Global change, local survival: effects of aspect and moisture on epigeic invertebrate communities
Abstract
We investigated the effect of aspect and habitat moisture on occurrence and abundance patterns of terrestrial isopods and snails. Samples were collected from north-to-south transects in 16 forested sinkholes in the Aggtelek karst area (N Hungary). Species richness and abundance were highest in the moist bottoms of the sinkholes for both taxa. The effect of aspect on these parameters was less pronounced for isopods than for snails. Species composition of isopods was shaped primarily by spatial constraints, while for snails the effect of local factors and spatial constraints were balanced. Our results indicate that local environmental conditions, i.e. topographical aspect and habitat quality (moisture) might temporarily provide shelter for invertebrates during environmental change.
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