, 1994) was computed for the maximum common sample size of the plot samples (five). The CNESS index was calculated using COMPAH96 (Gallagher, 1998), and the non-metric multidimensional scaling plot was created using PASW Statistics 18. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) was subsequently used to establish

links between environmental factors and the turnover within CH5424802 cost the carabid assemblages using ECOM version 1.37 (Pisces Conservation Ltd.). Species abundance data was CHORD transformed prior to the RDA, and multi-collinearity within the z-transformed environmental data was insignificant. A total of 1191 ground beetles comprising 23 species were collected in the pitfall traps (Appendix 1). Carabid abundance was notably higher in birch and larch forest than in the other forest types (Fig. 2a). Three species (Carabus smaragdinus, Harpalus bungii and Panagaeus davidi) were represented by only one individual in our overall samples and a further species (Asaphidion semilucidum) was represented by only one PCI 32765 individual within both oak and mixed forests, respectively, while 12 species were represented by at least ten individuals. Pterostichus acutidens (Fairmaire, 1889) was by far the most common species, accounting for 44.4% of the total catch (531 individuals),

with highest abundances recorded in larch (representing 64% of all individuals, Fig. 2f) and birch

forests (representing 64% of all individuals, Fig. 2e), but also accounting for 57% of all individuals caught in mixed forests ( Fig. 2b). Carabus crassesculptus (Kraatz, 1881) made up 16.3% of the total catch (195 individuals), being more evenly distributed across all five forest types with a particularly high dominance (41% of sampled individuals) in pine forest ( Fig. 2c). Carabus manifestus (Kraatz, 1881) and Pterostichus adstrictus (Eschscholtz, 1823) made up 8.6% and 6.9% of the total catch, respectively, and both species were most abundant in birch forest, where they represented 16% and 14% of all individuals, respectively ( Fig. L-NAME HCl 2e). Finally, Carabus vladimirskyi (Dejean, 1930) represented 6.2% of the total catch (74 individuals), with more than 85% of its specimens collected in oak forest plots, where C. vladimirskyi accounted for 42% of caught individuals ( Fig. 2d). Recorded total species richness was highest in mixed forest (n = 18) and lowest in larch and birch forest (n = 13 for each) ( Fig. 3). The estimated extrapolated species richness (n = 600 individuals) for each forest type substantiates this pattern, with mixed forest containing a significantly (P < 0.05) higher estimated species richness than all other forest types, while pine and oak forests showed intermediate diversity levels, followed by larch and finally birch forests.