HABITAT SELECTION OF CARABID BEETLE IN DECIDUOUS WOODLANDS OF SOUTHERN BELGIUM

Samples of carabid beetles were collected monthly between April and Oc tober 1986 in 68 deciduous woodlands selected on the basis of their ve getation composition and their geographical locality. Habitat selectio n patterns of the woodland carabid fauna were determined by a two-step procedure: (1) multivariate analysis of species abundance in each sam pling site and (2) measurement of relations between carabid abundance and environmental descriptors. Results show the main influences on woo dland carabid distribution to be soil water holding capacity, soil tro phic status and soil acidity. Carabid abundance is also related to the vegetation. The two-step procedure allows the detection of habitat se lection patterns at the community level. It emphazises the need of eco physiological studies to relate these patterns to relevant biological processes.