Helsinki

Abstract

Helsinki is located on a peninsula projecting into the Baltic Sea from the south coast of Finland. The country lies in the Boreal region, which is typified by the mixed coniferous forests, although Helsinki itself is located in a narrow strip of the hemiboreal zone, which also has noble deciduous forest, similar to those of the temperate region. The region is also characterized by a variety of wetland habitats. Descriptions are provided of the following invertebrate taxa: Arachnida, Carabidae, Syrphidae, Apidae sensu lato, Formicidae, Isopoda, Lepidoptera and Odonata, as well as some of the habitats they occupy. The information provided is rather patchy, as the amount of data varies considerably between different taxa and habitats. The urban region contains some sites that are valuable for invertebrate diversity, regardless of their location. The characteristic features of the urban environment, such as mild climate and longer growing season, may be beneficial for some taxa.