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
Natura Somogyiensis 23 229-238 Kaposvár, 2013 Diversity comparison of nocturnal macrolepidoptera communities (Lepidoptera: Macroheterocera) in different forest stands Bálint Horváth University of West Hungary, Institute of Silviculture and Forest Protection, Sopron H-9400 Bajcsy-Zs. u. 4., Hungary, e-mail: macrolepidoptera@gmail.com Horváth, B: Diversity comparison ofnocturnal macrolepidoptera communities (Lepidoptera: Macroheterocera) in different forest stands. Abstract: Macrolepidoptera communities were examined and diversity was compared in three different indigenous forest stands (Oak, Beech and mixed forests) in the Sopron Mountains (Hungary). The monitoring was carried out from May to November, 2008, using portable light traps and identified a total of 349 species and 8046 individuals in 12 families. The results suggest that the mixed forest stand has higher diversity of macromoth species. The species richness was the highest in the mixed forest stand, followed by beech and oak forests. The measures of diversity were determined using Shannon and Simpson diversity models. To compare diversity values, Hutchenson’s t-test was used. Furthermore, the diversity values were ranked by Rényi’s diversity ordering. The results found higher diversity in the mixed forest stand, while the beech forest stand had lower diversity of macromoth communities. Ranking of the oak forest stand was not possible. Keywords: Sopron Mountains, indigenous forest stands, macromoths, diversity ordering, forest management Introduction Forests play an important role in Earth’s ecosystems. These habitats are composed of plants, fungi, vertebrates and invertebrates, all of which interact closely with each other. Many authors have studied forest ecosystems, including forest ecology and management as well as indicators of biodiversity (e.g., Niemelä 1997, Bawa & Seidler 1998, Usher & Keiller 1998, Gascon et al. 1999, Fermon et al. 2000, Kjtching et al. 2000, Lindenmayer et al. 2000, Summerville & Crist 2002, Summerville & Crist 2003, Dunn 2004, Summerville et al. 2004, Beck et al. 2006, Ober & Hayes 2009, Taki et al. 2010, Fiedler & Truxa 2012). Nevertheless, the impact of management on indigenous forests and the relationship between indicator species and habitats are not well established (Bawa & Seidler 1998, Fermon et al. 2000, Lindenmayer et al. 2000). Forest communities in Hungary are often under pressure from intensive forest management, which might have a significant influence on insect communities. Currently, conservation biology places great emphasis on the maintenance of biodiversity (Primm et al. 2004). Invertebrates play very important roles in forests as consumers or as prey of several other animal groups. Insects are an abundant and diverse group. Moreover, numerous insect species are adapted to special environmental conditions, so they are suitable as indicators of biodiversity (New 2009, Park et al. 2009). Lepidoptera species
