Carabid beetles (Coleoptera : Carabidae) and habitat fragmentation: a review

I review the effects of habitat fragmentation on carabid beetles (Coleopter a, Carabidae) and examine whether the taxon could be used as an indicator o f fragmentation. Related to this, I study the conservation needs of carabid s. The reviewed studies showed that habitat fragmentation affects carabid a ssemblages. Many species that require habitat types found in interiors of f ragments are threatened by fragmentation. On the other hand, the species co mposition of small fragments of habitat (up to a few hectares) is often alt ered by species invading from the surroundings. Recommendations for mitigat ing these adverse effects include maintenance of large habitat patches and connections between them. Furthermore, landscape homogenisation should be a voided by maintaining heterogeneity of habitat types. It appears that at le ast in the Northern Hemisphere there is enough data about carabids for them to be fruitfully used to signal changes in land use practices. Many carabi d species have been classified as threatened. Maintenance of the red-listed carabids in the landscape requires species-specific or assemblage-specific measures.