A diversity of life at the disused railway area
In the southern part of Lolland, at the port of Rødbyhavn, there is a plot of land that, at first glance, looks exactly like what it is - a derelict railway area. On closer inspection, however, you realise that this is one of Denmark’s more interesting nature areas.
The disused sidings are, in fact, home to a unique fauna with many species not found anywhere else in Denmark. These include several heat seeking insects of which several are completely new to Denmark.
The heat attract the insects
It may come as a surprise to many that an area which, 40 years ago, was used for freight transport has developed into an area so rich in animal life. The explanation, however, is fairly simple – at least if you ask biologist and insect expert Jan Fischer Rasmussen from COWI:
“The area provides certain conditions that raise weather temperatures and attracts heat seeking insects,” he explains. “First and foremost, we are in an area of Southern Denmark with particularly dry vegetation. Moreover, the area is surrounded by trees that provide shade. In addition, the sandy soil and the many disused railway sleepers and stones absorb the heat from the sun.”
“In terms of the microclimate, this means that the old sidings area can perhaps be compared to areas several hundred kilometres south of here,” explains Jan Fischer Rasmussen.
Southern species migrate northwards
That southern insect species are migrating further and further north is indicative of global warming. Due to its southern location, the railway sidings at Rødbyhavn is one of the first locations in Denmark where new insects land and because of the warm microclimate, many of them settle here.
“Over the past ten years, we have discovered close to 20 insect species that are not found anywhere else in Denmark,” says Jan Fischer Rasmussen. “We also regularly find new and interesting species. One example is the Stictoleptura cordigera which you don’t see anywhere else north of the Alps. It’s unique,” explains Jan Fischer Rasmussen.
Storage sidings in decline
The area has lost its importance as a storage siding as ever more freight transport gradually moves from trains to lorries. As a result, the operational part has diminished over the years as large areas have become overgrown. About fifteen years ago, natural scientists began to discover the rich insect life along the disused sleepers.
« To overview
Previously, this colourful insect was only found south of the Alps. Now, however, the Stictoleptura cordigera (longhorn beetle) lives in the old railway area at Rødbyhavn.
Today, the old sidings at Lolland is the only place in the country where the Blue Sand Grasshopper (Sphingonotus caerulans) can be found.
The small bee beetle was registered on Danish soil for the first time in 2001 – at Rødbyhavn.
