Influence of farmland abandonment on the species composition of wetland ground beetles in Kushiro, Japan

摘要: Abstract Depopulation trends in many developed regions are resulting an increase areas of abandoned farmland, which could provide alternative habitat for species endangered by past conversion wetlands agriculture. Additionally, various spatial and temporal factors (landscape structure, local quality, abandonment age) influence composition farmland. In this study, we explored the spatio-temporal effects land on wetland ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) to examine whether farmland can contribute conserve species’ habitats. We first compared beetle assemblages among four uses (grassland, wetland, newly previously farmland) Kushiro region, eastern Hokkaido, Japan. then examined influencing differences between wetland. found that was more similar than grassland. Our results also showed soil moisture positively related age were negatively both surrounding area. findings suggest serve as beetles. Maintaining a high level conserving be effective strategy restoring natural habitats these species.