Working Area
The key working area, KYA, covers the entire area of the Kurgalsky Peninsula and part of the adjacent territory lying between the coast of the Gulf of Finland and the Luga River. The area belongs to Kingisepp administrative district of the Leningrad region. The total area of the KYA is 408 sq. km. The southern (continental) border of the site was drawn at the following reference points: Sarkula village, Orly village, Kurovitsy village, Luzhitsi village, the mouth of the Luzhitsa river (Table 1).
| Table 1. Coordinates of the continental border of the key working area (KYA) | ||||
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | Latitude (WGS84) | Longitude (WGS84) |
| Sarkula Vill. (SK) | 59°28′54.08″ | 28°02′53.53″ | 59.48169° | 28.04820° |
| Sarkula Travers (SKt) | 59°28′54.08″ | 28°02′53.53″ | 59.48169° | 28.04820° |
| Orly Vill. (OR) | 59°29′12.59″ | 28°15′20.34″ | 59.48683° | 28.25565° |
| Kurovitsy Vill. (KU) | 59°31′32.44″ | 28°16′15.96″ | 59.52568° | 28.27110° |
| Luzhitsi Vill. (LZh) | 59°39′03.22″ | 28°21′47.79″ | 59.65089° | 28.36327° |
| Luzhitsa Riv. Mouth (LMt) | 59°39′57.40″ | 28°21′27.53″ | 59.66594° | 28.35765° |
Soikinsky Peninsula was chosen as the control territory, NCA. The peninsula lay east of Kurgalsky Peninsula. Area NCA is 134 sq. km. The borders of control territory are shown in table 2.
| Table 2. Coordinates of the border of the control working area (NCA) | ||||
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | Latitude (WGS84) | Longitude (WGS84) |
| NW Point | 59°48′14.26″ | 28°40′16.80″ | 59.80396° | 28.67133° |
| NE Point | 59°48′14.26″ | 28°55′02.68″ | 59.80396° | 28.91741° |
| SW Point | 59°42′01.01″ | 28°40′16.80″ | 59.70028° | 28.67133° |
| SE Point | 59°42′01.01″ | 28°55′02.68″ | 59.70028° | 28.91741° |
An analysis of the field materials on the lepidopteran species composition on the Kurgalsky Peninsula is revealed the local fauna depletion. Previous studies in the southern districts of the Leningrad Region suggest the presence of the northern distribution border of some butterfly species (e.g. Lycaena alciphron) south of the Kurgalsky Peninsula. To determine the possible effect of fluctuations in the northern border, a southern control area (Luga control area) was added in Luga District of the Leningrad Region. In this area, the Insect Systematics Laboratory of the ZIN conducts long-term studies.
