Changes in morphology of the ground beetle Pterostichus oblongopunctatus f. (Coleoptera; carabidae) from vicinities of a zinc and lead smelter.

The present study investigated the response of the ground beetle Pterostichus oblongopunctatus F. (Coleoptera, Carabidae) to heavy metal pollution by assessing morphological traits (elytra length and wing length). Elytra length (a measure of body size) decreased with increasing pollution levels, whereas wing length (an indicator of flight dispersal ability) showed little change. The decrease in body size suggests negative effects of pollutants on the development and, subsequently, fitness of this species.