Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 83. (Budapest 1991)

Báldi, A. ; Ádám, L.: Habitat selection of ground-dwelling beetles during dolomitic succession

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Tomus 83. Budapest, 1991 p. 245-251. Habitat selection of ground-dwelling beetles during dolomitic succession by A. BÁLDI & L. ÁDÁM, Budapest BÁLDI, A. & ÁDÁM, L.: Habitat selection of ground-dwelling beetles during dolomitic succession. - Annls hist-nat Mus. natn. hung. 1991,83:000000. Abstract - Changes of habitat fidelity and habitat selection indices, based on the indices developed by BUSE (1988), were studied on beetles of different successional stages in the Buda Hills, near Budapest, Hungary. Habitat selection of beetle species ranged from habitat specialists to habitat generalists, but it did not show any trends along the successional gradient. There were differences in mean habitat fidelity among the beetles of different feeding types. In the present study, temporal changes of habitat selection depended on the overwintering strategies and the feeding claims of the species. With 3 tables and 2 figures. INTRODUCTION The role of habitat in the distribution of species is one of the basic problems in ecology (e.g. MACARTHUR 1972, CODY 1985). Description of the occurrence of beetle (Coleoptera) species in different habitats has a long history (FABRICIUS 1801, KUTHY 1896). THIELE (1977) reviewed the distributions of carabid species in relation to habitat. Recently studies designated to investigate the ecological relationships between habitat characteristics and beetle populations (BUSE 1988). The aim of this study is to investigate the differences of habitat fidelity among ground-dwelling beetle species, and to study temporal changes of it in different stages of dolomitic succession in Hungary. STUDY AREA AND METHODS The study site is situated near Budapest in the Buda Hills (47° 35' N, 18° 90' E) in Hungary. The rock was dolomite in the study area. We selected four study sites reflecting to the most typical phases of dolomitic succession. The plant associations were ranged according to JAKUCS (1981). I. Open dolomitic grassland (Seseli leucospermo-Festucetum pallentis). The plant cover is not complete, the grass/rock ratio is about 50% - 50%. II. Dolomitic steppe meadow (Chrysopogono-Caricetum humilis). The plant cover is almost closed, the grass/rock ratio is about 95% - 5%. This area situated on the southern side of hill. III. Closed dolomitic grassland (Festuco pallenti-Brometum pannoniéi). The area is totally covered with vegetation, and situated on a northern slope. IV. Sessile-turkey oak forest (Quercetum petraeae-cerris). The trees are not too high (1015 m), because of the shallow soil.