Visegrad Fund

Research network for impact of land-use changes in V4 countries assesed on butterfly genetics

Aims of the project

Since mid-20th century, dramatic land use changes, augmented by changing climate, have eroded the biodiversity and affected our environment. Declines of insect populations, including loss of their genetic diversity, are ultimately threatening crucial ecosystem services, such as plants’ pollination. Whole-continental conservation efforts, most prominently the EU Habitat Directive (Natura 2000), offer powerful tools to block the insect declines by targeted conservation and management of selected habitats and species. Our project focuses on the HD-protected butterfly species occuring in V4 countries. It searches the answers regarding the recent history of the studied species, main reasons of their decline and possible solutions for their future.

Network members:

Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budejovice, Czech Republic

People: Hana Konvickova, Martin Konvicka, Zdenek Faltynek Fric

University of Bialystok, Faculty of Biology, The Laboratory of Insect Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Bialystok, Poland

People: Marcin Sielezniew

University of Debrecen, Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Debrecen, Hungary

People: Gábor Sramkó

University of Wroclaw, Department of Invertebrate Biology, Evolution and Conservation, Wroclaw, Poland

People: Adam Malkiewicz