The Mean Individual Biomass (MIB) of Ground Beetles (Carabidae): A Review of Its Application to Ecosystem Succession, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Research
Bioindication is a key tool for monitoring habitat quality and ecosystem dynamics under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Among model organisms, ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) play a particularly important role, and one of the widely applied functional indicators describing their assemblage structure is the Mean Individual Biomass (MIB). Introduced in the 1980s, this index reflects the average body mass of Carabidae and allows assessment of successional stages. Its computational simplicity and intuitive interpretation have led to its application in forests, agricultural landscapes, post-industrial areas, and glacier forelands. This paper synthesizes the development and applications of the MIB, highlighting both its advantages and methodological limitations (including variability of length-mass models, seasonal activity patterns, and dependence on sampling methods). Particular attention is given to the potential of the MIB in the context of global environmental change, including its role as an indicator of ecosystem responses to climate change and processes related to soil carbon sequestration. Based on a literature review, future research directions are identified, encompassing methodological standardization, integration of MIB with other ecological and molecular indicators, and expansion of analyses to regions beyond Europe. By linking classical bioindication with ecosystem functioning studies, the MIB may serve as a universal tool for environmental monitoring and the assessment of ecosystem services under accelerated global change.
