Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 29-30/2. (2010)

Zoology

ENTOMOFAUNA AS COMPONENT OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Boris VERE$CEAGHIN, Svetlana BACAL, Galina BU$MACHIU

Institutul de Zoologie al Academiei de §tiinte a Moldovei, str. Academiei nr. 1, 2028 Chisinau, Republica Moldova

Abstract: This paper includes the analysis of species diversity and importance of some invertebrates (Collembola, Homoptera and Coleoptera) for the forest ecosystems. At the present time in the Republic ofMoldova there can be found 350 species of Homoptera (aphids). Among them — 145 produced “honey dew” for 31 species of ants. They represented source of food for several species of insects. There are some species of aphids that are pests of agricultural plants, but they are not dangerous for the forests. Coleopterans have been studied in the landscape reserve “Codrii Tigheciului” (160 species) and in other forests (20 edaphic and dendrophylous species) collected in the central area and northern zones of the Republic of Moldova. After the trophic spectrum the recorded phytophagous coleopterans aren’t dangerous for forest ecosystems, although in drought years the dendrophylous species Galerucella luteola was very abundant in elm forest. In forest ecosystems were registered various trophic groups of coleopterans: predatory, necrophagous, coprophagous and saprophagous, which have a positive role in the maintenance of sanitary status of woods. An important role for forest ecosystems is also represented by the colembolans that decompose the organic matter and participate to the formation of the humus and soil structure. Collembolan fauna was analyzed on the basis of material collected in the State Nature Reserve “Piaiul Fagului”, where 118 species were recorded, which constitute more than half of total number of collembolan species registered for the Republic of Moldova.

Keywords: forest ecosystems, Collembola, Homoptera, Coleoptera, species diversity, Republic of Moldova

Introduction

The forest is a natural complex in community of which dominate several species of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Many animal species inhabit the forest ecosystems, including invertebrates. One of the main problems in forest study is the knowledge and conservation of biodiversity. Typically, natural forests are characterized by a relatively stable equilibrium. In Moldova, forest ecosystems have suffered drastic modifications because of human intervention, which led to pest outbreaks appearance and as result changed their biodiversity. To regulate the number of forest pests it is necessary to know not only dendrophylous insects, but also the whole complex of insects.

M A R I S I A, XXIX-XXX, p. 65-69