Orthoptera assemblages of the relict meadows of the Szernye marsh area (West Ukraine: Transcarpathia)

Abstract

Orthoptera assemblages were sampled between 2012 and 2014 on six grasslands in marginal part of the former Szernye Marsh (Bereg Lowland, Transcarpathia, West Ukraine). 24 species in 1306 individuals were observed which is about the half of the Orthoptera species known from the Bereg Lowland. The bulk of the assemblages is formed by generalist chortobiont species (62.5%), while thamnobionts, connected with tall forb and/or shrubby vegetation, also reach a relatively high frequency (29.1%). According to the biogeographical composition, the Euro-Siberian species were predominating (58.3%), combined with only scarce presence of West Palearctic and Mediterranean species. The multivariate analysis did not show any clear subdivision according to the a priori vegetation types with the exception of the xeric habitats. This assemblage type were characterised by a low species number (7–12) and very high frequency of one or at least two dominant species which were common in all types of studied habitats. Although their subdominant species differed from the other two assemlage types but they could not be referred as true character species. Thus the studied xeric habitats are not such true xeric grasslands as the sandy and saline grasslands of the Pannonian lowland. The main natural value of the area is preseved by semi-natural humide and transitional habitat types, which can be conserved by yearly alternating mowing and preserving the mosaic structure with some corridors among them.