The impact of the lesser blind mole rat Nannospalax (superspecies leucodon) on the species composition and diversity of a loess steppe in Hungary

摘要

Our aim was to investigate the species richness and diversity of a loess grassland influenced byudthe digging of the lesser blind mole rat [Nannospalax (superspecies leucodon)] and to study the effect ofudthis disturbance to diversity. The study was conducted in the Külső-gulya loess grassland (Körös-MarosudNational Park), which is unique in Hungary due to its excellent soil quality and the large spatial extentudof natural loess meadow steppe.udWe recorded the cover of species in 50x50 cm plots. Altogether 12 plots were sampled on mounds ofudmole rat and 12 plots as a control in the area with no mounds. Differences in species richness, Shannondiversity,udevenness and total cover between disturbed and control plots were tested by One-WayudANOVA. There were no significant difference neither in the number of species, nor in the Shannondiversityudand evenness. There were differences in the species composition detected by PCO ordination.udWe can conclude that the presence and disturbance of the mole rat influence the composition of theudgrassland significantly but it does not cause a difference in the species richness, diversity and total cover.udOur results suggest that this grassland has adapted to these natural disturbances.