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- Title
THE FRUITING-BODIES OF MACROFUNGI AS HABITATS FOR BEETLES OF THE FAMILY CIIDAE (COLEOPTERA).
- Authors
Paviour-Smith, Kitty
- Abstract
1. The idea that the "main centre or centres of biological activity" of an animal species may be regarded as its "headquarters", is discussed. The Ciidae, a family of fungus beetles in which all life-history stages have the same centre of activity (the long-lasting fruiting-bodies of some macrofungi) has here been selected for a study of the concept of "headquarters" in its simplest form. It was hoped that critical habitat data might throw light on the preferred breeding fungi of some of the common Ciidae, and might indicate whether there is any subdivision of habitat among the beetle species of this family. 2. Cud beetles are important in destroying the fruiting-bodies of only one fungus family, the Polyporaceae which grow on wood. The most important feature of these fungi from the beetles' point of view is that, when dead, they remain on the wood for a long time (Long enough for the stow development of Cud beetles) and often dry out. (This happens also in a very few Agaricaceae growing on wood). 3. Only 13 of the 26 Ciidae on the British list have been found in the main collecting area, Wytham Woods, Berkshire, and, only 10 of these species were actually in the fruiting-bodies of macrofungi. 4. Published and some unpublished records of these 10 Ciidae in 14 named fungi have been combined into a table, with information on breeding places. There are two main groups of fungi, each with its special group of Ciidae. Each of these groups of fungi is the headquarters of a group of beetles. Occasionally a beetle occurs by accident in a fungus species of the "wrong" group. One beetle species can breed in several species of fungi within its group, and, conversely, one fungus species can support several beetle species breeding in it. 5. The two main groups are referred to shortly as Po/yporus betulinus - Cis bidentatus and Polystictus versicolor - Octotemnus glabriculus. a. Different headquarters in the same main group. In the Polyporus betulinus - Cis bidentatus group the two most common species were shown to prefer different common fungi - Cis bilamellatus preferring Polyporus betulinus and Cis nitidus preferring Ganoderma applanatum. b. Sharing the same headquarters. (i) There is some evidence for a succession of Ciids. Cis bilamellatus is the first Ciid to colonise P. betulinus brackets after they die in the spring. It is followed, usually some time later, by other Ciidae of the same main group. (ii) There is some evidence that Cis bilamellatus and Cis bidentatus may share P. betulinus as a habitat by thriving best under different physical conditions. c. The headquarters of neither Ennearthron cornutum nor Cis fagi is known. 6. In the Polystictus versicolor - Octotemnus glabriculus main group only P. versicolor is common in Wytham Woods. Octotemnus giabriculus and Cis boleti share this habitat regularly, but there is some evidence for succession and differing physical requirements in the two species. Nothing is known of the headquarters of the other three Ciid species of this group. 7. Two common species of Polyporaceac, Trametes rubescens and Daedalea quercina, are not attacked by Ciidae. 8. An artificial key is given to the habitats afforded animals by the fruiting-bodies of Agaricaceae and Polyporaceae growing on wood. It is based principally on the friability of the dead fungi. 9. It is thought that the physical structure of the fruiting-bodies may be important to the Ciidae, and CUNNINGHAM'S (1947) arrangement of Polypores according to their hyphal systems and structure is briefly examined. It is suggested very tentatively that the major division of these fungi amongst Ciid species may be according to the complexity of hyphal structure and weaving, but much more habitat and breeding information is needed as well as a thorough investigation by mycologists.
- Subjects
MACROFUNGI; CRYPTOGAMS; BEETLES; FUNGI; HABITATS; BREEDING; ANIMAL classification
- Publication
Oikos, 1960, Vol 11, Issue 1, p43
- ISSN
0030-1299
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/3564883