EFFECTS OF URBANISM ON MALACOFAUNA (NITRA)

  • Barbora Holienková University of Constantine the Phillosopher in Nitra and University of Constantine the Phillosopher in Nitra
  • Zuzana Krumpálová University of Constantine the Phillosopher in Nitra
Keywords: urbanism, malacofauna, Helix lucorum, invasion

Abstract

Recently, the number of alien landscape species has dramatically increased, and this could be a serious threat, not only for native species but also in cases of outbreaks for farmers. Our objective was to examine the impact of the urban environment (positive or negative) on the diversity of native species; forecast biotic homogenization or diversification of urban fauna; and determine the extent to which each of the zones are affected by invasive species. To examine the effect of urbanization, we selected 16 areas (across three urban zones and one zone in the protected area for comparison) for this study in 2015 in Nitra. We found that snails in open locations had significantly greater species diversity and abundance of individuals than in closed locations. Slightly degraded areas had the most abundant snail species, but areas heavily disturbed had high species diversity and incidence of individuals. It appears that heavily disturbed areas are suitable as new types of refuge for snails, e.g., for Helix lucorum, which was recorded in Slovakia for the first time (numerically recorded at the railway station) in 2014.

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Published
2016-09-21