Structural dynamic of social wasp communities (Hymenoptera: Vespinae) in forest areas destroyed by acid rains in the Karkonosze Mountains

Abstract

The structure of the social wasp communities was studied in the forest areas of the Karkonosze Mts. transformed by acid rains in 1989 and 1994. A significant increase of species diversity (H') was observed in the season of the even year, which resulted from the increased competing interactions between queen mothers. Whereas the distribution of the species' number decreased together with the altitude proportionally to natural distribution of the species' number recorded in the Tatra Mts. On the other hand, the only significantly increased value in the dynamics of Vespinae density in vegetation zones of the Karkonosze Mts. was recorded for the lower subalpine forest. While observing the progressing successive restoration of forests, one can assume that the recorded structural changes in communities of social wasps represent their transitional state.