大巴山北坡地表甲虫的物种多样性

采用巴氏罐诱法取样,对大巴山北坡3种主要林型（林区人工林、农耕区天然次生林和农耕区人工林）地表甲虫的类群组成、数量分布进行了分析,并采用对应趋势分析和聚类分析法,研究了3种林型地表甲虫类群组成和数量分布的相似性.结果表明：2002年8月9—13日,研究区共捕获地表甲虫1094号,其中,隐翅虫科和叶甲科分别占40.59%和33.18%,步甲科、球蕈甲科、金龟科、象甲科、蚁甲科和缨甲科均各占1%以上,这8科地表甲虫是该地区常见的类群;地表甲虫的个体数量从林区人工林、农耕区天然次生林到农耕区人工林依次减少;农耕区人工林的科丰富度指数明显低于林区人工林和农耕区天然次生林.大巴山北坡农耕区天然次生林地表甲虫的类群组成和数量分布与林区人工林差异明显,农耕区人工林与林区人工林和农耕区天然次生林各有部分相似性.     

吉林蛟河阔叶红松林地表甲虫多样性时间动态分析

阔叶红松林是长白山林区代表性植被类型,具有较高的生物多样性。研究吉林蛟河阔叶红松林中地表甲虫多样性的时间动态,比较优势类群对时间变化的响应,为森林中地表甲虫的保护与利用提供科学依据。在2012—2013年5月中旬至8月下旬整个地表甲虫的活跃期,利用巴氏罐法在吉林蛟河阔叶红松林4个样地中共采集地表甲虫9849头,隶属于22个科79种,步甲科Carabidae、埋葬甲科Silphidae和隐翅虫科Staphylinidae为优势类群。地表甲虫的物种数、个体数和多样性指数均在7月上旬时达到最高,时间对个体数有显著影响(P0.05)。地表甲虫多样性各指数间相关性较低,个别种类对环境变化比较敏感。步甲科个体数在7月上旬显著高于其他时间,物种数与个体数的时间动态不一致,步甲科对8月上旬的适应能力强于埋葬甲科和隐翅虫科。埋葬甲科在7月上旬个体数量极显著高于其他各时间(P0.01),物种数与个体数的时间动态相一致。埋葬甲科对7月下旬适应能力强于隐翅虫科,其对时间变化的反应最敏感,当环境条件适宜时,其数量能够迅速增加。不同时间隐翅虫科的物种数与个体数变化相对较小,对时间变化的敏感程度最低。由于生活习性的特殊化,使得捕食性和腐食性地表甲虫活跃的高峰期也可能与被捕食者在各时期的数量有关。     

小兴安岭阔叶红松林地表甲虫Beta多样性

Beta多样性用来衡量集群内物种组成的变异性,可以被分解为空间物种转换和物种集群镶嵌两个组分,是揭示群落构建机制的重要基础。目前开展了较多的地上生态系统beta多样性研究,然而地下生态系统beta多样性进展缓慢。以小兴安岭凉水和丰林自然保护区为研究地区,于2015年8、10月采用陷阱法对阔叶红松林进行调查,揭示地表甲虫(步甲科、隐翅虫科、葬甲科)的beta多样性。结果表明:(1)凉水共发现39种、856只地表甲虫,丰林共发现43种、1182只地表甲虫。8月凉水明显具有较高的全部甲虫(三个科的总和)物种多样性和丰富度,10月正好相反。(2)凉水和丰林之间地表甲虫beta多样性的差异仅发现于8月的步甲科和葬甲科之间。(3)凉水和丰林地表甲虫的beta多样性主要由空间物种转换组成,物种集群镶嵌对beta多样性的贡献很小,说明地表甲虫物种组成变异主要由本地物种之间较高的转换引起。研究表明小兴安岭阔叶红松林地表甲虫的beta多样性主要由空间物种转换组成,在揭示群落构建机制过程中,其内部物种交换和环境调控不容忽视。     

河西走廊中部戈壁地表甲虫群落动态变化及其影响因素

地表甲虫是戈壁主要的地表昆虫类群, 但我们对其种属组成和活动节律的认识还很有限。2018-2020年1-12月我们利用陷阱法对河西走廊中部典型砾质戈壁地表甲虫种类及数量进行了连续观测, 并测定了该区降水和温度。本文研究发现: (1)戈壁地表甲虫由步甲科、叶甲科、象甲科、粪金龟科和拟步甲科5科21种组成, 阿小鳖甲(Microdera kraatzi alashanica)、戈壁琵甲(Blaps gobiensis)和波笨粪金龟(Lethrus potanini)是优势地表甲虫种; (2)戈壁地表甲虫活动节律存在明显年季变异, 地表甲虫的活动期在3-10月, 地表甲虫活动密度的最大值出现在4-7月, 而物种丰富度的最大值均在5月出现; (3)降水增多的2019年地表甲虫的活动密度明显增加, 且2019年地表甲虫物种丰富度和多样性指数显著高于2018年; (4)地表甲虫的取食类型和个体大小影响它们的活动节律, 降水增多的年份提高了植食性的象甲科和部分拟步甲科的活动密度, 而一些拟步甲科的活动密度对降水的响应存在一定的滞后性; (5)降水和温度变化强烈影响地表甲虫活动节律, 地表甲虫的个体数和物种数与月降水量和月平均温度呈显著的二次曲线和指数关系, 植食性和捕食性甲虫对降水及温度变化响应较腐食性甲虫敏感, 大甲虫对降水变化的响应较中甲虫和小甲虫敏感。总之, 降水及温度变化影响了戈壁地表甲虫的活动节律, 而不同地表甲虫种对二者的响应因其生理生态特征不同而异, 从而影响了地表甲虫群落动态变化规律。     

紫胶林-农田复合生态系统地表甲虫多样性——以云南绿春为例

为揭示紫胶林-农田复合生态系统地表甲虫多样性, 于2006-2007年在云南省绿春县牛孔乡采用陷阱法调查了天然紫胶林、人工紫胶林和旱地的地表甲虫群落。共采集标本1 678头, 分别隶属于24科120种, 其中步甲科(Carabidae)和金龟科(Scarabaeidae)种类最丰富, 均占全部种类的12.50%。拟步甲科(Tenebrionidae)个体数量最丰富, 占个体总数的64.48%; 金龟科次之, 占个体总数的17.58%。大多数科的物种数和个体数在不同土地利用生境中的分布没有显著差异, 而步甲科、隐翅甲科(Staphylinidae)、叩甲科(Elateridae)、拟步甲科、瓢虫科(Coccinellidae)和小蠧科(Scolytidae)在不同土地利用生境中的分布有显著差异。天然紫胶林地表甲虫个体数量最少, 物种较丰富, 优势度最低, 多样性最高; 人工紫胶林个体数和物种数均丰富, 优势度和多样性居中; 旱地个体数量最多, 物种最贫乏, 优势度最高, 多样性最低。种级水平的聚类分析体现出人工紫胶林与旱地之间在种类组成上距离较近; 而科级水平的聚类反映出人工紫胶林和天然紫胶林更接近。结果提示, 紫胶林-农田复合生态系统具有区域内土地利用方式多样化的特点; 天然紫胶林在维持地表甲虫多样性水平上具有重要作用, 而人工紫胶林虽具有积极作用, 但仍需进一步恢复。     

小兴安岭森林地表鞘翅目成虫对不同干扰梯度的响应

为探讨小兴安岭凉水自然保护区森林生态系统中地表鞘翅目成虫群落对不同人为干扰梯度的响应,于2015年7月、8月和10月分别对轻度干扰[原始阔叶红松林(KY)和谷地云冷杉林(YL)]、中度干扰[阔叶红松择伐林(ZF)和次生白桦林(BH)]及重度干扰[落叶松人工林(RL)和红松人工林(RHS)]的6个林型进行取样调查。结果表明:(1)整个采样周期共捕获地表鞘翅目成虫879只,隶属9科44物种;其中轻度干扰生境共捕获6科29种251只(KY捕获5科21种150只,YL捕获4科20种101只),中度干扰生境捕获6科27种276只(ZF捕获3科20种144只,BH捕获6科23种132只),重度干扰生境捕获6科29种352只(RL捕获4科22种232只,RHS捕获5科17种120只)。(2)7月和8月步甲科和葬甲科占据数量优势,10月步甲科和葬甲科成虫数量明显减少而隐翅虫科数量占优势;不同林型及不同干扰梯度地表鞘翅目成虫物种总数和总个体数于7、8、10月均表现为下降趋势,且群落多样性也呈不同程度下降。(3)林型和月份对地表鞘翅目成虫群落结构具有显著影响,干扰梯度对群落结构无显著影响;6个林型之间地表鞘翅目成虫个体数量具有显著差异,但在物种组成上无显著差异;不同干扰梯度间地表鞘翅目成虫个体数、物种数无显著差异,且随干扰梯度变化没有明显的梯度性规律;相似性系数和聚类分析表明,属于同一干扰梯度的两个林型没有表现出高度的相似性。本研究表明干扰梯度不是决定各林型间地表鞘翅目成虫群落多样性存在差异的主要原因,凉水森林生态系统地表鞘翅目成虫对不同干扰梯度的响应不符合中度干扰假说,林型和时间则是影响地表鞘翅目成虫群落组成的显著因素,本实验为地表生物多样性保护和森林生态系统管理提供数据支撑。     

白龙江林区地表甲虫沿海拔梯度的群落结构及动态分析

【目的】揭示白龙江林区地表甲虫群落沿海拔梯度（927-2 735 m）的多样性格局、群落结构及动态变化,为林区内生物多样性长期监测及保护提供理论基础和依据。【方法】采用巴氏罐诱捕法,沿不同海拔梯度（927、1 794、2 376和2 735 m）设置陷阱诱集地表甲虫。【结果】共采集2 015头地表甲虫,包括18科95种。虎甲科Cicindelidae的个体数量最多（436只）占总数的21.6%,其次是叩甲科Elateridae、步甲科Carabidae、葬甲科Silphidae、隐翅甲科Staphylinidae。5个科的采集数量占到总数的75.1%,是白龙江地区优势种群。随着海拔梯度的升高,流域内地表甲虫的数量及优势种群数量都呈先上升后下降的趋势。在海拔2 376 m处,地表甲虫丰富度最高,诱集数量最多。低海拔地区地表甲虫丰富度低,诱集数量少。在种群动态变化中,中高海拔地区的优势种群在6-9月间的种群数量变化趋势呈单峰增长模式,且不同海拔高度不同科种群的诱集峰值不同。如在不同海拔梯度内诱集的步甲科数量均在7月份最多;在海拔2 376 m处,叩甲科个体数量在8月份最多,相比海拔较低的1 794 m处,则7月份数量最多,在低海拔927 m处和高海拔地区2 735 m处,叩甲科的个体数量急剧减少,且动态变化不明显。【结论】在白龙江林区拱坝河流域,地表甲虫种类丰富,优势种群明显。在不同海拔梯度上,其优势种群表现出不同的变化模式。根据地表甲虫群落在海拔梯度上的分布,可将地表甲虫分为三类。一是分布在中高海拔,包括步甲科、隐翅甲科及虎甲科等,在流域内4个不同海拔梯度都有分布。二是在中高海拔和高海拔处种类丰富,在低海拔处未诱集到相应甲虫,包括叩甲科及葬甲科。三是在不同海拔高度都有分布,但数量少,未形成优势种群,包括金龟科、象甲科及瓢虫科等。     

云南西北部地区地表甲虫的物种多样性

共调查了云南西北部地区的中甸大雪山、中甸碧塔海、德钦白芒雪山、丽江石鼓镇、玉龙雪山保护区和永胜县6个小区域。采用巴氏罐诱法研究不同生境下地表甲虫物种多样性的变化。其结果：①共采集甲虫标本2852号,分属16个科,以隐翅虫数量最多,占41.3%;步甲次之,占25.9%;金龟、象甲、拟步甲的数量各占5％以上;其他11科合计占13％;②甲虫群落的物种多样性分析表明：农业活动频繁的永胜县,个体数量和丰富度较低;游牧业和旅游业频繁的中甸碧塔海多样性指数和丰富度较低;其他4个区域多样性指数、均量和丰富度较低;游牧业和旅游业频繁的中甸碧塔海多样性指数和丰富度较低;其他4个区域多样性指数、均匀度指数、丰富度以及个体数量比较均匀。除永胜县外,其他地区甲虫群落间相似性系数随空间距离的增大而降低。③比较针叶林、阔叶林、混交林、灌丛和草甸等5种生境,所有甲虫、步甲、金龟数量在针叶林和草甸生境内较高;隐翅虫数量在针叶林和阔叶林内较高;象甲在阔叶林内数量较高;拟步甲在灌丛内数量较高;但只有步甲和隐翅虫差异显著。④物种的个体数量、丰富度和多样性指数随海拔高度不同,其变化趋势相似。在1500－2000m呈下降趋势;在2500－3000m和3500－4000m分别形成2个峰值。均匀度指数的变化趋势则与之相反。以上结果表明,空间距离和生境类型影响云南西北部地区地表甲虫群落的物种多样性和相似性,频繁的农牧业和旅游业活动,对保持地表甲虫物种多样性的自然分布规律产生一定影响。     

宁夏白芨滩国家级自然保护区地表甲虫群落多样性

2006年7—9月在宁夏白芨滩国家级自然保护区内选取5个不同样地,主要以巴氏罐诱法结合网捕等采集方法对各样地地表甲虫群落组成和多样性变化进行了调查。结果共获得甲虫标本1 896号,分属17科,其中拟步甲科数量最多,占25.58%;叶甲科次之,占20.99%;肖叶甲科、芫菁科和瓢虫科的数量也相对较多,它们共同构成该地区地表甲虫的优势类群。白芨滩样地地表甲虫的物种数和个体数量最丰富;长流水样地的多样性指数、均匀度指数、优势度指数最高;马鞍山样地的物种数、个体数量和与此相应的均匀度指数、多样性指数、丰富度最低。通过聚类分析显示白芨滩样地和大泉样地具有一定程度的相似性,长流水样地与磁窑堡样地相似性程度较高,马鞍山样地与其他4个地点差异最大。表明生境类型差异性与地表甲虫群落的物种多样性和相似性密切相关;荒漠化环境治理使地表甲虫栖息环境的空间异质性增大,从而增加了地表甲虫的多样性。     

短时暴雨对小兴安岭凉水阔叶红松林地表甲虫群落的影响

全球变化背景下,气候变化引起的降水异常变化对诸多生态过程和功能均有重要影响,但目前关于极端降水事件对土壤动物群落组成及多样性的影响研究非常有限。2018年7月24—25日,凉水国家自然保护区发生以大到暴雨为主的连续降雨,日降雨量达到50—100 mm,造成较严重的破坏,属于极端降水事件(短时暴雨)级别。在凉水国家级自然保护区阔叶红松林内,分别于暴雨发生前期(7月19日—24日)、暴雨结束初期(7月29日—8月3日)和后期(8月4日—8月14日),采用陷阱法捕获地表甲虫,阐明短时暴雨对地表甲虫群落组成及多样性的影响。结果表明:此次实验共捕获650只、35种,地表甲虫群落、步甲科和隐翅虫科的个体数量在暴雨发生前期、暴雨结束初期和后期并没有显著差异,说明短时暴雨对上述群落个体数量没有显著影响,而葬甲科的个体数量在暴雨结束初期显著少于暴雨发生前期和暴雨结束后期。因土壤动物群落不同类群生活习性不同,短时暴雨对地表甲虫群落不同类群与优势种的影响各不相同。例如:优势种Pterostichus maoershanensis、Pterostichus adstrictus和Aulonocarabus canaliculatus暴雨结束初期的个体数量均显著少于暴雨发生前期的个体数量,优势种P.maoershanensis暴雨结束后期的个体数量极显著少于暴雨结束初期和暴雨发生前期,优势种Nicrophorus tenuipes暴雨结束初期的个体数量极显著少于暴雨发生前期。地表甲虫群落和步甲科在暴雨发生前期、暴雨结束初期和后期的的多样性指数(H′)和优势度指数(D)呈逐渐减少的趋势,步甲科暴雨结束后期的多样性指数(H′)、优势度指数(D)和均匀度指数(J)均显著少于暴雨发生前期(P0.05)。地表甲虫群落在暴雨结束初期和后期的beta多样性均显著高于暴雨发生前期,说明地表甲虫群落在暴雨结束初期和后期存在较高的群落物种替换,即暴雨导致地表甲虫群落较大的物种组成差异。本文表明,短时暴雨对小兴安岭凉水阔叶红松林的地表甲虫群落物种组成和多样性产生一定的影响,对群落不同类群及优势物种产生不同的影响,并导致地表甲虫群落在暴雨后较大的物种替换。     

四川蜂桶寨国家自然保护区地表甲虫物种多样性

在四川雅安蜂桶寨国家自然保护区（102°48′～103°18′ E,30°42′～30°54′ N）及其周边地区,就森林片段化和生态恢复程度的不同,选择4个代表地点,即位于保护区核心地带、以阔叶混交林为主的蜂桶寨天然林区（海拔1680～2080 m）,受到经济开发干扰但植被类型丰富的锅巴岩天然林区（海拔2 280～3 340 m）、以人工针叶林进行生态恢复的蚂蝗沟人工林区（海拔2430～2525 m）,以及森林高度片段化的双石镇农耕区（海拔870～1 165 m）,共设26块样地,以巴氏罐诱法为主研究地表甲虫的群落组成和多样性变化。本研究共采集甲虫标本 2.338 号,隐翅虫数量最多,占39.6%;步甲次之,占29.3%,拟步甲、象甲和叶甲的数量也各在5% 以上,它们共同构成该地区地表甲虫的优势类群。锅巴岩物种的个体数量和丰富度（S）以及多样性指数（H′）较高;蚂蝗沟均匀度指数（J）较高,丰富度较低;蜂桶寨天然林区个体数量较少;双石镇农耕区的多样性和均匀度指数较低。锅巴岩、蜂桶寨和蚂蝗沟间物种分布都有一定程度的相似性,但后两者相似性程度更高,双石镇物种分布与其他3个地点差异较大,这反映了不同地点间的生境异质性和森林植被片段化程度的差异。整个鞘翅目、隐翅虫科和步甲科的个体数量分布在针叶林内较多,在阔叶林内较少;拟步甲科的数量分布在高山灌丛内较多;叶甲科的数量分布在针叶林较多;象甲科除了竹林外,在其他植被内的数量均较多。在总体趋势上,随着海拔的升高,在蜂桶寨和锅巴岩两个邻近的天然林地点,整个鞘翅目以及优势甲虫类群的种类和个体数量也逐渐增多。比较蜂桶寨林区内的个体数量、丰富度和多样性指数,北坡均大于南坡。以上结果表明,物种多样性与海拔、坡向以及生境类型密切相关,森林片段化和生态恢复对物种多样性有显著的影响。因此,在改善森林片段化进行生态恢复时,采取合理措施,增加生境异质性,有助于提高该地区地表甲虫物种多样性。     

东灵山地区地表甲虫群落组成及季节变化

本文研究东灵山地区地表甲虫群落的物种组成和季节变化,取样选择在11种不同生境类型内,分别代表该地区的植被类型与环境变化。1999～2000年的野外取样共获得甲虫标本10874号,其中步甲、隐翅虫、叶甲、象甲、拟步甲、金龟和叩甲等7科的个体数量较多,合计占个体总数的83.36%,为该地区地表甲虫的优势类群。选择40个最常见物种统计种类和数量,对生境进行主成分分析排序（PCA）和系统聚类分析,可以将东灵山地区的11种生境类型划归为3类：即梨园岭退耕区的灌丛类型、小龙门林区的森林类型和东灵山主峰区的亚高山植被类型,梨园岭退耕区的辽东栎萌生丛被合并到小龙门林区森林植被类型中,反映了植被类型、海拔高度及受干扰程度可能是决定该地区地表甲虫群落组成和分布的主要因素。研究地表甲虫的季节变化发现其活动高峰多出现在6月和7月,而且在不同生境类型内,优势类群的组成和季节变化有很大差异;小龙门林区内数量分布高于梨园岭退耕区内的分布,尤其在落叶松林和阔叶混交林内的数量优势更加明显。如果按营养层次划分功能群,捕食性类群比例最高,植食性类群次之,腐食性类群最少,捕食性类群的季节活动曲线滞后于植食性类群的活动曲线。     

Comparison of coleopteran and spider communities between a reforested area and a still steppe area in a pre-Saharan region of Algeria

In the pre-Saharan region of Djelfa (Algeria), the coleopteran and spider communities are compared between two neighbouring ecosystems, the one kept as a steppe, the other one reforested with Aleppo pine. In three plots in each area, pitfall (Barber) traps were sampled monthly during one year and arthropods were identified and counted. Two thousand five hundred and fifty-seven individuals, distributed into 95 species, were collected, belonging to four coleopteran families (Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Tenebrionidae, and Curculionidae), and 14 spider families. The Tenebrionidae (43% of the species and 87% of the individuals) were clearly the most represented group of insects, numerically because of the considerable abundance of Pimelia mauritanica in the reforested area, where this species accounted for half the total number of catches. Among the spiders, the Gnaphosidae represented 40% of the individuals and one-third of the species. The total species richness of the two areas was the same, but, considering the total number of collected species, individual abundance and diversity indexes (Shannon, Simpson) were lower in the reforested zone. However, these parameters became fully comparable when excluding P. mauritanica from the calculations. Without P. mauritanica, numbers and species richness of Tenebrionidae were similar in both areas. Curculionidae had higher populations and higher species diversity in the steppe area, while Scarabeidae were equally abundant in the two ecosystems types. The number, the species richness, and the diversity indexes of Carabidae were much lower in the reforested area than in the steppe one. The opposite was observed with spiders. Nevertheless, more or less important variations in the number of individuals, in one or another direction depending on the species, existed among each taxonomic group. It is concluded that reforestation has not changed biological diversity, but has induced dramatic modifications in the organisation and functioning of the arthropod communities.     

A preliminary survey of ultraviolet reflectance in beetles

Ultraviolet reflectance is a widely distributed phenomenon among certain families of Coleoptera. It is so far found to occur in Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Buprestidae, Elateridae, Tenebrionidae, Cerambycidae, Anthribidae and Curculionidae. Of more than 100 species examined, 70 were found to possess UV reflectant structures. Reflection is almost always from pigments contained within microtrichia or other setae. In some Tenebrionidae and Buprestidae, dried secretions forming patches or stripes on the pronota and elytra are reflective and, in a few desert-living Tenebrionidae, reflectance is from subcuticular pigment in the elytra.     

Distribution of ground-dwelling beetles （Coleoptera） across a forest-clearcut ecotone in Wolong Natural Reserve, southwestern China

Abstract The influence of edge effect on ground-dwelling beetles (Coleoptera) across a forest-clearcut ecotone was studied in Wolong Natural Reserve, southwestern China. During the field research, a total of 30 739 beetles were collected with pitfall traps along transects, which extending 100 m from the edge into the forest interior and 100 m into the clearcut. Of the collection, Carabidae comprised 92%, Staphylinidae 3%, Curculionidae 2%, and Tenebrionidae 2%, and these four families can be considered as abundant groups. Family richness, Shannon diversity and equitability display a significant decrease from forest interior, edge to clearcut. Based on the family composition and abundance, ground-dwelling beetles of the forest interior can be separated from those in the clearcut by Principal coordinate analysis ordination, and beetle assemblages in the forest edge were more similar to forest assemblages than to those found in the clearcut by cluster analysis. Seasonal dynamics of family richness showed a monotone peak in the middle season, with a highest value in the forest interior and a lowest value in the clearcut. Family abundance showed two peaks in the middle season, always with more individuals in the clearcut than in the forest interior or in the edge. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the cover of shrub and litter were the two most important factors in determining family richness, Shannon diversity, equitability and abundance. Our results show that the forest edge and clearcut have obviously different composition and diversity of ground-dwelling beetles from forest interior at the family level. However, more edges have been formed due to increasing forest fragmentation (clearcutting or logging), so it is necessary to preserve large and intact forest to protect the diversity of ground-dwelling beetles in Wolong Natural Reserve.     

Impact of reindeer grazing on ground-dwelling Carabidae and Curculionidae assemblages in Lapland

Reindeer Rangifer tarandus L. grazing shapes forest vegetation, microclimate, and soil respiration in Lapland, especially due to grazing on lichens (Cladina). We studied how these changes and their magnitude affect ground‐dwelling species of beetle families Carabidae (predators) and Curculionidae (herbivores), by using pitfall traps to collect invertebrates from pairs of grazed and ungrazed study plots over a wide range of site types. Changes in abundance, composition, richness and diversity of beetle assemblage were tested in relation to magnitude of the impacts on vegetation. The species compositions of Carabidae and Curculionidae differed between grazed and ungrazed plots in all sites. The relative difference between grazed and ungrazed plots in the number of individuals increased linearly with the impact of reindeer on vegetation cover. Carabid beetles, as a family, were more common in grazed plots in all sites. Curculionid beetles were more common in ungrazed plots in the birch dominated sites. This difference was mainly due to the species that feeds on deciduous leaves. In the pine dominated sites with high Cladina cover and more changes in ground vegetation, the number of curculionids feeding on conifers was higher in grazed plots. Species richness and diversity (H’) of both families were higher in grazed plots. Of the total 27 species, 11 were found only in grazed plots, while not a single species was found only in ungrazed plots. The relative difference between plots in diversity and evennes (H’/H'max) had humped response to the difference in Cladina cover. The diversity values were greater in grazed plots at the intermediate levels of grazing impact, and only in sites with very low or extremely high Cladina cover difference was the diversity higher in ungrazed plots. The response of beetle diversity resembled the hypotheses suggested for the relationship between grazing and vegetation diversity: greatest positive effect at intermediate grazing intensity and negative effects at unproductive sites.     

Analysis of the ways of formation of the entomofaunistic complexes in the Northwest Caucasus based on the material on coleopterous insects (Coleoptera)

By the example of 14 coleopterous insect families, namely Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae, Carabidae, Hydrophilidae, Staphylinidae, Lucanidae, Trogidae, Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, Alleculidae, Tenebrionidae, and Chrysomelidae, regularities and the basic sources of formation of the most typical landscapecoenotic complexes in the Northwest Caucasus are discussed. The total number of the species included in the material analyzed amounts to about 2000. The maximal species diversity (854 species) is registered for the deciduous forests and dry open woodlands. In total, 11 types of the chorological complexes and distributional ranges (chorotypes) of the regional beetle fauna are distinguished. Significant concordance of the chorologic patterns in some groups of beetles is established. In this respect, Carabidae and Tenebrionoidea seem to be the closest on the one hand, and also Elateridae and Scarabaeoidea, on the other. The zonal fauna of the Northwest Caucasus is formed basically by species possessing Boreal ranges, while the azonal fauna, predominantly by species with the Ancient Mediterranean ranges. Allocation of coleopterous insects within regional zoochorones is investigated as well. It is established, that in different zoochorones of the upland part of the region the majority of coenofaunas show significant similarity of the arealogical pattern, even though being composed frequently by different taxa. The fauna of agrarian landscapes of the Northwest Caucasus is also examined. It includes 382 beetle species. The overwhelming majority of them belongs to the ground beetles (229 species), leaf beetles (78), and Scarabaeoidea (30). This fauna reveals the maximal similarity with the coenofaunas of the lowland steppe and meadows. It is established that the major role in formation of the agrocenoses beetle fauna belongs to the natural plain and upland steppe and treeless fields, foothill broad-leaf forests and open woodlands, and also to the floodplain and lowland forests. The bulk of the species occurring in the agrocenoses possesses wide ranges, predominantly of the Boreal type. Some peculiarities of the regional endemism are discussed as well.