Millipedes (Diplopoda) of the Ojców National Park (Poland)

Abstract

The Ojców National Park (southern Poland) is a small limestone area with outstanding natural values. Until now, there was a lack of information on the spatial distribution of species, their preference of biotopes and microhabitats in the area under study. An interesting question is also the occurrence of native species and the penetration of alien species. Biodiversity can be threatened in such a small, heavily visited by tourists and predominantly forested area, isolated from a similar landscape by agrocenoses and further eroded below the level of the surrounding landscape. Millipedes are soil arthropods, sensitive to calcified soils, stand structure, composition and availability of dead plant biomass, and microclimatic conditions. They are therefore an important reference group of animals for the management of the Ojców NP. In the spring of 2002 and autumn 2004, we carried out detailed inventory research of Diplopoda in the most typical habitats there. We recorded 19 taxa, 2 of which could not be determined to the species level. Together with literature data, a total of 23 species (ca 25% of Polish millipede fauna) are listed here. The occurrence of the moisture-preferring Carpathian mountain species Polydesmus tatranus Latzel, 1882 deserves attention. As important species, bound to preserved deciduous and mixed forests with plenty of dead wood, we consider Glomeris pustulata (Fabricius, 1781) and Nemasoma varicorne C. L. Koch, 1847. The retreat of rare native species as well as invasive aliene species were not recorded. The issue of the unclear nomenclature of the representatives of the genus Trachysphaera (Gervaisia) Heller, 1858 occurring in this area and accumulated throughout history is addressed.