Abstract
Terrestrial isopods were studied in the Dubravica peat bog and surrounding forest in the northwestern Croatia. Sampling was conducted using pitfall traps over a two year period. Studied peat bog has a history of drastically decrease in area during the last five decades mainly due to the process of natural succession and changes in the water level. A total of 389 isopod individuals belonging to 8 species were captured. Species richness did not significantly differ between bog, edge and surrounding forest. High species richness at the bog is most likely the result of progressive vegetation succession, small size of the bog and interspecific relationships, such as predation. With spreading of Molinia grass on the peat bog, upper layers of Sphagnum mosses become less humid and probably more suitable for forest species that slowly colonise bog area. The highest diversity was found at the edge mainly due to the edge effect and seasonal immigration, but also possibly due to high abundance and predator pressure of the Myrmica ants and lycosid spiders at the bog site. The most abundant species were Trachelipus rathkii and Protracheoniscus politus, in the bog area and in the forest, respectively. Bog specific species were not recorded and the majority of the species collected belong to the group of tyrphoneutral species. However, Hyloniscus adonis could be considered as a tyrphoxenous species regarding its habitat preferences. Most of collected isopod species are widespread eurytopic species that usually inhabit various habitats and therefore indicate negative successive changes or degradation processes in the peat bog.
Highlights
Peat bogs are a type of wetlands characterized by a high water table, low levels of nutrients, low pH values, and are dominated by Sphagnum mosses (Spitzer and Danks 2006)
Due to their small size, isolation, drainage and abandonment of traditional human activities, and especially to the progressive vegetation succession, such habitats are among critically endangered habitats in Croatia (Topić and Stančić 2006, Topić and Vukelić 2009)
According to Peus (1932) and Roubal (1934) species that inhabit peat bogs can be classified into four categories: (a) tyrphobiontic species, (b) tyrphophilous species, (c) tyrphoneutral species and (d) tyrphoxenous species
Summary
Peat bogs are a type of wetlands characterized by a high water table, low levels of nutrients, low pH values, and are dominated by Sphagnum mosses (Spitzer and Danks 2006). Peat bogs are highly endangered ecosystems in Europe (Holmes et al 1993, Dapkus and Tamutis 2008, Buchholz et al 2009) and some are listed as priority habitat types in Annex I of the European Habitats Directive (Anonymous 1992) Due to their small size, isolation, drainage and abandonment of traditional human activities, and especially to the progressive vegetation succession, such habitats are among critically endangered habitats in Croatia (Topić and Stančić 2006, Topić and Vukelić 2009). According to Peus (1932) and Roubal (1934) species that inhabit peat bogs can be classified into four categories: (a) tyrphobiontic species (occur only in bogs), (b) tyrphophilous species (characteristic of bogs but not strictly confined to them), (c) tyrphoneutral species (distributed across various types of habitats) and (d) tyrphoxenous species (vagrants or immigrants that cannot live in bogs)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
