Master-Project

Thesis: „Changes of distribution of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae s. l.) in Central Europe since 1900 and Climate Change”

In recent years, many species shift their distribution northwards. Particularly insects like beetles, dragonflies and butterflies show a change in distribution to higher latitudes and/or altitudes during the last warming period. Climate change, or rather the global warming, is discussed as one possible cause for changes in distribution of species. An expansion in other areas with a more favourable climate or a reduction of the distribution area can be the result. Also other factors such as land use and environmental change can play a role.

The leaf beetles are one of the most species-rich families among the Coleoptera. In the database ChryFaun exists a list of 724 species, which are reported from Central Europe.

In my Master thesis, I investigate the changes of distribution in leaf beetles in Central Europe during the last 100 years. I aim at finding out whether the changes in distribution are a result of climate change or other factors also play a role. Therefore I use ChryFaun, a database containing over 170.000 records of 724 Chrysomelidae-species in Central Europe (Schmitt et al. 2014 - Das Projekt ChryFaun). To illustrate the distribution of species I use DMAP, a distribution mapping software (Alan Morton, Penrhyncoch, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK).

Advisor:Michael Schmitt