Long-term monitoring of moth populations (Lepidoptera) associated with a natural wetland forest: synthesis after 25 years

Abstract

Temporal variability of moth abundance was monitored for 28 years (1981-2008) by nightly light trap samples during the growing season in native habitat in the Cernis alder carr (open forested wetland) in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. The results of this long-term inventory are summarized and discussed. The wetland moth community was analysed for species richness and population dynamics (temporal variability of abundance were measured by a coefficient of variation – CV) and evaluated against select ecological parameters. Moth population variability (year to year fluctuation), which is highly species-specific, is a result of complex interactions between bionomic strategies (correlates of “r-K continuum”) and habitat characteristics. High bioindicator and conservation values are characteristic of moths with low values of coefficient of variation associated with vegetation units close to edaphic “climax” in the alder carr wetland. The local and regional dynamics of all moth populations associated with the natural wetland (alder carr) were investigated, and the data obtained are critical for predicting patterns of biodiversity.