Various responses of ground beetles in natural versus anthropogenic edges

2018

Worldwide fragmentation and loss of natural habitats increase the occurrence of habitat edges that are transitional zones between adjoining ecosystems or habitats. Once created, edges are distinguishable by their maintaining processes: natural vs. continued anthropogenic interventions (forestry, agriculture, urbanization). According to our history-based edge effect hypothesis (Magura et al. 2017), dissimilar edge histories are reflected in the diversity and assemblage composition of their inhabitants. Testing this hypothesis, we evaluated available information on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in forest edges. A meta-analysis based on 39 publications showed that the diversity-enhanc…