed to join Bashkortostan's Red Data Book. In addition, Tratau Shikhan supports two apparently flightless and probably new species of leaf-eating flea beetles, one each in the genera Phyllotrera Chevr. and Longitarsus Berth. In forest ecosystems, a quite rich group of nemoral species associated with oak is marked, the European oaks in Bashkortostan being located at or near their eastern range limits. The data presented clearly demonstrate the fauna and communities of phytophagous beetles of the Sterlitamak shikhans being highly original and reflecting the unique natural complexes of these objects in general. They can also serve as a very important argument against the industrial development of any of the shihans.