Matrix quality and habitat type drive the diversity pattern of forest steppe fragments

The quality of the surrounding landscape matrix often determines biodiversity pattern remaining natural habitat fragments. Dispersal organisms depends mostly on species traits related to mobility and contrast between fragment matrix. Therefore, variation in composition among fragments, i.e. beta-diversity, can also be affected by quality. In our study, we focused structurally complex forest steppe fragments Central Europe for revealing effects size We investigated 18 along a gradient ranging from 0.2 6 ha, embedded changing collected data plants, spiders ants three different types: parts directly neighboring dominant element matrix, being pine plantations. Species turnover (beta diversity) was higher steppes than forests indicating degree isolation steppes. Increasing decreased plant richness small low dispersal prevents displacement poor competitors stronger promotes coexistence species. Matrix positively spider independently size, but had no effect ants. These differences taxa highlight complexity structure, calls situation-specific optimization management nature conservation. For particular situation, findings provide evidence that improving would help preserving threatened biota.