English - Convention on Biological Diversity

COUNTRY STUDY FOR BIODIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
by 95 taxa (72 species and 23 subspecies), separated into three orders. The order Isopoda
is represented by 47 taxa (34 species and 13 subspecies), the order Amphipoda by 43
taxa (33 species and 10 subspecies) and the order Decapoda by five species. Since the
Branchiate arthropods (Branchiata) in Macedonia are linked with freshwater
ecosystems, the largest centres of biodiversity occur in the three natural lakes, especially
Ohrid Lake.
The subphylum Tracheata (Tracheates) is represented by a total of 6,405 taxa (6,269
species and 136 subspecies). The class Myriapoda (Myriapods) includes 72 taxa (71
species and one subspecies), separated into two orders: the order Diplopoda (Millipedes)
with 59 taxa (58 species and one subspecies) and the order Chilopoda (Centipedes) with
13 species. The class Insecta (Insects) has a total of 6,333 taxa (6,198 species and 135
subspecies), separated into two subclasses. The subclass Apterygota (true wingless
insects) has a small number of recorded species (18) belonging to three orders:
Collembola (6), Protura (2) and Diplura (10). The subclass Pterygota (Winged insects)
has 6,315 taxa recorded within Macedonia (6,180 species and 135 subspecies). One of
the best studied groups of the class Insecta is the order Lepidoptera (Butterflies), with a
total of 2,295 taxa recorded (2,261 species and 34 subspecies). The other orders have the
following number of recorded taxa: Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) – 63 taxa, Odonata
(Dragonflies) – 52 taxa, Plecoptera (Stoneflies) – 93 taxa, Orthoptera (Grasshoppers) –
178 taxa, Isoptera (Termites) – two taxa, Psocoptera (Book-lice) – 48 taxa,
Thysanoptera (Thrips) – 4 taxa, Heteroptera (True bugs) – 778 taxa, Homoptera
(Homopterans) – 332 taxa, Trichoptera (Caddisflies) – 73 taxa, Diptera (Flies and
mosquitoes) – 606 taxa, Hymenoptera (Ants and bees) – 264 taxa, and Coleoptera
(Beetles) – 1527 taxa. The most important biodiversity centres of Tracheates
(Tracheata) are the mountain massifs of Shar Planina, Galichitsa, Yakupitsa, and the
refugial centres in the gorges of the Treska, Babuna, Topolka and Vardar Rivers.
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) – The fauna of Macedonia is represented by the
subphylum Vertebrata (Vertebrates), separated into four classes and one superclass.
The superclass Pisces (Fishes) is represented by 58 indigenous species, with centres
of biodiversity in the three natural lakes, as well as in the Vardar River and its
watershed.
The class Amphibia (Amphibians) is represented by 15 species and two subspecies,
while the class Reptilia (Reptiles) by 32 species and eight subspecies. The most
important centres of biodiversity for Amphibians are the marsh ecosystems and the
temporal aquatic biotopes. With regard to Reptiles, the most important biodiversity
centres for the Mediterranean and Aral-Caspian faunal elements are the lowland areas of
the lower course of the Vardar River and Doyran region; For the central-European,
boreal and oreo-tundral herpetofauna – the mountain massifs of Galichitsa, Pelister, Shar
Planina and Yakupitsa are important centres.
The class Aves (Birds) is also well studied, with 338 recorded taxa (319 species and
19 subspecies). Of the total number of recorded taxa, 213 species breed locally, while
the others appear during the winter or in periods of migration. The most important
centres of biodiversity for ornithofauna are the three natural lakes (for waterbirds) and
the gorges of the Babuna, Topolka, Treska and Vardar Rivers (for birds of prey). The
mountain massifs in western Macedonia are the most important centres of biodiversity
for the boreal and arcto-alpine complex of ornithofaunal elements.
The class Mammalia (Mammals) is represented by 82 species and one subspecies,
belonging to six orders, 18 families and 51 genera. Eight species have been introduced
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