Change of Ellipsoid Biovolume (EV) of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) along an Urban–Suburban–Rural Gradient of Central Slovakia

Vladimír Langraf,Janka Schlarmannová,Stanislav David,Ramona Babosová,Kornélia Petrovičová

doi:10.3390/d12120475

Vladimír Langraf, Janka Schlarmannová + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/d12120475

Copy DOI

Abstract

Changes in the structure of ground beetle communities indicate environmental stability or instability influenced by, e.g., urbanization, agriculture, and forestry. It can affect flight capability and ellipsoid biovolume (EV) of ground beetles. Therefore, we analyzed ground beetles in various habitats. In the course of the period from 2015 to 2017, we recorded in pitfall traps 2379 individuals (1030 males and 1349 females) belonging to 52 species at six localities (two rural, two suburban, two urban). We observed the decrease in the average EV value and morphometric characters (length, height, and width of the body) of ground beetles in the direction of the rural–suburban–urban gradient. Our results also suggest a decrease in EV of apterous and brachypterous species and an increase in macropterous species in the urban and suburban landscapes near agricultural fields. The increasing EV of apterous and brachypterous species and the decreasing of macropterous species was observed in rural landscape conditions with not continuous cover forestry and partial forest management. The creation of habitat fragments in urbanized conditions is key to maintaining the average EV in apterous and brachypterous species in urban and suburban landscapes.

Highlights

The epigenous invertebrate groups are influenced by changes in habitat conditions, e.g., spiders or beetles very quickly react to the changed requirements by modification in the structure of their assemblages [1,2]
We evaluate the changes in body size ellipsoid biovolume (EV) and flight capability of ground beetles along the rural–suburban–urban gradient of Central Slovakia
Dominant representation in the suburban landscape was in macropterous species 74%, and brachypterous species accounted for 16% and apterous species 10%

Summary

Introduction

The epigenous invertebrate groups are influenced by changes in habitat conditions, e.g., spiders or beetles very quickly react to the changed requirements by modification in the structure of their assemblages [1,2]. The spatial distribution of ground beetles is important for assessing the potential impacts of environmental change [3]. The dynamics and structure of species populations are affected by morphometric changes caused by environmental factors. Specific reactions of species communities and body size in the population are related to the characteristics of the urban landscape and changes in the environment [4,5,6,7,8]. The advantage comes from a good knowledge of the ecological requirements of species inhabiting different types of habitats. Ground beetles are sensitive to various environmental disturbances, such as toxic substances (pesticides), changes in soil pH and moisture [10,11], urbanization [12], and habitat types [13].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion