Testing the applicability of regional IUCN Red List criteria on ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in Flanders (north Belgium): opportunities for conservation

Tim Adriaens, Gilles San Martin y Gomez, Johan Bogaert, Luc Crevecoeur, Jean-Pierre Beuckx, Dirk Maes

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    Abstract

    1. Red Lists assess the extinction risk of species and are an important
    tool to prioritise species conservation and management measures. Worldwide,
    quantitative IUCN criteria are used to estimate the threat status of
    species at the regional level.
    2. In Flanders (north Belgium), about 70 000 distribution records of ladybirds
    were collected in 36% of all the grid cells (1 9 1 km2) since 1990 during a
    large-scale citizen-science project.
    3. Applying the IUCN criteria to the 36 resident ‘conspicuous’ ladybirds in
    Flanders resulted in two Regionally Extinct species, three Endangered species and
    six Vulnerable species. A further seven species were considered Near Threatened
    and the remaining 15 species (39%) were assessed as Least Concern. Three species
    were classified as Data deficient. Using the Red List status, we delineated ladybird
    hotspots that were mainly located in grid cells with large areas of Natura2000 sites.
    4. For calculating a distribution trend, we advocate the use of a high grid cell
    resolution (e.g. 1 9 1 km2 or 5 9 5 km2).
    5. The ladybird data set from Flanders provides evidence that IUCN Red
    List criteria can be applied to this charismatic, but relatively under-surveyed
    insect group. For estimating the geographic range, the use of extent of occurrence
    instead of area of occupancy is advisable when the survey coverage is relatively
    low. We discuss the opportunities of the availability of a ladybird Red
    List for regional conservation measures.
    Translated title of the contributionEen test van de toepasbaarheid van regionale IUCN Rode Lijst criteria op lieveheersbeestjes (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in Vlaanderen: mogelijkheden voor bescherming
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalInsect Conservation and Diversity
    Volume8
    Issue number5
    Pages (from-to)404-417
    Number of pages14
    ISSN1752-458X
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Thematic list

    • Red lists
    • Insects

    Taxonomic list

    • ladybirds (Coccinellidae)
    • insects (Insecta)

    Policy

    • biodiversity policy

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