Colonisation of post-mining recultivated area by terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscoidea) and centipedes (Chilopoda) in Hungary

Abstract

In the north-eastern outskirts of town Pécs (south Hungary) colonisation by terrestrial isopods and centipedes were studied in a post-mining recultivated area. During 4 months in 2002 a total of 140 pitfall traps that were positioned in the recultivated area, in the adjoining forest and in the forest edge yielded 289 specimens of 5 Isopoda species, and 250 specimens of 15 Chilopoda species. It is primarily the terrstrial isopod (Ligidium germanicum, Protracheoniscus amoenus, Trachelipus rathkii) and centipede (Lithobius erythrocephalus, L. forficatus, L. mutabilis, L. muticus, L. parietum) species living in the neighbouring forest that visited the recultivated area. Nevertheless, in the seventh year after recultivation, these were not valued as stable terrestrial isopod or centiped communities because of the low specimen and species numbers, and due to the irregularity of their occurrence. © 2007, Penkala Bt.