Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42331863›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Effects of roadside habitat management on epigeic arthropod diversity: a case study from the Nitra-Selenec expressway junction.

Juraj Litavský, Oto Majzlan, Vladimír Langraf, Samuel Iracký, Božena Šerá

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Juraj LitavskýDepartment of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, Bratislava, 842 15, Slovakia. juraj.litavsky@uniba.sk.ORCID 0000-0003-1229-1098
Oto MajzlanDepartment of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, Bratislava, 842 15, Slovakia.
Vladimír LangrafFaculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 1, Nitra, 949 74, Slovakia.
Samuel IrackýDepartment of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, Bratislava, 842 15, Slovakia.
Božena ŠeráDepartment of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, Bratislava, 842 15, Slovakia.

Funding

Agentúra na Podporu Výskumu a Vývoja VV-MVP-24-0207Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV 1/0211/25Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV 1/0255/23
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Linear transport infrastructure fragments habitats, but its edges can serve as significant refuges for invertebrates. Management of these verges is crucial to realise this conservation potential, but the impact of specific habitat measures on epigeic arthropods remains poorly understood. This study assessed the impact of roadside habitat management on the diversity and composition of epigeic arthropods, using ground beetles (Carabidae) and harvestmen (Opiliones) as bioindicators at the Nitra-Selenec expressway junction, Slovakia. Over two years, we used pitfall traps to sample epigeic arthropods at ten sites managed under three different regimes: passive management (no intervention), active management with renewal/seeding (commercial grass-herb mixture), and active management with mulching only. We analysed the influence of management, vegetation structure, and landscape variables on species assemblages using redundancy analysis and predicted population trends using machine learning. We recorded 1,416 carabids (50 species) and 1,409 harvestmen (6 species). The renewal/seeding intervention had a significant negative effect on the community composition. The structure of the vegetation, specifically the cover of the herb layer and species richness of the shrub layer, were the most significant positive drivers of community assembly. Furthermore, distance from the road significantly influenced species distribution. Analysis of population trends revealed a gradual increase in carabid abundance over time, but an alarming decline in harvestmen. Active revegetation with commercial seed mixtures creates a homogeneous habitat that is less suitable for diverse epigeic communities than passive management. The structural complexity provided by various native vegetation is a key factor in supporting invertebrates. Implications for insect conservation: We recommend that roadside managers prioritise passive management or regionally appropriate native seed mixtures over commercial revegetation, maintain structural complexity of vegetation through a reduced frequency of mowing (1-2 times annually at ≥ 10 cm height), and adopt mosaic approaches that combine intensive mowing only in safety-critical zones with extensive management elsewhere.

Indexed as

ArthropodsBiodiversityColeopteraConservation of Natural ResourcesEcosystemAnimalsSlovakiaBiodiversityCarabidaeHabitat managementMulchingOpilionesRoad verges

Identifiers

PMID42331863
PMCPMC13572390

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.