Ground beetle (Carabus variolosus Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) on the area of Slovenske gorice

Močvirski krešič (Carabus variolosus Fabricius, 1787) je v Evropi ogrožena habitatska vrsta gozdnih potokov, saj njegovo življenjsko okolje naglo izginja. Uvrščen je na seznam Direktive o ohranjanju naravnih habitatov ter prosto živečih živalskih in rastlinskih vrst. V diplomskem delu sem na podlagi znanih dejstev o njegovi biologiji raziskala, v katerem habitatu v Slovenskih goricah najdemo močvirskega krešiča. Ugotavljala sem, v kolikšni meri vplivajo izbrani biotski in abiotski dejavniki na prisotnost in številčnost močvirskega krešiča na območju Radgonsko-Kapelskih goric in na območju ob Muri od Ceršaka do Sladkega Vrha. Dobljene podatke sem primerjala z rezultati študije habitata močvirskega krešiča, izvedene v Vestfaliji v Nemčiji (Matern in sod., 2007). Raziskava je obsegala zimsko pregledovanje prezimovališč in poletni popis s pomočjo talnih pasti. Ugotovila sem, da je močvirski krešič v Slovenskih goricah splošno prisoten ob manjših vodotokih (gozdni potoki, zamočvirjen gozd …). Vezan je na območja z višjo vlažnostjo tal in pH-vrednostjo tal blizu nevtralnega območja. V večjem številu se pojavlja na območjih z nižjim naklonom hriba na obeh bregovih potoka ter ob potokih s plitvo strugo, v gozdovih z večjo pokrovnostjo zeliščnega sloja, gostejšim sklepom krošenj in manjšo presvetljenostjo gozda, kjer od drevesnih vrst prevladujeta jelša in gaber. Glavni pogoj za izbiro oddaljenosti in najnižjo višino prezimovališča nad gladino vodnega vira je zadostna količina vlage skozi vso zimo ter zagotovilo, da ob večji količini padavin prezimovališča ne zalije voda.Močvirski krešič (Carabus variolosus Fabricius, 1787) is considered an endangered species in Europe as its natural habitat is disappearing rapidly. This species is listed in The Council Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. In my diploma paper, I researched, based on the known facts of his biology, in what type of habitat Carabus variolosus can be found in the area of Slovenske gorice. I also researched in what extent selected biotic and abiotic factors influence the presence and abundance of Carabus variolosus in the area of Radgonsko-Kapelske gorice and in the area of river Mura from Ceršak to Sladki Vrh. I compared the acquired data with the results of the study of Carabus variolosus’ habitat that was carried out in Westphalia, Germany (Matern et al., 2007). The research consisted winter examination of wintering area and summer inventory with the help of pitfall trap. I discovered that Carabus variolosus is generally present at the smaller watercourses (forest streams, marshy woods, ...) in Slovenske gorice. It is bound to the areas with a higher humidity and pH-value of the soil close to neutral. A larger number of species appears in the areas with a low slope incline on both banks of a brook and near brooks with a shallow bed, in forests with a high herbal ground cover, a thicker canopy closure and a lower light intensity in forests where alder and hornbeam are predominant. The principle requirement for the choice of distance and the lowest altitude of wintering area above the surface of water source is a sufficient amount of humidity and the assurance that the wintering area does not get flooded during heavier rainfalls