Landscape type affects the functional diversity of carabid beetles in agricultural landscapes

Agricultural intensification and expansion has been suggested to be a major driver of the loss biodiversity associated ecosystem services. Recent studies have shown that landscape-level effects in addition on-site management are significant importance for insect declines. We here compared carabid beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) assemblages wet meadows among three pairs highly fragmented ‘modern’ less ‘traditional’ agricultural landscapes, using pitfall trapping. Taxonomic diversity abundance Carabidae did not differ between modern traditional whereas proportions brachypterous, large-bodied, habitat specialist species were lower landscapes. These results suggest landscape type affects functional rather than taxonomic diversity, based on turnover. To preserve conservation strategies should consider level management, by securing connectivity remnants semi-natural habitats.