Assemblages of Carabidae in a forest peat bog reserve situated in an urban agglomeration

The paper discusses the species composition and structure of ground beetles (Col., Carabidae) assemblages inhabiting different areas in "Mszar" peat bog reserve. The discussion is followed by an evaluation of the natural condition of this habitat. The observations were carried out in 2006−2007 and comprised three different areas of "Mszar" peat bog reserve: birch forest on lowland peat bog, mixed forest on peat soils and spruce stand inside wet mixed forest. Carabid beetles were captured in modified pitfall (Barber) traps. An ecological analysis of carabids was worked out on the basis of their geographical distribution, foraging, habitat and moisture demands and type of development. It was found out that the assemblages of ground beetles living in the peat bog reserve, in terms of species diversity, were similar to those in other peat bogs in north−eastern Poland and north−western Belarus. The species composition, structure of dominance classes and lack of stenobiotic peat bog species, however, may indicate that the state of equilibrium in "Mszar" peat bog reserve has been distrubed. The reasons could involve increasing man−made pressure (roads, tourist trails and a wastewater treatment plant in close vicinity)