Similarity of ground beetle communities of extensively managed orchards depending on management regimes

From April 1995 to November 1997 investigations were carried out in orchards in South-West Germany (4836'N/9 super(O)23'E): data were collected on the type and frequency of grassland use and data on the carabid fauna. 17 sample plots were selected. Part of the plots had 25 years of unchanged management regimes which were three-cutting meadows (3), two-cutting meadows (3), mulched meadows (4), abandoned meadows (3), a horse pasture, a sheep pasture with rotational grazing, a continuously grazed sheep pasture, and a sheep pasture abandoned in 1994. On nearly all studied plots the relative frequency of dominant species changed. 3-cutting meadows frequently show a one-sided activity dominance structure. A cluster analysis depending on Wainstein Index demonstrates: the carabid communities of plots under succession and 3-cutting; meadows were distinct and hardly similar to other cultivation plots. The composition of the carabid communities was less constant on the plots compared to the vegetation community. The communities of neighbouring study plots with different management treatment were therefore often more similar compared to plots which had the same management treatment but were further apart. The management of sub growing in orchards and its influence on ground beetle communities is briefly discussed.