8a. Cikánka I National Natural Monument (NPP)

Upper slopes of the Radotín Valley and adjacent plateau above the Slivenec ,,Na Cikánce" quarries. Cadastre: Radotín - Prague 5. Area: 4.55 ha. Elevation: 300 - 330 m above sea level. Established by the Ordinance of Prague Municipality No. 5/1988 of July 4, 1988.

Thermophilous rocky steppe communities, the largest sample of this biotope in Prague, mostly in plateau location.

The bedrock consists in the Prague formation, comprizing the Prag step of the Lower Devonian and the Zlíchov step of the Lower Devonian. Prague formation is developed in the facies of grey micritic nodular limestones in several natural outcrops. The Zlíchov formation does not come to the surface. The well known limestone quarries ,,Na Cik nce", in which limestone has been quarried since the Middle Ages (13th century), are situated in the close proximity. These limestones were used like marble for the manufacture of facing slabs and works of art. The soils consist mostly of shallow rendzinas.

Initially a hairy oak forest steppe, giving rise to substitute xerothermal grass and shrub communities after deforestation. Pastures with the communities of Koeleria gracilis and Stipa Joanni. The number of typical species includes Carex humilis, Acosta rhenana, Festuca rupicola, Festuca valesiaca, and above all Stipa Joanni which occupies here the largest site in the territory of Prague. From the number of other species it is possible to mention Anemone sylvestris, Cyanus triumfettii, Primula veris, Pulsatilla pratensis bohemica, Stipa capillata and Teucrium chamaedris.

The vast thermophilous rocky steppe hosts a number of invertebrate species. The ascertained 278 butterfly species include e.g. the swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and the garden tiger moth ( Arctia caja), the number of beetles Coptocephala quadrimaculata, Apion interjectum (monophagous species on Amoria repens), Phrydiuchus topiarius on meadow clary (Salvia pratensis). The relatively high (15%) percentage of relic species testifies to the good preservation of nature in this protected area. The ground beetles (Carabidae) are an important bioindicative family 50 species of which were ascertained in the area including e.g. Harpallus caspius roubali and Panagaeus bipustulatus. The vertebrates are less significant; the common lizard is frequent, the green lizard rare. The number of birds nesting in the area includes e.g. the tree pipit (Anthus trivialis), the chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), the red-back shrike (Lanius collutio) and the sky lark (Alauda arvensis). No wood cover.

In distant past the whole area was mostly wooded. After deforestation it was influenced by pasturing, later on by limestone quarrying and subsequent fallout from the nearby Radotín cement works. Recently the quarrying has shifted further away from the protected area and the cement fallout has been reduced significantly. At present the area is threatened most by gradual overgrowing. For this reason clearance measures have been extensive. Pasturing would represent an optimum measure for the conservation of existing conditions.

Dostál (1936), Chlupáč (1988), Kubíková (1997), Svoboda and Prantl (1950).

Aerial view of the Cikánka national natural monument from the west.

The Cikánka I national natural monument has the largest area of Stipa Joanni in Prague.

Protected areas

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