Szabolcs Szanyi

Diversity and concordance in the composition of butterfly assemblages of the Transcarpathian (Bereg) plain (SW Ukraine)

In eastern Central Europe the abandonment of traditional land use represents a major threat for biodiversity. Evidence on species loss and shifts in assemblages is often based on butterfly surveys since these are known as sensitive indicators of habitat changes. Butterfly assemblages were studied in meadows of the Transcarpathian lowland in three consecutive years (2012–2014) with standard transect walks in six different sites (two transects/site). More than 6500 individuals of 66 species were recorded. The less disturbed habitats surrounded by natural forests have shown the highest diversity (Shannon-Wiener, dominance profiles). In faunal types the widely distributed, generalist Euro-Siberian species predominated with significant presence of Holo-Mediterranean and southern Continental elements. Three main types of habitats were separated and characterised by indicator species, i.e. we hierarchically classified the species according to their fidelity by the IndVal method. The dry sites were characterised by a few generalist species only, while the humid ones and mostly the transitional sites were inhabited by numerous habitat and/or food plant specialists. The assemblages were compared with multivariate analysis and the concordance of inter-annual changes of the assemblages were surveyed. The concordance profiles of the less diverse dry habitats were clearly separated from others while other sites with dominance profiles with longer sequence of scarce species have also shown similar concordance profiles. The importance of nature-like forest fringe structures was pointed out for both habitat and species conservation. Conservation efforts should be focused to sustain the general level of biodiversity by the preservation of nature-like habitats and the possible re-establishment of some kinds of traditional use.

Night-active macroheterocera species in traps with synthetic attractants in the velyka dobron' game reserve (Ukraine, transcarpathia)

1Department of Evolutionary Zoology, University of Debrecen, H-4010 Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Hungary; E-mails: szanyiszabolcs@gmail.com; varga.zoltan@science.unideb.hu 2Institute of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, H-4032 Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, Hungary; E-mail: nagyanti@agr.unideb.hu 3Department of Biology and Chemistry, Ferenc Rákóczi II. Transcarpathian Hungarian Institute, UA-90200 Beregszász, Kossuth tér 6, Ukraine, E-mail: athoeska@gmail.com 4Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences H-1525 Budapest, Pf. 102, Hungary; E-mail: toth.miklos@agrar.mta.hu

Comparison of Macroheterocera assemblages of four forests in the Bereg Plain (Hungary, Ukraine)

Abstract We compared the macro-moth assemblages of four forests from which one is extended on the Ukrainian and three on the Hungarian side of the Bereg lowland, and additionally one in the adjacent part of the Hungarian plain (NE of Carpathian Basin). The data were collected by light trapping during at least in five years in all sites. Numerous faunistically significant and/or rare species were recorded. The species composition, faunal types and ecological components were rather similar in all sites, dominated by widely distributed Euro-Siberian species but with considerable participation of Boreo-Continental and Holo-Mediterranean – West Asiatic species. Considering the ecological connections of the species, the largest part of the assemblage is composed by species of different types of deciduous forests (oak woods and hardwood gallery forests) but also with significant proportion of wetland components (marshy-boggy habitats and tall forb communities) and generalist species. The similarity of the species composition proved to be high in all dominant taxonomical groups (Geometridae, Erebidae and Noctuidae, including the most diverse subfamilies). Several species have high conservation significance.