SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF CARABID BEETLES ON ZEHLAU BOG

Zehlau Bog (Kaliningrad region) is a West Baltie plateau bog, with large areas in pristine ecological condition. In 1994, the carabid fauna was studied by pitfall trapping at seven bog sites and one additional site in a bordering linden forest. Out of 36 species found, 14 were classified as indigenous bog breeders, whereof 98% of specimens belonged to only three species. The low number of species, the composition of the assemblage, and the spatial distribution of species reveal that ombro- and oligotrophic bog habitats , offer a rather extreme environment for carabid beetles. This is particularly true for ground-living arthropods; vegetation dwellers seem to be less affected by adverse conditions.Based on a comparison with old sampling data from the 1920th, no long term changes in the composition of the Zehlau carabid assemblage were found. The recent composition of the carabid fauna indicates that, in spite of local damages by drainage and fires, huge parts of the bog are still in a pristine ecological condition. Zehlau Bog should be ranked highly as an object for conservation.