Ecological Assessment of Carabidae in Southern Morocco: A Case Study from Guelmim-Oued Noun

Ground beetles of the family Carabidae (Coleoptera) play a very important role in stability as well as functioning of terrestrial ecosystems particularly as predators. This study provides the first inventory of Carabidae species in a semi-arid to arid Saharan region (Guelmim-Oued Noun region). A total of 15 species belonging to 11 tribes and 6 subfamilies were inventoried. Specimens were collected using sampling methods, including under-stone, beating the plants, and visual hunting. The diversity and presence of these species under extreme climatic conditions reflect their high ecological diversity for Carabidae beetles can change over time and space for several factors due to seasonal dynamics and altitude, as well as habitat structure change, impact from environmental factors, and climate change. The results emphasize the ecological importance of Carabidae in maintaining trophic balance and their potential role in future conservation and biodiversity monitoring programs to support arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The study provides baseline data for desert beetle fauna, which is poorly known.