How to increase the value of urban areas for butterfly conservation? A lesson form Prague nature reserves and parks

0358544 - BC 2012 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Konvička, Martin - Kadlec, Tomáš
How to increase the value of urban areas for butterfly conservation? A lesson form Prague nature reserves and parks.
European Journal of Entomology. Roč. 108, č. 2 (2011), s. 219-229. ISSN 1210-5759. E-ISSN 1802-8829
R&D Projects: GA ČR GAP505/10/2167; GA MŠMT LC06073
Grant - others:GA MŽP(CZ) VaV/620/2/03
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50070508
Keywords : insect conservation * habitat fragments * Lepidoptera
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 1.061, year: 2011
http://www.eje.cz/scripts/viewabstract.php?abstract=1610

We surveyed butterflies and Zygaenidae in 25 reserves Prague, Czech Republic. A total of 85 spec. (47% of the Czech fauna) was detected, 22 of them of conservation concern. The richest sites were large, far from the city centre, on alkaline bedrocks, south- oriented, and hosting many vegetation types and plant species. We then used generalised linear models to fit responses of individual species to increasing urbanisation. Out of 60 species meeting criteria for the modelling, none responded positively to urbanisation, 20 responded linearly negatively (urban avoiders, mainly mesophilous species of rural landscapes), and 29 (suburban adaptable) peaked at the city periphery (mainly xerophilous specialists). Finally, 11 urban tolerant species did not respond to urbanisation at all. The fact that arboreal species persist even in urban parks, whereas common grassland species are absent there, implies that urban habitats might be increased by a more sensitive management of urban green spaces.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0006403