Invertebrates of the Macocha Abyss (Moravian Karst, Czech Republic) Nevretenčarji Brezna Macoha (Moravski Kras, Republika Češka)
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COBISS: 1.02 INVERTEBRATES OF THE MACOCHA ABYSS (MORAVIAN KARST, CZECH REPUBLIC) NEVRETENČARJI BREZNA MACOHA (MORAVSKI KRAS, REPUBLIKA ČEŠKA) Vlastimil RŮŽIČKA1, Roman MLEJNEK2, Lucie JUŘIČKOVÁ3, Karel TAJOVSKÝ4, Petr ŠMILAUER5 & Petr ZAJÍČEK2 Abstract UDC 592:551.44(437.32) Izvleček UDK 592:551.44(437.32) Vlastimil Růžička, Roman Mlejnek, Lucie Juřičková, Karel Vlastimil Růžička, Roman Mlejnek, Lucie Juřičková, Karel Tajovský, Petr Šmilauer & Petr Zajíček: Invertebrates of the Tajovský, Petr Šmilauer & Petr Zajíček: Nevretenčarji brezna Macocha Abyss (Moravian Karst, Czech Republic) Macoha (Moravski kras, Republika Češka) The invertebrates of the Macocha Abyss, Moravian Karst, Med vzorčenjem v letih 2007 in 2008 smo v jami Maco- Czech Republic, were collected in 2007–2008 and 222 species ha določili 222 vrst nevretenčarjev. Ovrednotili smo rela- were identified in total. The relative abundance of individual tivno pogostost posameznih taksonov polžev, suhih južin, taxa of land snails, harvestmen, pseudoscorpions, spiders, mil- paščipalcev, pajkov, stonog, kopenskih enakonožcev, hroščev lipedes, centipedes, terrestrial isopods, beetles, and ants was in mravelj. Na mraz prilagojene gorske in podzemeljske vrste evaluated. The cold-adapted mountain and subterranean spe- naseljujejo dno in spodnji del brezna, toploljubne vrste pa cies inhabit the bottom and lower part of the abyss, whereas naseljujejo kamnite površine soncu izpostavljenega roba. V the sun-exposed rocky margins were inhabited by thermophil- Macohi je več ogroženih vrst, ki jih sicer v okoliški pokrajini ne ous species. Macocha harbors several threatened species that najdemo. Kot habitat s specifično mikroklimo je Macoha izje- are absent or very rare in the surrounding habitats. In the for- mno zatočišče za vlagoljubne in toploljubne vrste, ki pomem- est landscape, the Macocha Abyss represents a natural habitat bno prispevajo k vzdrževanju biotske raznovrstnosti v pokra- with a distinct microclimatic gradient, and is an excellent ref- jini. uge area for psychrophilous as well as thermophilous species, Ključne besede: Mravlje, stonoge, hrošči, suhe južine, kopen- which significantly contributes to maintenance of landscape ski polži, stonoge, psevdoškorpijoni, kopenski enakonožci, paj- biodiversity. ki, biotska raznovrstnost. Key words: Ants, centipedes, beetles, biodiversity, harvestmen, land snails, light hole, millipedes, pseudoscorpions, terrestrial ispods, spiders. 1 Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected] 2 Cave Administration of the Czech Republic, Svitavská 11/13, CZ-678 25 Blansko, Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] 3 Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Praha, Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected] 4 Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre CAS, Na Sádkách 7, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected] 5 Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic, e-mail: [email protected] Received/Prejeto: 19.08.2015 ACTA CARSOLOGICA 45/1, 71–84, POSTOJNA 2016 Vlastimil RŮŽIČKA, Roman MLEJNEK, Lucie JUŘIČKOVÁ, Karel TAJOVSKÝ, Petr ŠMILAUER & Petr ZAJÍČEK INTRODUCTION Medium-sized types of relief (with a size of tens to hun- dreds square metres) play a very important role in ter- restrial ecosystems. They are responsible for deviations in microclimatic conditions and consequently, for habi- tat differentiation, with a different composition of flora and fauna for each specific site. Cliffs and talus slopes represent natural habitats that exhibit very distinct gra- dients of environmental factors and accompanying biota (Larson et al. 2000; Růžička & Zacharda 2010; Růžička et al. 2012). The same is true for terrain depressions – sinkholes and abysses. Deeper vertical fissures, shafts and abysses usually represent a vertical cave entrance, which is less accessible than a horizontal cave entrance. The at- tention of biospeleologists mainly focuses on animals that inhabit deep spaces at the bottom of the cave, and the entrance sections remain poorly studied. Ecological studies that describe the vertical distribution of inverte- brates along a depth gradient in caves are therefore rare (Růžička 1996; Mlejnek & Zajíček 2006; Sendra & Rebo- leira 2012). Fig. 2: Macocha Abyss (Photo: P. Zajíček). Macocha Abyss is one of the deepest abysses of the light-hole type in Europe. Only solitery, unsystematic in- vestigations of invetrebrates were done. Besides common ecologically indifferent land-snail species (sensu Ložek 1964) (Alinda biplicata, Vitrina pellucida), rock-dwell- ing species (Helicigona lapicida, Faustina faustina), and woodland species (Arianta arbustorum, Monachoides in- carnatus, Semilimax semilimax, Vitrea crystallina) were recorded. The record of rare Carpathian species Vitrea transsylvanica from this isolated site is of prime impor- tance (Ložek 1952; Vaněčková & Vašátko 1971; Kroupa 1973). The first spider species, Porrhomma egeria, typi- cal of subterranean habitats, was recorded during initial investigations (Absolon 1904). Subsequent research on spiders was conducted by Růžička (1999b), who col- Fig. 1: Macocha Abyss. Longitudinal section with sampling loca- lected them among stones in the scree cone. The survey tions on the upper margin (U1–3), in the middle part (M1–3), of beetles inhabiting the Macocha Abyss was presented and the lower part (L1–3). A map of the Czech Republic with a by Hamet et al. (2012). The major part of the zoological location of the Macocha Abyss is inserted. investigations focused on the study of invertebrates that 72 ACTA CARSOLOGICA 45/1 – 2016 INVERTEBRATES OF THE MACOCHA ABYSS (MORAVIAN KARST, CZECH REPUBLIC) colonise deeper subterranean habitats; the invertebrates The aims of this study were (1) to describe the as- that inhabit the rock walls and upper rocky margins of semblages of selected groups of invertebrates in relation the abyss remain still unstudied. Pseudoscorpions, har- to the depth gradient, and (2) to assess the ecological vestmen, terrestrial isopods, millipedes, centipedes and and biogeographical significance of the Macocha Abyss, ants were collected only occasionally in the past and based on collected data and those in the literature. neither detailed nor summarising information has ever been published. MATERIALS AND METHODS StudY site The Macocha Abyss (49.3733°N, 16.7293°E) is situ- The Moravian Karst – formed from Devonian limestone ated in the discharge area of this system. The dimensions – is the largest karst area in the Czech Republic, covering of its opening are 174 × 76 m, and the depth of dry part an area of 92 km2. The landscape of the Moravian Karst is 139 m (Figs. 1 and 2). The abyss was opened by the region, covered by deciduous forests, is formed by pla- collapse of the cavern ceiling during the last interglacial teaux with many sinkholes separated by deep canyons. period; its present shape was consequently formed dur- The northern part of the Moravian Karst is drained by ing the Pleistocene and Holocene (Kadlec & Beneš 1996; the Punkva River and its tributaries. The Amatérská Kadlec et al. 2001). Cave complex, which stretches for almost 34 km includ- Botanical research of the Macocha Abyss immedi- ing contiguous caves, represents one of the largest cave ately followed speleological explorations (Absolon 1904, systems in Europe (Hromas 2009). 1970). In total, 247 species of vascular plants have been reported to inhabit the slopes of abyss (Sutorý 2009). Species characteristic of sun-exposed rocky slopes oc- cur on the upper margin and the occurrence of moun- tain plants is characteristic for the vertical rock walls (Straňák 1970). Cortusa matthioli grows on the lower part of the vertical rock walls and Macocha is the only locality of this plant species in the Czech Republic. The occurrence of rare and endangered bryophytes, e.g. Bux- baumia viridis and Cololejeunea rossettiana, is also char- acteristic for this locality (Straňák 1970). Temperature measurements Data-loggers (Model Minikin TH, EMS, Brno, Czech Republic) with internal thermistors (accuracy ± 0.2 °C) were used to register the temperature every 15 minutes at five depth levels from January 2007 to December 2008. Sampling Invertebrates were sampled at three depth levels: U – Upper margin, sun-exposed rock outcrops on the up- per margin of the abyss; M – Middle part, shaded rock walls; L – Lower part, the cold bottom. Invertebrates were trapped using hanging board traps described by Růžička (1982, 1988, 2000) which are designed for the automatic collection of invertebrates on vertical rock walls (Fig. 3). The traps, made of rigid plastic, consist of a Fig. 3: Traps hanging against the rock surfaces, were used to cap- board (25 × 20 cm), which formed an artificial horizontal ture the invertebrates (Photo: P. Dolejš). surface) and a can (13 cm high and 10.5 cm in diameter) ACTA CARSOLOGICA 45/1 – 2016 73 Vlastimil RŮŽIČKA, Roman MLEJNEK, Lucie JUŘIČKOVÁ, Karel TAJOVSKÝ, Petr ŠMILAUER & Petr ZAJÍČEK inserted in the center of the board. The traps contained ly permuting the nine sampling traps. The difference a mixture of 7 % formaldehyde and 10 % glycerol with in species richness (number of recorded invertebrate a few drops of a