Morphological variability of Bembidion minimum (Coleoptera, Carabidae) populations under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors
Morphological variability of Bembidion minimum (Coleoptera, Carabidae) populations under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors

Summary/Abstract: Morphological variability is the result of interaction between genetic diversity of the population and environmental selection. Despite the large number of studies of morphological variability of ground beetles, there is very little research dedicated to influence of environmental factors on it. This article discusses the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on the variability of Bembidion minimum (Fabricius, 1792). B. minimum is a West Palearctic species which is distributed in North Africa, Europe, Western Asia. It is a macropterous species that lives in humid biotopes along the shores of seas, rivers and standing water bodies. 410 specimens were collected from 12 ecosystems differing by plant cover, degree of litter development, mechanical composition of the soil, mineralization and acidity of soil solution, type and intensity of anthropogenic impact. 13 linear characteristics, one angular characteristic, density of elytra puncturing and contrast of spots on the beetles’ elytra were measured. Additionally 6 morphometric indices were calculated. More than a third of the variability of imagoes in the studied populations was found to be determined by the general body size. Sexual dimorphism was observed on all linear parameters and most morphometric indices. Females do not differ from males in the back angles of the prothorax. Natural and anthropogenic factors to a greater or lesser degree were shown to affect the morphological variability of B. minimum: soil acidity and mineralization have the greatest impact.

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