Abundance fluctuations and habitat changes of soil beetles in central amazonian inundation forests (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Staphylinidae)+

Abstract

During the emersion phase of the years 1971/72 in three different inundation forests of Central‐Amazonia the carbid and staphylinid fauna was studied. The three inundation forests were: (1) a site in the white water area of the Rio Solim[otilde]es (Ilha de Curarí), (2) a site in a mixed water area (Lago Janauarí) and in the black water area of the Rio Tarumã Mirím. The “dominant”; species of the two mentioned families of Coleoptera were studied according to the abundance fluctuations and habitat change, by both the formalin pitfall trap method and the direct sampling method. The observed species are classified in six different groups each representing a different inhabiting mode: