Effects of grasslands and conifer reforestations on centipedes (Chilopoda): barriers, semi-permeable matrices or secondary habitats? FEDERICA LACASELLA 1,2 and MARZIO ZAPPAROLI 3 1 Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA, 2 Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy and 3 Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy Abstract. 1. Ecotones are frequently associated with habitat fragmentation, one of the main causes of biodiversity loss. Conifer reforestations are assumed to enhance connectivity between forest remnants, buffering negative effects of fragmentation (edge effect). Conversion of agricultural lands into conifer plan- tations is commonly considered a good practice, although its implications on biodiversity are still unclear. 2. We compare effects of two matrices (non-native conifer reforestations and semi-natural grasslands) on epigeic centipedes of native forests in central Italy. Assemblages were sampled at progressive distances from the edge, both in the matrix and the native forest. Basing on habitat-matrix similarity, reforestations should show lower edge effects compared to grasslands. Consequently reforestations could act as secondary habitat, while grasslands as barrier or semipermeable matrix. 3. Several species occurred in both native forest and matrix: 47% of species at the forest–reforestation ecotone, 16% at the forest–grassland ecotone. Both reforestation and grasslands affected forest indicators (Lithobius castaneus and L. tylopus). L. castaneus showed reforestations had a lower magnitude (0.95) and a greater depth of edge effect (53 m into the forest). Conversely, grasslands had a higher magnitude (1.00) and a lower depth of edge effect (17 m). 4. Our findings show reforestations can act as secondary habitat, while grass- lands as semipermeable matrix. Secondly, grasslands mainly threat forest species by isolation, while conifer reforestations by edge-effect penetration. In conclu- sion, the establishment of non-native conifer reforestation, although enhances connectivity, is not risk free and further comparative studies are due to evaluate positive and negative effects on biodiversity. Key words. Biodiversity loss, centipedes, conifer plantation, edge effect, forest indicator, forest–grassland ecotone, heterogeneous matrix, secondary habitat, semi-permeable matrix. Introduction Ecotonal boundaries are frequently associated with habi- tat discontinuity and fragmentation, both issues affecting species occurrence and persistence, with profound implica- tions on the regional biodiversity. Conservation efforts have been mainly focused on maximising the amount of continuous forest habitats, in order to reduce the negative effects associated with edges (i.e. edge avoidance), and improve conditions for sensitive species (Chen et al., 1995, 1996; Forman, 1995; Esseen & Renhorn, 1998). Forest edges have distinctive microclimate conditions from the Correspondence: Federica Lacasella, 3120 Wisconsin Energy Institute, 1552 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA. E-mail: federicalaca@hotmail.it Ó 2015 The Royal Entomological Society 1 Insect Conservation and Diversity (2015) doi: 10.1111/icad.12133