Influence of post-fire successional gradients in Pinus brutia forests on ground beetle community changes

Fire is a common disturbance factor in Mediterranean ecosystems. It is a very spectacular ecological force because it destroys ecosystems in a very short time. Insect groups are commonly used as indicators to evaluate habitat changes after disturbances. In this study, the successional changes were evaluated by the composition of ground beetles communities in East Mediterranean pine forests. Ground beetle fauna was investigated using pit-fall traps at 17 sampling sites in Pinus brutia forests burned in different times. Plant species richness, vegetation and surface characteristics were measured as microhabitat variables in the study sites and the relationships between ground beetle abundance and microhabitat variables were estimated with Pearson Correlation Analysis. As a result, it was determined that recolonization of ground beetle communities did not occur in early successional stages. In the sites burned 9, 16 and 26 years ago, that represent middle and late successional stages, the abundance and species richness of Carabidae were higher and then decrease again in mature pine forest. The relationships between microhabitat parameters and Carabidae abundance were estimated and changes of ground beetle communities depending on microhabitat structure were not determined.   Key words: Carabidae, disturbance, Mediterranean, succession, fire.