Work

Geomorphodynamic Controls on the Distribution and Abundance of the Federally Threatened Puritan Tiger Beetle (Ellipsoptera puritana) Along the Maryland Chesapeake Bay Coast and Implications for Conservation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The federally threatened Puritan tiger beetle (Ellipsoptera puritana; PTB) inhabits Upper Chesapeake Bay bluffs, beaches and Connecticut River point bars. This study focuses on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay population (Calvert County and Sassafras River), where adult PTBs prey on beach arthropods but establish larval habitat on the adjacent bluffs. A combination of panoramic photography, GIS mapping, and field and laboratory measurements of sedimentological and ecological characteristics were measured across 17 high- and low-density Maryland beetle sites to identify the geologic and biological controls on population distribution and abundance. Results indicate that temporal and spatial fluctuations in PTB abundance are governed by bluff face quality, which in turn, is shaped by antecedent geology (medium-compacted, fine-to-medium, well-sorted sands) and bluff dynamics. We present a four-stage, multi-decadal geomorphodynamic conceptual model in which long-term bluff recession and short-term storm-driven colluvium removal periodically expose fresh bluff surfaces required for larval establishment. By integrating geomorphic, geologic, and ecological perspectives, this study highlights the role of sedimentary processes in maintaining critical estuarine habitats and provides a framework for predicting species persistence in dynamic coastal landscapes.

Source: Geosciences

DOI: 10.3390/geosciences15120444

Authors: Michael S. Fenster, C. Barry Knisley

Institution: Randolph–Macon College

Language: English

Topic: Ecology and biodiversity studies

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172