Oldal 103 [103]
§ The aspects | 101
populations of the zoocoenosis and, thus, are actively participating in the
energy flow as active users of the energy sources.
The latent part of a zoocoenosis is composed of the populations that are
not active, do not influence the plant cover and, temporarily, do not take part
in the energy flow; they influence the other populations of the zoocoenosis
only by being a potential energy source for them.
From the perspective of the zoocoenosis, the apparent element is composed
of all animals that move, feed, take exercise of any sort, or carries out any
element of sexual activity. The periods of rest, sleep and hiding (see later)
are only temporary breaks in these otherwise continuous activities,
characteristic of the ethology of the given semaphoronts, but do not change
the apparent character of the semaphoront. Apparent members of a
zoocoenosis include, for example, a larval population of Operophthera brumata
at bud-breaking time, or its imagoes during leaf fall, or the imagoes of
Entomoscelis (Entomoscelia) adonidis (adonidia) in spring and autumn.
In the latent part of a zoocoenosis are all the animals that stop moving,
feeding, etc. for longer periods; they do not exercise any muscle, and enter
a resting phase during which their life functions are supported by energy
stores in their own bodies and, from the external world, they only use water
and oxygen. Latent constituents are the insect eggs and pupae; larvae and
adults if they enter diapause. Latent members of the zoocoenosis include the
bird egg and the hibernating mammal. The latent populations have no effect
on the plant cover, nor do they disturb the other populations. They continue,
however, to influence the composition of the community; they remain
potential members of the zoocoenosis, because their presence can attract
predators and parasites, insectivorous birds and mammals into the zoocoenosis.
Looking at the populations of the zoocoenosis from the positive and
negative phases of activity, we can state the following.
The zoocoenosis contains populations that remain active through the year;
they are always apparent, e.g. the field vole, the thrush, etc. These are the
permanent populations and it is obvious that the permanent populations are
members of supersocia.
The activity of the next group is profoundly influenced by environmental
temperature, and they become latent during the cold season, irrespective of
our ethological or physiological definition. Such examples are all poikilotherms,
including arthropods, reptiles, amphibians, but also a few homeotherms such
as the hibernating ground squirrel, hamster, marmot, etc. These species are
sub-permanent populations (predominant species, Shakleford, 1929)°.
All sub-permanent populations are only active during the vegetation
period, and their role can be different: either they remain active during the
whole period, or are tightly bound to a certain part of it. The former comprise
We cannot use the term “predominant” because it can be misinterpreted; dominance means something
different, and the permanent populations are not necessarily dominant.