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Abstract
Tuf I.H., Tufová J.: Communities of terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) in epigeon of oak-hornbeam forests of SW Slovakia. Ekológia (Bratislava), Vol. 24, Supplement 2/2005, p. 113-123.
Terrestrial isopods were studied in 10 oak-hornbeam forests in the Malé Karpaty Mts and in their vicinity. In total, seven species were recorded. Individual communities consisted from one to six species, Protracheoniscus politus and Porcellium collicola dominated in most of the studied sites. Beside the age of forest growth, the soil type and pH seems to be important environmental factors affecting the species richness of isopod communities.
Key words: Oniscidea, terrestrial isopods, Malé Karpaty Mts, Slovakia
Introduction
Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) represent one of the main groups of soil macrofauna importantly participated in soil-forming processes. They mechanically destroy dead leaves and others plant rests, they stir anorganic particles with fragments of dead organic matter and enhance thus surfaces of organic matter accessible for soil microorganisms (Hassall et al., 1987; Zimmer et al., 2005). Isopods are decomposers of animal carrions, too (Grassberger, Frank, 2004). On the other hands, together with millipedes play important role in food web as an source of calcium for insectivorous birds and other animals (Graveland, Vangijzen, 1994).
In SW Slovakia, the terrestrial isopods were studied by Guliclca (I960) in the Svätojurský Súr within the investigation of ecological consequences of changes of water regime and soil macrofauna. Population ecology and biology of terrestrial isopods were studied in the same site in the seventies by Krumpál (1973, 1976). A detail inventory of terrestrial isopod fauna was done in the Malé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area by Flasarová (Flasarová, 1980, 1986; Flasar, Flasarová, 1989).
Study area
The Malé Karpaty Mts are situated in the western part of Slovakia approximately between the towns Bratislava and Nové Mesto nad Váhom. It represents the most western part of Carpathian Mountains arch and SW corner of Central Western Carpathians. The highest peak (Záruby) amounts 768 m a.s.l. Fauna and flora in these mountains are enhanced by diffusion of Pannonian biogeographic elements. Within this mountain range, ten forest sites were investigated for terrestrial isopod fauna. Positions of sites on the map, their altitudes, expositions and slopes of uphill and phytocoenological and pedological characteristics are summarized in Zlinská et al. (2005).
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