Influence of Postflood Hydrologic Conditions in the Kuibyshev Reservoir on Coastal Communities of Ground Beetles (COLEOPTERA,CARABIDAE)

Long-term stationary investigations on the islands of the Kuibyshev Reservoir have revealed one of the elements of adaptation of communities of ground beetles to extreme conditions created by prolonged floods. In contrast to hydrologic conditions in the reservoir during the flood, small fluctuations in the water level in summer and autumn have a favorable effect on the community of ground beetles of flooded stations, which are actively repopulated after floodwater recession. Under conditions of the heterogeneous environment created in such areas, different species establish relationships that promote their coexistence.