Spatial changes and succession of carabid communities (Coleoptera, Insecta) in seminatural wetland habitats of the Žitava river floodplain

Abstract

The carabid communities in the Žitava river floodplain were studied at four sites in the within-dike zone of the regulated river in 2006-2008. The communities were deteriorated to a considerable degree, characterized by a low number of species and individuals and by predominance of mesohydrophilous open landscape species over hydrophilous species. Occurrence of species was mostly very unstable, witha great between-year differences and no common trend. The representation of open landscape species was higher in the narrow stretch (ca. 150 m) of the within-dike zone than in the wider stretch (340-390 m). Their relative abundance was higher than that in other much narrower line or stripe formation of wooden vegetation in agrarian landscape. In spite of this, the Nature Reserve Alúvium Žitavy plays the role as a wetland biocentrum in the predominantly agrarian landscape.