Family of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the arctic fauna: communication 1

摘要

Ground beetles are a group of insects most successfully occupying tundra landscapes. Their share in the fauna of Coleoptera is much higher in tundra, than in other natural zones. In Eurasia, about 90 carabid species have been recorded from tundra and about 170 from the tundra and forest-tundra combined. The potential carabid fauna of the whole Arctic in the broadest limits is estimated to comprise 240-300 species, which constitutes 0.6-0.8 percent of the total number of species in this family. Thenumber of proper arctic species cannot be precisely determined as yet, but it is in any case no less than 35. The list of arctic, and tending to Eurasian Arctic, ground beetles includes 67 species. The northern limit of the family distribution almost coincides with the latitude 76 deg N. Ground beetles are absent from polar deserts. The number of species in local faunas within the tundra zone is closely correlated with the average July temperature. The spectrum of life forms is characterized by the absence of specialized types, small number of geobionts, and relatively high share of epigeobionts. Typical carnivorot, s and some polyphagous species capable of phytophagy appeared to be most successful in tundra conditions. Specific features of the latitudinal (zonal) and meridional (sectoral) distribution of carabids in the tundra zone are discussed.