Karst depressions (dolines) have the potential to act as safe havens for a high diversity of valuable species. We showed that local anthropogenic disturbances play a significant role in determining the naturalness of dolines. We compared the number of specialist species, competitor species, generalist species and species of disturbed habitats between natural and disturbed dolines in two Hungarian karst areas, where different types of anthropogenic disturbances have been shaping the vegetation for centuries. We found that these disturbances have the potential to negatively influence the naturalness of dolines, reducing the number of valuable species, thus affecting the conservation value of dolines. To maintain the naturalness of vegetation in these doline habitats, the populations of ruderal competitors should be eliminated, and sustainable forest management should be adapted. However, there are still open questions about the effects of different disturbances on the naturalness in dolines that need to be answered to determine which conservation strategies will be particularly suitable for valuable species in a warming climate.

The consequences of anthropogenic climate change are one of the major concerns of conservation biology. A cascade of negative effects is expected to affect various ecosystems, one of which is Central European coniferous forests and their unique biota. These coniferous forests are the primary habitat of many forest specialist species such as red wood ants. Climate change-induced rising of temperature allows trees to skip winter hibernation, making them more vulnerable to storms that cause wind felling, and in turn, promotes bark beetle infestations that results in unscheduled clear-cuttings. Red wood ants can also be exposed to such habitat changes. We investigated the effects of bark beetle-induced clear-cutting and the absence of coniferous trees on colonies of Formica polyctena, including a mixed-coniferous forest as a reference. Our aim was to investigate how these habitat features affect the nest characteristics and nesting habits of F. polyctena. Our results indicate that, in the absence of conifers, F. polyctena tend to use different alternatives for nest material, colony structure, and food sources. However, the vitality of F. polyctena colonies significantly decreased (smaller nest mound volumes). Our study highlights the ecological flexibility of this forest specialist and its potential to survive under extreme conditions.

Red wood ants are keystone species of forest ecosystems in Europe. Environmental factors and habitat characteristics affect the size of their nest mounds, an important trait being in concordance with a colony’s well-being and impact on its surroundings. In this study, we investigated the effect of large-scale (latitude and altitude) and small-scale environmental factors (e.g., characteristics of the forest) on the size of nest mounds of Formica polyctena in Central Europe. We predicted that the change in nest size is in accordance with Bergmann’s rule that states that the body size of endotherm animals increases with the higher latitude and/or altitude. We found that the size of nests increased along the latitudinal gradient in accordance with Bergmann’s rule. The irradiation was the most important factor responsible for the changes in nest size, but temperature and local factors, like the perimeter of the trees and their distance from the nest, were also involved. Considering our results, we can better understand the long-term effects and consequences of the fast-changing environmental factors on this ecologically important group. This knowledge can contribute to the planning of forest management tactics in concordance with the assurance of the long-term survival of red wood ants.

Hypolimnas bolina philippensis (Butler) is one of the three subspecies records of Hypolimnas bolina (L.) or the Great Eggfly in the Philippines. Despite its wide distribution range, knowledge of the life history patterns of H. bolina philippensis on its host is lacking. This study aimed to elucidate some aspects of the life history of H. bolina philippensis (Butler) on Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. The description of the duration, habits, behavior, and morphological characteristics of the various stages of development of H. bolina philippensis on I. batatas was studied under laboratory conditions using first- and second- generation individuals. Based on the results, H. bolina philippensis completed its life cycle on I. batatas in 51–81 days with an egg incubation period of 4–5 days, larval period of 25–39 days having six instars, pupal period of 8–11 days and the female longevity of 10–17 days while 8–14 days for males. Each stage of development possessed distinct characteristics and habits. The eggs were laid in clusters on I. batatas leaves that were dome-shaped, pale to yellow green, and ribbed. Larvae have orange heads and brown bodies covered with urticating setae. Young larvae were gregarious but become solitary as they mature and feed actively at night. The obtect pupa was brown blotched with black, which turned into dark brown before emergence. Male butterflies have dark indigo-blue wings, while females generally have dark-olivaceous brown wings. Mating occured two to three days after emergence. Female butterflies lived longer than males. The adult sex ratio during the study was variable. The description of the life history traits of H. bolina philippensis in this study can be a baseline to compare and study the other subspecies. In addition, local butterfly farms can further utilize the study results to improve the mass production of H. bolina philippensis. However, more investigations on the biology and ecology of other subspecies should be done to compare better and understand how the different subspecies adapt to fluctuating global climate conditions, especially in the Philippine setting.