Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) of the White Carpathians (Czech Republic and Slovakia)

This paper summarizes data regarding the terrestrial isopods of the White Carpathians range in the Western Outer Carpathians based on field research undertaken during the past several decades in natural meadow pasture and forest localities. Using a combination of four collection methods 19 species belonging to nine families were recorded. The most common representatives were Protracheoniscus politusTrachelipus rathkii and Ligidium hypnorum. In general the biodiversity of isopod communities in the studied area was considerable with half of the localities explored inhabited by six to ten species. The composition of the isopod assemblages was determined by the character of the biotope and its geographical location. Forest habitats were considerably richer in species than the meadow and pasture ecosystems. Some xerotermic localities in the Slovak part of the area were inhabited by Trachelipus nodulosus and Orthometopon planum thermophilic species typically associated with warmer parts of Europe. Two relic species (Hyloniscus mariae and Ligidium germanicum) were confirmed for this area. Except for only one finding of Porcellio scaber no other evidently introduced or synanthropic species were recorded. Based on the data analyzed the high nature conservancy value of the given area is emphasised