A strategy to obtain reliable biotic regionalizations from incomplete data: the case of Ibero-Balearic dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae)

Abstract

A method to obtain regionalizations based in the organisms from incomplete distributional data is presented, using Iberian scarabaeine (Col., Scarabaeinae) as an example. A first ordination analysis was carried out using the well-sampled territorial units, where four faunistic axes were identified. Then, the scores of these axes were extrapolated to the whole Iberian territory by means of General Linear Modelling. A faunistic distance matrix was developed using the predicted values for the four axes. Using this matrix and the geographic distances among territorial units, a new matrix, reflecting both the compositional and geographic distances was obtained. This matrix was used to carry out the final classification of all the territory, where eight different faunistic regions were obtained. Finally, the results are briefly discussed, and their composition and local and regional richness are described.