Variability of the Community Structure and Morphometric Parameters of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) under an Anthropogenic Impact Gradient

Abstract—Carabid communities were studied in the industrial, residential, and recreation zones of a major industrial center (Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan). In total, 31 species have been identified; the highest species diversity (23 species) and abundance were noted in the recreation zone. Similar species Carabus cancellatus Illiger, 1798, Pterostichus niger Schaller, 1783, and Pterostichus oblongopunctatus Fabricius, 1787 predominate in the industrial and recreation zones; while Pterostichus versicolor Sturm, 1824, was dominant in the residential zone. The dynamic density of ground beetles in the industrial, residential, and recreation zones is 12.1, 7.5, and 16.4 ind./10 trap-nights, respectively. Discriminant analysis has identified significant differences between the recreation zone and the two other zones in the community structure and dynamic density of ground beetles. Multivariate analysis has identified differences between ground beetle communities inhabiting coniferous forests on the one hand and communities inhabiting deciduous forests and meadows on the other hand. In addition, urbanization affects the morphometric structure of ground beetle populations. Two species, Pterostichus melanarius Ill., 1798 and P. niger, have been selected for morphometric analysis because they are included as model species in the project “Morphometric Variation in Ground Beetles” on Research Gate. The body size of P. melanarius individuals in the recreation zone is smaller in comparison with those of the industrial zone. No differences in the morphometric structure were identified between populations of this species inhabiting the zones studied. The body size of P. niger increases from the industrial to the recreation zone. The morphometric structure of P. niger populations is similar in the residential and recreation zones and significantly different in the industrial zone. Parameters such as the pronotum width and the distance between eyes make the greatest contribution to the discrimination.