Distribution of Coleoptera in Protected Wetland Areas

Based on intensive surveys conducted in 25 wetland protected areas in Korea from 2006 to 2023, this study aims to provide baseline data for understanding the relationship between beetles and inland wetland ecosystems. wetland serve as critical habitats and foraging sites for diverse organisms, while also contributing to nutrient purification and maintaining ecological balance. Beetles (Coleoptera), the largest insect order worldwide, account for about 40% of all insect species. In Korea, 116 families and 5,025 beetle species have been recorded, representing more than 20% of the inland insect fauna. Many of these beetles are vulnerable to local environmental changes due to their low mobility, and some species serve as valuable bioindicators by reflecting ecological disturbances and population dynamics. Across all wetland protected areas, 64 families and 917 beetle species were recorded: mountain wetland contained 51 families and 633 species, river wetland 50 families and 459 species, lake wetland 38 families and 213 species, and artificial wetland 43 families and 285 species. Following designation as wetland protected areas, resident public inspection wetland, where disturbances such as human interference decreased, exhibited the highest species diversity. These findings suggest that beetle distributions, particularly of Coleoptera, may serve as potential biological indicators of wetland ecosystem health, providing baseline data for assessing ecosystem condition and responses to future environmental changes.