The project team (BROZ and PRIF UK) headed to explore the Netherlands in September 2022. The reason is that a relative of the pannonian root vole lives here. Another endemic subspecies – Microtus oeconomus arenicola has found a refuge there after the ice age.
The winter season is ideal for crossing the original river arms. Exposed majestic poplars and willows let us know where their paths led. Nowadays, most of the river side arms are only supplied with water for a very limited period of increased flows in the Danube. All efforts to tame our rivers have led to a deterioration in the condition of the floodplain forest habitats. The WILDisland project plans to restore and connect the two original relics of the arms, which once formed the very dynamic and varied Medvedovska river branch system, with the main flow of the Danube. We expect that increased groundwater infiltration will also improve conditions for the adjacent floodplain forests.
In the past, foresters in our country reforested many rocky hills, mainly with stands of black pine. In addition, they have stopped pastures which have become overgrown with shrubs. This is how the Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo) lost its habitat in most of its locations of occurrence in Slovakia, thus recording more than 90% decline! in abundance.
The first step towards the restoration of the river branch in the Kráľovská lúka area was the preparation of an expert study by specialists from the Water Research Institute.
At the beginning of this year, we planted a total of 4 850 seedlings in the project areas in Vojka nad Dunajom and on Veľkolelské Island (PLA Dunajské luhy).
We’ve made arrangements for clearing and grazing at the site of European importance Holubyho Kopanice. However, we will not begin until autumn, as we are searching, marking and planning at this time. The Corydalis plants that grow here are host plants for the caterpillars of the clouded Apollo butterflies (Parnassius mnemosyne).
Butterflies are fragile animals by nature, and they need stable natural conditions for their survival. Stability vs. fragility need to complement each other in the butterfly world. They need a very specific combination of habitats for their survival. Therefore, in order for caterpillars and therefore butterflies to survive, their so-called host plants are important.
Solitary standing trees are an important eco-stabilising element in the landscape. The preservation and restoration of old fruit trees serves the function of saving and conserving our native gene pool, but they also provide suitable habitats for a range of invertebrates, cavity nesters and dormice in their cavities.
In the frame of the project LIFE Danube floodplains monitoring of amphibians continued also during the 2022 season. Several areas within six locations were monitored. Amphibian reproduction was greatly affected by the simulated flooding regime.
“Hilltopping” is a mating strategy in which insect adults seek out elevated, unvegetated sites in the landscape where their courtship flights and mating take place.