Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) in disturbed forest ecosystems of the Low and High Tatras Mts

Abstract

The work presents a summary of harvestmen findings from area of the Low and High Tatras Mts. Total 17 harvestmen species were recorded in the 11 studied localities. This amount represents almost 51.5% of the total species diversity of harvestmen fauna in Slovakia. There were recorded thermophilous species such as Dicranolasma scabrum and Egaenus convexus, a typically mountainous species Ischyropsalis manicata and a Carpathian endemite Paranemastoma kochi. Discussed is use of the species spectrum of harvestmen in the Low and High Tatras Mts in bio-monitoring of structural changes in forest ecosystems affected by the extensive wind disturbance in year 2004 causing damage to both mountain ranges.