Abstract
The relative importance of monkey beetles (Hopliini, Scarabeidae) as pollinators of Asteraceae and Aizoaceae in the Succulent Karoo as well as the influence of livestock grazing on their abundance and diversity was investigated. Hopliine beetles proved to be the, or among the, most abundant flower visitors of 12 investigated plant species. However, during single flower observations at three Aizoaceae species, bees (Apoidea), bee flies (Bombyliidae) and pollen wasps (Masaridae) were the most frequent flower visitors. However, monkey beetles carried the highest Asteraceae and Aizoaceae pollen loads, and are therefore considered to play a vital role in the pollination of these two families. Abundance, species richness and diversity of Hopliini did not appear to be heavily affected by livestock grazing. Annual variation in the composition of monkey beetle populations was more dramatic. Still, some species showed higher abundances on heavily grazed rangeland while others only occurred under low grazing pressure. It is presumed that changes in the composition of the vegetation, especially the observed decrease of perennial plants in favour of annuals and geophytes (Todd and Hoffman 1999) could in turn affect the composition of monkey beetle assemblages.
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Acknowledgements
This study is embedded in BIOTA Africa (http://www.biota-africa.org) which is sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bmbf 01LC0024). Carolin Mayer would like to thank Professors N. Jürgens (University of Hamburg) and M.T. Hoffman (University of Cape Town) for supervision. Northern Cape Nature Conservation Services provided research permits. Special thanks go to Jonathan Colville (University of Cape Town) for helping with the identification of monkey beetles. A University of Cape Town Research Grant awarded to M. Picker provided travel costs. G. Soka acknowledges the financial support kindly provided by the Tropical Biology Association (TBA), as well as supervision by M. Picker and C. Mayer.
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Mayer, C., Soka, G. & Picker, M. The importance of monkey beetle (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) pollination for Aizoaceae and Asteraceae in grazed and ungrazed areas at Paulshoek, Succulent Karoo, South Africa. J Insect Conserv 10, 323–333 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-006-9006-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-006-9006-0