Carabid beetle assemblages (Coleoptera) in a wooded meadow and in the adjacent habitats on the Saaremaa Island, Estonia

Abstract

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.

Ground beetles communities, diversity, biomass and traits in wooded pastures of Jura mountains

“…Our study con rms similar results obtained by Boutaud et al (2022) in Germany and by Talvi et al (1995) in Estonia. Even in the tropics, our results corroborate those of Ariza et al (2021).…”

Changes in stand structure due to the cessation of traditional land use in wooded meadows impoverish epiphytic lichen communities

“…2011; Thor et al . 2010) or insects (Talvi 1995). Unfortunately, the area of these semi-natural habitats has decreased greatly over the last century because of the cessation of traditional management.…”

“…Extensive land use of woodland over thousands of years has created very specific seminatural semi-open biotopes in northern Europe, the so-called wooded meadows (Kukk & Kull 1997;Poska & Saarse 1999;Pärtel et al 1999Pärtel et al , 2007Eriksson et al 2002). Continuous long-term management, mostly by cattle and sheep grazing with hay mowing and firewood gathering, have created habitats characterized by their high diversity within different taxonomical groups, such as vascular plants (Kull & Zobel 1991;Cousins & Eriksson 2001, bryophytes (Ingerpuu et al 1998), agarics (Kalamees 2004), ectomycorrhizal fungi (Tedersoo et al 2006), lichens (Leppik & Jüriado 2008;Jönsson et al 2011;Thor et al 2010) or insects (Talvi 1995). Unfortunately, the area of these semi-natural habitats has decreased greatly over the last century because of the cessation of traditional management.…”