| Popis: |
Steppe biome, highly associated with large herbivores, expanded several times during the Quarternary under the dry glacial climate and covered major parts of Eurasia. In present, natural steppes in Europe retreated and only few isolated parts persist. Proterebia afra is a representative of a steppe butterfly fauna, inhabiting only separated regions in Europe (Askion Mts. in Greece, Dalmatia in Croatia and Crimean peninsula), but distributed rather continuously in Ural and Kazakhstan steppes and Caspian Sea surroundings. We surveyed the biotopes of P. afra in Askion Mts and in Dalmatia, focusing on co- occurring biota inventory and microhabitat preferences of the species in the two regions. Numerous steppe specialists from various taxa co-occurred locally with P. afra. In addition, samples of P. afra from most of its total range were obtained for phylogeographical and population genetic study. We reconstructed the species historical expansion events and dating using COI gene, via haplotype network and Bayesian analysis with molecular clock. The understanding of steppe species ecology in its relic biotopes is important for conservation, as they are highly dependent on a combination of specific mesoclimates and traditional pastoral land use. |
