Mortality pattern and age structure in two carabid populations with different seasonal life cycles

Abstract

Summary Adult populations of two carabid species, a spring breeder, Carabus yaconinus, and an autumn breeder, Leptocarabus kumagaii, were studied in a lowland habitat (area: 16,500 m2) by pitfall sampling and mark‐recapture method. The seasonal change in population number, age structure and mortality pattern were clarified and related to their seasonal life cycles. The survival rate of new adults from emergence to the first reproductive season was on the average 48% in C. yaconinus and 55% in L. kumagaii. In C. yaconinus, beetles which emerged later in the season survived more to the first reproductive season than those emerged earlier. C. yaconinus which had survived the pre‐reproductive period mostly died out during the first reproductive season of 5 months, and about 8% survived until the second season. In L. kumagaii which had a short reproductive period in autumn, about 20% survived to the second reproductive season, and a small proportion even to the third reproductive season. Accordingly, the proportion of old beetles in the reproductive population was higher in L. kumagaii than in C. yaconinus. The reproductive population of C. yaconinus contained on the average 1600 beetles and produced 3300 new adults. the L. kumagaii population contained on the average about 530 reproductives in autumn, and about 820 beetles emerged in the following year. The recruitment rate of new adults of C. yaconinus was higher than that of L. kumagaii, and this resulted in its higher population density. In L. kumagaii, however, the high adult survivorship and iteroparous reproduction were important for its population growth. Relationship between seasonal adaptation and demographic strategies in the carabid populations were discussed.