Insect responses to invasive plant species : a case study about the effect of Solidago canadensis on the butterfly, hoverfly and carabid beetle diversity in the surroundings of Ljubljana : [M. Sc. Thesis]

De Groot, Maarten (author), Kleijn, David (mentor), Jogan, Jernej (co-mentor)

Neophytes can have a hughe effect on the ecosystem, due to a lack of natural enemies. Often an aggressive neophyte can manipulate the surrounding environment in a way that it becomes suitable for it. They are also occupying empty niches. Because of these advantages some neophytes which are opportunists spread fast in Europe. However, these plants still are depended on pollinators. One of the ways to attract them is to give a large proportion of nectar. Athough this is a positive effect of some neophytes there are also are negative implications. These plants can change the environment by there appearance, and therefore some insect species are not occuring here anymore. One of these neophytes is Solidago canadensis, which spreads with high speed through Europe. It occurs in disturbed areas, like abandonded agricultural land, and can form mono-cultures. Due to this this research is started to see what the effect is of this species on the insect diversity. The following aspects are taken into account: The difference in insect diversity between Solidago fields and non-Solidago fields (reference plots), the difference in insect diversity in flowering and non flowering period, the cover, area and the height of the plant. Also the effect of the species richness of plants were taken into account. Three groups were taken into account: butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera, hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) and carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae). These groups were sampled over a Solidago and reference plot in five different habitats, three times over a period of May till August. These places were all in the region of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The butterflies and hoverflies were sampled in plots and the carabids with pitfalls. Also the number of plant species were counted in the plots. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)

• Language: English
• Keywords: Solidago Canadensis, Ljubljana
• Work type: Master's thesis
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Place of publishing: Wageningen
• Publisher: [M. de Groot]
• Year: 2003
• Number of pages: 31 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-123512
• UDC: 57
• COBISS.SI-ID: 18236377
• Publication date in RUL: 19.12.2020