Distribution of carabid beetles in agricultural landscape: effect of non-crop habitat islands

Abstract: The presence of non-crop habitats in the agricultural landscape is crucial for maintaining biodiversity. In our study we investigated non-crop habitat islands of different sizes situated within one large crop field. We found out that even small non-crop habitat islands are able to provide suitable environment for many species of carabid beetles, which are unable to survive in crop fields. Twenty nine species of carabid beetles were collected in this study that were represented by at least 10 specimens, and of these, ten species strongly preferred non-crop habitats. The species composition of carabids even in small non-crop habitat islands differed significantly from that of field sites. In accordance with other authors, we suggest the conservation of existing non-crop habitats and even the creation of new ones. This is probably the best tool for enhancing biodiversity as well as for maintaining ecosystem services such as the biological control of pests in the agricultural landscape.

Key words: Coleoptera, Carabidae, species composition, species richness, biodiversity conservation, habitat preference, pitfall trapping, central Europe