ECOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES OF THE FAMILY CHOLEVIDAE (COLEOPTERA) IN THE CANTABRIAN MOUNTAINS OF NORTHWEST SPAIN

We investigated ecological correlates of the distribution of species o f the Cholevidae in the Cantabrian Mountains in northwest Spain. Withi n the study region, the probability of occurrence of most species appe ars to be influenced mainly by environmental factors which vary on a l ocal rather than regional scale, although some species showed certain affinity for particular altitude ranges. Soil water content, ground-le vel insolation and detritus availability appear to be important local- scale determinants of the distribution of many of the species studied.