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The insect fauna of Finnish peatlands is considered from the ecological point of view. The article is based on the literature published in Finland and on the author's own observations on the lepidopterous fauna of peatlands.
Insects play an important role in peatland ecosystems. Several families of Diptera, e.g. Culicidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae and Tabanidae make large contributions to the total biomasses. Dipterous insects constitute the chief food source of many waders, passerines and other birds. It is suggested that peatlands would be devoid of birds if there were no insects.
The characteristic microclimate of peatlands is supposed to produce a complex of ecological factors which often determines the habitat selection and geographical range of different species. In pine bogs the temperature variations are very great as a result of the weak thermal conductivity of the Sphagnum moss layer. The most extensive temperature variations occur in relatively dry pine bogs (a "continental" climate) and the least variations in fens containing large volumes of water (a "maritime"" climate). Moisture and acidity (pH) of the moss layer are other ecological factors considered. The lepidopterous fauna is richest on pine bogs. A list is given of the most typical butterfly and moth species found on peatlands and an attempt has been made to assign the species to different peatland types, r = on pine bogs, n = on open bogs, l = on fens, k = on spruce swamps, + = on other biotopes, too, N = mostly or exclusively in Northern Finland and S = only in Southern Finland.
It is stressed that the draining of peatlands has a very serious effect on the insect fauna owing to their high sensitivity to change in the microclimatic conditions.
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Mikkola,
Sähköposti:
ei.tietoa@nn.oo
