The influence of stand density on the structure of centipede (Chilopoda) and millipede (Diplopoda) communities in the submountain beech forest

Abstract

The paper deals with the effect of stand density on the community composition of centipede (Chilopoda) and millipede (Diplopoda) communities. The study was conducted in Kováčovská dolina valley (Kremnické vrchy Mts, Central Slovakia) in 1997 and 1998 by pitfall trapping. In total, 17 species of centipedes from 4 families and 7 species of millipedes from 6 families were recorded. The intensity of previous thinning influenced the species structure of both studied communities. Species richness increased with increasing intensity of past thinning, especially for centipede communities. The effect of stand density was apparent for all but eurythopic species, namely: Lithobius forficatus, Lithobius mutabilis (Chilopoda) and Unciger foetidus, Polydesmus complanatus (Diplopoda).