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In this study, we compared the composition and abundance of carabid species according to their habitat affi nity, wing form and mean body size between continuous and isolated forest areas. Investigated plots were located in temperate forests of Mt. Medvednica that represent an island of forest embedded in a lowland matrix of urban ecosystems, agricultural fi elds and meadows and in similar forest types in large, continuous montane forests in the Gorski kotar area. Data for the proportions of species traits and habitat affi nities of 10 plots were compared using principal component analysis (PCA) and nested ANOVA followed by post Hoc tests. We found signifi cant differences between the proportions of forest specialist and generalist carabids and in the morphological characteristics of carabid communities between isolated and continuous forest areas. Isolated area had less forest specialists and more generalist species than large, continuous forest. More macropterous species were present in isolated habitat and more brachypterous in continuous forest area, especially medium-sized brachypterous beetles. Higher proportions of small-sized carabids were present in isolated area and large species were more common in continuous forest areas. Our results suggest that the power of dispersal is an important factor that can be used in analyses of isolation effects on carabid assemblages, not only at small scales, but at larger scales as well, showing the uniqueness of large, continuous forest areas. Résumé. Comparaison de la taille du corps et de la forme des ailes chez des carabides (Coleoptera : Carabidae) entre des habitats continues et isolés. Dans cette étude, on a comparé la composition et l'abondance des espèces de carabides en fonction de leurs préférences d'habitats, de leur forme d'aile et de leur taille corporelle, entre des forêts continues ou isolées. Les stations d'étude était localisées dans des forêts tempérées du mont Medvednica. Celui-ci représente une île de forêt incluse dans une matrice de terrains de plaine qui comprend des zones urbaines, des champs, des pâturages. Elles comprenaient aussi de grandes forêts montagnardes dans l'aire de Gorski kotar. Les données sur les espèces et leurs habitats dans les 10 stations investiguées ont été comparées en utilisant l'analyse en composantes principales (ACP) et l'ANOVA hiérarchisée, suivies par des tests post-Hoc. Nous avons trouvé des différences signifi catives entre les proportions de carabides généralistes et spécialistes de forêts, et entre leurs caractéristiques morphologiques selon qu'ils provenaient de forêts continues ou isolées. Les zones isolées ont moins de spécialistes de forêts et plus d'espèces généralistes que les grandes forêts continues. Plus d'espèces macroptères sont présentes dans les habitats isolés et plus de brachyptères dans les forêts continues, surtout des espèces brachyptèrs de moyenne taille. De plus grandes proportions de carabides de petite taille étaient présents dans les milieux isolés tandis que les grandes espèces étaient plus...

The caddisfly community composition and structure were studied in the Mediterranean (i.e., central part of Herzegovina) and the temperate (i.e., Central Bosnia) regions of the country which differ considerably regarding the climate, hydrology, geomorphology, and vegetation. In both studied areas, four rivers with seven sampling sites each were selected for light‐trapping of adult caddisflies during a one‐year period. A total of 97 species were collected (i.e., 52 in Herzegovina during 2003 and 67 in Central Bosnia during 2004) and seven of them are first records for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Marked differences in caddisfly community composition and structure between the two regions were found and confirmed by a cluster analysis of comparable river sites. These differences could be primarily linked to observed variability in environmental factors. Also, distinct phenological patterns of caddisflies were found in the Mediterranean and temperate parts, respectively, and these were further analyzed in detail for the five most abundant common species. For the populations in Central Bosnia, generally later and shorter periods of flight were recorded. Therefore, we tested the influence of meteorological parameters (night air temperature during the light‐trapping, and monthly values of air temperature, precipitation, humidity, cloudiness, and wind speed) on flight activity and periodicity of caddisflies in both regions. Air temperature proved to be the most important of tested parameters influencing caddisfly flight patterns (rs > 0.87 for monthly values and rs > 0.44 for air temperatures during light‐trapping; p < 0.001). Thus, temperature during light‐trapping and minimum monthly values seem to be important for the flight of caddisflies, since these values were significantly different (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) in the two regions of the country. Additionally, in this paper we will discuss some implications for conservation of caddisflies due to the predicted climate change.

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Arthropods, within the olive tree canopy, which can act as bioindicators of different management systems (conventional, integrated and organic), were collected in costal Croatia during 2007-2009. The aim of the research was to determine the arthropod orders present in each of the observed olive groves, to identify the number of individuals in each order, and to set potential bioindicators of different management systems. In order to do that, arthropods were collected from the olive canopies at three locations (Supetar, Kaštel Stari and Duilovo). After the samples were sorted according to orders, and determined according to arthropods determination keys. Olive groves were characterised by the same growth conditions and environment, with differences in agricultural management systems. In this investigation, 7882 arthropods were collected, belonging to 17 orders. It was found that Diptera, Heteroptera and other Hemiptera individuals, excluded Cicadidae and Psyllidae family individuals, could be defined as potential bioindicators of olive groves under different management systems. The number of Araneae and Coleoptera individuals significantly differed in all researched olive groves. So, these orders can be considered as bioindicators of different management systems. The knowledge obtained in this research can potentially be exploited in olive production in the future. Obtained results represent an important contribution to the inventory of arthropods in olive canopy. Also, this research significantly improves understanding of both harmful and beneficial entomofauna in olive groves and consequently contributes to better understanding of the total entomofauna in Croatia.