Abstract
The main aim of the survey was to describe the diversity and richness of Chilopoda in the selected area of the Bug River valley. The study sites were located in two regions differing in the shape of the valley, the presence of thermophilous habitats and the size of riparian forests. Pitfall traps were used as a sampling method. As a result, 444 specimens belonging to 12 centipede species of two orders – Geophilomorpha (four species) and Lithobiomorpha (eight species) were caught. Lithobius (Monotarsobius) curtipes C.L.Koch, 1847, Pachymerium ferrugineum (C.L.Koch, 1835), Lamyctes (Lamyctes) emarginatus (Newport, 1844) and Lithobius (Monotarsobius) dudichi Loksa, 1947 were the most common and the most numerous species. Of particular note is Lithobius dudichi found in Poland for the first time and previously known based on a single specimen. Two to 10 Chilopoda species were found in each habitat under investigation. The greatest species richness was found in thermophilous thickets (10 species), sandy grasslands (eight), xerothermic grasslands (eight) and mesic meadows (six). The fewest number of species (two) was found in rushes at oxbows and in wet meadows. We found differences in the species composition and the number of Chilopoda between the lower (102 specimens, six species) and the middle (324 specimens, 11 species) section of the river valley. Our results confirm the need to protect xerothermic habitats, unique almost throughout entire Central Europe, which due to their distribution and their small area covered are fairly easily subject to the process of destruction.
Highlights
Habitats in valleys of European rivers are relatively poorly known in terms of species diversity, habitat selection and the dynamics of Chilopoda communities
444 specimens belonging to 12 centipede species of two orders – Geophilomorpha and Lithobiomorpha were caught (Table 1)
In the area under investigation, the following four centipede species were most numerous and most common: 1.) Lithobius (Monotarsobius) curtipes – present in six habitats, with the highest number in riparian forests (77% of specimens); 2.) Pachymerium ferrugineum – found in five habitats, most abundant in the mesic meadows (53% of specimens); 3.) Lamyctes (Lamyctes) emarginatus – caught in six habitats, most numerous in very wet habitats – in rushes at oxbows (33% of specimens), in the wet meadows (25%) and in riparian forests (20%); 4.) Lithobius (Monotarsobius) dudichi – present in five habitats, prevalent in sandy grasslands (35% of specimens) and in xerothermic grasslands (32%). These species constitute 88% of all centipedes caught during the study, establishing themselves as the most typical ones of almost all habitats of the study area
Summary
Habitats in valleys of European rivers are relatively poorly known in terms of species diversity, habitat selection and the dynamics of Chilopoda communities. Centipedes from river valleys have been studied mainly in the context of changes in the communities as a result of seasonal flooding (Zulka 1991, Pižl and Tajovský 1998, Tajovský 1999, Tuf 2000, 2003, Tufová and Tuf 2005, Marx et al 2009), and in the context of life strategies enabling survival in periodically flooded habitats (Adis et al 1996, Adis and Junk 2002). Especially the natural ones, only slightly changed – unregulated, are extremely valuable areas with habitats found more and more rarely, which already start to disappear across the continent. Studies on these habitats provides an opportunity to learn about the biodiversity and to develop appropriate management and protection schemes.
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