Zbyšek Šustek

Arthropods in the nests of lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina)

In 2001–2007, altogether 57 nests of lesser spotted eagle were collected in the Orava region in northwestern Slovakia and four groups of arthropods were extracted from them. Richest in number of species and individuals were mites (23 species, 17,500 ind.), followed by beetles (12 species, 725 ind.), whereas pseudoscorpions were represented only by Pselaphochernes scorpioides (39 ind.) and fleas by Ceratophyllus garei (3 ind.). Unlike nests of other birds, free-living mites predominated in the nests fauna (83% of individuals), followed by nidicolous species with more or less free relationship to the nests, while parasitic species represented only a negligible part of the fauna. For the first time we observed phoresy of Nenteria pandioni, a specific and abundant mite in the eagles’ nests, on the nidicolous staphylinid Haploglossa puncticollis. The beetle fauna in the nests was much poorer than in nests of other birds. The predatory H. puncticollis was dominant in the nests (83%) and occurred continuously during the whole investigation period. Other beetles, even the widely distributed nidicols such as the histerid Gnathoncus buyssoni, were found rarely in nests. Predators were also the only abundant trophic group of beetles in the nests, while other trophic groups of beetles abundantly co-occur in nests of majority of other birds. The occurrence of all beetles was very unevenly distributed during the investigation period, but was positively correlated with occurrence of mites. The relatively low number of species and individuals of mites and beetles in the lesser spotted eagle nests resulted from their position on tree tops, at a height of 20–30 m and their quick drying out by sun and wind. It was also indicated by an enormously low number of species and individuals of mycetophagous beetles, which represent a significant component of the fauna in nests of other birds.

Arthropods (Pseudoscorpionidea, Acarina, Coleoptera, Siphonaptera) in nests of the bearded tit (Panurus biarmicus)

In the period 1993–2006, during investigation of reproduction biology of the bearded tit, 106 deserted nests of the species were collected in Slovakia, Austria and Italy and their arthropod fauna was analyzed. Occasionally introduced individuals of the pseudoscorpion Lamprochernes nodosus, a frequent species in Central Europe, were recorded in the nests. Altogether 984 individuals and 33 species of mesostigmatic mites (Acari) were found in 46.2% of the nests examined. The ectoparasite Ornithonyssus sylviarum was most abundant and frequent; it represented almost 68.3% of all individuals. Due to it, the parasitic mites predominated (69.4% of individuals). Other ecological groups were less represented: edaphic detriticols − 11.6%, coprophils − 10.7%, species of vegetation stratum − 8.2%, and nidicols − 0.2%. Beetles (40 species, 246 individuals) were present in 57 nests. Most of the beetles were strongly hygrophilous species inhabiting soil surface in the reed stands or other types of wetlands and the shore vegetation. Predators represented 59% of all individuals. They might find food in the nests, but none of the species had a close relationship to bird nests and represented 35% of species. All beetle species penetrated the nests occasionally, when ascending on the vegetation or searching cover during periods of increased water level. Occasionally, larvae and nymphs of the Dermacentor marginatus tick were found. They were most probably introduced by insectivores of the genus Neomys. Only one species of fleas, Ceratophyllus garei — a parasite of birds nesting in humid environment, was recorded in the nests.

Long-termed changes in ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblages in a field treated by organic fertilizers

In 2001–2006, ground beetles were pitfall-trapped in a temperate lowland area of South Slovakia in an experimental field divided in five plots fertilized by four different doses of manure or biosludge (25 t stable manure ha−1, 50 t biosludge ha−1, 50 t stable manure ha−1, 100 t biosludge ha−1 and without fertilization). The field was subsequently sown by spring barley, sugar beat, maize, sunflower, sugar beat and maize. The ground beetle assemblage consisted of 31 species, but only five species predominated: Pseudoophonus rufipes representing 82.6% of individuals and five species (Poecilus cupreus, Carabus scheidleri, Calathus fuscipes, Trechus quadristriatus, Pterostichus melanarius, Anchomenus dorsalis, Dolichus halensis) representing together 14.5% of individuals. Pseudophonus rufipes represented 81.7% of dry biomass and three species (Carabus scheidleri, Poecilus cupreus Pterostichus melanarius) 15.9% of biomass. There was no significant influence of organic fertilizing on assemblage structure. During the investigation, the number of individuals and their biomass increased in all plots until 2003 and than dropped to the starting values. The culmination of 2003 was preceded by a warmer and more humid season in 2002. After a cold and dry season of 2003 abundance decreased approximately to starting values. Simultaneously, the local maxima and minima of occurrence of ground beetles in individual plots shifted independently on the doses of organic material. At the same time, number of occurring species slightly decreased. The observed changes obviously represent part of long-termed fluctuations in wider surroundings.

Drought Occurrence in Central European Mountainous Region (Tatra National Park, Slovakia) within the Period 1961–2010

Drought has recently become a significant topic in the Central European region. It has been observed that the drought phenomenon has severe impacts on the agriculture, hydrology, social, and economic sectors of lowland areas. This study focuses on how drought, defined as a precipitation shortage, occurs in higher altitudes of the Tatra National Park (Tatra Mts., Slovakia), which is a significant biological reserve of the Central European fauna and flora. The main goals of this research include identifying drought variability and its characteristics over the Tatra National Park in the West Carpathians (Slovakia), especially to characterizing drought variability and its spatial pattern across the Tatra National Park from 1961 to 2010 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and standard Geographic Information System (GIS) methods. The results showed that frequency of drought occurrence has cyclic pattern with approximately 30-year period. The spatial analyses showed that precipitation shadow of the mountains influences the risk of drought occurrence. The drought-prone areas over the mountains are also identified.

Arthropods (Acarina, Coleoptera, Siphonaptera) in nests of hoopoe (Upupa epops) in Central Europe

In 1993–1995 and 2009–2011, during investigation of reproduction biology of hoopoe, 63 nests of this species were collected after fledging of the chicks in Slovakia and Austria and their arthropod fauna was analyzed. Altogether 5,481 individuals and 34 species of mesostigmatic mites were found in 82.5% of the nests examined. The nidicolous mite Androlaelaps casalis was most abundant and frequent, representing 91.7% of all individuals. The richest in species were saprophilous mites (64.7% of all recorded species), while ectoparasites of the genera Dermanyssus and Ornithonyssus represented only 0.4% of all mites. Only 8 beetle species represented by 65 individuals were found in 18 nests. The dominant trophical group were carnivores (mainly nidicolous Gnathoncus buyssoni) with almost identical representation in (86.2%), followed by a similar representation of necrophags (10.8%). Unlike nests of other birds, the typical nidicolous species Haploglossa puncticollis and the fungivors were absent due to the dry character of studied countryside and placement of the nests in boxes situated in vineyard cottages. Only one species of fleas, Ceratophyllus gallinae — parasitizing first of all in the passeriform birds and being particularly abundant in the cavity nesting birds was recorded in hoopoe nests.

Vegetation state and extreme drought as factors determining differentiation and succession of Carabidae communities in forests damaged by a windstorm in the High Tatra Mts

Succession of Carabidae communities in spruce forests in the High Tatra Mts damaged by the windstorm of November 2004 exhibited two trends. The first trend includes the communities differentiation according to the state and management of damaged sites into three groups: (1) the site with fallen timber in situ shows only quantitative and reversible changes in rapport to the intact stand, (2) the sites with extracted timber, where less tolerant forest species disappeared, more tolerant forest species were favored and non-forest mountain species appeared, (3) the sites with extracted timber, additionally burned in July/August 2005, where number of the forest species and their abundance declined and temporal invasions of xenocoenous open-landscape species occurred. This differentiation is explained by autecology of individual species and state of vegetation. In 2010, the communities in burned and unburned sites started to converge due to partial restoration of the vegetation cover, but they continued to strongly differ from the site with timber in situ. The second trend includes a striking decline of the number of species and individuals and cumulative biomass in all sites in 2008 and a slow increase of these parameters up to 2011. The extreme dry summer of 2012 caused a decline of these parameters about to the levels from 2009. This trend represents a long lasting consequence of the extremely dry year 2007 and an immediate response to the drought in 2012. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI24) and Standardized Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI24) fitted best these changes.

The effect of application of organic fertilizers on the dynamics of occurence of Carabid species (Carabidae, Coleoptera)

The effect of application of organic fertilizers in defined doses on structure of Carabid communities was studied. The Carabids were pitfall-trapped, in 2004-2006 on experimental plots in the university farm in Kolinany (District of Nitra, S – N Slovakia), in 5 variants (1st – unfertilized; 2nd – 25 t*ha-1 farmyard manure, 3rd – 50 t*ha-1 bio sludge; 4th – 50 t*ha-1 farmyard manure; 5th – 100 t*ha-1 bio sludge) to the selected rotatio (2004 – Helianthus annuus, 2005 – Beta vulgaris, 2006 – Zea mays). The area of each variant was 1,800 m2. During the three-year period were obtained 16,172 individuals of Carabids belonging to 32 species. The distribution within the individual variants fluctuated as follows: 1st variant 10 – 13 sp.. and 612 – 1,904 ind. 2nd variant 12 – 15 sp. and 1,147 – 1,516 ind., 3rd variant 8 – 13 sp. and 360 – 3,127 ind.; 4th variant 7 – 9 sp. and 371 – 832 ind.; 5th variant 8 – 10 sp. and 404 – 1,072 ind. The dominant species in all variants were Pseudoophonus rufipes and Poecilus cupreus, while Calathus fuscipes, Anchomenus dorsalis, Carabus scheidleri, Brachinus crepitans were subdominant or recedent. However in individual varities and years they also reached dominant position. The high dominance of Pseudoophonus rufipes caused low values of the Shannon–Wiever´s diversity index ranging from 0.59 to 1.18. Based on maximum numbers of species and individuals, the most suitable were the 2. and 3. variants, (25 t*ha-1 farmyard manure and 50 t*ha-1 bio sludge). Out of the applied organic fertilizers, the climatic factors also played an important role.

Drought impact on ground beetle assemblages (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Norway spruce forests with different management after windstorm damage – a case study from Tatra Mts. (Slovakia)

Abstract After the windstorm of November 2004, the ground beetle assemblages (Coleoptera, Carabidae) differentiated after the windstorm into four groups reflecting degree of damaging and forestry management (intact stand, fallen timber in situ, extracted timber, fire). The stand with fallen timber reduced abundances of original species. Removal of timber eliminated sensitive forest species and favored tolerant species, whereas the fire allowed invasions of field species. Later, the assemblages on burned sites converged to those in the unburned sites. Their restoration has a sigmoid-like course. Independently on the above differentiation and course assemblage succession, episodes of severe drought resulted with a 1-2-years delay in sudden decline of number of individuals and species. Their numbers were restoring after longer humid periods. Because these extremes occur with a considerable regularity, the observed extremes of fluctuations of number of species and individuals represent the variability limits of the Carabid assemblages in such conditions. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index was shown, using the cross-correlation of SPEI and number of individuals and species of Carabids, as a suitable means to explain and predict such changes for the period of 1-2 years.

Erratum to “Vegetation state and extreme drought as factors determining differentiation and succession of Carabidae communities in forests damaged by a windstorm in the High Tatra Mts” by Zbyšek Šustek & Jaroslav Vido

The original version of the article was published in Biologia 68 (6): 1198–1210 (2013), DOI: 10.2478/s11756-013-0268-1. Unfortunately, the original version of this article contains a mistake in Acknowledgements on page 1209. Here we display the corrected version of the Acknowledgements.