ECOSOCIOLOGICAL RELATIONS OF GROUNDBEETLE COMMUNITIES IN SEVERAL OAK FORESTS OF WESTERN SPAIN (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE)

In 1990, the activity of Groundbeetle communities was studied for 6 mo nths in 4 experimental oak forests (Quercus spec) in the 'Sierra de Ga ta' mountains (Province of Salamanca) and another additional plot clos e to Salamanca city (Monovela). Using pitfall traps, a total of 3620 b eetles belonging to 42 species were collected, which were divided out in 2 groups, 'frequent species' and 'less frequent species'. The relat ionships between these species and the characteristics of the area wer e established by using selected indexes. A faunistic and phenological analysis and the colonization of the different plots, emphasizing that some species of the genus Calathus Bonelli 1810 showed a clear prefer ence for oak forests were also achieved.