Epigeic and hemiedaphic beetles were studied in different localities in lowland oak forests of protected regions of Czech Republic: Protected Landscape Area Czech Karst by Prague, National Park Podyjí and Protected Landscape Area Pálava in south Moravia. Plots with management (cutting of forests or pasturing) and control plots without management were indicated in every locality. The last two localities were at the mount Plechý in the Šumava National Park with mountain (climax) Norway spruce forests. The cutted plots of forest on Austrian part of the mountain and unattached plots without management (fade forests with young seedelings) were compared.
Material was collected with pitfall traps and soil quadrats sampling. The material was determined and species were classified into groups after the sensitivity to human impact (species living in habitats without human impact, species living in human made forest and ubiquitous species living in heavy disturbed habitats (Boháč 1999, Boháč et Jahnová 2015). Ecological analysis of communities was made (Boháč 1999). Statistical analysis was made on the base of cluster analysis and Shannon-Wiener index of species diversity and index of equitability were calculated.
Together 272 species and 7558 specimen of model groups (Carabidae, Stahylinidae, Silphidae and Geotrupidae) was found on studied localities. Communities of of beetles differ strongly in oak forests and forest steppe in lowland oak forests. The xerothermis species presents on forests steppe and forest species in oak forests. Management has not so strong effect on the communities of beetles than the effect of some key species, especially ants of the genus Formica. The pasturing affects the increasing presence of coprophilous species.
The clear cut is very negative factor for mountain spruce forests. The frequency of forest species is declining in cutted forests and the recovery of communities is very problematic. The communities of mountain forest in rehabilitation are very close to natural forest (high species diversity, presence of relic species and low human effect). The bark beetle (Ips typographus) is the key species in the mountain forest.