Taxonomic and Ecological Analysis of the Fauna of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the Lower Zarafshan (Uzbekistan)
Abstract
The taxonomic composition and ecological-faunistic characteristics of the fauna of ground beetles in the lower reaches of the Zarafshan River were analyzed. 43 species of ground beetles belonging to 28 genera, 19 tribes and 9 subfamilies were identified. The dominant species are Calathus ambiguus (20.21%), Machozetus lehmanni (17.44%), Harpalus distinguendus (16.23%), Scarites bucida (7.6%) and Machozetus concinnus (5.35%), while the subdominant – Scarites terricola (4.32%) Megacephala euphratica (3.97%), Amara aenea (2.94%), Amara ovata (2.25%) and Harpulus rubripes (2.07%). The composition of the carabid fauna consists of two ecologically sharply different species complexes: xerophiles (inhabiting desert biotopes) and mesohygrophiles (inhabiting agrcenoses). Syntomus obscuroguttatus, Harpalus affinis, and Scarites subcylindricus were noted for the fauna of Uzbekistan for the first time.