A two season capture-recapture study was preformed between 2016-2017, focusing on the Carabus species living in a suburban park (3 hectare) in Budapest, Hungary. Eighty live-capture, non-baited pitfall traps were used in a 3 x 3 m grid in 4 rows and 20 columns, covering almost totally a forested area of 240 m2. Five Carabus species were captured, the most numerous were C. scheidleri, C. ullrichii and C. coriaceus. C. convexus and C. intricatus were captured only a few times. All Carabus species were individually marked and released. Population size and survival rate was estimated only for the C. scheidleri population using POPAN in order to receive gross population size. In total 491 C. scheidleri individuals (251 females and 239 males) were marked. Recapture rate in 2016 and 2017 were 41 and 50 percent for the total population respectively. Estimated population size varied between years, the maximum population size was 680 ± 50 specimen in 2016. In 2017 a population size of 190 ± 16 individuals were estimated. Overwintering of eight C. scheidleri and three C. ullrichii specimen were observed. Less mobile large bodied forest specialist Carabus species living in a relatively small reserve underline the importance of habitat islands in a city.

urbanisation, Carabus scheidleri, mark-recapture, Carabus species, nature reserve, Hungary

Bérces Sándor