Western Carpathian Mts Research Articles

Planting time, stocktype and additive effects on the development of spruce and pine plantations in Western Carpathian Mts.

Planting of seedlings is the most reliable and speedy way of forest restoration. Routine spring planting of bareroot seedlings is frequently unsuccessful in central Europe. In this study, the effects of planting time and a spring-pre-planting application of ectomycorrhiza-hydrogel additive Ectovit and hydrogel Stockosorb on the development of bareroot and container Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings on windthrow area in Western Carpathians, northwest Slovakia were estimated. Survival and aboveground growth parameters during three consecutive years and root dry weight, short root frequency, soil and needle nutrients concentration and ectomycorrhizal fungi root colonization and identification 2 years after planting were assessed. Regardless of planting time and additive, the best developed bareroot spruce (2 + 2) survived significantly better than container spruce (2 + 0), container pine (2 + 0) and especially small-size bareroot pine (1 + 0); bareroot pine was found unsuitable for planting in conditions of planting site. Both additives improved survival of spring-planted container spruce in the summer-drought second year after planting. Container spruce survived and grew significantly better following fall compared to spring planting time. Higher number of short roots was observed in spring than in fall planted bareroot spruce. Neither planting time nor additives affected root dry weight and abundance of ectomycorrhizae. No significant effects of the treatments on pine development were found. Except of K deficiency in container spruce, sufficient or overabundant foliar macro-nutrients concentration was detected. Visual morphotyping of short roots and identification of ectomycorrhizae by DNA analysis indicated inefficient ectomycorrhizal inoculation of seedlings with Ectovit.

Subterranean DeuteraphoruraAbsolon, 1901, (Hexapoda, Collembola) of the Western Carpathians - Troglomorphy at the northern distributional limit in Europe.

An integrative approach employing molecular, morphological and geographical data were applied to species delimitation among Deuteraphorura congeners occupying caves of the Western Carpathian Mts. A new species of Deuteraphorura from the Western Carpathians is described. D. muranensis sp. nov. belongs among species with 4 pso at the hind margin of the head and possesses highly troglomorphic features. It is conspicuous with its distinctly elongated claws and long, hair-like body chaetae. The status of the new species was confirmed by DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial COI marker. Populations of D. kratochvili (Nosek, 1963), the most widespread species, were studied in detail. Both ABGD and PTP analyses brought results congruent with geography, i.e. the molecular and geographic distance of the populations were positively correlated. However, some molecular separation based on pairwise distance and the number of substitutions was indicated within two of the studied populations. Despite the indistinct morphological differences, the tested populations were well isolated both geographically and genetically, which indicates that each studied population may represent a cryptic species. The troglomorphy of cave Collembola at the northernmost border of the distribution of cave-adapted species in the Europe is discussed. It is clear that the level of troglomorphy is closely associated with conditions of the microhabitat occupied by the individual subterranean species. The results of our study enhance the importance of the Western Carpathians regarding the diversity pattern of obligate cave species in Europe.

The lichens of the Krasín Nature Reserve in Biele Karpaty Mts (Western Carpathians, Slovakia)

The outputs of a pilot lichenological survey of the protected area Krasín (Western Carpathian Mts) are given. The area harbours various habitats (calcareous outcrops, southern xerotherm slopes, oak woods with Quercus pubescens, and hornbeam-linden woods) providing suitable conditions for a wide range of epiphytic, saxicolous, and epigeic lichens. During the field survey, 72 lichen taxa were recorded. Five of them are considered as threatened in Slovakia and four of them as indicators of forest ecological continuity.

GPR Survey for Fir (Abies alba) and Spruce (Picea abies) Root Systems in Different Locations in the Western Carpathians Mts. (Poland)

GPR Survey for Fir (Abies alba) and Spruce (Picea abies) Root Systems in Different Locations in the Western Carpathians Mts. (Poland)

Phylogeny of the genus Pseudosinella (Hexapoda, Collembola) from the Western Carpathians caves reveals Miocene diversification

The observations from the recent period revealed that the Western Carpathians, a part of the Carpathian mountain chain, is the northernmost region in Europe with the occurrence of the obligate cave fauna. The collembolan genus Pseudosinella Schäffer, 1897 is a polyphyletic taxon derived from the genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 from which it differs in reduced number of eyes. It covers about 350 species with predominantly Holarctic distribution of which about 39% are confined to caves. We studied the morphology and molecular traits to identify cave species of the genus Pseudosinella occupying the Western Carpathian caves and clarify their phylogenetic relationships. Based on morphological traits we hypothesized that Pseudosinella aggtelekiensis (Stach, 1929) and P. paclti Rusek, 1961 are descendants of the different phyletic lineages, the former species lacking morphologically related edaphic species. On the other hand, several species related to P. paclti were found in caves, superficial subterranean habitats and in the soil. Molecular phylogeny analysis has shown two distinct groups of cave species following pattern of allopatric distribution. The first group consisted of populations of P. aggtelekienis from the Slovak Karst and an undescribed species from fragmented and isolated karst in eastern Slovakia. In the second group different populations of P. paclti occupying caves of the central karst regions were incorporated together with a new highly troglomorphic species confined to a small karst area. After an approximate estimate of the geological timing of the species isolation (RelTime), the two distinct Pseudosinella lineages separated approx. 9.54 mya followed by subsequent diversification in P. paclti lineage 8.36 mya, and in P. aggtelekiensis lineage 6.99 mya. This study contributed to assumption that the Western Carpathian Mts played an important role as speciation centre of the obligate cave fauna in Europe.

Can low-magnitude earthquakes act as a triggering factor for landslide activity? Examples from the Western Carpathian Mts, Poland

There are numerous examples of the impact of strong earthquakes on landslide activity. There is however very little information about the ability of low-magnitude earthquakes (M < 5.0) to affect the stability of pre-existing landslide slopes. Two landslides were studied (Hołowiec and Kamień, Western Carpathians, Poland). These are located 20–30 km from seismoactive zones where earthquakes of M ≤ 4.4 occur. We have used tree rings to date past landslide movements possibly caused by earthquakes. We have dated events of tree tilting by landslide activity, after which the trees developed eccentric rings and reaction wood, in a sample of 40 Norway spruces (Hołowiec) and 51 European silver firs (Kamień). The results of dendrochronological dating were compared with the occurrence of earthquakes in the study area (magnitudes, epicentral distance, etc.). We have also analysed precipitation data to help to disentangle the impact of rainfall and earthquakes as triggering factors. We were able to distinguish: earthquake-triggered landsliding with no impact of precipitation, precipitation-triggered landsliding with no seismic impact and landsliding triggered by the overlapping impact of precipitation and earthquakes. The results show that the combination of both triggering factors has the strongest influence on the stability of landslides under study. The study demonstrates the ability of low-magnitude (M < 5.0) earthquakes to trigger landslide activity, even at distances larger than appears from limiting curves published for co-seismic landslides. The results also suggest that the activity of the Kamień landslide can possibly be influenced by the long-distance (over 500 km) influence of strong earthquakes (M 6.8–7.4) from outside of the study area. The study demonstrates that the seismic factor, both local, low-magnitude earthquakes and distant, strong earthquakes, can be an important trigger of landslide activity. Their role may be underestimated in the study area and other areas considered as seismically non-active or of low seismic activity.

Response of ground-dwelling harvestman assemblages (Arachnida: Opiliones) to European beech forest canopy cover

We studied the effects of the overstory canopy cover on ground-dwelling harvestmen communities in European beech forests in the Western Carpathian Mts. We analyzed the differences in species richness, abundance and composition in two tree canopy cover categories (closed and open canopy). Overall, 1765 individuals belonging to 16 species were caught using pitfall traps. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that under both closed and open canopies a similar absolute and rarefied species richness and number of individuals (standardized to 100 pitfall trap days) were caught, and that both species richness and abundance were affected by the season (i.e., time of trap replacement); yet the total number of individuals trapped was more than two times greater under the open canopy than under the closed canopy. Despite the subtle differences in the taxonomic composition of the catches under the open and closed canopies revealed by DCA followed by RDA, the composition of ground-dwelling harvestmen assemblages differed under the two canopy covers. The open canopy was more suitable for heliophilic, xerothermic eurytopic harvestmen species typical for open and ecotonal habitats, such as Egaenus convexus (C.L. Koch) and Oligolophus tridens (C.L. Koch) but still suitable for hemihygrophilic Lophopilio palpinalis (Herbst). The closed canopy stands were preferred by shade-tolerant, hygrophilic eurytopic harvestmen species, such as Trogulus sp. Latreille, Dicranolasma scabrum (Herbst) and Platybunus bucephalus (C.L. Koch). Our results highlight the importance of intra-habitat heterogeneity of a harvestmen community.

On the food of the Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) in Slovakia

Abstract Data on the food of the Eurasian pygmy owl in Slovakia was collected in 1999−2014 at 12 breeding locations in 7 mountain ranges of the Western Carpathian Mts and 1 range belonging to the Eastern Carpathian Mts. The basis of the evaluation of the food spectrum of prey of G. passerinum was the collection of pellets, osteological remnants and feathers from birds beneath nest cavities and roosting places of females in the months of May to July, that is, in the period of feeding young in the nest. Overall samples of food from 12 nests at elevations of 650−1,260 m a.s.l. were collected; from the largest of the three nests in the upper Nitra Region, from one nest in the Západné Tatry Mts and from three nests in the Volovské vrchy Mts. We compared these data with existing published data from Slovakia. A higher share of birds (65.0%) was found in the obtained material than mammals (34.8%). In the samples from 12 locations 10 species of mammals and 33 species of birds were found among the 377 individual prey samples. Among mammals, forest species of rodents predominated: Clethrionomys glareolus (22.8%) and Apodemus flavicollis (6.6%). The species Microtus arvalis (2.7%) was less abundant than in the stores of food from the Chocské vrchy Mts (35.4%). From the broad spectrum of songbirds, no species exceeded a presence of 7%. Species from the families Sylviidae, Turdidae, Paridae and Fringillidae were more numerous, while the species Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Motacilla alba, Carduelis cannabina, Dendrocopos minor and Passer domesticus were among the more uncommon prey. In total 582 individual prey were determined from the food remnants of G. passerinum in Slovakia (present study and other published studies). The species Clethrionomys glareolus occurred with a higher dominance than average in the pellets of G. passerinum in the mountains which border the region of the upper Nitra. In the Belianské Tatry Mts the most abundant rodent species was Terricola subterraneus, while in the mountains of eastern Slovakia the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis was most often hunted, and of the songbirds, the coal tit Periparus ater. Among songbirds hunted near the breeding grounds of G. passerinum in the Považský Inovec Mts the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis was the most numerous. Among the most numerous songbirds which are evenly represented in all compared areas were: Regulus sp., Certhia familiaris, Poecile montanus and Cyanistes caeruleus.

Microfungi of the Tatra Mts. 6. Fungus-like organisms: Albuginales, Peronosporales and Pythiales

A list and the distribution of Oomycota species in the Tatra Mts (Western Carpathian Mts) are presented. Revised herbarium vouchers and literature data were used for analysis. Thirty two species of oomycetes on fifty seven plant species were noted in the area, including two species of the order Albuginales (genera: Albugo and Pustula, on nine plant species), 29 species of the order Peronosporales (genera: Bremia, Hyaloperonospora, Peronospora and Plasmopara, on 49 plant species), and one species of the order Pythiales (genus: Myzocytium, on one species of algae). Twenty nine species were collected on the Polish side of the Tatra Mts and ten species were collected on the Slovak side. The oomycetes were collected at 185 localities.

Psocid taxocenoses structure and diversity (Insecta: Psocoptera) in the forest ecosystems of the Piceeti-fageta s. lat. zone in the Western Carpathian Mts.

Psocid taxocenoses (Psocoptera) were studied in forest ecosystems of the Western Carpathian Mts. during 1997–2001. As a study frame, vegetation tiers (= altitudinal vegetation zones) were used. Lower units of forest typological system (forest type complexes) were used for a classification of ecological conditions as well. Only a part of material, i.e. individuals that was found in the forest ecosystems of Piceeti-fageta s. lat. communities (= the 6th spruce-beech vegetation tier) was evaluated for purpose of this work. This vegetation tier is widespread in higher parts of mountains (the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. and partly in the Oravské Beskydy Mts.). 554 adults comprising 17 species were found in total in the 6th vegetation tier. As eudominant species, the following ones were found: Caecilius despaxi, Caecilius burmeisteri, Mesopsocus unipunctatus, and Stenopsocus lachlani; as dominant species, the following ones were found: Caecilius flavidus and Reuterella helvimacula. In natural geobiocenoses with the level of naturalness of 1 or 2, the following species were found: as eudominant species: Mesopsocus unipunctatus, Stenopsocus lachlani, Caecilius despaxi, Amphigerontia bifasciata and Reuterella helvimacula. Dominant species was Caecilius burmeisteri and Caecilius flavidus. Taxocenoses of psocids were evaluated by Detrended Correspondence analysis (DCA) and Divisive Cluster analysis (DvClA). This material was compared to another material gained from various vegetation tiers in the Western Carpathians Mts. The characteristic species composition of psocids in the 6th vegetation tier was as follows – Cecilius despaxi – Stenopsocus lachlani – Mesopsocus unipunctatus – Reuterella helvimacula.

The occurrence of, and economic losses caused by Armillaria in the Western Carpathian Mts

An investigation carried out in the Western Carpathian Mountains (Ujsoły, Węgierska Górka, Ustroń and Wisła Forest Districts) demonstrated a strong relationship between dieback in Norway spruce stands and the intensity of occurrence of &lt;em&gt;Armillaria ostoyae&lt;/em&gt;. For the most endangered site types – mountain deciduous forest (LG) and mountain mixed forest (LMG), analyses of losses of annual volume increment and of stand productivity were performed, and their financial dimensions determined. The greatest losses – of about 8 m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;/ha/year for tree stands of the age of 100 years, and 400 m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;/ha for the rotation period – were found for LG (Mountain broadleaved forest) site type.

Phytosociological affiliation of Annex II species Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica in comparison with two related Tephroseris species with overlapping distribution

The phytosociological affiliation of Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica, species of European importance, was studied in relation to two closely related species of the genus Tephroseris which have overlapping distribution within the Western Carpathian Mts: T. intergrifolia and T. crispa. The main aim was to compare plant communities inhabited by the three taxa, to assess the major environmental gradients responsible for variation in their distribution and to estimate ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica. T. longifolia subsp. moravica was recorded in nine localities in the Slovakia and Czech Republic where it occurs in very specific site conditions of ecotone habitats. Its phytosociological affiliation is restricted to grasslands of the alliances Bromion erecti and Arrhenatherion elatioris and to the ecotone vegetation between these grasslands and beech forests. T. integrifolia occurs most frequently in the Diantho lumnitzeri-Seslerion, Bromion erecti and Quercion pubescenti-petraeae alliances. T. crispa occurs predominantly in communities of the Calthion palustris alliance and Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae, Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Montio-Cardaminetea classes. The major gradient responsible for variation in species composition of communities inhabited by the studied taxa was associated with moisture and nutrient content. The vascular plant-based ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica calculated from phytosociological releves with its occurrence were set for light — 6, temperature — 5, continentality — 4, moisture — 5, soil reaction — 6 and nutrients — 5. We conclude that the studied taxon has intermediate relationship to the most of the studied factors in comparison with two related species, T. crispa and T. integrifolia.

Structure and diversity of psocid taxocenoses (Insecta: Psocoptera) in the forest ecosystems of the Fageta abietis s. lat. zone in the Western Carpathian Mts.

Structure of psocid taxocenoses (Psocoptera) were studied in forest ecosystems of the Western Carpathian Mts. during 1997–2001. Vegetation tiers were used as a study frame. Lower units of forest site classification system (forest type complexes) were used for a classification of ecological conditions as well. Only a part of material, i.e. individuals that was found in the forest ecosystems of Fageta abietis s. lat. communities (= the 4th beech vegetation tier) was evaluated for purpose of this work. This vegetation tier is widespread in large part of Vsetínské vrchy hills, in the highest parts of Podbeskydská pahorkatina hills, and in the foothills of the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. 1774 adults comprising 32 species were found in total in the 4th vegetation tier. As eudominant species, the following ones were found: Caecilius flavidus and C. burmeisteri, as dominant species, the following ones were found: Philotarsus picicornis, Elipsocus moebiusi and Peripsocus subfasciatus. In natural geobiocenoses with the level of naturalness of 1 or 2, the following species were found: as eudominant species: Caecilius flavidus and Elipsocus moebiusi, as dominant species, the following one was found: Mesopsocus unipunctatum. Taxocenoses of psocids were evaluated by Detrended Correspondence analysis (DCA) and Divisive Cluster analysis (DvClA). This material was compared to another material gained from various vegetation tiers in the Western Carpathians Mts. The characteristic species composition of psocids in the 4th vegetation tier was as follows: Caecilius flavidus – Elipsocus moebiusi – Peripsocus parvulus.

Taxocenoses of psocids (Insecta: Psocoptera) in the forest ecosystems of Babia hora Mt. and Pilsko Mt. in the Oravské Beskydy Mts. (Slovakia)

In the Oravské Beskydy Mts. in the National Natural Reserves of Babia hora Mt. and Pilsko Mt. (northern Slovakia) are natural forest and near-natural forest stands in 8th (Piceeta s. lat. =Spruce) and in 9th (Pineta mugo s. lat. = dwarf pine) vegetation tiers (= altitudinal vegetation zones) (vegetation tiers according Plíva 1971, 1991, Holuša and Holuša 2008, 2010, 2011). During 1999–2000, psocids (Psocoptera) were studied from 6th to 9th vegetation tiers. In total, 1,113 adults and 42 larvae in 17 species were found. In 6th VT, 11 species were found (the following species were eudominant: Caecilius burmeisteri, Philotarsus picicornis and Caecilius flavidus), in 7th VT only 4 species (eudominant Philotarsus picicornis, Caecilius despaxi and Philotarsus picicornis), in 8th VT 10 species (eudominant Stenopsocus lachlani, Caecilius despaxi and C. burmeisteri) and in 9th VT 10 species (eudominant Caecilius burmeisteri, Lachesilla pedicularia and Stenopsocus lachlani). Taxocenoses of psocids in the Oravské Beskydy Mts. were evaluated by Detrend Corespondence analysis (DCA) and Divisive Cluster analysis (DvClA). Material was compared with other material from various vegetation tiers in the Western Carpathians Mts. Characteristic species combination of psocids of 9th VT was designated as follows: Lachesilla pedicularia – Caecilius despaxi – Stenopsocus lachlani.

Snilovské sedlo mountain pass in the Malá Fatra National Park - one of the most elevated distribution hot-spots of synanthropic plant species in the Western Carpathian Mts.

Snilovské sedlo mountain pass in the Malá Fatra National Park - one of the most elevated distribution hot-spots of synanthropic plant species in the Western Carpathian Mts.

Psocid taxocenoses (Insecta: Psocoptera) in the forest ecosystems of the Querci-fageta s. lat. zone in the Western Carpathian Mts. and Polonic subprovincy

Structure of psocid taxocenoses (Psocoptera) were intensively studied in forest ecosystems of the Western Carpathian Mts. and Polonic biogeographical subprovincy during 1997–2001 in the Czech Republic. Vegetation tiers (= altitudinal vegetation zones) were used as a study frame. Only a part of material, i.e. individuals that was found in the forest ecosystems of Querci-fageta s. lat. communities (= the 3rd oak-beech vegetation tier) was evaluated for purpose of this work. This vegetation tier is widespread in large part of the Opavská pahorkatina hills, in large parts of Podbeskydská pahorktina hills, in the Bílé Karpaty hills and in the foothills of the Vsetínské vrchy hills. 1201 adults comprising 29 species were found in total in the 3rd vegetation tier. As eudominant species, the following ones were found: Peripsocus subfasciatus, Caecilius flavius and Stenopsocus lachlani, as dominant species, the following ones were found: Philotarsus parviceps and Caecilius piceus. In natural geobiocenoses with the level of naturalness of 1 or 2, the following species were found: as eudominant species: Caecilius flavidus, Peripsocus phaeopterus, as dominant species, the following ones were found: Caecilius piceus, Peripsocus subfasciatus, Philotarsus parviceps and Elipsocus moebiusi. Taxocenoses of psocids were evaluated by Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Divisive Cluster Analysis (DvClA). This material was compared to another material gained from various vegetation tiers in the Western Carpathians Mts. The characteristic species composition of psocids in the 3rd vegetation tier was as follows – Elipsocus moebiusi – E. hyalinus – Philotarsus parviceps – Ectopsocus meridionalis – Caecilius flavidus.

Polymetamorphic greenschists with Al-rich green spinels (the Western Carpathian Mts.)

AbstractDuring the course of the UNESCO/IGCP project nr. 442 (1999–2001) the present author, along with several colleagues, has described rare raw material types, used in the Neolithic/Aeneolithic, for the construction of stone implements. A metamorphic rock-type (greenschist) containing a substantial amount of Al-rich green spinels, is of special interest. This raw material type is characterized in this contribution.The rocks, which are the object of the present study, are metamorphic rocks of the greenschist association (containing monoclinic as well as rhombic amphiboles, and Al-rich green spinels in a substantial (5–20 vol. %) amount). Accessory mineralsnot necessarily encountered in each thin section, are olivine, orthopyroxene, corundum, clinozoisite, muscovite, cordierite, various plagioclases (albite and anorthite included), phlogopite, ilmenite, magnetite and sphene. The results of microprobe analyses for individual rock-forming minerals are presented. The genesis of the described rock-types is complicated; they are product of three metamorphic events (M1, M2, M3).

Statistical evaluation of ozone concentrations on open plots in a submountain beech ecosystem in the Western Carpathians Mts.

The research was conducted on two plots without forest cover situated in the Štiavnické vrchy (A) Mts and in the Kremnické vrchy (B) Mts (Western Carpathian region) and a plot covered with several-year-old naturally regenerated beech stand (C) in the Kremnické vrchy Mts. The highest average value of 71 µg m-3 was recorded in 2007 for all plots; the lowest one was 45 µg m-3 recorded in 2009. Maximum values of ground level ozone concentrations ranging from 124 to 144 µg m-3 were recorded in spring 2008 on all study plots. The values were displaying fairly high variability over the whore research period, with minima in years 2007 and 2008 on the plot covered with forest stand at the time. Statistically significant differences were distinct especially between the years 2007 and 2009.

The occurrence of Glyceria striata (Lam.) Hitchc. in Europe and the new localities of the species in Poland

&lt;em&gt;G&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;l&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;yc&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;e&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;ria striata &lt;/em&gt;(Lam.) Hitchc. is a North American species that has been recorded in most, semi-natural habitats in Europe, e.g. in meadows, bog springs, margins of water bodies. It is circumscribed within two taxa of lower rank: &lt;em&gt;G. striata &lt;/em&gt;subsp. &lt;em&gt;striata &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;G. striata &lt;/em&gt;subsp. &lt;em&gt;stricta&lt;/em&gt;. Only &lt;em&gt;G. striata &lt;/em&gt;subsp. &lt;em&gt;stricta &lt;/em&gt;has been reported from Europe. This paper gives a list of the European locali- ties of the species (48) and describes two newly discovered localities in Poland (the Wyżyna Małopolska upland and the Western Carpathian Mts.). The distribution of &lt;em&gt;G. striata &lt;/em&gt;in Europe is mapped and potential migration routes of the species are discussed.

Composition and diversity of psocid (Insecta: Psocoptera) taxocoenoses in forest ecosystems of the Abieti-fageta s. lat. zone in the Western Carpathian Mts.

Psocid (Psocoptera) taxocoenoses were studied in forest ecosystems of the Western Carpathian Mts. in 1997–2001. As a study frame, vegetation tiers (VT = altitudinal vegetation zones) of geobiocoenological or forest-typological system were used. Lower units of forest typological system (forest type complexes) were used for the classification of ecological conditions and the material found in forest ecosystems of &lt;I&gt;Abieti-fageta&lt;/I&gt; s. lat. communities (5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; fir-beech VT) was evaluated in detail. This VT is the most widespread in the regions under study (the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts., the Vsetínské vrchy Hills and Javorníky). 2,023 adults comprising 28 species were found in the 5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; VT. &lt;I&gt;Caecilius burmeisteri&lt;/I&gt; was found as eudominant species; &lt;I&gt;Philotarsus picicornis, Caecilius flavidus&lt;/I&gt; and &lt;I&gt;Peripsocus subfasciatus&lt;/I&gt; were found as dominant species. In natural geobiocoenoses with the level of naturalness 1 or 2, the following species were found: &lt;I&gt;Mesopsocus unipunctatus, Caecilius flavidus&lt;/I&gt;, and &lt;I&gt;Caecilius burmeisteri&lt;/I&gt; as eudominant and &lt;I&gt;Caecilius despaxi&lt;/I&gt; as dominant. Taxocoenoses of psocids were evaluated by Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Divisive Cluster Analysis (DvClA). The axes were interpreted in DCA-analysis as follows: the &lt;I&gt;x&lt;/I&gt;-axis denotes the influence of VTs and the &lt;I&gt;q&lt;/I&gt;-axis refers to the influence of hydricity. This material was compared with other material obtained from various vegetation tiers in the Western Carpathians Mts. The characteristic species composition of psocids in the 5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; VT was as follows: &lt;I&gt;Caecilius flavidus – C. burmeisteri – C. despaxi – Metylophorus nebulosus – Philotarsus picicornis&lt;/I&gt;.