The current knowledge of pseudoscorpions in Estonia is summarized, based on specimens preserved in various Estonian collections and new material collected from 1993 to 2015. Altogether 474 studied specimens belonged to 14 species, including nine species recorded from Estonia for the first time. Supplemented by Apocheiridium rossicum, listed by literature data only, the number of known Estonian pseudoscorpions is now set at 15. The findings of Mesochelifer ressli are the northernmost known for the species. Some ecological and phenological observations were made on the most common species, along with notes on the habitat preferences of other species and the use of different trapping methods. The composition of the known Estonian fauna is compared with the published records from the neighbouring countries, revealing a highest similarity to the Finnish fauna.The possible occurrence of other species in Estonia and the latitudinal species diversity gradient in the Eastern Baltic region are shortly discussed.
Carabid beetles were sampled by using pitfall traps during one season in traditionally managed wooded meadow and in adjacent habitats (dry meadow, deciduous forest and spruce forest) on Saaremaa Island, Estonia. A total of 2356 carabids belonging to 35 species were caught. The number of species and species diversity were highest in the wooded meadow and lowest in the dry meadow. In the wooded meadow, the dominant species were Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) and P. niger, (Schaller), which counted together for 49% of the total sample. The highest number of scarce species was found in the wooded meadow. Similarity of the carabid assemblages was highest between the two types of forests. The carabid assemblage in the wooded meadow was most similar to that of the deciduous forest; the values of similarity of wooded meadow versus spruce forest and wooded meadow versus dry meadow were only slightly lower. The results indicate that high biodiversity level of the wooded meadow can be maintained only through continuous traditional management.
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