Ecological Structure of the Carabidae complex (Coleoptera) from the Sarnena Sredna Gora Mts., Bulgaria

On the basis of material collected during field trips in the Sarnena Sredna Gora Mts. in 2018–2020, and the available bibliographic data, we completed a list of 175 species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), belonging to 59 genera and 21 tribes. During the field work we collected 7961 specimens from 164 species. This study aimed at analyzing the ecological structure of the carabid fauna. The dominant structure was characteristic with the presence of 1 eudominant numbering 11% of all specimens (Laemostenus cimmerius), 5 dominants (32%), 6 subdominants (22%), 12 recedents (23%) and 82 subrecedents (12%). Analysis of the life forms showed a predominance of the zoophages (107 species, 61%) over the mixophytophages (68 species, 39%). Similar ratio (65: 35%) is mostly approaching to the typical for the forest-steppe zones of Eurasia. Humidity preferences analysis showed the larger share of the mesophilous and mesoxerophilous carabids. The macropterous carabids were 57% of all species. All dominant mountain forest species are wingless. The results suggest a well-differentiated and preserved forest carabid fauna and carabid coenosis, with a typical mountain zoning, consisting in distinguishing between typical montane forest carabids and species characteristic of all types of deciduous forests. Established forest species have a relatively high density and a high level of evenness, characteristics of the climax or near-climax forest communities.