The potential use of the Southeastern Beach Tiger Beetle, Cicindela dorsalis media, as an ecological indicator of human impact in Southeastern beach ecosystems

Tiger beetles are commonly the focus of conservation and biodiversity studies. Their stable taxonomy and occurrence in diverse habitats make them ideal bioindicators of ecological health and anthropogenic disturbance. Additionally, tiger beetles serve as effective bioindicators because they respond quickly to environmental variability and their populations are relatively easy to assess by capture or visual count methods. Tourism on coastal beaches has numerous impacts on the environment from human activities including trampling, pollution, and habitat fragmentation. This makes continuous biomonitoring of the beach environment extremely important, not only for continued human enjoyment, but for the welfare of imperiled fauna such as sea turtles, shore birds, and marine organisms. This study assesses the potential of the Southeastern Beach Tiger Beetle, Cicindela dorsalis media, as an ecological indicator of anthropogenic disturbance on southeastern coastal beaches. Populations of C. dorsalis media were assessed along disturbed and undisturbed beaches on the Georgia Barrier Islands and compared to populations of the Ghost Crab (Ocypode spp.), a commonly used beach ecological indicator. A metric is proposed for using C. dorsalis media populations for biomonitoring on sandy beach habitats in the Southeastern United States.