Family of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the Arctic Fauna: Communication 2

• Main Authors: Yu. I. Chernov, K. V. Makarov, P. K. Eremin
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2000
• Subjects: Arctic; Tundra
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.625.3274; http://www.zin.ru/Animalia/Coleoptera/pdf/chernov_makarov_2.pdf

Abstract—The Arctic fauna of ground beetles includes 25–27 genera belonging to about 20 tribes, most of which are represented by 1–2 genera. Many genera and taxa of the higher rank, constituting a significant part of the Holarctic fauna, are absent from Arctic. As in other insect groups, the number of Arctic species in a given taxon shows no direct relationship with the total species number in this taxon. Small genera constitute an essential part of the Arctic ground beetle fauna. A review of the species diversity of tribes and genera constituting the Arctic carabid fauna is presented. The Mountain Siberian, tundra-steppe, and intrazonal hygrophilous complexes are character-ized. The family does not contain hyperarctic forms; 2–3 euarctic, about 15 hemiarctic, and 20 hypoarctic forms can be distinguished. The general trend of increasing number of taxa from the basal part of the family’s phyloge-netic scheme and number of groups and species with some primitive and plesiomorphic features is noted. In the first communication (Chernov et al., 2000), we discussed the specific diversity of ground beetles and latitudinal limits of their distribution in the Arctic in relation to the landscape and climatic conditions, ecological composition of the fauna, etc. This analysis was primarily based on the available literature (mostly concerning the Eurasian Arctic sector), results of the authors ’ field work, and the collection material. The present communication is devoted to analysis of the taxonomic structure of ground beetle fauna in the Arctic and to some aspects of the formation of this fauna in the tundra zone. Number of Representatives and Species Composition of Higher Taxa The Arctic ground beetle fauna includes about 25–27 genera belonging to nearly 20 tribes. Most tribes are represented by only one or two genera: