A review of saproxylic beetle intra- and interspecific genetics: current state of the knowledge and perspectives

Forests are important habitats that harbor high biodiversity and have great economic value to humans. These ecosystems depend on saproxylic organisms, which play a crucial role in the decomposition of main substrate forests – wood. The highly group organisms beetles, with numerous species either conservation concern (rare threatened) or (“pests”). This review summarizes what is known about intra- interspecific genetic information populations beetles. A search literature yielded 110 articles published 57 journals. majority molecular research has focused “pests” (82 59 species), fewer studies “non-pest” beetles (28 40 species, including 10 relicts primeval forests). Most concerned Palearctic Nearctic taxa, only few from (sub)tropical forests. Members 11 families, 38 genera 99 were subject studies. (71%) conducted associated conifers. Genetic metrics found different overall values species. Analyzes resulted identification units (15 cases) taxonomic (33) value, discovery hybridization (4), invasion routes, common phylogeographic patterns localization glacial refugial areas. article first comprehensive summary history, present-day diversity, relationships based “Pests” be much wider studied than threatened taxa. list should future was provided along rationale. Finally, methodological objective deficiencies previous characterized.