Appearance of Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) by Altitudes in Deogyusan National Park, Jeollabuk-do, Korea

Abstract

Appearance of carrion beetles by altitudes for 3 months from July to September 2011 was investigated in Dongyeopryeong course of Deogyusan National Park, Jeollabuk-do. The vegetation of the survey sites consist of four types, deciduous forest, mixed forest of deciduous and sasa types, and bushes. A total of 1,084 individuals in 6 species of carrion beetles by using bait traps were investigated and among them, Nicrophorus quadripunctatus was the most dominant species with 947 (87.36%). As a result of this survey, Nicrophorus quadripunctatus was appeared in all the altitudes but an alpine species, Silpha perforata was not appeared under 1,300 m altitude. Unlike Silpha perforata, no or few Calosilpha brunneicollis, Nicrophorus maculifrons, Nicrophorus concolor and Ptomascopus morio were appeared over 1,000 m. The analysis of vegetation preference by altitudes of survey areas shows no relevance between carrion beetles and vegetation except Silpha perforate which was appeared only in the bushes over 1,300m, but the more detail researches are required for preference of vegetation type.