Biodiversity - economy or ecology? Long-term study of changes in the biodiversity of aphids living in steppe-like grasslands in Central Europe

Barbara Osiadacz,Damian Chmura,Roman Halaj

doi:10.14411/eje.2017.019

Abstract

This paper examines the changes in the species composition of aphids living in dry calcareous grasslands in Central Europe over a 25-year period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first analysis of this type in the world that takes into account both previous and current data on species richness as well as groups of aphids that are distinguishable on the basis of biological and ecological criteria such as host-alternation and feeding types, life cycle, ecological niche, symbiosis with ants and their ecological functional groups. Over the period of more than 25 years, there has been a significant decrease in aphid α-diversity, from 171 to 105 species. The gain, which is in species not previously recorded, was 17 taxa. The loss of biodiversity occurred despite the fact that these habitats are protected and are valuable regional biodiversity hotspots. The losses are mostly related to intensive human activity in adjacent areas, which, unfortunately, has resulted in the isolation of these small, protected environmental islands by the removal of ecological corridors. Since, as is shown in this study, the frequencies between individual biological and ecological groups of aphids have been retained, it would be possible to restrict this loss of biodiversity if appropriate actions are taken.

Highlights

The fragments of steppe-like grasslands that still occur in Central Europe are characterized by a high richness of plant and animal species, especially small arthropods
This comparative study was carried out in three steppe nature reserves (A – Krzyżanowice, 50°27 ́13 ̋ N, 20°33 ́36 ̋ E; B – Skowronno, 50°32 ́32.58 ̋ N, 20°29 ́10.76 ̋ E; C – Winiary Zagojskie, 50°25 ́52 ̋ N, 20°39 ́43 ̋ E), all of which are situated in lowland in the Nida Basin in southern Poland and two sites that are included in the NATURA 2000 programme (D – Góra Brodło, 50°43 ́36 ̋ N, 19°17 ́01 ̋ E; E – Wzgórze Zamkowe, (50°44 ́58 ̋ N, 19°16 ́26 ̋ E) in the Częstochowa Upland in southern Poland
All of these sites are of the same phytosociological type, dry calcareous grassland assigned to the Festuco-Brometea class

Summary

Introduction

The fragments of steppe-like grasslands that still occur in Central Europe are characterized by a high richness of plant and animal species, especially small arthropods. To fully identify the losses in terms of biodiversity over a period of over 25 years, both the former and current species richness of aphids were analyzed, as well as groups of aphids that were distinguished on the basis of specific biological and ecological criteria. This made it possible to determine trends in the transformation of the aphid communities in these habitats and the losses or gains in terms of the biodiversity of Aphidoidea, which was the main goal of this study

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion