Platycleis vittata (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in the northwestern part of its range is close to extinction: is this the result of landscape changes?

Abstract

The northwestern distributions of several steppe species of Orthoptera extend to the southeastern part of the Czech Republic (Pannonia) and occupy more or less isolated fragments of optimal habitats. Their distributional limits are not conditioned by macroclimate in most cases but reflect landscape development (physical structure, plant community type and microclimate) and the insects' dispersal abilities. These species prefer permanent grassland, and assessment of land use records indicates that the area occupied by permanent grassland has been greatly reduced by agriculture over the last two centuries. The area occupied by permanent grasslands in Pannonia was highest in the nineteenth century, declined until the second half of the twentieth century, and slightly increased at the beginning of the twenty first century. These changes in the area of permanent grassland generally reflect economic and political processes; in particular, consolidation of land plots and expropriation of private property brought an end to grazing. The distribution of a model Orthoptera specialist, Platycleis vittata, on steppe habitats was surveyed at 48 potentially suitable locations from 2004 to 2010. The survey determined that the area with suitable habitat is currently very limited at all 48 locations. Occurrence was confirmed in just two locations that are 3 km apart. The research suggests that Platycleis vittata in the Czech Republic is on the brink of extinction because of extreme fragmentation of suitable biotopes and degradation of optimal habitats.

Secondary habitats are important in biodiversity conservation: a case study on orthopterans along ditch banks

“…veyseli, G. glabra, E. coerulipes, M. frontalis, R. nitidula, C. italicus and A. ungarica are included in National Red Lists as endangered or critically endangered species in surrounding countries (e.g., Berg et al, 2005;Maas et al, 2002;Liana, 2007;Holuša et al, 2013). T. veyseli is suggested to be close to extinction at the edge of Pannon region (Holuša et al, 2012), while R. nitidula is currently spreading (Krištin et al, 2007;Holuša et al, 2013). Some species such as M. frontalis and C. italicus are locally common in Hungary as well as in eastern and southern countries in Europe respectively, but they are endangered and declining in Central Europe (Liana, 2007).…”

“…Some species such as M. frontalis and C. italicus are locally common in Hungary as well as in eastern and southern countries in Europe respectively, but they are endangered and declining in Central Europe (Liana, 2007). The decline of these species is often considered a consequence of the loss and destruction of their habitats (Liana, 2007;Rada and Trnka, 2016;Holuša, 2012;Holuša et al, 2012).…”

“…We studied species richness and abundance of orthopterans at ditch banks in the Tisza-Maros angle in the southern part of the Great Hungarian Plain. We chose to study orthopterans because they are among the most important consumers and abundant prey sources for many vertebrates (Rodríguez and Bustamante, 2008;Kiss et al, 2014), and their diversity is currently declining in many temperate regions (Berg and Zuna-Kratky, 1997;Maas et al, 2002;Reinhardt et al, 2005;Krištin et al, 2007;Holuša et al, 2012). The sensitivity of species to environmental conditions is a function of their ecological and life history traits.…”

Effects of habitat and landscape features on grassland Orthoptera on floodplains in the lower reaches of the Tisza River Basin

“…In fact, more than half of the orthopteran species are endangered in Europe (Ingrisch & Köhler, 1998;Reinhardt et al, 2005). The present study was carried out in habitats of low natural value compared to Natura 2000 and other protected areas in Hungary, despite the occurrence of G. glabra and R. nitidula, which are endangered or critically endangered in surrounding countries (Berg & Zuna-Kratky, 1997;Maas et al, 2002;Krištin et al, 2007;Liana, 2007) and P. vittata, which is close to extinction along the edge of the Pannonian Region (Holusa et al, 2012). These facts confi rm that the habitats in the TRB can serve to maintain high orthopteran (and presumably other invertebrate) diversity in the Pannonian Region.…”

Genetic identification of a non-native species introgression into wild population of the field cricket Gryllus campestris (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) in Central Europe

“…The trapped animals were kept in agement, landscape history and agriculture intensifi cation (see Table 2 in Tryjanowski et al, 2011). Studies conducted on various Orthoptera species in the Czech Republic suggest habitat loss, due to changes in land management and forestations, as a predominant factor that has resulted in considerable fragmentation and isolation of many invertebrate populations (Holusa, 2012;Holusa et al, 2012). The decline of G. campestris in Western Europe is likely to be due to isolation of small populations accelerating inbreeding and the associated increased extinction risk (Witzenberger & Hochkirch, 2008).…”