Morphometric differences in ground beetle populations in managed and natural habitats
Morphometric differences in ground beetle populations in managed and natural habitats

Summary/Abstract: The impacts of anthropogenic activity and environmental factors on ecosystems are also reflected in the morphometric variable of ground beetles, based on which we can determine the state of habitat quality. During 2020–2022, we recorded 1,304 individuals belonging to 24 species of ground beetles in forest habitats located in an agrarian landscape and the Dunajské Luhy Protected Landscape Area (important European habitats), using pitfall traps. For each individual, we measured the following morphometric characters: head length, head width, pronotum length, pronotum width, right elytra, and left elytra. Using PCA analysis, we confirmed the connection of morphometric characters to study areas belonging to the Dunajské Luhy Protected Landscape Area. Based on the flight ability of ground beetles under different land use conditions, we found that morphometric variability is greater in agrarian landscape conditions compared to the Dunajské Luhy Protected Landscape Area. In habitats exposed to higher anthropogenic impact, ground beetles do not have their food optimum, and there is greater variability in morphometric characters. On the contrary, the habitats in the Dunajské Luhy Protected Landscape Area provided sufficient food supply and a stable environment, so the variability was lower. We also found higher median values in this area, which indicates larger individuals compared to habitats in the agrarian landscape. For the preservation of habitats of European importance, it is important to determine the interactions between the ecosystem and species from the Carabidae family, which are important bioindicators of the environment.

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