The industrialisation during the last century and the subsequent fragmentation of the landscape caused by the increasing number of roads, railway lines and settlements leads to an increasing loss of biodiversity. This has an impact on genetic variety and has already led to the loss of genetic diversity in many populations. Thus, the probability of species extinction rises and the long-term conservation of many species can only be achieved by connecting habitats on a large scale. The common use of classic corridors to connect similar habitats with each other to create a network of habitats can, however, also lead to the formation of barriers for species of other habitat types. Especially stenotopic species with low dispersal power have difficulties to disperse.

Semi-open landscapes such as pastures and shrubby heath accommodate a significant amount of biodiversity in central Europe and, due to existing shrubs and groves, are able to shelter woodland as well as open landscape species. Hence these semi-open landscapes can act as transitional areas between two different habitat types and are, as such, a connecting element between woodlands and open landscapes.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether semi-open landscapes can act as semi-open corridors and connect two different habitat types simultaneously with each other e.g. connecting two isolated woodlands with each other, as well as connecting two isolated grasslands, and thus avoid fragmentation of either habitat type.

The animal ecology part of the study focuses on the dispersal of woodland and open landscape species of ground beetles and spiders that have low dispersal powers within semi-open habitats and is investigated using pitfall traps. In addition, the dispersal behaviour and the movement pattern of stenotopic ground beetles are studied with the help of mark-re-capture experiments in both the edges of open and woodland habitats as well as semi-open and woodland habitat.

The landscape ecology part of the study concentrates on the establishment and reproduction of stenotopic woodland and open landscape plant species within the semi-open habitats and the effects of different management methods (grazing and sod cutting). These factors are investigated with the help of an experimental design. Further, the distribution of woodland and open landscape species within the semi-open habitats is described with vegetation surveys.