Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea, Oniscidea) at the Baltic Sea coast in Lithuania

Abstract

A survey between 2004 and 2010 yielded 2434 individuals of seven terrestrial isopod species – Cylisticus convexus, Oniscus asellus, Trachelipus rathkii, Porcellio scaber, Porcellio spinicornis, Porcellium conspersum, along Ligidium hypnorum – along the Curonian Spit and in various woodlands in Lithuania. The data on the Lithuanian fauna of all terrestrial isopods are presented for the first time. Isopod richness was the highest in woody habitats (dune pine forests and old mixed forests) where common European and Holarctic species (O. asellus, P. scaber, and T. rathkii) formed the majority of isopod assemblages. Additionally, more specialized isopods (L. hypnorum, P. conspersum) were also found in mixed and deciduous forests. Porcellio scaber and T. rathkii, the species tolerating human and natural disturbances, were the only isopods found in sand dunes at the coast. The article includes a detailed list of Isopoda occurrences and the numbers of individuals captured.

2004–2010 metais Kuršių nerijoje ir įvairiose miškingose Lietuvos vietovėse atliktų tyrimų duomenimis, užregistruotos septynios sausumos lygiakojų vėžiagyvių (Isopoda) rūšys: Cylisticus convexus, Oniscus asellus, Trachelipus rathkii, Porcellio scaber, Porcellio spinicornis, Porcellium conspersum, Ligidium hypnorum. Didžiausia rūšinė įvairovė buvo rasta miškingose buveinėse (kopų pušynuose ir senuose mišriuose miškuose), kuriose dominavo įprastos Europos ir Holarktinės lygiakojų vėžiagyvių faunos rūšys: O. asellus, P. scaber, T. rathkii. Mišriuose ir lapuočių miškuose užregistruotos specializuotos (L. hypnorum, P. conspersum), o smėlio kopose ir paplūdimio zonoje buvo aptiktos tik trikdymui atsparios (Porcellio scaber ir T. rathkii) rūšys.

Keywords:

• Curonian Spit
• sand dunes
• coastal forests
• Crustacea
• Oniscidea

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to prof Dr Christa Maria Heidger (Hochschule Zittau/Goerlitz, Zittau, Germany) and Ms Jūratė Zarankaitė (Kuršių Nerija National Park, Lithuania) for their collaboration during the research in the Curonian Spit and to Dr Mindaugas Dagys, and Ms Daiva Vaitkuvienė (Nature Research Centre, Lithuania) for their help in preparing the maps and Ms Virginija Žalienė for improvements in the manuscript’s language. The authors thank the reviewers for their valuable comments.