Abstract
During 2014 and 2015, the species Morimus asper funereus Mulsant, 1862 was monitorised in the Măcin Mountains National Park, Romania using the visual transect method. The studied was focused on two topics: to determine the numerical abundance of Morimus asper funereus populations and to identify the environmental variables which influenced them. Ten abiotic factors were analysed: altitude (A), exposition (Ex.), slope (S.a), forest coverage (F.c.), air temperature (A.t.), soil temperature (S.t.), air relative humidity (A.h.), cloud-cover (Nb.), wind speed (W.s.) and wind direction (W.d.). During the study period, 112 individuals were identified. The most favourable habitats for this species were Moesian silver lime woods (91Z0) and Pannonian-Balkanic Turkey oak – sessile oak forests (91M0). The main environmental variables that influenced the beetle population dynamics were the forest coverage and wind direction. Taking into account these two parameters, we concluded that Morimus asper funereus preferred semi-shaded and semi-open habitats, characteristic of mature, old, deciduous forests within the Măcin Mountains National Park. In order to protect this species, special attention must be given to the forest management measures, e.g. protection of fallen trees, abundant coarse woody debris and a dense canopy.
Highlights
The Măcin Mountains were designated as National Park in 2003 following the Government Decision no. 230
Applying statistical analysis and considering the best model, we found that the environmental variables with the clearest influence on the numerical abundance of Morimus asper funereus were wind direction and forest coverage
Our results indicate a preference for habitats where forest coverage was at least 50–60%, or higher still when the atmospheric humidity is low, as in 2015 (Fig. 5)
Summary
The Măcin Mountains were designated as National Park in 2003 following the Government Decision no. 230. In 2007, when Romania joined the European Community, the protection and preservation objectives relating to fauna and flora with high conservative value became better defined for the Măcin Mountains National Park (MMNP). These objectives were legally supported through the Romanian Government Emergency Ordinance no. Morimus asper funereus Mulsant, 1862 is a stenotopic, silvicolous, xylo-detriticolous, xylophagous and saproxylic species. It lives in both deciduous and mixed forests, predominantly inhabiting old-growth forests. According to Fusu et al 2015, the conservation status of Morimus asper funereus in the steppic bioregion (where MMNP is located) is unfavourable-inadequate
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