Characterization of the Distribution of Indicator Species Beetles in the Mt. Mangunsan Area

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate habitat distribution and beetle diversity, using beetles as biological indicator species to assess environmental changes in the Mt. Mangunsan area near the South Sea of Korea. Plots were installed at varying elevations on the southern and northern slopes of Mt. Mangunsan, and the beetle species composition was determined. A total of 1,368 beetles comprising 32 species belonging to ten families were collected between May and September 2023 from the study sites in the Mt. Mangunsan area near the South Sea of Korea. The two most prevalent species consisted of Synuchus nitidus, with 152 collected beetles, and Calosoma chinense, with 128 collected beetles. In May, June, July, August, and September, 76 beetles comprising 10 species, 180 beetles comprising 18 species, 138 beetles comprising 15 species, 525 beetles comprising 27 species, and 449 beetles comprising 25 species were collected, respectively, with the highest abundance observed in August. In terms of elevation, 239 beetles comprising 19 species were collected at 300 m; 352 beetles comprising 27 species at 400 m; 314 beetles comprising 24 species at 500 m; 280 beetles comprising 22 species at 600 m; 183 beetles comprising 16 species at 700 m. Based on the slope, 442 beetles comprising 18 species belonging to eight families were collected on the southern slope, and 926 beetles comprising 24 species belonging to 10 families were collected on the northern slope. Analysis of the beetles on the southern slope produced the following estimations: diversity of 1.086, evenness of 0.866, and dominance of 0.109. Meanwhile, those in the northern slope yielded a diversity of 1.204, evenness of 0.873, and dominance of 0.081.