Coleópteros hipogeos protegidos o que requieren medidas de conservación en Cataluña

Abstract

Hypogean beetles that are protected or that require conservation measures in Catalonia Hypogean species are characterized by their profound adaptations to the adverse conditions of their subterranean habitats. Such specialization, however, makes them particularly vulnerable to alterations in their habitat. In the Autonomous Community of Catalonia several legislative tools have been developed to protect threatened invertebrates, and most beetle species included in Decree 328/1992 protecting Areas of Natural Interest in Catalonia (PEIN) or considered in the future decree on the protection of Catalan invertebrates (CFAC) are linked to subterranean habitats. In the present revision we compile regulations and other documents relating to the protection of beetle hypogean fauna in Catalonia. We provide updated faunistic and biogeographic data as well as information on the conservation status of the species, most of which are endemisms confined to a small area. Some of these species have been monitored in recent years by the Arthropod Department of the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona (in collaboration with the Catalan Biospeleology Association) and the results of these studies are briefly discussed.

Keywords

• Hypogean coleoptera
• Biodiversity
• Endemicity
• Protected species
• Conservation
• Subterranean environment
• Catalonia