Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) as biodiversity indicators for assessing urban forest habitats

Urban and peri-urban forests are important habitats for maintaining biodiversity in cities. In this paper, we report a method using hoverflies as indicators urban forest habitats. As case study, three were assessed compared to rural Slovenia. Rožnik (Ljubljana) was chosen the site, Mestni log Brdo (Kranj) sites, eight sites different ecoregions Forest hoverfly species richness composition of biological traits between forests, sites. addition, changes response weather conditions years. The number with investigated within range observed forests. saproxylic higher but lower proportions feeding modes development times similar peri-urban, less than 2 months or more 1 year predatory other differed Species abundance displayed large differences phenological patterns 2012 2013; these related minimum temperature results discussed relation management usefulness indicator possible extrapolation groups.