engleski

The occurrence of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in a small traditional garden

The carabid beetle fauna was studied in a small traditional family garden in Konjšćina, the Zagorje region (northwest Croatia). The garden was surrounded by various crop types, railroad and small marshland area. Wild growing vegetation dominated the garden landscape, whereas only a minor part was cultivated. A total of 547 specimens of carabid beetles belonging to 37 species were recorded by pitfall trapping. Carabid species diversity and abundance in the traditional garden were markedly determined by diversity of habitats found on a relatively small surface area. The vicinity of a small marshland area had the main influence on the carabid beetle fauna, which mainly consisted of widely distributed hygrophilous species with good flight ability. The dominant species were Pterostichus niger, Poecilus cupreus, Harpalus rufipes, Bembidion quadrimaculatum and B. properans and their annual cycles were slightly influenced by the gardening. Majority of the species were spring breeders affected by the human-caused disturbance. Rare carabid species, as Clivina collaris, Drypta dentata and Oodes helopioides occurred in low densities. The current study shows that traditional gardens may enhance biodiversity on a small scale level.

carabid beetle fauna; traditional family garden; Croatia

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