Movement activity and habitat use ofCarabus ullrichii(Coleoptera: Carabidae): The forest edge as a mating site?

Abstract

AbstractSome carabid species are not restricted to a single habitat only, but use various types of habitats. In these species, relatively little is known about the utilization of occupied habitats and factors affecting their movement within these habitats. In this study, we focus on the movement activity of ubiquitousCarabus ullrichiiduring its reproductive period at the border of two types of habitats, a meadow and a forest. We tracked 21 adult individuals using radio telemetry and recorded in total 1,687 position fixes. Movement activity was associated with the type of habitat and specific environmental conditions such as time of the day and air temperature. Both sexes activated preferably at dusk and during the night, although males were most active at temperatures around 15°C, while females showed no preference for temperature. Males were able to walk as fast as females, but they were more associated with forest edge. We assume that the inner edge of the forest could be used as a mating site and after mating males stay there and wait for new females with which to mate, while fertilized females disperse into the surroundings. They moved further into the closed forest where they were likely looking for oviposition sites and food resources to support reproduction. Exclusively females were recorded to visit the meadow at a greater distance from the forest edge and their movements there were almost always direct.