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Diversity and indicator species

Correspondence analysis showing the species and group relations. Black circle represents the connected area group, the dark grey circle represents the intermediate area group and the light grey circle represents the isolated area group. The vectors of habitat preference (generalist, grassland specialists, forest specialist, agricultural field specialist and carabid which require moisture), body size (large, medium, small and very small), wing length (short wings and longwings) and surrounding matrix are represented by the arrows.

When only looking at the number of species the analysis did not show a difference between the different isolation groups. However the grassland specialist speces were more associated to the intermediate and isolated groups (Figure 1). 

I also found that Poecilius cupreus was and indicator for the connected group, this species is a agricultural field species. This indicates that there is more agricultural activity surronding the connected areas, but the matrix did not show difference between groups when tested between the isolation groups. 

Body morphology

Average proportion (+/-95%CI) of body size group for each area group. The size groups are very small (<5 mm), small (5-9 mm), medium (10-15 mm) and large (15< mm).

The body size distrubution was different between the isolation groups. The medium group was the largest overall but there was more size distrubution in the connected group. 

There was no differnce in winglenght between the groups and the majority of carabids found had long wings. 


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Last updated: 05/08/18