1989/03/01 by Steven L. Chown · 5 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Plant and animal studies
paper · doi:10.1017/s0954102089000052
openalex publication_date 1989/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Most of the species in the Ectemnorhinin are cryptogam feeders, angiosperm feeders representing a minority. It is hypothesized that this dearth of angiosperm feeders is due to previous climatic conditions, which precluded angiosperm herbivory, but allowed for the exploitation of a diverse cryptogamic flora, and that only with the post-glacial warm-up of the Subantarctic has angiosperm herbivory become possible. When examined in the light of the Quaternary history of the South Indian Ocean Province islands, evidence obtained from a study of the habitat use, diet and morphology of species within the tribe supports this hypothesis.