Faunistics

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Faunistics (from fauna = animal world, neo-Latin after the field and forest god Faunus ) a sub-area of zoology , aims to record the animal species in a certain geographical area. Usually only certain taxa (animal groups) are recorded. Your data are the basis of area studies ( chorology ) and biogeography . Faunistics is of great importance for taxonomy and ecology , these branches of science are mutually beneficial.

The related term “ fauna ” comprises the entirety of the animal world in a definable area. Systematic compilations of the animal species occurring in an area are also often called "fauna".

Basics

Faunistics is a descriptive science. The ultimate goal of faunistics is to record the population of all animal species and, if possible, the subspecies in all parts of the world. Every faunistic investigation corresponds to a snapshot. In order to document the changes in the faunal composition, current faunistic results are compared with previous studies. The analysis of collections can also provide information on historical changes in the fauna composition of certain areas. The presumed extinction of certain species in individual areas can be recognized as well as new fauna elements, including neozoa, can be documented.

The distribution area (often also called area ) of each species is an important part of its complete knowledge and thus a genuine object of its research. That is why the location of the type specimen or series of types , the “locus typicus”, is always an important part of any description of a species, and the locations of the examined individuals are listed in taxonomic studies.

In order for the results of faunistic investigations to be checked, it would be necessary for reasons of scientific documentation and preservation of evidence that suitable specimen copies (usually collection copies, including DNA or tissue samples) are deposited. Unfortunately this is by no means always the case. Particularly when investigating the distribution of vertebrates and birds, it is the rule that reliable observation (partly by hearing the song ) by a specialist is considered sufficient. In individual cases, pictures of animals, their tracks and the like may be sufficient, provided that the species can be clearly identified. Confirmation from various zoologists is sought for particularly interesting reports on the location.

Due to the enormous diversity of species and the specialization that this requires, most faunistic studies are limited to one group of animals - often to just one genus or even just one species. In addition, they are often limited to a small area.

History of Faunistics

Even the publications about animals in antiquity contain faunistic information, so faunistics is just as old as zoology as a whole. The earliest "faunistic publication" of modern times seems to be the summary of the aquatic animals of Marseille by Pierre Gilles (= Petrus Gyllius , 1490–1555). In addition to the well-known encyclopedic work “Historia animalium” (1551–1558) by Conrad Gessner (1516–1565), an important milestone was the work of Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522–1605), who described the fauna of Italy on the basis of extensive collections; seven books deal with insects, three with birds (some published posthumously, 1599–1638). The "Work De Animalibus Insectis libri VII" (Bologna, 1602) was the first book that was exclusively devoted to insects. From the 16th century onwards, more and more extensive faunistic data were published, whereby the experience that there are previously unknown animals in foreign countries was an important finding that was reflected in the travelogues. The Spaniard de Enciso (1470–1528) reported in 1518 of hummingbirds , a tapir and the nine-banded armadillo from South America. In 1557 , Hans Staden described some striking animal species in the New World in somewhat more detail .

The word “ fauna ” was probably first published by Carl von Linné in “Fauna Svecica” in 1746, later the term became increasingly common. As a successor to Linnaeus, the fauna of individual countries was systematically examined. The term “faunistics” appears to be published for the first time by Adolf Horion (1888–1977) in his “Faunistics of the Central European Beetles” (1941); But Klausnitzer also writes: "It is possible that both terms were used earlier".

Working method of faunistics

Faunistic studies are based on collections of animals or systematic observations. The specimen copies must be properly prepared and labeled with the location, date, collection method and collector. A good scientific collection is essential for most faunistic studies . Next, it is necessary to identify the species, which is often the most difficult part of the investigation. In addition to specialist literature and optical aids (microscope, binocular ), you often need a collection of comparisons and a lot of experience. In recent times, molecular methods for species determination are increasingly being used, e.g. B. DNA barcoding (see also below).

Despite all the difficulties, faunistic investigations are often also possible for so-called professional amateurs (enthusiasts, collectors); Faunistics as a science is little taught at universities and sometimes given little attention. However, the expertise of the specialist amateurs is, in summa, an enormous amount of detailed knowledge that is very valuable.

Importance of faunistics for nature conservation

Faunistic studies are of great importance for nature conservation and ecology. They are necessary in order to determine whether a species occurs at all in a certain area, whether it is endangered, whether it is particularly worthy of protection and whether conclusions can be drawn about changes in ecological parameters based on changes in population. A particularly important criterion with regard to priority in nature conservation is, for example, if a species is endemic in the corresponding area. Species that are protected by EU law (so-called " FFH species") must be observed in their population (so-called monitoring). In addition, there are global efforts to investigate changes in abundance and area, especially of endangered species that z. B. be funded by the IUCN .

Current trends

Of course, new technical developments are used to document the spread of animals. So offer camera traps an excellent way shy mammals to monitor populations or document. The use of appropriate computer programs makes it increasingly possible to develop automated processes with the aid of which birds, frogs, or cicadas can be recognized and recorded acoustically or on the basis of images.

Another trend that is likely to become increasingly important in the future is the involvement of volunteer amateurs. In English-speaking countries, the term "citizen science" (has advocated citizen science ) established. For many years, bird populations have been surveyed in a coordinated manner by so-called birdwatchers (see the various links under “ Bird Watching ”). The by no means new concept of citizen science is supported by German organizations, presented on a website and increasingly affects faunistic projects. One example is the “ Mosquito Atlas ”, a survey of the distribution of mosquitoes in Germany with the help of committed laypeople. As already mentioned, the commitment of professional amateurs has long been a diverse and valuable support in faunistic studies.

The current nature conservation laws are an obstacle to the implementation of faunistic investigations, since the taking of specimen copies from nature is often only allowed after an exemption and the creation of reference collections is made more difficult. The difficult support of youngsters interested in faunism is also complained about on various occasions.

An important new methodology that is of great importance for fauna, taxonomy and ecology, among others, is the use of DNA barcodes to identify animals. By comparing the DNA barcodes, the identification of animal species is made easier and in certain cases - e.g. B. in larval forms that cannot be determined morphologically as a species - is only possible. In the course of various projects (in Germany BFB and GBOL international IBOL), many animal species have been collected in a targeted manner in recent years and a lot of interesting faunistic data has been obtained. The new methods also increasingly allow new questions to be investigated. For example, the DNA barcode examinations shed new light on various taxonomic problem cases (e.g.) and different animal species could be newly detected for certain areas (e.g. new detection for Andrena ampla in Germany).

literature

  • B. Klausnitzer: Entomofaunistics on the threshold of the 3rd millennium. In: Entomologica Basiliensia. 22, 2000, pp. 61-74.
  • B. Klausnitzer: Faunistics as future science. In: Entomological Journal. 117 (1), 2007, pp. 3-6.
  • K Schönitzer: Faunistics (basics, status, outlook). In: Spixiana. 38, 1, 2015, pp. 133-138.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Gustav de Lattin: Plan of the zoogeography. G. Fischer Verlag, Jena 1967, p. 19.
  2. ↑ Terry Wheeler: The role of voucher specimens in validating faunistic and ecological research. Biological survey of Canada, Document series (9), 2003, pp. 1-24. (Full text)
  3. ↑ a b c d B. Klausnitzer: Entomofaunistik on the threshold of the 3rd millennium. In: Entomologica Basiliensia. 22, 2000, pp. 61-74.
  4. ^ I. Jahn (Ed.): History of Biology. 3. Edition. Heidelberg / Berlin 2000, p. 185.
  5. ^ I. Jahn (Ed.): History of Biology. 3. Edition. Heidelberg / Berlin 2000, p. 189.
  6. ↑ Wolf Engels, Sabine Heinle: Hans Staden as tropical biologist: First descriptions of "different" animals and plants of Brazil in his book "Warhaftige Historia" from 1557 - 22 examples of species identified by us. In: Spixiana. 37, 2014, pp. 283-287. (on-line)
  7. ^ TA Wheeler et al.: Label data standards for terrestrial arthropods. Biological Survey of Canada, Documents series (8), 2001, pp. 1-20. (Full text)
  8. ↑ PDN Hebert, A. Cywinska, SL Ball, JR DeWaard: Biological identifications through DNA barcodes. In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 270, 2003, pp. 313-321. doi: 10.1098 / rspb.2002.2218
  9. ↑ G. Haszprunar: Barcoding Fauna Bavarica - an opportunity for entomology. In: Bavarian Entomologists' newsletter. 58 (1/2), 2009, pp. 45-47.
  10. ↑ a b c d B. Klausnitzer: Faunistics as future science. In: Entomological Journal. 117 (1), 2007, pp. 3-6.
  11. ↑ more details z. BJ Blab, M. Binot-Hafke, S. Capt, F. Cordillot, F. Essl, J. Gepp and others: Red Lists - Barometer of Biodiversity. History of origins and recent developments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In: Nature Conservation and Biodiversity. 18, 2005.
  12. ^ F. Courchamp, JA Dunne, Y. Le Maho, RM May, C. Thébaud, ME Hochberg: Fundamental ecology is fundamental. In: Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 30 (1), 2015, pp. 9-16. doi: 10.1016 / j.tree.2014.11.005
  13. ↑ Methodology of the risk analysis for red lists. In: H. Haupt, G. Ludwig, H. Gruttke, M. Binot-Hafke, C. Otto, A. Pauly (arr.): Red List of Endangered Animals. Plants and mushrooms in Germany. Volume 1: Vertebrates. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, 2009, ISBN 978-3-7843-5033-2 , pp. 23–76.
  14. ↑ Jens Sachteleben, Martin Behrens: Concept for monitoring the conservation status of habitat types and species of the Habitats Directive in Germany. (= BfN scripts. 278). 2010. (download from BfN)
  15. ↑ z. B. Matthias Gräub: Amur leopards. Rarities in the camera trap. In: animal world. Jan. 7, 2015.
  16. ↑ z. B. Weingarth et al: Cross-border photo trap monitoring - how do you count lynxes? In: Reports from the National Park. (7), 2011, pp. 1-48.
  17. ↑ R. Bardeli et al .: Detecting bird sounds in a complex acoustic environment and application to bioacoustic monitoring. In: Pattern Recognition Letters. 31, 2010, pp. 1524-1534. doi: 10.1016 / j.patrec.2009.09.014
  18. ^ A. Marini et al .: Bird species classification based on color features. In: IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. 2013, pp. 4336-4341. doi: 10.1109 / SMC.2013.740
  19. ↑ Citizen science platform
  20. ↑ BFB
  21. ↑ GBOL
  22. ↑ IBOL
  23. ^ A. Hausmann et al.: Now DNA-barcoded: The Butterflies and Larger Moths of Germany (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera, Macroheterocera). In: Spixiana. 34 (1), 2011, pp. 47-58.
  24. ↑ L. Hendrich et al .: A comprehensive DNA barcode database for Central European beetles with a focus on Germany: adding more than 3500 identified species to BOLD. In: Molecular Ecology Resources. 2014, pp. 1–24. doi: 10.1111 / 1755-0998.12354
  25. ↑ a b S. Schmidt et al .: DNA barcoding largely supports 250 years of classical taxonomy: identifications for Central European bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea partim). In: Molecular Ecology Resources. Volume 15, No. 4, 2015, pp. 1-16. doi: 10.1111 / 1755-0998.12363