Butterfly Assemblages in Fragmented Meadow Habitats of the Pre-Carpathian Lowland (Bereg Plain, Sw Ukraine)

Abstract

Abstract. The butterfly assemblages of grassland habitats in the Transcarpathian part of the Bereg plain were studied with standard transect walk methods in 2012 and 2013, in 6 different sites (14 transects), in all sites with 4 and 5 repetitions per year. To sum up, we observed 63 butterfly species in more than 4800 individuals. 25% of these species is under protection in Hungary. Considering the faunal types, the widely distributed and generalist Euro-Siberian species predominate, but with significant presence of HoloMediterranean and southern Continental elements. The less disturbed habitats surrounded by natural forests have shown the highest species diversity (Shannon-Wiener). The assemblages were compared with multivariate methods (PCA, cluster, Bray-Curtis) . Three main groups of habitats were separated and characterised by indicator species (IndVal). The positive effect of nature-like forest fringe and scrubby structures was demonstrated. According to our results the quality of habitats is more relevant for species diversity than size and/or isolation of habitats.

Caddisfly (Trichoptera, Insecta) fauna and assemblages of the north-eastern part of the Pannonian Lowland (West Ukraine, Transcarpathia)

“…The Pannonian Lowland has unique wildlife revealed in the case of many terrestrial (e.g. Lepidoptera ( Szanyi et al 2015a ); Orthoptera ( Szanyi et al 2021 ); Coleoptera ( Keszthelyi 2015 ); Aves ( Ónodi et al 2021 ); etc.) and aquatic taxa (e.g.…”