Taxonomic studies on rove beetles provide basic tools for biodiversity research in the boreal forest of Canada

Jan Klimaszewski, research scientist
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Quebec

(Presentation in English)
(Regional broadcast of lecture)

The author will present a biodiversity journey, from a world perspective to life in a one cubic foot area of forest litter in the boreal forest of Canada. The tools of modern taxonomy and the philosophy behind them will be revealed and briefly discussed. Taxonomic research, the foundation of biological science, will be presented as the most important factor in the discovery, recognition and understanding of biological diversity. The target group is the rove beetle family Staphylinidae (Coleoptera), the dominant beetle family in our forests and particularly in forest litter. Research results on species diversity in Canada will be presented along with the application of this knowledge to forestry-related impact studies. Rove beetles have great potential for use as indicators of forest change because of their sensitivity to any form of habitat disruption. The habitat affiliations of rove beetles are quite different from those of other litter fauna such as ground beetles. The rove beetle fauna is characterized by a large number of species that have a strong affinity with unharvested forests and may be considered forest specialists. The world fauna of rove beetles consists of more than 46,200 known species, classified in about 3200 genera. In Canada and Alaska, over 1400 rove beetle species in some 274 genera and 23 subfamilies have been recorded. However, many species in Canada remain undescribed, particularly within the largest rove beetle subfamily Aleocharinae, which contains over 400 recorded valid species in our country. 

Location/Time: N/A