On the spider fauna of the trunk region of standing dead wood in South Moravian floodplain forests

In 1996 and 1997, spiders were collected by means of tree eclectors on standing dead tree trunks in floodplain forests in South Moravia (Czech Republic). Trunk communities on two sites differing in their exposure to floods were studied. In 1997, one of the sites was struck by a severe summer flood. Of 1714 individuals collected, 924 adults and 50 juveniles were identified to species. 82 species of 17 families were found. The dominant families both in terms of individuals and species were Linyphiidae and Theridiidae. 41 of the present species are considered obligate to facultative arboricolous ones. 13 species were new finds for the study area (extended PaIava Biosphere Reserve). Tmarus stellio was the first record for the Czech Republic, Midia midas the first one for Moravia. More species and individuals were collected on the flood-exposed site, particularly in 1997 with a peak at the time of the summer inundation (Oedothorax retusus made up for 97 % of adults during this period). A number of rare species was found and some comments regarding their distribution in the Czech Republic, range and habitat are made.1996 und 1997 wurde die Spinnenfauna stehender abgestorbener Baumstämme in zwei Auenwäldern Südmährens (Tschechische Republik) untersucht. Einer der Standorte hatte ein naturnahes Überschwemmungsregime und wurde im Sommer 1997 von einem Sommerhochwasser überschwemmt. Die Spinnen wurden mittels Baumeklektoren gefangen. Von den 1714 gefangenen Individuen konnten 924 Adulti und 50 Jungtiere bis zur Art bestimmt werden. Dies ergab 82 Arten aus 17 Fami1ien. 13 Arten waren Erstnachweise für das erweiterte Biospharenreservat Palava, Tmarus stellio ein Erstnachweis für die Tschechische Republik und Midia midas für Mähren. Linyphiidae und Theridiidae waren die dominanten Familien sowohl bezüglich Individuen- als auch Artenzahl. Am überschwemmungsexponierten Standort wurden mehr Arten und Individuen gesammelt, insbesondere 1997 (mit höchsten Fangzahlen während des Sommerhochwassers: Oedothorax retusus stellte hier 97 % der Adulti in diesem Zeitraum). 35 Arten sind nach PLATEN et al. (1991) als obligatorisch bis fakultativ arborikol zu betrachten. Als weitere arborikole Arten sind Diaea livens, Midia midas, Philodromus praedatus, Pseudicius encarpatus, Theridion blackwalli und Tmarus stellio anzusehen. Auf einige besonders seltene Arten wird bezüglich Verbreitung und Lebensraum näher eingegangen

Range expansion of an endangered beetle: Alpine Longhorn Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) spreads to the lowlands of Central Europe

Rosalia alpina is an endangered and strictly protected icon of saproxylic biodiversity throughout its range. Despite its popularity, information on its habitats and host-plants is insufficient, which may compromise the adoption of suitable conservation strategies. R. alpina has been considered as montane and associated with beech in central Europe, whereas in southern Europe R. alpina has often been reported from lowlands and its host spectrum is broader. We present evidence of an elm-feeding population ofR. alpina occurring in a lowland (beechfree) forest in the Czech Republic. This plus other information available suggest, that R. alpina spreads into central European lowland forests along large rivers, and that spectra of hosts and habitats exploited by R. alpina in Central Europe are wider than generally thought. Alteration of its habitat preference has either occurred in Central European populations, or lowland-inhabiting populations from the South are spreading northwards, possibly due to climate change

Spiders and pseudoscorpions (Arachnida: Araneae, Pseudoscorpiones) in old oaks of a Central European floodplain

Spiders and pseudoscorpions on old pedunculate oaks (Quercus robur) with tree cavities were studied in a Central European floodplain (South Moravia, Czech Republic). Altogether 322 specimens from 47 spider taxa and 71 specimens of six pseudoscorpion species were collected during 2010 and 2011 from tree cavities using two methods: More specimens and species of spiders were obtained from flight interception traps and more specimens and species of pseudoscorpions were obtained from pitfall traps. Remarkable records represent typical cavity dwellers, i.e. the spider Midia midas (Simon, 1884), the pseudoscorpions Larca lata (Hansen, 1884) and Apocheiridium ferum (Simon, 1879), the latter occurs mostly under tree bark. Five arachnid species are listed in the Czech red list: Midia midas, Leptorchestes berolinensis (C. L. Koch, 1846), Dipoena erythropus (Simon, 1881), Larca lata and Dendrochernes cyrneus (L. Koch, 1873)

The wave towards a new steady state: effects of earthworm invasion on soil microbial functions

Abstract Earthworms are ecosystem engineers that cause a long cascade of ecological effects when they invade previously earthworm-free forests. However, the consequences of earthworm invasion for soil microbial functions are poorly understood. Here, we used two well-studied invasion fronts of European earthworms in northern North American hardwood forests previously devoid of earthworms in order to investigate three stages of earthworm invasion: uninvaded, the front of the leading edge of earthworm invasion and locations invaded at least 10 years previously. Soil microbial biomass, respiration and metabolic quotient were measured. Earthworms had marked effects on soil microbial biomass (-42%) and respiration (-32%). At both sites, impacts were most pronounced at the leading edge of the invasion front, significantly decreasing soil microbial C use efficiency. This was most likely due to the disturbance of the soil microbial community caused by water stress. Based on these results, we hypothesize that effects of earthworm invasion on native soil ecosystem functioning are most pronounced at the peak of the invasion wave. After experiencing this wave, ecosystems possibly enter a new steady state with altered biotic compositions and functions

Data from: Fine-scale vertical stratification and guild composition of saproxylic beetles in lowland and montane forests: similar patterns despite low faunal overlap

The finer scale patterns of arthropod vertical stratification in forests are rarely studied and poorly understood. Further, there are no studies investigating whether and how altitude affects arthropod vertical stratification in temperate forests. We therefore investigated the fine-scale vertical stratification of diversity and guild structure of saproxylic beetles in temperate lowland and montane forests and compared the resulting patterns between the two habitats. The beetles were sampled with flight intercept traps arranged into vertical transects (sampling heights 0.4, 1.2, 7, 14, and 21 m). A triplet of such transects was installed in each of the five sites in the lowland and in the mountains; 75 traps were used in each forest type 381 species were collected in the lowlands and 236 species in the mountains. Only 105 species (21%) were found at both habitats; in the montane forest as well as in the lowlands, the species richness peaked at 1.2 m, and the change in assemblage composition was most rapid near the ground. The assemblages clearly differed between the understorey (0.4 m, 1.2 m) and the canopy (7 m, 14 m, 21 m) and between the two sampling heights within the understorey, but less within the canopy. The stratification was better pronounced in the lowland, where canopy assemblages were richer than those near the forest floor (0.4 m). In the mountains the samples from 14 and 21 m were more species poor than those from the lower heights. The guild structure was similar in both habitats. The main patterns of vertical stratification and guild composition were strikingly similar between the montane and the lowland forest despite the low overlap of their faunas. The assemblages of saproxylic beetles were most stratified near ground. The comparisons of species richness between canopy and understorey may thus give contrasting results depending on the exact sampling height in the understorey

Data from: Fine-scale vertical stratification and guild composition of saproxylic beetles in lowland and montane forests: similar patterns despite low faunal overlap

The finer scale patterns of arthropod vertical stratification in forests are rarely studied and poorly understood. Further, there are no studies investigating whether and how altitude affects arthropod vertical stratification in temperate forests. We therefore investigated the fine-scale vertical stratification of diversity and guild structure of saproxylic beetles in temperate lowland and montane forests and compared the resulting patterns between the two habitats. The beetles were sampled with flight intercept traps arranged into vertical transects (sampling heights 0.4, 1.2, 7, 14, and 21 m). A triplet of such transects was installed in each of the five sites in the lowland and in the mountains; 75 traps were used in each forest type 381 species were collected in the lowlands and 236 species in the mountains. Only 105 species (21%) were found at both habitats; in the montane forest as well as in the lowlands, the species richness peaked at 1.2 m, and the change in assemblage composition was most rapid near the ground. The assemblages clearly differed between the understorey (0.4 m, 1.2 m) and the canopy (7 m, 14 m, 21 m) and between the two sampling heights within the understorey, but less within the canopy. The stratification was better pronounced in the lowland, where canopy assemblages were richer than those near the forest floor (0.4 m). In the mountains the samples from 14 and 21 m were more species poor than those from the lower heights. The guild structure was similar in both habitats. The main patterns of vertical stratification and guild composition were strikingly similar between the montane and the lowland forest despite the low overlap of their faunas. The assemblages of saproxylic beetles were most stratified near ground. The comparisons of species richness between canopy and understorey may thus give contrasting results depending on the exact sampling height in the understorey

On the mass occurrence of two rare saproxylic beetles, Cucujus cinnaberinus (Cucujidae) andDircaea australis (Melandryidae), in South Moravian fl oodplain forests

From 2003 to 2005 saproxylic beetles were studied by means of flight interception traps in three old growth floodplain forest stands, dominated by pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash, near the confl uence of the Morava and Dyje rivers in South Moravia (Czech Republic). At each site 10 traps were operated for two seasons from the last third of April or beginning of May till end of September or middle of October. Analysis of the catch is underway ; the present results are based on two seasons at the Dlúhý hrúd site and the Ranšpurk National Nature Reserve, but only on one season in case of Cahnov-Soutok National Nature Reserve. The trapping yielded noteworthy high numbers of two rare and threatened saproxylic species, Cucujus cinnaberinus and Dircea australis, 10 and 63 specimens, respectively. First records of D. australis from this area, and thus from the Czech Republic, are from the 1990s. C. cinnaberinus was found exclusively in April and May, whereas D. australis was trapped from the second half of May till the first half of August, predominantly from July onwards.Sur l’occurrence massive de deux espèces rares de coléoptères saproxyliques Cucujus cinnaberinus (Cucujidae) et Dircaea australis (Melandryidae) dans les forêts alluviales du sud de la Moravie. — De 2003 à 2005 les coléoptères saproxyliques ont été étudiés à l’aide de pièges à interception dans trois vieilles formations de forêt pluviale, à dominance de chêne pédonculé et de frêne à feuilles étroites, près de la confluence de la Morava et de la Dyje dans le sud de la Moravie (République Tchèque). Sur chaque site 10 pièges ont été placés durant deux saisons du dernier tiers d’avril ou du début mai jusqu’à la fin septembre ou la mi-octobre. L’analyse des captures est en cours. Les présents résultats s’appuient sur deux saisons à Dlúhý hrúd et dans la réserve naturelle nationale de Ranšpurk mais sur une seule saison dans la réserve naturelle nationale de Cahnov-Soutok. Le piégeage a donné des nombres remarquablement élevés, respectivement 10 et 63 spécimens, de deux espèces saproxyliques rares et menacées, Cucujus cinnaberinus et Dircea australis. Les premières données sur D. australis dans cette région et donc pour la République Tchèque datent des années 1990. C. cinnaberinus a été capturé de la seconde moitié de mai à la première moitié d’août, essentiellement à partir de juillet.Schlaghamerský Jiří, Maňák Vítězslav, Čechovský Petr. On the mass occurrence of two rare saproxylic beetles, Cucujus cinnaberinus (Cucujidae) andDircaea australis (Melandryidae), in South Moravian fl oodplain forests. In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), supplément n°10, 2008. 4ème colloque sur la conservation des coléoptères saproxyliques, tenu à Vivoin (Sarthe – France) du 27 au 29 juin 2006 / Proceedings of the 4th symposium and workshop on the conservation of Saproxylic beetles, held in vivoin, sarthe department – France 27–29 June 2006. pp. 115-121

Saproxyic beetle data from two forest areas the Czech Republic in 2007 & 2008

This file contains information on saproxylic beetles that where caught in a lowland forest area along the lower Dyje (Thaya) and Morava (March) rivers in southern Moravia and a montane forest area in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids (Beskydy) in the years 2007 and 2008, respectively. The file contains a species-abundance list of all the species caught in the study, as well as a list with further information (saproxylic status, feeding guild, red list status, indicator species) on the beetle species themselves

Results of Dissimilarity Partitioning showing what portion of the Sorensen Dissimilarity (β_SOR) is accounted for by turnover (β_SIM) and nestedness (β_NES) for comparison of the beetle assemblages of all strata in montane (bold) and lowland (normal) forest.

<p>The dissimilarity was generally higher in the lowland and could mostly be attributed to turnover in both areas.</p