2025 Ecosystem Transformation 8 (2), 156-183

Ecological and faunal characteristics of nest-dwelling groups of beetles in the nests of the sand martin (Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758)) from different biotopes of Saratov Oblast

Kondratyev E.N., Sazhnev A.S.  , Anikin V.V.

The article reports on a study of beetles in sand martin nests in Saratov Oblast. On the basis of literature data and the authors' own research, the composition of the beetle nest fauna of Riparia riparia was analysed. A check-list of the beetle fauna (76 species) recorded in the sand martin nests has been compiled. The studies were conducted in 2019–2022 in the forest-steppe and steppe zones on the territory of seven districts of Saratov oblast (Russia). A total of 209 nests from 12 colonies of the sand martin were studied. On the territory of Saratov oblast, 30 species of beetles from 16 families were recorded for the Riparia riparia nests. In the composition of the nest fauna, three types (trophic, topical and fensive) and five variants of relationship (zoophagous, phytophagous, saprophagous, substrate-stationary, fensive) of beetles with the nest were distinguished. On the basis of these data, a heteroconcentric model of the nest was constructed. Ecological groups of beetles were identified, and a heteroconcentric model was built. The facts of change and degradation of the nest-dwelling beetle fauna with the disappearance of the edificator-species were revealed.

E. N. Kondratyev
Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute “Microbe”
ul. Universitetskaya 46, Saratov, 410005 Russia


A. S. Sazhnev
I.D. Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, senior research scientist
Borok 109, Nekouz District, Yaroslavl Region, 152742 Russia

PhD in Biology
sazh@list.ru

V. V. Anikin
Saratov State University
Astrakhanskaya St. 83, Saratov, 410012 Russia

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