Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 88. (Budapest 1996)

Madari, B., Kiss, I. ; Korsós, Z.: Community-structure parameters of millipedes (Diplopoda) in five different habitats

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Volume 88. Budapest, 1996 pp. 79-87. Community-structure parameters of millipedes (Diplopoda) in five different habitats B. MADARI

1

, 1. Kiss

1 & Z. KORSÓS

2 ' Department of Zoology and Ecology, Gödöllő University of Agricultural Sciences H-2103 Gödöllő, Páter K. u. 1, Hungary Zoological Department, Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13, Hungary MADARI, B., KISS, I. & KORSÓS, Z. (1996): Community-structure parameters of millipedes (Diplopoda) in five different habitats. - Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natu. hung. 88: 79-87. Abstract - Five different, characteristic areas were sampled for the fauna of Diplopoda in the surroundings of Gödöllő. Altogether seven species were found which are common members in the Hungarian diplopod fauna. The analysis of relative abundance of the species showed that the habitat covered with older, balanced deciduous forest (dominant species is robur) but still not in the stage of senescence, is the most suitable for millipides around Gödöllő. The frequently bothered habitat surrounded by arable land practically do not provide sufficient living conditions for millipedes. Megaphyllum projectum was found as the dominant Diplopoda species in the region, Ommatoiulus sabulosus is subdominant, and the third most frequent species is Cylindroiulus holed. Comparing the examined areas we could separate two similarity groups. Based on their Diplopoda fauna, the clear cut, the young acacia wood and the area surrounded by arable land belongs to one group and the other group consists of the robur and pine wood. Analysing the seasonal activity of species the conclusion can be drawn that the seasonal activity of the two most frequent species alternates in time and they devide nutrients and space between each other. With 5 figures. INTRODUCTION At the Department of Zoology and Ecology, Gödöllő University of Agricultural Sciences, there is a project to make a survey of the fauna of the Gödöllő Hills Landscape Protection Area. In the framework of this project, our objective was to make a faunistical survey of the arthropod class Diplopoda in the protected area and in the surroundings of Gödöllő. The question was to find out how many and which species of millipedes live in the sampling areas, to estimate their abundances, to calculate their dominance relations compared to each other in the region. Study areas were also compared regarding their species composition, and finally we attempted to investigate the seasonal activity of the dominant species.