The tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem is characterised by strong seasonality exasperated periodically by the El Niño/southern oscillation (ENSO). The environment produced by this event could constrain the survival of small organisms, such as insects. Carabid beetles were collected in a TDF in Armero, Colombia, during wet and dry seasons in both El Niño and non-El Niño periods. A series of traits linked to desiccation resistance were measured to characterise their adaptation to the TDF environment and to investigate changes experienced by carabid beetles during both episodes in quantitative (assemblage) and qualitative (traits) parameters. We found no difference in the presence of traits between El Niño and non-El Niño episodes, but carabid assemblages changed significantly in composition and assemblage structure between these episodes. During both periods, small-sized and nocturnal species dominated the assemblages, but in terms of number of individuals, medium and large-sized, and visual hunter species dominated. Calosoma alternans and Megacephala affinis were the most abundant species with high dispersal capacity. Carabid beetles exhibited morphological traits well-adapted to drought experienced in TDF, including when it is exasperated by ENSO. However, long-term studies can help to elucidate the real effects of ENSO and to confirm the adaptation of carabid beetles to cope with this extreme environment.

热带干旱森林（TDF）生态系统的特征是强烈的季节性变化，厄尔尼诺/南方涛动（ENSO）会周期性地加剧这种季节性变化。此事件产生的环境可能会限制昆虫等小型生物的生存。在厄尔尼诺和非厄尔尼诺时期的干燥和潮湿季节，在哥伦比亚的Armero的TDF中收集了甲虫。测量了一系列与耐干燥性相关的性状，以表征它们对TDF环境的适应性，并调查甲虫在定量（组合）和定性（性状）参数期间的变化。我们发现厄尔尼诺事件和非厄尔尼诺事件之间的特征存在没有差异，但是在这些事件之间，卡拉宾组合的组成和组合结构发生了显着变化。交链孢子虫和巨头畸形是最丰富的物种，具有较高的扩散能力。甲壳虫表现出非常适合TDF经历的干旱的形态特征，包括当ENSO激怒时。但是，长期研究可以帮助阐明ENSO的实际效果，并确定适应甲壳虫的适应能力以应对这种极端环境。