Abstract
Due to changes in the global climate, isolated alpine sites have become one of the most vulnerable habitats worldwide. The indigenous fauna in these habitats is threatened by an invasive species, dwarf pine (Pinus mugo), which is highly competitive and could be important in determining the composition of the invertebrate community. In this study, the association of species richness and abundance of butterflies with the extent of Pinus mugo cover at individual alpine sites was determined. Butterflies at alpine sites in the High Sudetes Mountains (Mts.) were sampled using Moericke yellow water traps. The results of a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicated that at a local scale the area of alpine habitats is the main limiting factor for native species of alpine butterflies. Butterfly assemblages are associated with distance to the tree-line with the optimum situated in the lower forest zone. In addition the CCA revealed that biotic factors (i.e. Pinus mugo and alpine tundra vegetation) accounted for a significant amount of the variability in species data. Regionally, the CCA identified that the species composition of butterflies and moths is associated with presence and origin of Pinus mugo. Our study provides evidence that the structure of the Lepidopteran fauna that formed during the postglacial period and also the present composition of species assemblages is associated with the presence of Pinus mugo. With global warming, Pinus mugo has the potential to spread further into alpine areas and negatively affect the local species communities.
Highlights
Alpine habitats are unique and highly vulnerable because their existence depends on abiotic conditions, island phenomena and postglacial history (Taberlet et al, 1998; Schmitt & Haubrich, 2008). These habitats have been affected by changes in global climate and anthropogenic activities, which favour the spread of non-indigenous species (Nagy & Grabherr, 2009)
There are sites in the alpine zone in the High Sudetes Mts. with different degrees of isolation and different Pinus mugo origin; i.e., these mountains are at the edge of the distribution of Pinus mugo with some sites occupied by this indigenous dwarf pine and others where this shrub is absent or was artificially planted
The presence of Erebia spp was most significantly associated with the area of an alpine site and its distance to the tree-line, followed by vegetation dominated by Avenella and Pinus mugo
Summary
Alpine habitats are unique and highly vulnerable because their existence depends on abiotic conditions, island phenomena and postglacial history (Taberlet et al, 1998; Schmitt & Haubrich, 2008). These habitats have been affected by changes in global climate and anthropogenic activities, which favour the spread of non-indigenous species (Nagy & Grabherr, 2009). Dwarf pine limits the distribution of many other plants and animals within the alpine zone (Cavalli et al, 2011; Zeidler et al, 2012) This successful colonist spreads at localities within its indigenous distribution area but on mountain summits where it was artificially planted (Dullinger, Dirnböck & Grabherr, 2003; Treml et al, 2010). The spread of dwarf pine is negatively affecting alpine zones by overgrowing the native treeless area, fragmenting and increasing its isolation, decreasing the amount of food available for insects and changing the microclimate (Svoboda, 2001)
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