Diversity comparison of nocturnal macrolepidoptera communities (Lepidoptera: Macroheterocera) in different forest stands

Abstract

Macrolepidoptera communities were examined and diversity was compared in three different indigenous forest stands (Oak, Beech and mixed forests) in the Sopron Mountains (Hungary). The monitoring was carried out from May to November, 2008, using portable light traps and identified a total of 349 species and 8046 individuals in 12 families. The results suggest that the mixed forest stand has higher diversity of macromoth species. The species richness was the highest in the mixed forest stand, followed by beech and oak forests. The measures of diversity were determined using Shannon and Simpson diversity models. To compare diversity values, Hutchenson’s t-test was used. Furthermore, the diversity values were ranked by Rényi’s diversity ordering. The results found higher diversity in the mixed forest stand, while the beech forest stand had lower diversity of macromoth communities. Ranking of the oak forest stand was not possible.