Lateglacial and Middle Holocene Coleoptera assemblages from coastal environments in south-western Sweden

11 Pages·1997·1 MB·

by  Lemdahl, G

Lateglacial and Middle Holocene Coleoptera assemblages from
coastal environments in South-Western Sweden
GEOFFREY LEMDAHL & GUNNAR GUSTAVSSON
Lemdahl, G. & Gustavsson, G.: Lateglacial and Middle Holocene Coleoptera assemblages
from coastal environments in South-Western Sweden. [Senglaciala och mellanholocena
skalbaggliimningar fr6n kustmiljiier i sydviistra Sverige.l - Ent. Tidskr. I l8 (4):177-187.
Uppsala, Sweden 1997. ISSN 0013-886x.
Ninety-eight insect taxa were recorded in lagoon deposits at a site in SW Sweden. Remains of
beetles totally dominate the insect assemblages. The bottom peat, which dates to ca. 10,300
BP consists of insect remains belonging to an arctic/alpine fauna. The upper peats and gyttja,
that were deposited during the Middle Holocene (ca. 7,800 to 5,100 BP), during the Tapes
transgression, contain temperate species. The majority ofthese species are found in southern
Sweden today. However, a portion of the species in the fossil assemblages have not previously
been recorded from the province of Halland and in several cases not in the entire area of
southern Sweden either. The results suggest a relatively high faunal diversity and a spectrum
of habitats within this lagoon environment, which probably has no modern analogue in S.
Sweden today. The reasons for the extinction of species in the study area are discussed,
including changes in climate and local environment.
G. Lendahl, Department of Quaternary Geology, Lund University, Tornavtigen ],3, S-223 63
Lund, Sweden.
G. Gustavsson, Drottninggatan 20, S-432 4l Varberg, Sweden.
Introduction
In connection with excavation work for a new In addition to macroscopic plant remains and
railway at Moarna, near the village of Tvfliker, 10 shells, subfossil insects were abundant in the
km south-east of Varberg in the province of Hal- gyttja and peat samples. We thus decided to carry
land, SW Sweden, clayey sediments and peat were out a more systematic palaeoentomological study
exposed (Fig. l). Samples taken from the bottom at the site, so the section was resampled and dated.
clay, upper clayey gyttja and peat layers were Palaeoecological studies, including insect analy-
analysed. Macroscopic remains of plants and ses, on contemporary deposits from lagoonal sites
mollusc shells indicated that the gyttja and peat along the coast of the Baltic Sea in southernmost
were of limnic/brackish origin, whereas the bot- Sweden have demonstrated the high diversity of
tom clay was deposited in a marine environment. the flora and fauna that characterised this type of
Based on the stratigraphic information from this environments (Lemdahl 1988a, Gaillard et al.
brief survey and earlier studies (Miirner 1969, 1988, Gaillard & Lemdahl 1994). In the paper we
Pisse 1990) together with geomorphological present and discuss the fossil beetle record from
features, it was concluded that the exposed section the investigated site at Moarna.
was a part of an ancient lagoon. Similar basins are
rather frequent along the coast of Halland. Many
of these lagoons were formed during the Early Study area and site
Holocene by a period of sea-level rise (the Tapes The basin of the ancient lagoon is situated less
transgression). The limnic sedimentation often than 5 km from the present shoreline of the Katte-
ceased when the sea-level began to drop around gatt Sea (Fig. l). The area is dominated by sandy
6,000 BP (Mcirner 1969, Pflsse 1983,1990). clayey deposits with a thickness that sometimes
17'7
Geoffrey Lemdahl & Gunnar Gustavsson Ent. Tidskr. I l8 (1997)
Batrachium) spp., and Potamogeton. The lower
part of the slightly gyttja clay (layer 5) is rather
rich in mollusc shells of species such as Cardium
edule (L.), Mytilus edulisL., Littorina littorea (L.)
and Hydrobia sp., while shells are very rare in the
upper part. This suggests that the clay was
deposited in marine or brackish water, probably
during the Tapes transgression. The carr peat
(layer 4) may have been formed during a shorter
b period with a lower sea level. The peat is
composed mainly of remains of Phragmites and
; wood pieces. In layer 3, the clay gyttja, mollusc
e# shells of the species mentioned above were
recorded in the lowermost part, while in the upper
TvAAker part no shells were found. Macroscopic remains of
vascular plants such as Ruppia, Zannichellia and
Chenopodium spp. are also abundant in the gyttja,
0 l0km especially in the uppermost part. This suggests
that the gyttja was deposited in brackish water.
Fig. 1. Map of the study area, situated in south-v,estern The upper reed peat (layer 2), dominated by
Sweden (insert map). The bold line indicates the shore
line during the Tapes trangressio-n maximum. The Phragmites remains, may have began to form
sampled ancienl lagoon site at Moarna is indicated by after the regression of the sea. The gyttja and peat
the bold arrow. deposits are covered by about one metre of aeolian
sand.
Karta som visar undersdkningsomrddet i Halland, syd-
vdstra Sverige (infdlld korta). Ijock linje visar den forn-
tida strandens ldge under Tapeslransgressionens (mel- Methods and material
lun ca 8000-6000 dr sedan (BP)) naximala nivd. Pilen
pekar pd den undersdktaforntida lagunen. Samples for insect analysis were disaggregated in
a l}Vo sodium carbonate solution and washed
through a sieve with 0.25 mm mesh. The insect
exceeds 35 m. The Quaternary deposits cover a remains were sorted out under a binocular micro-
Precambrian bedrock of granitic gneiss, which is scope at low magnification. The identifications of
exposed as outcrops directly east of the basin, the remains were carried out by using keys for
where thin deposits of till are also found. West of modern specimens and by comparison with mo-
the basin the area is dominated by sand dunes, dern specimens from reference collections. The
probably mainly of postglacial origin. determinations are mainly based on complete
The climate in the region today is rather oceanic body parts or fragments of heads, thoraces and
with a mean July temperature around l7'C and a elytra. In a number of cases, such as Badister cf.
mean January temperature of ca. -l'C. The annual dorsiger, Helophorus cf. arvernicus, Simplocaria
precipitation is around 600 mm (Raab and Vedin cf . elongata and Galerucella cf . grisescens (Tab.
1995). The study area is situated in the Northern l) the fossil remains resembles the modern speci-
Temperate vegetation zone (Ahti et al. 1968) and mens very much, however, we are not able to
the vegetation at the site today is dominated by a confirm the identifications with certainty. Mini-
grass-rich pine forest. mum numbers of individuals for each taxon and
The lithology of the studied section is shown in sample are calculated from the most abundant ske-
Fig. 2. In the bottom silty clay (layer 7) no macro- letal part. For further details concerning the
scopic remains of plants or animals were found. It methods of insect analysis, readers are referred to
was probably deposited during the period when e.g. Coope (1986), Lemdahl (1988b) or Elias
the area was deglaciated. The bottom peat (layer (1994).
6) includes remains of plants, such as Betula nana, The chronostratigraphy of the sampled section
Dryas octopetala, Carex spp., Ranunculus (s.g. was established on the basis of three radiocarbon
178
Ent. Tidskr. I l8 (1997) C o I eop t e ra as s em bl age s from s out h-wes t er n Swe d e n
dates on selected terrestrial material (Fig. 2). All
dates mentioned in this paper are presented in
radiocarbon years before the present (BP). The
Radlocarbon daies
radiocarbon ages 5,000 BP, 8,000 BP and 10,300
BP corresponds approximately to 3,160, 7,010
and 9,600 calendar year BC respectively (Stuiver
& Long 1993, Bjdrck er al. 1996).
The nomenclature of plants follows Mossberg
I 5,100 i8o Bp (Lu-3510) et al. (1992) and the Coleoptera are according to
Silfverberg (1992).
Results
Ninety-eight insect taxa were identified from the
ten analysed samples, together with a few remains
of mites and marine polychaete worms. Beetles
totally dominate the assemblages, both in number
of taxa (92) and in number of individuals (Tab. I ).
However, there are frequency variations between
the samples (Fig. 3). Examples of some recorded
beetle remains are shown in Fig. 4. Taxa of the
orders Trichoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera
! z,eao tso Bp (Lu-35r r) wine reth aisls op afopuenrd. ,T bhuet tihnesye acrte ansost efmurbthlaegr epsr ecsaenn tebde
described based on information concerning the
species' modern biology and geographical distri-
bution derived from Angus (1992), Bily & Mehl
(1989), B<jcher (1988), Dahlgren (1979), Fiuer &
Manuel (1986), Fjellberg (1972), Fiirsch (196'7),
I 10,320 tl20 BP (Lu-35s4) M. Hansen (1987), V. Hansen (1968), Hansen &
Henriksen (1,927), Harde (1984), Landin (1957),
Lekander et al. (1977), Lindroth (1985,1986),
Fig. 2 The studied section from the ancient lagoon at Lohse (1969), Lundberg & Gustafsson (1995),
Moarna, Tvddker, SLII Sweden Lithology, sampling and Palm (1948), Paulus (1979),Peez (1967), Silfver-
radiocarbon dates are indicated. Depth in metres aboye berg (1992) and Vogt (1967). Habitat preferences,
sea level. The litholog is illustrated by symbols including selected environments and food sub-
commonly and the exposed layers consist of (l) slightly strates, for the recorded taxa are presented in Tab.
silty sand, (2) reed peat with a lhin sand layer in the
upper part, (3) clayey gyttja, (4) reed peat, (5) slightly 1. A synthesis of indicated habitats concerning the
gyttja clay, (6) moss peat, (7) clayey sand. 2A+B and beetles is shown in Fig. 5.
6A+B represent double samples. The major part of beetles found in all but
sample eight, have today at least a part of their
Den undersdkta skdrningen vid Moarna ncira Tvddker. geographical distribution in southern Sweden.
Den schematiska figuren visar avlagringarnas ldge i Exceptions are species such as Bembidion nor-
meler river nuvarande havsytan, lagernummer och ut- mannum, B. iricolor, Badister dorsiger and Gale-
lagna prover. Resultaten av kol-14-dateringarna redo- rucella grisescens, which today have their closest
visas ltingst till hdger. Stratigrafin av de framgrtivda occurrence in Denmark or Finland.
jordlagren tir enligtfdljande: (1) svagt siltig sand, (2)
vasstorv med ett tunnt sandskikt i dvre delen, (3) lerig Sample one contained very few insect remains
gyttja, (4) vasstory, (5) svagt gttjig lera, (6) mosstorv, and the recorded taxa just indicate that aquatic
(7) lerig sand, vilka illustrerats med qllmdnt anvcinda (Aq) and moist environments (H) existed in the
symboler under "Lithologt". 2A+B och 6A+8 dr study area around 5,000 BP. In samples two to
dubbelprover. seven, subfossil insects are more abundant. The
t79
Geoffrey Lemdahl & Gunnar Gustavsson Ent. Tidskr. I l8 ( 1997)
pine (Pinus) and spruce (Picea), but is occasio-
nally also found on oak. A number of taxa prefer
aquatic or moist habitats. Only the record of
E
Amara tibialis in sample 28 suggests dry ground
io.3 (X). The majority of the hygrophilous taxa are
c riparian (Mw). Stilibus oblongus and Donacia
Es
clavipes are phytophagous beetles living on reed
6A vegetation (Vr) such as common rced (Phrag-
6B mites) and bulrush (Typha). Prasocuris phel-
7 landrii feeds on shore plants such as water
8 dropwort (Oenanthe) and water parsnip (Sium),
whereas Galerucella grisescens prefers Lysi-
machia. Macroplea species are found on the floa-
Fig. 3. Number of individuals and taxa of Coleoptera ting-leaved water plants (Vwp) such as pondweed
recorded in each sample.
(Potamogeton). Tanysphyrus lemnae feeds on
Antal individer och taxa av skalbaggar i varje analyse- duckweed (Lemna). A number of species are
rat prov. predominantly found in coastal environments (C)
and several of these are confined to saline sites
(Sa). such as salt marshes.
The insect assemblage dated to ca. 10,300 BP
beetle assemblages suggest a relatively diverse (sample 8) is outstanding compared with those
environment, with a spectrum of different habi- from the other samples. It consists of species pre-
tats, for the period ca. 5,700 to 7,800 BP. Species sently found in northern Fennoscandia, apart from
preferring an open landscape (O) dominate. Simplocaria elongata (synonymous with S. /rigi
However, obligate forest species (F) are also da Krogerus) which today is not found anywhere
found in samples two and six. The presence of in Europe except on the Kanin peninsula. No
both deciduous (Tde) and coniferous (Tco) trees is obligate forest species (F) were recorded in the
indicated. Adrastus pallens is mainly phyto- sample. The species are predominantly found in
phagous on willow (Salix), while Galerucella open areas (O) in arctic/alpine regions. The main
lineola is found on willow and alder (Alnus). part of the recorded species are aquatic (Aq),
Dryocetes villosus is found under the bark of oak riparian (Mw) or prefer other types of moist
(Quercus) or beech (Fagus). Rhagium inquisitor habitats (H) such as rich fens (e.g. Diacheila arc-
lives predominantly on coniferous trees such as tica). Helophorus glacialis is confined to very
Tab. I . Taxonomic list of Coleoptera recorded from the ancient lagoon at Moarna. Species that do not belong to the
modern beetlefauna in southern Sweden are indicated by *. Minimum numbers ofindividualsfor each taxon and
samplearecalculatedfromthemostabundantskeletalpart. Habitatpreferences,includingselectedenvironments
and food substrates, of recorded taxa are indicated as: Open landscape (O), forest (F), coastal habitats (C), aquatic
species (Aq), moist habitats (H), stagnant water (L), running water (R), water margins (Mw), dry habirats (X), rich
fens (Rfl, oligotrophic bogs (Ob), bare soils (Bs), saline habitats (Sa), grass/shrubland (Gs), tree habitats (T),
conderous trees (Tco), deciduous trees (Tde), shrubs (S), birch (+be), willows (+sx), oak (+qu), beech (+fo), herbs
(Vhe), reed vegetation (Vr), water plants (Vwp), on roots (Vro),fungi (Vfl, leaf litter (Ll), moss (M), dung (Du), and
decaying organic matler (Do).
Artlista dver skalbaggsfyndenfrdn denforntida lagunen vid Moarna. Arter som idag inte tillhdr den sydsvenska
faunan anges med *. Individantal frir varje taxon i ett prov har berciknats pd den kroppsdel som fdrekom i sttirst
antal. Habitatkrav anges medfdljandefdrkortningar: Oppen mark (O), skog 1F). kustbiotoper (C), vattenlevande
(Aq), fuktig miljd (H), stillastdende vatten (L), rinnande vatten (R), vid kanten av vatten (Mw), torr mark (X),
rikkirr (Rfl, mossar (Ob), exponerad mineraljord (Bs), salino biotoper (Sa), grr)s-/buskmark (Gs), trtid (T), barr-
trrid (Tco), ltivtrrid (Tde), buskar (S), bjr;rk (+be), sdlg (+sx), ek (+qu), bok (+fa), drter (Vhe), strandvdxter (Vr),
vattenvdxter (Vwp), pd rdtter (Vro), svamp (Vfl, ldufi)rna (Ll), mossa (M), spillning (Du), och multnande vtixr och
djurrester (Do).
180
Ent. Tidskr. ll8 (1997) Coleoptera assemblages from south-western Sweden
Samples
Taxon 2A283 6A 68 '7 Habitat
Carabidae, jordliipare
Lo r ice ra p i I ic o rnjs (Fabr.) -l H,F,Mw
C a lo s oma sy cop hanta (L.)+ F
Diac he i la a rc t ic a (Gyllh.)* I H,Rf
D1,sc h i rius g lobasas (Herbst) He,A,Sa
Bembidion no rmannum Dej.* C,Sa,Mw
B. doris (Panz.) 2 H,Mw,Ob
B. assimile Gyllh. H,Mw,Vs
B. iricolor Bedel* C,Sa,Bs
B. gutrula (Fabr.) Mw,Vs
B. mannerheimi Sahlb. I H,Fd,MwLl
P te ro s tic hu s ant hrac inus (lll.) H,F,O,MW
P. minor (Gyllh.) I I H,MW
P dillgens (Sturm) H,Mw,Ob
Amara tibialis (Payk.) C,O,X,VS
Badister cf. dorsiger (Duft.)* Fd,Mw,Ob
Dytiscidae, dykare -r
I - - - - .
Hydroporus sp. l Aq
Acilius sp. Aq,L
Gyrinidae, virvelbaggar
Gyrinus sp. l- Aq,L
Hydrophilidae, palpbaggar
H e lopho rus si biricus (Motsch.)* Aq,R,L
H. cf . arvernicus Mulsant* Aq,R
H. glacialis Yilla* Aq,L
Berosus sp. Aq,L
Enoc h r us subgen. M et hydrus Aq,L
E sp. l- I Aq
-l
HCey drc ryoo bn i ulsil tfou srca ilpise s(G (Ly.ll)h.) 916 4- I CA,qS,Ra,,DLoe
31 253
C. depressus Steph. 94 C,Sa,Do
-'7
C. lateralis (Marsh.) Do,Du,Ca
-15 62
CC.. btriifsetnise s( tI rlla.t)us Kij,saer -l l- 239 MMww,,BDso,Vp
45
C. srernalis (Sharp) I Mw,Do
-21 192
c. spp.
M e gas I e rnum obscurum (Marsh.) Do,Du
Hydraenidae, vattenbrynsbaggar
1-t2
Ochthebius cf. auriculatus Rey Aq,L,Sa
322
O. cf . minimus (Fabr.) Aq,Le
Ptiliidae, fjddervingar
Ptenidium sp. l- Do
Silphidae, asbaggar
Phosphuga atrata (L.) I F,T
Staphylinidae, kortvingar 4-
Quedius spp. H,Do,Ll,M
Xantholininae indet. -t7 5
Paederinae indet. t8
Stenus spp. -l l- ll I H,Mw
Omalium riparium Thomson 15 29 12 I C,Do,Ca
Olophrum fuscum (Grav.) l0 H,Mw'M
O. boreale (Payk.)* I H,Mw'I-l,M
Eu cne c osum cf . b rac hy pte rum (Grav.) 6 H,Mw,Ll
A c ido ta c re nata (F abr.) H,Ob,LtA.
A. cruentata (Mannh.) H,Do,Ll
B o re ap hi I us he nn i n g ianu s S ahlb. l- 2 Gs,Ll,Mw,M
Tachinus sp.
63
Aleocharinae indet. 2 2
Gen. indet. I l9
Continued
l8r
Geoffrey Lemdahl & Gunnar Gustavsson Ent. Tidskr. I l8 ( 1997)
Samples
2A283 64
Taxon 68 Habitat
Histeridae, stumpbaggar
Hypocaccu s me tal I ic u s (Herbst) I C,Bs
Scirtidae, mjukbaggar
Cyphon spp. 5-8 2t 3 Aq,Vwp
Scarabaeidae, bladhorningar
t-
Ae gialia are na ria (F abr.) C,Bs
Aphodius spp. Du
P hy I lope rt ha ho rt ic o la (L.) T,Vl,Vro
Elateridae, kndppare
A t hous su bfu scus (Mij ll.) F
Agriotes sp. Vr
Dalopius marginatus (L.) F
Adrastus pallens (Fabr.) I Tsx
Byrrhidae, kulbaggar
Simplocaria cf . elongata Sahlb.* I M
S. metallica (Sturm)* 5 M
Byrrhus sp. -l M
Curimopsis cf . nigritaPalm l- H,M
Nitidulidae, glansbaggar
Epuraea sp. I Tfu
Sphindidae, slemsvampbaggar
Aspidiphorus orbiculatus (Gyllh.) - I vf
Cryptophagidae, fuktbaggar
Atomaria sp- I Do,Mw
Gen. indet. 632 Do
Phalacridae, sotsvampbagggar
Olibrus cf . corticalis (Panz.) I Vhe
Srilibus cf . oblongus (Erich.) H,VT
Coccinellidae, nyckelpigor
H ippodamia va r ie gata (Goeze) H,VT
Latridiidae, miigelbaggar
C artode re co nst ricta (Gyllh.) H,DO
Colydiidae, barkbaggar
Bitoma crenata (Fabr.) I T
Anthicidae, snabbaggar
Anthicus ater (Panz.) I Do
A. antherinus (L.) Do
Omonadus cf . formicarius (Goeze)- I Do
Co rdic omus in s t abi li s (Schmidt) 2 Do
Cerambycidae, l6nghorningar
Rhag ium inquisito r (L.l Tco
Chrysomelidae. bladbaggar
22
M ac rop lea ap pe ndic ulata (P anz.)l mut ic a - 26 H,Vwp
(Fabr.)
Donacia clavipes Fabr. H,Vr
P ras oc u ris p he llandrii (L.) I H,VT
Chrysomela collaris L. Ssxbe
Cale ruce lla cf . g rise scens (Joan.)* H,VT
G. cf . lineola (Fabr.) Tde
Galeruca tanaceti (L.) Vhe
Lupe rus lon gico rni s (F abt.) Vro
Chaetocnema sp. Vhe
Apionidae, spetsvivlar
Apion spp. Vhe
Curculionidae, vivlar
Tany s p hy ru s I e mnae (P ayk.) 2 H,Vwp
Ceutorhynchus sp. I Vhe
Scolytidae, barkborrar
Dryocoetes cf. vil/osus (Fabr.) I Tqufa
182
Ent. Tidskr. I l8 ( 1997) Coleoptera assemblages from south-western Sweden
Fig. 4. A portion ofbeetle remainsfound in the sediments ofthe ancient lagoon at Moarna, Tvddker SIY Sweden. The
picture shows elytra, thoraces, head and legs ofground beetles, water scavenger beetles (Cercyon spp.), rove beetles
and true weevilsfrom sample 2A. Photo: G. Lemdahl.
Exempel pd skalbaggsrester funna i sedimenten frdn forntidslagunen vid Moarna ntira Tvddker. Bilden visar trick-
vingar, halsskdldar, huvud och ben avjordlcipare, palpbaggar (Cercyon spp.), kortvingar och vivlarfunna i prov
2A.
cold stagnant water (L), such as meltwater from metallicus and Aegialia arenaria are today char-
snow patches or glaciers. Several of the rove acter species of the coastal sand dunes. These four
beetles (Staphylinidae) are common in leaf litter species seem also to have been relatively frequent
(Ll) from dwarf shrubs of willow and birch (Ber- in the area during the period ca. 8,000 to 6,000 BP.
ula), and Chrysomela collaris is a phytophagous However, Cercyon depressus and C. sternalis
beetle feeding on the leaves of that type of vegeta- which are numerous in samples 2 and3, are rarely
tion. found in the area today. Ochtebius auriculatus is
rare throughout Scandinavia today. In North Eu-
rope it only occurs with any frequency in SW
Discussion Denmark. In Sweden it has only been recorded
It is interesting to compare the occurrence of spe- from a few localities, including sites in the pro-
cies in the fossil assemblages with the present vince of Halland. Species of the genus Macroplea
fauna in the study area (Gustavsson unpublished). have rarely been found in the study area, but may
Species such as Cercyon littoralis and Omalium be disregarded because they are difficult to collect
riparium are very common today along the sea- (Nilsson 1996).
shores, particularly in drift of seaweed (Fucus) or Moreover, there are species in the fossil assem-
other types of decaying plant litter. Hypocaccus blages that have not previously been recorded
r83
Geoffrey Lemdahl & Gunnar Gustavsson Ent. Tidskr. I l8 ( 1997)
OFCLR MW XSa TcoTde Vr Vwp Do
Fig. 5. Habitat and food substrate preferences of recorded Coleoptera. Number of taxa selecling open landscape
(O), forests (F), coastal habilats (C), stagnant waters such as lakes and ponds (L), running water (R), moist
environments (H), water margins (Mllt), dry ground (X), saline sites (Sa), conderous trees (Tco), deciduous trees
(Tde), shore vegetation (Vr), Jloating-leaved water plants (Vwp), and decaying organic maner (Do). A taxon may
indicate more lhan one environmental factor.
Habitat- och f6dosubstratpreferenser hos de listade skalbaggarna. Staplarna visar antql taxa som trivs i miljtier
som: dppen mark (O), skogsmark (F), kustmiljder (C), sjdar och dqmmar (L), rinnande vatten (R), fuktiga platser
(H), vid kanten av stillastdende eller rinnonde vatten (MW), torr mork (X), salina biotoper (Sq), barrtrdd (Tco),
ldvtrtid (Tde), strandvrixter (ltr),flytbladsvrixter (Vwp) och multnande vcixt- och djurrester (Do). Ett taxon kan ange
mer cin en miljdfaktor.
from the province of Halland and in some cases rope Galerucella grisescens is today only recor-
not in the whole area of southern Sweden either. ded in Finland, Karelia and the Baltic nations.
Only a few single finds of Calosoma sycophanta Around 7,000 BP it may have dwelled in coastal
are reported from southern Sweden during mo- environments in southwestern Sweden. Other spe-
dern time and it is probably not resident in Scan- cies that have not previously been recorded from
dinavia or Denmark today. This subfossil record the province of Halland arc Cartodere consticta
of the species together with other more or less and Cordicomus instabilis.
contemporary records (Lindroth 1942, Welinder The reasons for the extinction of a number of
1970) may suggest that it belonged to the Swedish species in the study area are most likely changes
fauna at least around 5,000 BP. Bembidion nor- in climate, local environment and/or human
mannum and, B. iricolor have their northern Euro- impact. Extinction caused by climatic change is
pean distribution limit in SW Denmark, where evident concerning the disappearance of the arc-
they are found along the tidal coast. Pterostichus ticlalpine fauna recorded in sample 8. This type of
anthracinus is rare today in southern Sweden, fauna dominated during the major part of the Late-
except on the islands of Oland and Gotland (SE glacial period (ca. 1 3,000 - 1 0,000 BP) in southern
Sweden) where it is common. Badister dorsiger Sweden according to subfossil insect records
which may have lived at the margin of the ancient obtained from a number of sites (Lemdahl 1997).
lagoon, is today closest found in southern Den- Around 10,000 BP a very rapid and marked faunal
mark, where it is very rare, predominantly in- change is indicated. The arctic/subarctic insect
habiting forest swamps or the borders of shaded fauna, which probably moved north to the ret-
temporary pools in deciduous forests. In north Eu- reating ice margin in southern central Sweden,
184
Ent.Tidskr. ll8(1997) Coleoptera assemblages from south-western Sweden
was replaced by species found in southern Sweden that the lagoon was transformed into a reed
today. This faunal change was most likely a re- swamp. The rapid Tapes transgression and the la-
sponse to a contemporary strong climatic amelio- ter subsequent regression (Pisse 1990) may have
ration, when mean summer temperatures rose been locally destructive and generative resp-
rapidly by 6 to 7'C and mean winter temperatures ectively to the coastal environments.
even more (Berglund et al. 1994). The occurrence
of species such as Calosoma sycophanta, Bembi-
dion normannum. B. iricolor and Badister cf. Conclusions
dorsiger in samples 2,5, and 6 may partly indicate The present study of course gives a very limited
a slightly warmer climate during the Middle view of the total insect or beetle fauna in the study
Holocene compared with today. However, their area during the time period considered. However,
required habitats may also have been more com- even this little peep-hole into ancient time gives
mon during that period and provided populations surprisingly interesting and valuable information
large enough for the survival of species today concerning certain beetle species that today are
extinct in area. Sea-level rises along both the Swe- very rare or locally/regionally extinct. More
dish west coast and the Baltic coast in southern systematic studies at similar sites along the south-
and south-east Sweden (Gaillard et al. 1988, western coast of Sweden would probably help to
Gaillard & Lemdahl 1994) evidently caused the supplement our knowledge of these relatively
formation of lagoons and environments that temporary and unique lagoon ecosystems. Such
presently have no analogs in southern Scan- knowledge may contribute to both nature
dinavia. The palaeoecological results suggest that conservancy and studies of species diversity.
the vegetational and faunal diversity in these types
of environments were relatively high, providing a Acknowledgement
large spectrum of different habitats. The lifetime We are very thankful to a number of colleagues that
of these lagoons seems in general to have been helped us during the study. The collections at the
less than ca. 3,000 years. In the case of the lagoon Entomological Museum in Lund were frequently used
at Moarna the limnic sedimentation ceased around when determining the subfossil specimens' and we are
6,000 BP and it developed into a reed swamp. At indebted to its curator Roy Danielsson for all sorts of
ca. 5,000 BP the swamp was covered by aeolic help. The chronology of the sampled profile was esta-
blished with the help of Gciran Skog at the Radiocarbon
sand that formed dunes. Laboratory, Lund University. The work of Tore PiLsse
duCrinhgan tghees p ienr iothde c faa.u 7n,a5l0 0d itvoe r5s'i0ty0 0a BreP i n(Fdiicga. te3d). hCarvoez iinesrp kiriendd olyu rc soerarerccht efodr tHhoelo Ecenngeli slahg olaonng suitaegse. .A Wlane
They could be ascribed either to changes in the thank the two reviewers Anders Nilsson and Sven-Ake
local environment or taphonomical (processes Berglind for valuable comments on the manuscript. The
that affect an organism after death) reasons, such study was partly supported by grants from the Swedish
as changes in accumulation of insect remains in Natural Research Council (NFR G-GU 1756-304) and
the sediment. The deviating high number of taxa the EPECC within the CEC-Environment Programme
at sampling levels 2A+B and 64+8 are more (EU contract no. EV5VCT930273).
likely due to the doubled sample size than to a
higher degree of faunal diversity. It is a well
known phenomenon that the number of taxa References
increases with larger sample volumes. However, Ahri, T., Hiimet-Ahti, L. & Jalas, J. 1968. Vegetation
the decrease in both number of taxa and individu- zones and their sections in northwestern Europe. -
als in samples 4 and 5 may be due to a temPorary Ann. Bot. Fenn. 5:169-210.
dHisoawpepveearr,a nncoe cohafn hgaeb iinta ttsh elo lcitahlolylo giny tthhaet amreaay. AnHgeulso,p hRo.r in1a9e9.2 .S iI.nisssewcatsas,e Crfaoulenoa pvteonra M, Hittyedleruorpohpialid a2e0'l
indicate an environmelsn.ta Tl chhea nsghei fits itnra cfaeudn aatl BeL1rg0el-mu2n.d dSa,t huBlt,t. gEGa.,r .t B (&eGrug ssNttaeovnrd , FbHies.cr,g hB,e jr6K Vrce' kr,l1a 9gS9)'.,4 K. oLlastterugpla,c Eia'l,
2 to I is on the other hand environmental change in S Sweden and Denmark. -
lithological change. The In: J.J. Lowe (ed.), The last glacial-interglacial tran-
ttja to a reed Peat indicates sition around the North Atlantic - an overview. - J. of
r85
Geoffrey Lemdahl & Gunnar Gustavsson Ent. Tidskr. I l8 (1997)
Quaternary Science (NASP/IGCP edition) 9:127- Lemdahl, G. 1988a. A Postglacial insect fauna from
132. Jiiravallen, Skateholm, Southern Sweden. - In: L.
Bjrirck, S., Kromer, 8., Johnsen, S., Bennike, O., Larsson (ed.), The Skateholm Project I. Man and
Hammarlund, D., Lemdahl, G. Possnert, G., Rasmus- environment. Acta Regiae Societatis Humaniorum
sen, T.L., Wohlfarth, B., Hammer, C.U. and Spurk, M. Litterarum Lundensis 7 9:46-50.
1996. Synchronized Terrestrial-Atmospheric Degla- Lemdahl, G. 1988b. Kvartara insektfossil - ett faunahis-
cial records around the North Atlantic. - Science toriskt arkiv. - Ent. Tidskr. 109: l- 13.
2'14:1155-l 160. Lemdahl, G. 1997. Late Weichselian colonization of
Bfly,S. & Mehl, O. 1989. Longhorn Beetles (Coleoptera, beetle faunas in S Sweden. - Quaternary Proceedings
Cerambycidae) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. - 5: 153-164.
Fauna Ent. Scand. 22:l-2O3. Lindroth, C.H. 1942. Ett subfossilfynd av Calosoma
Btjcher, J., 1988. The Coleoptera of Gronland. - Med- sycophanta L. - Populiir Biologisk Revy 2.
delelser om Gr6nland, Bioscience, 26: l-100. Lindroth, C.H. 1985. The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of
Coope, G.R. 1986. Coleoptera analysis. /n: B.E. Berg- Fennoscandia and Denmark. - Fauna Ent. Scand. I 5: I -
lund (ed.), Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and 225.
Palaeohydrology. Chichester (Wiley & Sons). Lindroth, C.H. 1986. The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of
Dahlgren, G. 1979. Familie: Cantharidae. - /n: Freude. Fennoscandia and Denmark. - Fauna Ent. Scand.
H., Harde, K.W. & Lohse, G.A. (eds.), Die K?ifer Mit- l5:226-497.
teleuropas 6: I 8-39. Lohse, GA. 1969. Familie: Anthicidae. - /n: Freude, H.,
Elias, S.A. 1994. Quaternary Insects and their Environ- Harde, K.W. & Lohse, G.A. (eds.), Die Kiifer Mittel-
ments. Washington D.C./London, (Smithsonian Insti- europas 8:106-118.
tution Press). Lohse, G.A. 1979. Familie: Elateridae. - /n: Freude. H..
Fitter, R. & Manuel, R. 1986. Field guide ro the fresh- Harde, K.W. & Lohse, G.A. (eds.), Die Kiifer Mittel-
water life of Britain and North-West Europe. London europas 6: I 03- I 86.
(Collins). Lundberg, S. & Gustafsson, B. 1995. Catalogus
Fjellberg, A. 1972. Present and Late Weichselian occur- Coleopterorum Sueciae. Stockholm (Entomologiska
rence of Corynocera ambigua Zett. (Dipt., Chirono- Fdreningen i Stockholm).
midae) in Norway. - Norsk Ent. Tidskr. l9:59-61 . M6rner, N.-A. 1969. The Late Quaternary history of
Fiirsch, H. 1967. Familie: Coccinellidae. - /n: Freude, Kattegatt sea and the Swedish west coast. - Sveriges
H., Harde, K.W. & Lohse, G.A. (eds.), Die Kiifer Mit- Ceologiska Undersiikning C 640.
teleuropas 7 :22'7 -271 . Mossberg, B., Stenberg, L. & Ericsson, S. 1992. Den
Gaillard, M.-J., & Lemdahl, G. 1994. Early Holocene Nordiska Floran. Stockholm (Wahlstrdm & Wid-
coastal environments and climate in SE Sweden. - strand).
The Holocene 4:53-68. Nilsson, A.N. (ed.) 1996. Aquatic insecrs of North Eu-
Gaillard, M.-J., Giiransson, H., Hikansson, H. & Lem- rope. A taxonomic Handbook. Vol. l: Ephemeroptera,
dahl, G. 1988. The palaeoenvironment at JAravallen- Plecoptera, Heteroptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera,
Skateholm (South Sweden) during Atlantic and Early Coleoptera, Trichoptera and Lepidoptera. Stenstrup
Subboreal time on basis of pollen-, macrofossil-, dia- (Apollo Books).
tom- and insect- analyses. - In: L. Larsson (ed.), The Palm, T. 1948. Skalbaggar. Coleoprera. Kortvingar,
Skateholm Project I. Man and environment. Acta Fam. Staphylinidae - Underfam. Micropeplinae phlo-
Regiae Societatis Humaniorum Litterarum Lundensis eocharinae, Olisthaerinae, Proteininae, Omaliinae. -
79:52-55. Svensk Insektfauna 9(38): l-133.
Hansen, M. 1987. The Hydrophiloidea (Coleoprera) of Paulus, H.F. 1979. Familie: Bynhidae. - /n: Freude, H.,
Fennoscandia and Denmark. - Fauna Ent. Scand. l8: Harde, K.W. & Lohse, G.A. (eds.), Die Kiifer Mittel-
l-254. europas 6:328-35 l.
Hansen, V. 1968. Biller XXV Adselbiller, Stumpbiller Peez, A.v. 1967. Familie: Lathridiidae. - In: Freude, H.,
m.m. - Danmarks Fauna 7'7:l-353. Harde, K.W. & Lohse, G.A. (eds.), Die K?ifer Mittel-
Hansen, V. & Henriksen,K. 1927. BillerVII, bladbiller europas, 7:168-190.
og bonnebiller. - Danmarks Fauna 3l:l-401. Pisse, T. 1983. Havsstrandens nivefdrdndringar i norra
Harde, K.W. 1984. A field guide in colour ro Beetles. Halland under Holocen tid. - Geologiska Institutionen
London lOctopus Books ). i G<iteborg Publikationer 45. I - 17 4.
Landin, B.-O. 1957. Skalbaggar. Coleoprera. Bladhorn- Pflsse, T. 1990. Beskrivning till jordartskartan Varberg
ingar, Lamellicornia, Fam. Scarabaeidae. - Svensk NO [Description to the Quarernary map Varberg NO].
Insektfauna 9(46): l - 155. - Sveriges Geologiska Unders6kning Ae 1O2:l-ll1..
Lekander, B., Bejer-Petersen, B., Kangas, E. and Bakke, Raab, B. and Vedin, H. (eds.) 1995. Klimat, sj<iar och
A. 1977. The distribution of bark beerles in the Nor- vattendrag. Sveriges Nationalatlas.
dic countries. - Acta Ent. Fenn.32:l-3i. Silfverberg, H. 1992. Enumeratio Coleopterorum Fen-
186