Individual Movement of Large Carabids as a Link for Activity Density Patterns in Various Forestry Treatments

Abstract

Activity density is one of the most common measures in ground-dwelling arthropods, including carabids. It is based on individuals’ activity and population density, yet there is no available evidence whether the individual movement can be a good proxy for activity density. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to explore this link in two large ground beetle species, Carabus scheidleri Panzer, 1799 and C. coriaceus Linnaeus, 1758, in an oak-hornbeam forest in Hungary. We used pitfall traps for activity density and capture-mark-recapture and radio telemetry to record individual movement patterns in different forestry treatments, preparation cuttings and clear-cuttings, and their control plots. We found a link between activity density and movement of individuals via treatment types. Although activity density, mean walking speed and the proportion of active time were significantly higher in both treatments than in control plots, the individual movement revealed only temporal use of these habitats. Beetles left treatments within a few days. We concluded that the high turnover of individuals in treatments might indirectly suggest that these habitats probably act as temporary foraging sites for both species.