Family of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Arctic fauna. Report 1

Ground beetles are attributed to the insects that successfully occupied tundra landscapes. Their percentage in the tundra coleopteran fauna is much higher than in other natural zones. About 90 species are registered in Eurasian tundra and 170 ones in tundra and forest tundra taken together. The potential composition of the Arctic carabid fauna is estimated at 230-300 species that is 0.6-0.8% of the total family species richness. Up to date, the number of arctic species proper has not been determined, but in any case, their number is not less than 35. The list of arctic and close to arctic species of the palaeoarctic part of them includes 67 ground beetles. The northern boundary of the family range almost coincides with an latitude of 76 degrees N. In polar deserts ground beetles are absent. The number of species in specific faunas within tundra is tightly related to the mean July temperature. A set of life forms is characterized by the absence of specialized types, small number of geobionts and a relatively high share of epigeobionts. Typical carnivorous and some polythrophic species, capable of phytophagy, are widespread in the tundra. Specific features of latitudinal zonal and meridional distribution of carabids in the tundra zone are discussed.