Body size and shape variation in Ground Beetle Carabus aeruginosus F.-W., 1822 (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Abstract

Morphometric variation in Ground Beetle Carabus aeruginosus F.-W. was studied. Beetles were sampled in different habitats in the gradient of disturbance: Kemerovo city, its suburbs and natural biotopes outside the city. We used multidimensional statistics (linear models, PCA and MDS) to show that all environmental factors (anthropogenic press, biotope vegetation) contributed significantly into the beetles body size variation. Various responses of males and females to the environmental factors led to the sexual size dimorphism. The value of the latter was the highest in the meadows and the lowest in urban habitats. Sexual shape dimorphism was recorded in Carabus aeruginosus also.