The distribution of carabid beetles across the arable landscape: results from a 70ha sampling study
Abstract
Understanding the spatial distribution of carabid beetles and how these are influenced by field margins can provide valuable information on a species’ ecological requirements. To investigate carabid spatial pattern and the influence of field boundaries, their distribution was monitored between May and July 2000 using a grid of paired pitfall traps at 973 locations over six fields across 70ha of arable land. The movement of Pterostichus madidus and P. melanarius within the study area was monitored using mark-recapture. Both Pterostichus madidus and P. melanarius showed aggregation and preference for some fields but the former showed greater dispersal between fields.