Fauna of nocturnal moth species collected in a semi-natural grassland at Kanpu-zan in northern Japan

• DOI: 10.3897/bdj.7.e37968
• Publication Date: 2019-08-02T06:53:11Z
• Authors: Masaru Kamikura; Yuzu Sakata
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; QH301-705.5; species occurences; semi-natural grassland; arthropods; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; sem; 14. Life underwater; northern Japan; Biology (General); nocturnal moth; Research Article

Semi-natural grasslands, which house species-rich ecosystems, have rapidly declined since the twentieth century due to land-use practices, such as agricultural intensification and abandonment. Owing their diversity known habitat associations, nocturnal moths are considered one of most suitable organisms be studied for assessing dynamics species composition a result changes in landscape management semi-natural grasslands. The present study provides foremost description moth fauna grassland at Kanpu-zan, northern Japan. Moth population data from 1987 were compared collected 2018 evaluate impact decline grasslands on species-richness. During field sampling 2018, total 226 detected, was nearly two-thirds number recorded 1987, i.e. 396 species. values obtained found constant different sites. For both periods, it evident that Kanpu-zan mainly consisted relied woody plants. Amongst only 107 generalists fed plants commonly distributed Kanpu-zan. No depended upon endangered or extinct plant food sources. Thus, is unlikely loss Our results suggest environmental factors other than may caused fauna. More studies various organism needed understanding conservation grassland, considering major threats biodiversity.