Distribution and the impact of outfield drainage on carabids (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in north western Eysturoy, Faroe Islands: Útbreiðsla av svartaklukkum (Coleoptera, Carabidae) í Útnyrðingseysturoy og hvussu ávirkast hon av avveiting

During an Environmental Impact Assessement (EIA), Carabidae was one of the factors used to assess the impact of land drainage for hydropower. The areas investigated were outfields; these areas included a broad range of habitats, and therefore the distribution of Carabidae in the areas in question provided information about the distribution of Carabidae as a whole, which this paper aims to describe. Fourteen of the 26 previously recorded Carabidae species were found. One species Agonum fuliginosum was recorded for the first time in the Faroe Islands. Another Carabidae Bembidion bruxellense was recorded for the first time in Eysturoy. Altitude and season were seen to influence the abundance of some carabids and this is related to the distribution of preferred habitats and to reproductive cycles. The distribution of Carabidae and the effects of outfield drainage are discussed in this paper.