The Mean Individual Biomass (MIB) of Ground Beetles (Carabidae): A Review of Its Application to Ecosystem Succession, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Research

Abstract

Title: Simple Summary Monitoring changes in insect communities helps us understand how ecosystems respond to human activity and climate change. This review explains how a simple index, the Mean Individual Biomass (MIB), can be used to assess habitat quality based on the body mass of ground beetles (Carabidae). The method is easy to apply and provides an overview of environmental stability and disturbance. I summarize studies from forests, agricultural fields, post-industrial sites and glacier forelands showing that MIB increases in stable habitats and decreases when disturbance or habitat loss occurs. Although it cannot directly measure soil carbon storage, MIB reflects ecological processes that are important for biodiversity and ecosystem recovery. This knowledge can help improve environmental monitoring and restoration programs in Europe and beyond.