Effect of Environmental Conditions on Distribution Patterns of Rove Beetles

This chapter aims to give a review about the impact of environmental conditions on Staphylinidae. Densities in diverse ecosystems from northern to tropical and from marine to alpine ecosystems are listed. As most Staphylinidae belong to the soil fauna, soil conditions are of main interest. Thus, life forms of soil-dwelling species are described. The effects of the parameter moisture, soil pH, acidity, and salinity on staphylinid occurrence are taken into consideration. Furthermore, the staphylinid faunas of main contrasting ecosystem type are reviewed: forests vs. agricultural fields, coasts vs. montane, and alpine ecosystems. Finally, since many rove beetle species have an affinity to nests, fungi, etc., the importance of microhabitats for Staphylinidae is described. Here, the special ecology of dung-dwelling and fungi-dwelling species is given such as the impact of the ephemeral food resource on the development.