Spring distribution of beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in abandoned agroecosystems and surrounding forests

Abstract

In most habitats in temperate zones, Carabidae show clear intra-annual changes in abundance and species composition. In the spring, we studied the beetle fauna in 5 different biotopes differing in the degree of overgrowth of the birch forest over a period of three years. According to three years of research, 10,528 specimens (64 species from 6 subfamilies) were collected. Twelve species of beetles were found in all biotopes. The highest numbers were obtained in the 12-15-year birch forest; the lowest numbers were obtained in abandoned lands. The highest biodiversity was obtained in the ecotone at the border of young birch forest and fallow lands. A high Shannon Biodiversity Index and a low Simpson Index indicate that the communities of beetles in the abandoned lands are equalized. There is a significant dominance of 1–3 species in fallow lands overgrown with birch forests.