Ábrahám Levente (szerk.): Válogatott tanulmányok VIII. - Natura Somogyiensis 23. (Kaposvár, 2013)
Horváth B.: Diversity comparison of nocturnal macrolepidoptera communities (Lepidoptera: Macroheterocera) in different forest stands
230 Natura Somogyiensis are one of the most researched insect orders in the world; they have been widely used in ecological studies (Kjtching et al. 2000, Summerville & Crist 2003, Summerville et al. 2004, Park et al. 2009). Although butterflies are more often investigated (e.g., Larsen 1996, Haddad 1999, Jeanneret et al. 2003, Tudor et al. 2004, Benes et al. 2006, Cleary & Genner 2006), moth species play a more significant role in forest ecosystems because the species richness of butterflies is lower in forests (Scoble 1992, Schmitt 2003). Approximately 3500 species of Lepidoptera are found in Hungary, including 1172 macromoth (Varga 2010) and 2244 micromoth species (Pastorális 2010). In this study, nocturnal macromoth species were examined in three different forest stands; this paper supports the hypothesis that there is a higher diversity of macromoth communities in mixed forest stands. Materials and methods Study sites The investigation was conducted in an area of approximately 5000 hectares in the Sopron Mountains (Fig. 1), in the Lower Austroalpides. Approximately 90% of the area is forested (Dövényi 2010). Intensive use of forests near Sopron was started in the 12th or 13th century. After 1850, many indigenous forests were replaced with pine trees, and the proportion of the forest that was deciduous continually decreased until the 1980’s. This is the primary reason why the composition of several forests is different from that of the natural forests in the Sopron Mountains (Tamás 1955, Szmorad 2011). The investigation of conifer forests was avoided in this study, and we focused only on three indigenous, deciduous forest stands. All the sites were old forests - over one hundred years - and the studied areas were between 7.2 and 7.6 hectares: The mixed forest stand (Ház-oldal; N47°40'27", E16°27'59", 400 m, 7.3 ha), with a high number of plant species, was the stand that most resembled the natural forests (Standovár 2000, Szmorad et al. 2002). The beech forest stand (Hermes-hill; N47°39'6", E16°28’39", 490 m, 7.6 ha) was unmixed and dominated by the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica). The herb and shrub layer was subnudum. The oak forest stand (close to the Fiber meadow; N47°39'58", E16°33'10", 385 m, 7.2 ha), with an abundant herb layer - dominated by Melica uniflora (60%) - also contained a low number of tree species and was dominated by the Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea). Sampling method Nocturnal Lepidoptera species were sampled 9 times, from May to November, 2008, using portable light traps (using 12 W black light, operated by 12 V battery). Although light traps operated with various light sources have different levels of attraction for Lepidoptera families (Nowinszky & Ekk 1996, Puskás & Nowinszky 2011), UV light traps are widely used for sampling moth communities (Summerville & Crist 2003). Two traps were used in each forest stand, and there were 50 m between each trap. Samples in the three habitats were taken simultaneously for 4 days; therefore, the number of sampling nights was 36 for each study site. Light trapping was regularly carried out during the night (from sunset to sunrise) and ceased during heavy rain.
