Monitoring of saproxylic beetles in Croatia: following the path of the stag beetle

Luka Katušić,Sven D Jelaska,Lucija Šerić Jelaska

doi:10.3897/natureconservation.19.12683

Abstract

As a member of the European Union, Croatia is obliged to report on the conservation status of 220 animal non-bird species listed in the annexes of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), for which purpose a monitoring system is being established. Concerning saproxylic beetles, seven species present in its territory have to be monitored: Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo, Morimus funereus, Rhysodes sulcatus, Cucujus cinnaberinus, Rosalia alpina and Osmoderma eremita complex. Out of these species, a monitoring programme has only been established for Lucanus cervus, which partially includes participation of non-experts. In 2015 and 2016, a public campaign was organised in order to collect observations of Lucanus cervus and two other saproxylic beetles that are easily recognisable by the public: Morimus funereus and Rosalia alpina. Data gathered through this campaign serve as an addition to the mapping activities and monitoring of the species’ range. So far, more than 650 citizen observations have been collected, providing data on species presence in 216 10×10 km2 grid cells intended for reporting on the species’ range. Besides the public campaign, since 2014, public institutions for managing nature protected values have been involved in population monitoring for which they received education through several workshops. Altogether, 21 sites have been included in the monitoring of the stag beetle so far. Data collected for Lucanus cervus on standard transects, by tree and ground pitfall traps and tree trunk surveys at night will be discussed. To the present time, eight public institutions have been involved in stag beetle population monitoring and the number has been continuously increasing.

Highlights

As the most recent member of the European Union, the Republic of Croatia, joining in 2013, has an obligation, according to Article 17 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/ EEC) and Article 12 of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), to report on the conservation status of the species and habitats listed in the annexes of the directives by 2019
The conservation status assessment has to be undertaken for seven saproxylic beetles, Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo, Morimus funereus, Rhysodes sulcatus, Cucujus cinnaberinus, Rosalia alpina and Osmoderma eremita complex which are present in its territory and listed in the annexes of the Habitats Directive
Of the three methods proposed by the Croatian stag beetle monitoring programme (Šerić Jelaska 2013), the standard transect walk proved to be the most efficient, with the stag beetle recorded at all sites in each year and with the highest number of stag beetle observations

Summary

Introduction

As the most recent member of the European Union, the Republic of Croatia, joining in 2013, has an obligation, according to Article 17 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/ EEC) and Article 12 of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), to report on the conservation status of the species and habitats listed in the annexes of the directives by 2019. Of the seven saproxylic beetles, to date a monitoring programme at the national level has only been developed for the stag beetle (Šerić Jelaska 2013). It was compiled during the pre-accession period, through the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Programme “Natura 2000 Management and Monitoring – NATURA MANOMN” (EuropeAid/129747/D/SER/HR) in 2012, following the experiences of other EU countries (Harvey et al 2011a, b, Alvarez and Alvarez 1995 etc.), especially of neighbouring Slovenia and Italy (Campanaro et al 2012, Vrezec et al 2012). Two management methods have dominated: selective logging for mixed aged stands in beech-fir mixed forests and regular logging in other forests types (Matić 2009)

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