Utjecaj ispaše, sukcesije i košnje na proljetnu faunu danjih leptira (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) na suhim krškim livadama i pašnjacima

Karst meadows belonging to the class Festuco-Brometea are regarded as species-rich habitats of national and European importance. Biodiversity in these areas is relatively high, but unlike most other semi-natural habitat types, it is highly influenced and facilitated by human activities. In the present study we document the presence and estimate abundance of butterfly species from three sampling plots in Kraški rob (SW Slovenia): two dry karst meadows and one pasture, which also includes an overgrown area. Over 16-day sampling occasions in May and June 2012, 63 species (including species complexes) were recorded. Nearly all of the species were recorded from dry karst meadows (60 ssp., 95%), while pasture (34 spp., 54%) and the overgrown site (28 spp., 44%) were less diverse. The abundance of butterflies was the lowest on the overgrown area. Although both grazing and overgrowth result in a decline in the number and abundance of species, we believe that traditional land use positively affects butterfly diversity, as it maintains open grasslands, a habitat that is preferred by most butterfly species to the later phases of succession. We therefore recommend the maintenance of a mosaic landscape structure, as it supports a wide range of butterfly fauna.Krške livade razreda Festuco-Brometea su vrstama bogata staništa od nacionalne i europske važnosti. Bioraznolikost na tim područjima je relativno visoka, no u suprotnosti s nekim drugim poluprirodnim staništima, njihova bioraznolikost je pod velikim utjecajem ljudske aktivnosti. U ovom istraživanju smo zabilježili prisutnost i procijenili brojnost danjih leptira na tri uzorkovane plohe na Kraškom rubu (jugozapadna Slovenija): dvije krške livade i jednom pašnjaku koji je uključivao i zarasla područja. Tijekom 16-dnevnog terenskog istraživanja u svibnju i lipnju 2012., zabilježili smo 63 vrste leptira (uključujući i komplekse vrsta). Gotovo sve vrste su bile zabilježene na suhim krškim livadama (60 vrsta, 95%), dok je na pašnjaku (34 vrste, 54%) i na zaraslom području (28 vrsta, 44%) raznolikost bila manja. Brojnost leptira je bila najmanja na zaraslim površinama. Iako i zaraštanje i ispaša imaju za posljedicu opadanje u broju vrsta i brojnosti, smatramo da tradicionalno korištenje zemlje pozitivno utječe na raznolikost leptira. Razlog za to je prije svega sprječavanje zaraštanja livada, koje leptiri preferiraju više od staništa u kasnijim fazama sukcesije. Zato predlažemo održavanje mozaične strukture krajolika, jer će na taj način on biti primjeren za veći broj vrsta leptira

Prvi nalaz šimširovog moljca, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) u Hrvatskoj

During a light-trap moth survey on 21st June 2012 in the northern part of Istria, between the villages of Valica and Sveta Marija na Krasu, two individuals of the box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, were caught. This is the first Croatian record of this invasive species. Following the recent records from Slovenia and Hungary, this observation from Croatia indicates the spread of the species towards southern Europe.Tijekom istraživanja noćnih leptira svjetlosnim lovkama 21.06.2012. u sjevernom dijelu Istre, između sela Valica i Sveta Marija na Krasu, ulovljene su dvije jedinke šimširovog moljca, Cydalima perspectalis. To je prvi nalaz ove invazivne azijske vrste u Hrvatskoj. Nakon nedavnih nalaza iz Slovenije i Mađarske, nalaz iz Hrvatske ukazuje na širenje ove vrste prema južnoj Europi

New records of the rare dragonfly, Black Pennant - Selysiothemis nigra (Vander Linden, 1825) (Insecta: Odonata) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In 2012, we recorded a Black Pennant, Selysiothemis nigra, at two sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e. in the surroundings of Klepci village and in Hutovo Blato Nature Park, Neretva River. These are the first recent records of this species in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which had previously been known only from the entomological collection in the Museum of Sarajevo. As this species had previously been recorded on the Croatian side of the Neretva River, these records fit into the distribution area of the species. With the confirmation of this record, the dragonfly fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of 60 specie

Diversity of the moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) of a wetland forest: A case study from Motovun forest, Istria, Croatia

Background and Purpose: The Motovun forest located in the Mirna river valley, central Istria, Croatia is one of the last lowland floodplain forests remaining in the Mediterranean area. Materials and Methods: Between 2011 and 2014 lepidopterological research was carried out on 14 sampling sites in the area of Motovun forest. The moth fauna was surveyed using standard light traps tents. Results and Conclusions: Altogether 403 moth species were recorded in the area, of which 65 can be considered at least partially hygrophilous. These results list the Motovun forest as one of the best surveyed regions in Croatia in respect of the moth fauna. The current study is the first of its kind for the area and an important contribution to the knowledge of moth fauna of the Istria region, and also for Croatia in general

Utjecaj ispaše, sukcesije i košnje na proljetnu faunu danjih leptira (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) na suhim krškim livadama i pašnjacima

Karst meadows belonging to the class Festuco-Brometea are regarded as species-rich habitats of national and European importance. Biodiversity in these areas is relatively high, but unlike most other semi-natural habitat types, it is highly influenced and facilitated by human activities. In the present study we document the presence and estimate abundance of butterfly species from three sampling plots in Kraški rob (SW Slovenia): two dry karst meadows and one pasture, which also includes an overgrown area. Over 16-day sampling occasions in May and June 2012, 63 species (including species complexes) were recorded. Nearly all of the species were recorded from dry karst meadows (60 ssp., 95%), while pasture (34 spp., 54%) and the overgrown site (28 spp., 44%) were less diverse. The abundance of butterflies was the lowest on the overgrown area. Although both grazing and overgrowth result in a decline in the number and abundance of species, we believe that traditional land use positively affects butterfly diversity, as it maintains open grasslands, a habitat that is preferred by most butterfly species to the later phases of succession. We therefore recommend the maintenance of a mosaic landscape structure, as it supports a wide range of butterfly fauna.Krške livade razreda Festuco-Brometea su vrstama bogata staništa od nacionalne i europske važnosti. Bioraznolikost na tim područjima je relativno visoka, no u suprotnosti s nekim drugim poluprirodnim staništima, njihova bioraznolikost je pod velikim utjecajem ljudske aktivnosti. U ovom istraživanju smo zabilježili prisutnost i procijenili brojnost danjih leptira na tri uzorkovane plohe na Kraškom rubu (jugozapadna Slovenija): dvije krške livade i jednom pašnjaku koji je uključivao i zarasla područja. Tijekom 16-dnevnog terenskog istraživanja u svibnju i lipnju 2012., zabilježili smo 63 vrste leptira (uključujući i komplekse vrsta). Gotovo sve vrste su bile zabilježene na suhim krškim livadama (60 vrsta, 95%), dok je na pašnjaku (34 vrste, 54%) i na zaraslom području (28 vrsta, 44%) raznolikost bila manja. Brojnost leptira je bila najmanja na zaraslim površinama. Iako i zaraštanje i ispaša imaju za posljedicu opadanje u broju vrsta i brojnosti, smatramo da tradicionalno korištenje zemlje pozitivno utječe na raznolikost leptira. Razlog za to je prije svega sprječavanje zaraštanja livada, koje leptiri preferiraju više od staništa u kasnijim fazama sukcesije. Zato predlažemo održavanje mozaične strukture krajolika, jer će na taj način on biti primjeren za veći broj vrsta leptira

Prilog poznavanju herpetofaune (Amphibia & Reptilia) donjeg dijela rijeke Neretve (Hrvatska i Bosna i Hercegovina)

In this paper we present newly collected data and historical overview of the herpetofauna of Neretva River Valley. During two consecutive years (2011, 2012) we collected new data about the presence of reptiles and amphibians in the area, on 25 sampling sites, of which 21 in Croatia and 4 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During our survey we recorded the presence of 21 species of which 18 are listed in the IUCN Red list. The literature records added another 13 species, so the total number for amphibians and reptiles in the area is 34 species, 11 amphibian and 23 reptiles. With such a high diversity, the area of Neretva River is one of the hotspots of the amphibian and reptile diversity in Croatia. Lower Neretva Valley is now days under a strong anthropogenic influence, and most of the area is used for plantations and intensive agriculture. It is of a critical importance to conserve and protect the remaining natural habitat in the future.U ovom radu predstavljamo novo prikupljene podatke, kao i povijesni pregled herpetofaune doline rijeke Neretve. Tijekom 2011. i 2012. godine prikupili smo podatke o prisutnosti vodozemaca i gmazova na 25 lokaliteta, od kojih se 21 nalazio u Hrvatskoj a 4 u Bosni i Hercegovini. Tijekom našeg istraživanja utvrdili smo prisutnost 21 vrste, od kojih je 18 navedeno na IUCN-ovom Crvenom Popisu. Literaturnim nalazima utvrdili smo prisutnost još 13 vrsta, tako da je poznati broj vrsta na području Neretve 34, od čega 11 vrsta vodozemaca i 23 vrste gmazova. Sa ovolikim brojem vrsta, područje rijeke Neretve može se smatrati vrućom točkom bioraznolikosti vodozemaca i gmazova u Hrvatskoj. Donji tok rijeke Neretve je danas pod snažnim antropogenim utjecajem, i veći dio se upotrebljava za plantaže i intenzivnu poljoprivredu. U budućnosti će biti od ključne važnosti očuvati preostala prirodna staništa toga područja

Prilog poznavanju herpetofaune (Amphibia & Reptilia) donjeg dijela rijeke Neretve (Hrvatska i Bosna i Hercegovina)

In this paper we present newly collected data and historical overview of the herpetofauna of Neretva River Valley. During two consecutive years (2011, 2012) we collected new data about the presence of reptiles and amphibians in the area, on 25 sampling sites, of which 21 in Croatia and 4 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During our survey we recorded the presence of 21 species of which 18 are listed in the IUCN Red list. The literature records added another 13 species, so the total number for amphibians and reptiles in the area is 34 species, 11 amphibian and 23 reptiles. With such a high diversity, the area of Neretva River is one of the hotspots of the amphibian and reptile diversity in Croatia. Lower Neretva Valley is now days under a strong anthropogenic influence, and most of the area is used for plantations and intensive agriculture. It is of a critical importance to conserve and protect the remaining natural habitat in the future.U ovom radu predstavljamo novo prikupljene podatke, kao i povijesni pregled herpetofaune doline rijeke Neretve. Tijekom 2011. i 2012. godine prikupili smo podatke o prisutnosti vodozemaca i gmazova na 25 lokaliteta, od kojih se 21 nalazio u Hrvatskoj a 4 u Bosni i Hercegovini. Tijekom našeg istraživanja utvrdili smo prisutnost 21 vrste, od kojih je 18 navedeno na IUCN-ovom Crvenom Popisu. Literaturnim nalazima utvrdili smo prisutnost još 13 vrsta, tako da je poznati broj vrsta na području Neretve 34, od čega 11 vrsta vodozemaca i 23 vrste gmazova. Sa ovolikim brojem vrsta, područje rijeke Neretve može se smatrati vrućom točkom bioraznolikosti vodozemaca i gmazova u Hrvatskoj. Donji tok rijeke Neretve je danas pod snažnim antropogenim utjecajem, i veći dio se upotrebljava za plantaže i intenzivnu poljoprivredu. U budućnosti će biti od ključne važnosti očuvati preostala prirodna staništa toga područja