Community ecology, macro-ecological patterns, and conservation of tropical beetles: An introduction

The greatest concentrations of insect species occur in the tropics, especially in rainforests. Tropical regions include also the largest beetle species in the world, Several of these "impressive" species are subjected to a commercial, thus making the study of tropical beetles important from a conservation point of view. Moreover, tropical beetles may be eaten by rural human populations .These species should be studied for the sake of a better understanding of the applied entomological aspects and management of the fragile ecosystems of tropical regions.