Protected species of butterflies (Lepidoptera) in the National Nature Park “Velyky Lug”
Abstract
Velyky Lug is a unique natural complex which has a large biogeographical, ecological, environmental, historical and recreational value. The National Nature Park “Velyky Lug” was only created as recently as 2006.The park is located in Zaporizhzhya region, 15–18 km south of the city Zaporizhzhya, within the limits of floodplain area of the Dnepr river, which broadens to a width of over 20 kmbetween Bilen’ke and Vasilivka (north-eastern part of the Kakhovskoe reservoir). This enormous expansion of the floodplain (about 80,000 ha) which is situated between the Dnepr river and its tributary the Kins’ka was in historical times was called the Kin’ski Floodplain or Great Meadow. In modern times this territory is almost completely flooded by the waters of the Kakhovskoe reservoir. Remnants of natural habitats have been preserved along the river banks – in the form of little valleys and ravines which extend all the shore and also islands which appeared in 1956 when the reservoir was flooded. The overall area of the park “Velyky Lug” is 16,756 ha. Within the territory of the park “Velyky Lug” we have recorded 27 species of Lepidoptera which have various levels of conservation status. The taxonomical structure of the complex varies and included representatives of all basic families of moth and day butterflies which have species that are protected by law. In a taxonomical relation this complex is formed by the representatives of 11 families (Zygaenidae, Saturniidae, Sphingidae, Noctuidae, Arctiidae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Satyridae, Lycaenidae). Zoogeographical analysis of the species that are protected in the territory of the park can be classified into 5 basic groups (Palearctic – 26%, Pontokazach – 26%, Mediterranean– 22%, Eurosiberian – 15%, European – 11%). Analysis of the biotopic advantages of the protected Lepidoptera species present in the territory of the park showed representatives from all 6 ecological groups which are included in the Lepidoptera fauna of Central Europe. The ecological structure appears highly interesting: xerothermophilous-1 – 46%, mesophilous-1 – 18%, xerothermophilous-2 – 15%, mesophilous-2 – 11%, hygrophilous – 4%, ubiquitous – 4%. Analysis of modern threats to the existence of Lepidoptera within park area reveals the following factors: erosion of the shores of Kakhovskoe reservoir, overgrazing by live-stock, recreational overload and artificial afforestation. Most species (45%) that are protected in the territory of the park and included in the IUCN Red List have status of vulnerable (VU). Hylis hyppophaes (Esper, [1793]) is the only species of conservation importance in the park which has expanded its range in Ukraine in the last 50 years. One of main terms of conditions for the survival of rare and vanishing species, including Lepidoptera, is creation of national red lists (for example, Red Book of Ukraine). 29% species of Lepidoptera, included in the Red Book of Ukraine have been recorded in the territory of the “Velyky Lug” park. Analysis of the categories of these species confirms that Zygaena laeta (Hübner, 1790) alone is classified as a vanishing species on the Ukrainian level, the others being classified as vulnerable (53%) and rare (41%). Among the species included in the Red Book of Ukraine, those for which the park has special significance on account of the stability and high numbers of their populations within the park are – Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758), Zerynthia polyxena ([Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775]) and Plebeius pylaon (Fisher von Waldheim, 1832).References
Akіmov, A.І. (ed.), 2009. Chervona knyga Ukrajiny. Tvarynnij svіt [Red book of Ukraine. Fauna]. Globalkonsalting, Kiev (in Ukrainian).
Beneš, J., Konvička, M., 2002. Butterflies of the Czech Republic: Distribution and conservation I, II. SOM, Praha.
Blab, J., Kudrna, O., 1982. Hilfsprogram für Schmetterlinge. Ökologie und Schutz von Tagfalter und Widderchen. Natur-schutz Actuell. 6, 1–135.
Descimon, H., Napolitano, M., 1990. L’etude quantitative des populations de Papilons (Lepidoptera). Alexanor 16(7), 413–426.
Dacenko, L.M., Molodychenko, V.V., Akimov, V.J., 2011. Geomorphological processes on the South coast of Kakhovskoe reservoir [Geomorfologichni procesy na pivdennomu uzberezhzhi Kahovs’kogo vodoshovyshha]. Geologo-Mineralogichnyj Visnyk 1(25), 89–92 (in Ukrainian).
Ermolenko, V., 1999. Opys ridkisnyh vydiv metelykiv [Description of rare Lepidoptera species]. In: Bezhrebetni tvaryny Ukrai’ny pid ohoronoju Berns’koi’ konvencii’ / Pid red. I. Zagorodnjuka [Invertebrate animals of Ukraine, protected by the Bern Convention / Ed. by I. Zagorodniuk]. Kyiv, 33–46 (in Ukrainian).
Kudrna, O., 1986. Butterflies of Europe. 8. Aspects of the Conservation of Butterflies in Europe. AULA–Verlag, Wiesbaden.
Kuzjakin, A.P., Mazin, L.N., 1993. Marshrutnyj uchet imago bulavousyh cheshuekrylyh metodom vylova za edinicu vremeni [Route-calculation of the imago of day butterflies of the method of catch per unit time]. In: Vlijanie antropogennyh faktorov na strukturu i funkcionirovanie jekosistem i ih otdel’nye komponenty [Influence of anthropogenic factors on the structure and functioning of ecosystems and their individual components]. Moscow, 61–66 (in Russian).
Macek, J., Dvořák, J., Traxler, L., Červenka, V., 2007. Motýli a housenky střední Evropy. 1. Noční motýli. Academia, Praha.
Medvedev, S.I., 1953. Osnovnye cherty jentomofauny rajona stroitel’stva Kahovskoj GJeS [The main features of the entomofauna of the construction area of Kahovskaja hydroelectric damb]. Zoological Journal 1(6), 1126–1140 (in Russian).
Medvedev, S.I., Bozhko, M.P., Shapiro, D.S., 1952. O vlijanii oroshenija na jentomofaunu v rajone stroitel’stva Kahovskoj GJeS i Juzhno-ukrainskogo kanala [On the impact of irrigation on entomofauna in the area of construction of Kahovskaja hydroelectric dam and Juzhno-Ukrainskogo channel]. Zoological Journal 31(3), 347–368 (in Russian).
Petrochenko, V.І., Shelegeda, V.І., Zhakov, O.V., Shelegeda, O.R., Korzun, S.A., 2005. Rіdkіsnі roslini, tvarini, gribi і lishajniki Zaporіz’koї oblastі [Rare plants, animals, fungi and lichens Zaporozhye region]. Zaporіzhzhja (in Ukrainian).
Pljushh, I.G., Budashkin, J.I., Zhakov, A.V., Mel’nichuk, B.V., 1987. Bulavousye cheshuekrylye (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) Zaporozhskoj oblasti USSR [Day butterflies of Zaporizhia region USSR]. Fauna i Biocenoticheskie Svjazi Nasekomyh Ukrainy [Fauna and Ecological Relations of Insects Ukraine]. Naukova Dumka, Kiev 37–40 (in Russian).
Popov, S.G., 1997. Datasheets for Threatened biutterflies in the Ukraine and the Moldova / Red Data Book of European Butterflies (Rhopalocera). Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). Part II. Nature and Environment. Council of Europe Publishing, Strasburg, 77–193.
Settele, J., Kudrna, O., Harpke, A., Kühn, I., van Swaay, C., Verovnik, R., Warren, M., Wiemers, M., Hanspach, J., Hickler, T., Kühn, E., van Halder, I., Veling, K., Vliegenthart, A., Wynhoff, I., Schweiger, O., 2008. Climatic risk atlas of european butterflies. BioRisk 1 (Special Issue). Pensoft, Sofia, Moscow.
Shherbak, M.M. (ed.), 1994. Chervona knyga Ukrajiny. Tvarynnij svіt [Red book of Ukraine. Fauna]. Ukrains’ka Enciklopedіja, Kiev (in Ukrainian).
Suchkov, S.I., Tarusova, I.V., 2003. Novye svedenija o redkih vidah nasekomyh Zaporozhskoj oblasti [New data on the rare species of insects of Zaporozhye region]. In: VI z’jizd Ukrajins’kogo entomologіchnogo tovaristva [VI Congress of Ukrainian entomological society]. Bіla Cerkva, 119 (in Russian).
Sytnik, K.M. (ed.), 1988. Redkie i ischezajushhie rastenija i zhivotnye Ukrainy: Spravochnik [Rare and threatened plants and animals of Ukraine: A guide]. Naukova Dumka, Kiev (in Russian).
Thomas, J.A., 1984. The conservation of butterflies in temperate countries: Past efforts and lessons for the future. The biology of butterflies. Symposium of the Royal Entomological Society 11. Academic Press, London 333–353.
van Swaay, C.A.M., Warren, M.S., 1999. Red data book of european butterflies (Rhopalocera). Nature and environment series. No 99. Council of Europe Publishing, Strasburg.
Zhakov, A.V., Kucenko, A., 1998. Redkie cheshuekrylye (Lepidoptera) Zaporozhskoj oblasti [Rare butterflies (Lepidoptera) of the Zaporozhye area]. Zapovednoe Zaporozh’e [Reserved Zaporozhye]. Vol. 1, 100–110 (in Russian).
Zhakov, A.V., Zakrevskyj, A.A., Kryvoruchko, D.V., Pogodaev, V.A., 1993. K faune cheshuekrylyh ostrova Hortica [To the fauna butterflies of the island of Hortyca]. Priroda o. Hortica [Nature of the island of Hortyca]. Zaporozh’e, 72–77 (in Russian).