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Changes in lepidopteran assemblages in Temnosmrečinská dolina valley (the High Tatra Mts, Slovakia) over the last 55 years

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Abstract

Lepidopteran assemblages in Temnosmrečinská dolina valley (High Tatra Mts, Western Carpathians, Slovakia) were investigated. Recent data about the occurrence of lepidopteran species are compared with those which were obtained 55 years ago. Lepidoptera were monitored at seven sites comprising the subalpine to alpine zone of the valley. Fifteen of the originally recorded species were not found, however, the occurrence of six new species was recorded. In total, 61 summer lepidopteran species are known from the Temnosmrečinská dolina valley. The comparison of the recent lepidopteran assemblages shows a decline in species richness, abundance and frequency at individual monitoring sites. It seems that the changes are caused by plant community succession in the valley — overgrowth of dwarf pine, transformation of meadow communities to Calamagrostigetum and overgrowth of peat-bogs, resulting in loss of food resources for adult Lepidoptera.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biological and Ecological Sciences, University of P.J. Šafárik, Faculty of Sciences, Moyzesova 11, SK-04167, Košice, Slovakia

    L’ubomír Panigaj

  2. Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Studnickova 7, CZ-12820, Prague 2, Czech Republic

    Martin Panigaj

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  1. L’ubomír Panigaj
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Correspondence to L’ubomír Panigaj.

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Panigaj, L., Panigaj, M. Changes in lepidopteran assemblages in Temnosmrečinská dolina valley (the High Tatra Mts, Slovakia) over the last 55 years. Biologia 63, 582–587 (2008). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-008-0081-4

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