Body mass distributions along successional gradients in epigeic carabid beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Background and purpose: Body mass distributions may be related to the stage of succession of a habitat and provide with information for assessing successional processes. Therefore, body mass distributions of carabid assemblages were studied in three research areas, which were post-industrial areas near the city of Bełchatów (Central Poland) planted with different tree and shrub species, moist and wet forest stands in the Puszcza Knyszyńska forest (Northeastern Poland), and beech stands in the Ruhr valley (Western Germany) in order to analyze the changes in body mass distributions within single assemblages along successional gradients. Materials and Methods: For each carabid assemblage, the mean individual biomass (MIB) as well as MIB standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated. SD and CV were plotted against the age of study sites and MIB values, respectively. Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVA) were carried out with SD and CV as dependent variables and the age of study sites and MIB as covariates. Results: SD was low at young stages of succession, but increased rapidly and plateaued at advanced stages in beech but not in wet forest stands. Accordingly, CV was low at very young stages of succession, showing a rapid increase and subsequent decrease in the beech stands, whereas in the wet stands it stayed on a constant level. ANCOVA revealed significant differences in SD and CV between the research areas and significant changes with age or MIB, but, with the exception of CV as dependent variable and MIB as covariate, interactions were also significant. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that data on body mass distributions within single carabid assemblages may be useful in the assessment and comparison of successional stages and processes between different habitat types.