Environmental parameters and microspatial distribution of insects: a case study of carabids in an alluvial forest

摘要: The microspatial distribution of carabid beetles in a pristine alluvial Quercus-Ulmus forest along the river Elbe (north Germany) was investigated using 152 pitfall traps over study period 28 d. Traps were set an area only 100 x 120 m which comprised wide range microhabitats due to extremely heterogeneous microrelief. Composition ground beetle assemblage strongly influenced by microclimatic parameters and vegetation structure within few metres: specifically soil moisture, light intensity, pH as well cover leaf litter herbs. TWINSPAN analyses indicated sensitive segregation carabids into distinct on small scale. PCA subsequent RDA distinguished two species groups: wet deciduous woodland open marsh habitats. fringes temporary waters particular value for nature conservation, providing habitat high number rare species. Although there shift composition time assemblages reorganised spatially, main environmental governing community remained same discriminant analyses, namely intensity.