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(78-03) Ground beetle community responses to heavy metal pollution. Skalski, Tomasz*,1, Kramarz, Paulina2, Laskowski, Ryszard2, Stone, David3, 1 Department of Entomology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, Kraków, Poland2 Department of Ecotoxicology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, Kraków, Poland3 Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, 1007 ALS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA ABSTRACT- The effects of heavy metal contamination on ground beetle abundance and community composition were investigated at five sites located along a pollution gradient caused by zinc-and-lead industry in southern Poland. Concentrations of the main pollutant, Zn, in humus layer along the gradient ranged from ca. 150 mg kg-1 at the reference site (32 km from the pollution source) to 10,500 mg kg-1 at the most polluted site. The general species composition, as analyzed by Principal Component Analysis, did not show clear differences between sites that might be linked directly to the pollution level. Instead, soil habitat moisture was found as a factor important for species composition. However, species abundance and richness decreased significantly with increasing pollution level. Although species diversity (McIntosh index) also generally decreased with increasing metal concentration, the trend was not that clear as for the abundance and richness. We hypothesize that this may be caused by site-specific interspecies competition and niche overlap. Autumn-breeders appeared more sensitive to pollution that spring-breeders. We assume that this may be caused by differences in life-history patterns, with spring-breeders with very short larval stage and relatively long adult life throughout the growing season. Key words: Carabidae, community structure, heavy metals |
