| Abstrakt: |
Abstract: The results of an assessment of the structural variations in ant assemblages in abandoned grasslands in low-intensity farming areas of the Štiavnické Vrchy Mts and Strážovské Vrchy Mts in Central Slovakia, are presented. In the Štiavnické Vrchy Mts. ant assemblages of managed and abandoned wet and mesic grasslands in the initial stage of secondary succession were compared. Both species richness and epigaeic activity of ants increased as a consequence of abandonment. The trend was independent of habitat moisture; however, this did affect species composition. In the region of Strážovské Vrchy ant assemblages in mesic grasslands were assessed in a set of four overgrown grasslands. An initial increase in the activity and species richness following abandonment was recorded but after shrub cover exceeded 10% there was a distinct decrease in both these characteristics. If preservation of ant diversity at these sites is important then they have to managed by keeping the shrub cover around 10% and rehabilitating the ant assemblages in the initial stages of the succession. |
