The dissertation considers the features of the taxonomic, ecomorphic and zoogeographic structure of rove beetles communities (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in the forest ecosystems of the Gorgany mountainous massif. In the analyzed ecosystems, 76 species of Staphylinidae were revealed, which belong to 13 subfamilies. The highest level of species diversity is typical for such subfamilies: Staphylininae and Tachyporinae, numbering respectively in 31 and 15 species. It has been established that the groupings of predator beetles differ in uneven species composition under the conditions of ecosystems analyzed, however, as concerns the faunal wealth. The highest level of species diversity is typical for beech ecosystems of the lower forest belt of the Gorgany mountainous massif – 54, while the lowest one is found in crooked woods of mountainous pines – 23 species.
Along the altitudinal gradient, the changes in biotic and abiotic conditions are observed, which lead to variability in the groupings of predator beetles of the Gorgany massif. Five constant species were found within the ecosystems under consideration: Philonthus decorus, Tasqius (Rayaheila) morsitans, Stenus comma comma, Tachynus rufipes, Atrecus longiceps. They are characterized by a high level of ecological valency and are resistant to changes in ecological factors in various altitudinal zones. All the ecosystems, with the exception of European pine forests, are characterized by the presence of specific species. Based on the correlation analysis, the key factors of spatio-temporal differentiation of groupings have been established. In the gradient of decrease in altitude above the sea level, the apparent changes in the structure of groupings of predator beetles have been noticed. Among the ecological-morphological groups, with the decrease in altitude, there exists an increase in drillers and cryptobionts, which is connected with the complication of biotic conditions in the ecosystems. The species richness of predator beetle groupings 2.9 times increases with reduction in altitude (from 1600 m above sea level in the subalpine zone up to 800 m above sea level in the lower forest zone of the Gorgany mountainous massif). In this gradient, the growth in proportions of subrecedent and recedent species is observed, 1.7 and 2 times increasing respectively. Among the trophic groups, the number of zoophages 3.5 times increases, zoo-saprophages – 4 times, nematophages – 2.5 times, mycetophages – 2 times. It was found out that the seasonal changes of groupings depend on the complex effects of biotic and abiotic environmental factors.
