The insect community of an endangered habitat: coastal dunes at Point Reyes National Seashore, California, U.S.A.

Abstract

Abstract. From 2000 to 2013, an inventory was conducted by introductory entomology classes from the College of Marin (COM) with the twin goals of describing this insect community and enhancing students' educational experiences. General collecting was the main method, supplemented by rearing of immature stages and by light, pitfall, and pan trapping. After specimens were processed and identified, literature review provided information on five key life history traits of the species: area of origin, range, habitat, feeding habit, and dietary specificity. Four-hundred ninety species or morphospecies were recorded from 12 orders and 133 families. Diptera was the order with the most species. For 449 species with information available, 45% were plant feeders, 21% were predators, and 17% were parasites. For 274 species with information on dietary breadth, 57% were generalists and 43% were specialists. One species and four distinctive populations of other species were endemic to the site. Thirty-nine species had distributions likely restricted to the sand dunes of the immediate Pacific Coastal slope. Groups of species shared with adjacent habitats were also important components of the community. Findings are compared with the information available from other sand dune faunas. The diversity and uniqueness of this community warrant continued conservation efforts, especially the removal of invasive plant species. Students received benefits beyond those expected from the standard introductory course. Recommendations are made for improvement of the description of this community and for the more efficient integration of inventory of local insect faunas into general entomology classes.