University of Zagreb. Faculty of Science. Department of Biology.
Abstract
Trčci (Coleoptera, Carabidae) su istraživani metodom lovnih posuda u Dinarsko bukovo-jelovim šumama (as. Omphalodo-Fagetum) na području prašume Čorkova uvala (NP Plitvička jezera) i u gospodarenoj šumi (Gorski kotar) tijekom dvogodišnjeg istraživanja. Ukupno je sakupljeno 14 367 jedinki trčaka koje pripadaju u 38 vrsta. Raznolikost trčaka je značajno veća u prašumi nego li u gospodarenoj šumi, dok je obrnuti trend uočen za brojnost jedinki trčaka. Veća brojnost jedinki u gospodarenoj šumi je prvenstveno uvjetovana dominacijom vrste Nebria dahlii. Prema analizi nemetričkog multidimenzionalnog skaliranja sastav zajednica trčaka prašume i gospodarene šume pokazuje međusobno visok stupanj sličnosti. Analiza ekoloških preferencija vrsta nije pokazala statistički značajne razlike između istraživanih šumskih sastojina. Međutim, analiza morfolških značajki, ponajprije veličine tijela, pokazala se kao koristan alat u detektiranju promjena u istraživanim šumskim sastojinama. Naime, u prašumi prevladavaju velike vrste trčaka, što je utjecalo i na razlike u vrijednostima indeksa srednje individualne biomase trčaka (MIB-a) koji je bio značajno veći u prašumi. Razlike u indeksu srednje vrijednosti individualne biomase trčaka (MIB-u) ukazuju na promjene u strukturi zajednice trčaka između istraživanih šuma.Carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) were studied by pitfall traps in the Dinaric beech-fir forests (as. Omphalodo-Fagetum) in the Čorkova uvala virgin forest (NP Plitvice Lakes) and in the managed forest (Gorski kotar) during two years. A total of 14 367 individuals belonging to 38 species were collected. Diversity was significantly higher in the virgin forest than in the managed forest, while oposit pattern was detected for carabid beetle activity density. High activity density in the managed forest was primarly caused by extremely high abundance of Nebria dahlii. The nonmetric multidimensional scaling showed high similarity of carabid beetle assemblages between virgin and managed forests. The life-history traits analysis of species showed no significant difference between studied forests. However, analysis of morphological traits, especially body sizes, appeared to be appropriate tool for detecting changes in carabid beetle assamblages between studied forests. Furthermore, large sized carabid beetles prevail in the virgin forest. Therefore, the values of mean individual biomass were significantly higher in the virgin forest than in the managed forest. These differences imply on changes in carabid beetle assemblages between studied forests
