Impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in Poland

Anthropogenic landscape transformation, including urbanization and intensive agriculture, significantly affects the structure and functioning of ecosystems. The result of these changes is the disruption of species population dynamics and a decline in biodiversity. Understanding the impact of soil ch...

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Main Authors: Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska, Joanna Ukalska, Krzysztof Ukalski, Marek Kondras
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Global Ecology and Conservation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942500294X
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author Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Joanna Ukalska
Krzysztof Ukalski
Marek Kondras
author_facet Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Joanna Ukalska
Krzysztof Ukalski
Marek Kondras
author_sort Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
collection DOAJ
description Anthropogenic landscape transformation, including urbanization and intensive agriculture, significantly affects the structure and functioning of ecosystems. The result of these changes is the disruption of species population dynamics and a decline in biodiversity. Understanding the impact of soil characteristics on biodiversity is crucial to landscape ecology, particularly in the context of indicator species such as butterflies and Carabid beetles. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of soil variables on the occurrence and diversity of butterflies and Carabid beetles in three regions of Poland. In addition, the study sought to determine how the history of land use affects the current soil properties and community structure of the organisms in different types of ecosystems. The results showed significant differences in soil variables depending on land use form. High HSI (habitat soil index) values in soils from agricultural land indicate that historical agrarian use, and thus the application of fertilizers, have influenced their fertility. High butterfly diversity was associated with rich open land soils, while beetle diversity was less dependent on soil fertility and more resistant to environmental changes. The RDA method showed that K, Ca, Mg, and N are key soil variables affecting butterfly diversity, while in beetles, K, Mg, and HSI are key soil variables affecting diversity. The study underscores the need to consider land use history in soil management to promote biodiversity. The results suggest that a diverse approach to environmental management, tailored to local conditions, can increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation. Management strategies should focus on maintaining habitat diversity, which is key to maintaining healthy ecosystems.
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spelling doaj-art-e45d3aee18314835ab9141ffca1b871c2025-08-20T03:30:32ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-09-0161e0369310.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03693Impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in PolandKatarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska0Joanna Ukalska1Krzysztof Ukalski2Marek Kondras3Center for Sustainable Development, Institute of Environmental Protection-National Research Institute, Słowicza 32, Warsaw 02-170, Poland; Corresponding author.Laboratory of Dendrometry and Forest Productivity, Department of Forest Management Planning, Dendrometry and Forest Economics, Institute of Forest Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences Warsaw, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw 02-776, PolandLaboratory of Dendrometry and Forest Productivity, Department of Forest Management Planning, Dendrometry and Forest Economics, Institute of Forest Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences Warsaw, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw 02-776, PolandDepartment of Soil Sciences, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, Warsaw 02-787, PolandAnthropogenic landscape transformation, including urbanization and intensive agriculture, significantly affects the structure and functioning of ecosystems. The result of these changes is the disruption of species population dynamics and a decline in biodiversity. Understanding the impact of soil characteristics on biodiversity is crucial to landscape ecology, particularly in the context of indicator species such as butterflies and Carabid beetles. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of soil variables on the occurrence and diversity of butterflies and Carabid beetles in three regions of Poland. In addition, the study sought to determine how the history of land use affects the current soil properties and community structure of the organisms in different types of ecosystems. The results showed significant differences in soil variables depending on land use form. High HSI (habitat soil index) values in soils from agricultural land indicate that historical agrarian use, and thus the application of fertilizers, have influenced their fertility. High butterfly diversity was associated with rich open land soils, while beetle diversity was less dependent on soil fertility and more resistant to environmental changes. The RDA method showed that K, Ca, Mg, and N are key soil variables affecting butterfly diversity, while in beetles, K, Mg, and HSI are key soil variables affecting diversity. The study underscores the need to consider land use history in soil management to promote biodiversity. The results suggest that a diverse approach to environmental management, tailored to local conditions, can increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation. Management strategies should focus on maintaining habitat diversity, which is key to maintaining healthy ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942500294XBiodiversityButterflyCarabid beetlesSoilLandscape management
spellingShingle Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Joanna Ukalska
Krzysztof Ukalski
Marek Kondras
Impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in Poland
Global Ecology and Conservation
Biodiversity
Butterfly
Carabid beetles
Soil
Landscape management
title Impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in Poland
title_full Impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in Poland
title_fullStr Impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in Poland
title_full_unstemmed Impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in Poland
title_short Impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in Poland
title_sort impact of anthropogenic landscape transformation on soil fertility and diversity of carabid beetles and butterflies in poland
topic Biodiversity
Butterfly
Carabid beetles
Soil
Landscape management
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235198942500294X
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