<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The aim of this study is to elaborate on the prior information about <italic>Hipparchia hermione</italic> ecology, examine its behaviour and find the habitat preferences of the species in specific study areas. The obtained results contribute to better management and conservation of the species and its habitats in Slovakia. Six types of behaviour were observed, with the exception of courtship dances, mating and perching. The most common types of behaviour observed were flight and food intake. The RDA analysis of behaviour and environmental variables resulted in a positive effect of free substrate and tall-herb vegetation on <italic>H. hermione</italic> abundance. The free substrate had a significant positive effect on all types of <italic>H. hermione</italic> behaviour. The results of the RDA analysis indicate butterflies’ shrub preference. The notion of shrubs’ presence having a positive effect on the representation of <italic>H. hermione</italic> is supported by another data set, according to which shrub vegetation provided ideal conditions for all types of observed behaviour. The abundance and diversity of nectaring plants did not have a statistically significant effect on species representation. Due to the environmental variables, the tree crowns’ significance plays a vital role. The average values are of 50%. The number of <italic>H. hermione</italic> individuals in the study areas increased with the growing number of tree trunks over 20 cm and heights over 3 m and the growing number of caterpillar host plants (<italic>Festuca ovina</italic>). The data show that <italic>Hipparchia</italic> hermione butterflies depend more on the spatial and structural arrangement of the forest than on abundance or diversity of the flora in the study areas.</p>
</abstract>

The aim of this study is to elaborate on the prior information about Hipparchia hermione ecology, examine its behaviour and find the habitat preferences of the species in specific study areas. The obtained results contribute to better management and conservation of the species and its habitats in Slovakia. Six types of behaviour were observed, with the exception of courtship dances, mating and perching. The most common types of behaviour observed were flight and food intake. The RDA analysis of behaviour and environmental variables resulted in a positive effect of free substrate and tall-herb vegetation on H. hermione abundance. The free substrate had a significant positive effect on all types of H. hermione behaviour. The results of the RDA analysis indicate butterflies’ shrub preference. The notion of shrubs’ presence having a positive effect on the representation of H. hermione is supported by another data set, according to which shrub vegetation provided ideal conditions for all types of observed behaviour. The abundance and diversity of nectaring plants did not have a statistically significant effect on species representation. Due to the environmental variables, the tree crowns’ significance plays a vital role. The average values are of 50%. The number of H. hermione individuals in the study areas increased with the growing number of tree trunks over 20 cm and heights over 3 m and the growing number of caterpillar host plants (Festuca ovina). The data show that Hipparchia hermione butterflies depend more on the spatial and structural arrangement of the forest than on abundance or diversity of the flora in the study areas.

Habitat Structure Impact on the Occurrence Preferences and Behaviour of the Endangered Species <italic>Hipparchia hermione</italic> (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in Slovakia

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences

Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina

Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences

Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra

Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava

Ekológia (Bratislava)

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Habitat Structure Impact on the Occurrence Preferences and Behaviour of the Endangered Species  (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in Slovakia

The aim of this study is to elaborate on the prior information about Hipparchia hermione ecology, examine its behaviour and find the habitat preferences of the...

Habitat Structure Impact on the Occurrence Preferences and Behaviour of the Endangered Species Hipparchia hermione (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in Slovakia

Publicado en línea: 04 jun 2024

Páginas: 66 - 75

Recibido: 16 ago 2023

Aceptado: 16 ene 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2024-0007

Palabras clave
butterflies, biotope structure, behaviour, Borská nížina

© 2024 Sabína Farkasová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Habitat Structure Impact on the Occurrence Preferences and Behaviour of the Endangered Species Hipparchia hermione (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in Slovakia

Publicado en línea: 04 jun 2024

Páginas: 66 - 75

Recibido: 16 ago 2023

Aceptado: 16 ene 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2024-0007

Palabras clavebutterflies, biotope structure, behaviour, Borská nížina

© 2024 Sabína Farkasová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
butterflies, biotope structure, behaviour, Borská nížina