The ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of “Bosco Palli”, a relict Turkey oak wood in Basso Monferrato (Piedmont, Italy)

A study of the ground beetle (Carabidae) fauna in 'Bosco Palli', a relict Turkey oak wood in Basso Monferrato, Italy, revealed a depauperate and specialized community. Only 25 species were recorded, with just 11 confined to central core areas and 23 found in peripheral ecotone zones. Notably, while few strict forest species were present, Carabus italicus thrived in a moist, swampy peripheral section, suggesting resilience in fragmented habitats. The study attributes this limited diversity to the wood's small size, isolation within an agricultural landscape, and historical coppicing practices, highlighting the vulnerability of such relict ecosystems.

Allegro, G., & Chiarabaglio, P. (2016). The ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of “Bosco Palli”, a relict Turkey oak wood in Basso Monferrato (Piedmont, Italy). Forest@ - Rivista Di Selvicoltura Ed Ecologia Forestale, 13(1), 8–17. https://doi.org/10.3832/efor1929-013