Seasonal dynamics of geobiont arthropods in mountainous spruce forests with a special emphasis on beetles (Coleoptera)

Abstract

Eclosion phenology of beetles (Coleoptera) was studied using soil photoeclectors (POT) at 3 study sites along the Tichá dolina valley, the Vysoké Tatry Mts (Slovakia). In the vegetation period 2008 (144 days), the average abundance of arthropods reached the value of 2,763 ex. m –2 . Arthropods were represented by 24 orders, including dominant Diptera (30.0%), Hymenoptera (11.5%) and Araneae (11.7%). The community of Coleoptera (7.6%) included 145 species of 29 families and culminated in June at all the study sites, varying between 181 and 1,016 ex. m –2 . The main goal of the project was to analyse changes in seasonal dynamics of geobiont arthropods, particularly beetles (Coleoptera).