rural settlements, management intensity, carabid beetles, communities, agricultural landscape, central europe
Abstract
The biodiversity of carabid beetles was studied using pitfall trapping in two small settlements in the agricultural landscape of southern Bohemia (Central Europe) and in the Vltava housing quarter of České Budějovice. The results were compared with surrounding agricultural landscape. The highest number of carabid species in communities was found in the intensively managed agricultural landscape and in Vltava housing quarter. The number of species was lower in villages but the higher activity of stenotopic carabids was typical for these localities. Ordination of species did not found the distinct difference with exception of three species preferring wet biotopes with clay soils. Ordination of samples reflect the clear difference of samples from the surrounding agricultural landscape and samples from the Vltava housing quarter. Rural settlements are suitable for some stenotopic and protected carabids in monotonous agricultural landscape.
