The Distribution of carabid, staphylinid and phytophagous beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages on the north-east England coast

A total of 54 sites were sampled with pitfall traps in order to investigate the distribution of beetle assemblages along the coast of north-east England. Within classifications of carabid, staphylinid and phytophagous beetles, the species assemblages on saltmarsh sites differed considerably from those on dunes and slacks and had far fewer species. The other important variables affecting the distribution of assemblages were soil water and vegetation cover for carabid and phytophagous beetles but only vegetation cover for staphylinids. It is likely that sea level rise on the east coast of England would change species-rich dune slack and low-lying farmland habitats into species-poor saltmarsh-type habitats, with a considerable change in species assemblage composition. This may have implications for coastal site restoration.