Content of the Volume 31.
Rácz, I.A.: Life form spectra of Orthoptera fauna in alkaline grasslands.
Rácz, I.A.: Tiszabercel Biomonitoring Pilot Project — Quantitative Orthopterological Research.
Bába, K.: The malacofauna of the Tisza Valley: inhabitation and subsequent impoverishment.
Virágh, K. and Bartha, S. (1998): Interspecific associations in different successional stages of Brachypodium pinnatum grassland after deforestation in Hungary. - Tiscia 31, 3-12.
Abstract. At the border of the Hungarian Central Mountain Range and the Hungarian Great Plain Brachypodium pinnatum is a dominant component of the herb layer of Quercus pubescens oakwood. In Hungary, Brachypodium grasslands are of very high diversity and natural conservation value because they preserve many elements of the original forest-steppe flora. During the secondary succession after deforestation xeromesophilous Brachypodium pinnatum community develops and gradually turns into xerophilous grasslands. Spatial organization and compositional differentiation of Brachypodium pinnatum communities were studied in three stands representing their early, middle, and late secondary successional phases. Presence/absence of species were detected in 20×110 grids of contiguous 5×5 cm micro- quadrats, and analysed by using information statistics. Early phase was characterized by a coalition of mesic species. Xeric and mesic grasses formed coalition in the middle phase but they were segregated in the late successional phase. However, the pattern of species replacement was diffuse and gradual during the transformation process.
Keywords: information theory, spatial pattern,
xeromesophilous grasslands, fine-scale spatial organization, species coalitions
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Molnár, N. and Györffy, Gy. (1998): Indication of habitat quality and isolation by Auchenorrhyncha assemblages. - Tiscia 31, 13-17.
Abstract. The Auchenorrhyncha assemblages of 52 natural and seminatural grassland patches was studied to discover that they are isolated or not. According to cluster analysis based on Renkonen index Auchenorrhyncha assemblages distinguished 5 habitat groups corresponding more or less to the cluster groups derived from the plant associations. Correlations were calculated between similarity matrices based on composition of Auchenorrhyncha assemblages, of plant communities and distances between habitat patches. Demonstration of the distance effect referring to isolation was successful in the habitats that are differing from their surroundings, for example, in case of kurgans enclosed with agricultural areas and grassland patches.
Keywords: habitat fragmentation, Auchenorrhyncha
assemblages, insect-plant relationships, nature conservation
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Gallé, L., Körmöczi, L., Hornung, E. and Kerekes, J. (1998): Structure of ant assemblages in a Middle-European successional sand-dune area. - Tiscia 31, 19-28.
Abstract. The species composition, diversity, population interactions and external correlates of ant assemblages are described in different successional plots of a sand-dune area in the Kampinos National Park, Poland. The pooled mean population densities were in the range of 0.018-0.37 colonies/m2 and increased toward the last successional phase. The species diversity also increased, but there was a diversity decline in the last phase, probably as a consequence of the presence of red wood ant species, which are dominant in the interference competition. The range of a particular species' distribution in different ant assemblages is characterized with its position and breadth in the corresponding PCA factor space. The species number against position histogram is bimodal and differentiates the species of early successional assemblages from that of the mature, well organized communities. The composition of the ant assemblages was found to be correlated with some structural habitat properties (architecture of vegetation, the number and condition of dead twigs on the soil surface, temperature) and the composition of epigeic fauna. In the competitive network of the early successional ant communities, Formica cinerea and Myrmica rugulosa have the same rank and both species are subordinated to Formica truncorum. The interference interspecific competition has an increasing significance towards the advanced successional stages.
Key words: ants, community composition, succession,
diversity, interference competition
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Papp, L. (1998): "Outlaws": some evolutionary aspects of rarity in insects. - Tiscia 31, 29-33.
Disorder is limited; the only question is the size of its box (I)
Abstract. The term "rare" must always have a practical and operative meaning. The discussion is introduced by consideration of some trivialities: 1) potential and actual population sizes are as important properties of an evolving species as any morphological, physiological or other features; 2) every species is rare at rise; 3) most insect species are rare. The importance of distinguishing the ecological and the evolutionary meaning of rarity is stressed. Their incongruence is a consequence of a number of reasons, e.g. there is no direct correlation between local rarity and the niche dimensions, the mean size of populations and the size of distribution area, etc. Speciation (of an abundant species) is a process of maturation. In statu nascendi every new species is isolated (and exists in low numbers), but having left isolation its potentials and constraints (competitive, predator-prey, etc. relationships with the extant species) will determine further steps of speciation. From this viewpoint rare species are premature species: they have never reached the phase (population size) of confrontation (competition, etc.). However, under the umbrella of abundant species, rare species are released from most community constraints and hence they are objects in the laboratory of Nature: "hopeful monsters" are possibly derivatives of rare species.
Key words: evolution, speciation, population size,
rarity.
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Rácz, I.A. (1998): Life form spectra of Orthoptera fauna in alkaline grasslands. - Tiscia 31, 35- 39.
Abstract. The reasons for the attachment of Orthoptera communities to grasslands have not been revealed yet. We can assume that similar plant associations - because of the species compositions - have similar structure, thus rather similar microclimatic conditions as well. Thus, the spreading of some species - mainly stenoc species - corresponds with the spreading of the given plant community in a great extent, so the given plant association groups have their characteristic Orthoptera groups with their species combination. Besides the quantitative analysis of these, there is a need to analyse the qualitative parameters as well, since the members of eco-faunas organized within the given habitat can be ranked among different life form types, so the given plant communities can be characterized not only on the basis of their Orthoptera group compositions, but with the ratio of life form types dependent on the plant structure. In the present work we analysed data collected with quantitative methods from 10 sampling sites, which represents our alkaline grasslands - 3 from Kiskunság, 7 from Hortobágy. The aim of our research is to analyse the connection between the different grassland structure and the given life form types. Our results indicate, that the different alkaline grasslands - depending on their structure - can be characterized by the life form spectrum of the Orthoptera communities. This calls our attention from the point of view of conservation and cultivation as well to fact, that disturbances which change the structure of the grasslands can extremely influence the composition of the given Orthoptera fauna, even cease the conditions of existence for some species.
Keywords: grassland structure, life form spectrum, life
form types, Orthoptera communities.
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Rácz, I.A. (1998): Tiszabercel Biomonitoring Pilot Project - Quantitative Orthopterological Research. - Tiscia 31, 41-45.
Abstract. Our results prove, that grasslands in different succession state or influenced by human activities, on the flooded area were suitable as sampling sites. In contrary to the disturbances, we found a fairly rich (25 % of the Hungarian fauna) and diverse orthoptera community on the area. In the fresh, very humid grasslands the ratio of the predator Tettigonoida is high, in which the definitely thamnobiont-hygrophilous species are characteristic (Conocephalus, Ruspolia). Also the species of the characteristic chortobiont Acridoidea of these associations (Chrysochraon, Parapleurus and Mecosthetus) are strongly hygrophilous. With the decreasing humidity, and as the grassland structure becomes simpler, these species disappear, and those Acridoidea become dominant, which need at least seasonal hygrophilous environment at the early stage of their onthogenesis. On the other hand, it is very typical the significant difference between the Orthoptera fauna of the less and the highly disturbed grasslands. The heavily grazed or intensively cultivated grassland’s Orthoptera species composition is quite poor, or can be characterized by one or two ubiquist species. This fact also call our attention to that the strong disturbance can extremely change the composition of the Orthoptera fauna. Thus, this insect group is highly important not only from the point of view of fauna- and florahistory, but community- and productionbiology, that is indirectly economic and conservational point of view as well. Regarding the bioindicator value of this group, we can conclude, that using either the theory of physiological tolerance, or the theory of community answer as a starting point they are suitable for indication. Since, if we study the qualitative changes of the species composition, or the distribution of the high diversity frequency, we can point out the significant changes of features of the given area.
Keywords: diversity, monitoring, orthoptera, perturbancy,
quantitative analysis.
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Bába, K. (1998): The malacofauna of the Tisza Valley: inhabitation and subsequent impoverishment. - Tiscia 31, 47-54.
Abstract. Recent flood areas restricted between dikes can be considered as the last refugia for the Tisza Valley biota, and also serve as ecological corridors for fauna dispersal. Sylvicultural management and poplar plantation, as the most severe human interventions, change the composition of river valley fauna, alter the direction of fauna migration, and homogenize the flood plain fauna. These finally lead to the irreversible degradation of the Tisza Plain biota. Poplar cultivation modifies microclimate, that also influences agricultural food production outside the dikes. Forestry practices produce numerous newly cut roads, along which the noxious weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia rapidly invades flood areas. Furthermore, poplar plantations are unfavourable for recreation activities and tourism. The processes of the Tisza's regulation and the drainage of the Great Hungarian Plain seems to be completed with accomplishing the once abolished plan for the canalization of the Tisza.
Key words: ecological corridor, fauna transport,
species groups, species migration.
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Wilhelm, A. (1998): Spawning of the European mudminnow (Umbra krameri Walbaum) in the basin of the river Ér. - Tiscia 31, 55-58.
Abstract. The European mudminnow reaches its maturity at the age of two years. It spawns in May and June in the Ér basin. The number of the forming eggs in the 3rd maturing stage ranges from 626 to 2689 depending on the age of the fish. Literature data show much less eggs than above. The reason of the difference is that a great number of eggs are absorbed in the 4th maturing stage. A similar phenomenon can be observed at the brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) which guard the eggs and the descendants, too. It is probable that this is the physiological background of the switch from the wide-spread r-selectionist reproduction strategy to K-selectionist strategy, characteristic of the egg-guarding fishes.
Key words: maturing stage, egg number, egg guarding,
r-K selectionist strategy.
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Nikolic, V. P. and Simonovic, P. D. (1998): Seasonal dynamics of carp infestation by Trichodina nobilis Chen. 1963 (Peritricha, Ciliata) in two fish-ponds in Banat. - Tiscia 31, 59- 61.
Abstract. Comparison of the fish-pond carp infestation by Trichodina nobilis revealed significant seasonal differences in two fish-ponds from Banat. These differences originated from the bimodal seasonal dynamics of Trichodina, since the highest values of infestation were observed in Spring and Autumn.
Key words: parasite, bimodal dynamics.
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Horváth, Gy. and Trócsányi, B. (1998): Autumn home range size of Apodemus agrarius and small mammal population dynamics in the rodent assemblage of a Querco robori-Carpinetum forest habitat. - Tiscia 31, 63-69.
Abstract. The population dynamics of a rodent assamblage in a habitat of Querco robori- Carpinetum was investigated for three years by means of live trapping on a 1-hectare plot on the Dráva Lowlands. The studied rodent assemblage was made up of four species, with 1007 specimens providing data from a total of 2184 captures. Capture parameters (number of captures, number of recaptures, number of individuals) were the highest in the case of Apodemus agrarius (Pallas 1771), especially in 1995 when it dominated the captures in the sampling area in autumn, with significantly higher values in all parameters. The sufficient number of recaptures allowed the calculation of autumn home range size values for A. agrarius: for juvenile males in 1994, and for adult males and females in 1995 and 1996. The latter two years had data that were statistically analysable. Males had significantly larger home ranges than females in both years. The comparison of the two years did not reveal difference either in the case of males or females. It was found that calculated home range size in A. agrarius was influenced by the combined effect of the number of captures on the one hand and the number of different trap stations visited on the other. Home range characteristics as expressed by the chosen capture parameters were unquestionably influenced by the observed unique population dynamics of A. agraius.
Keywords: Apodemus agrarius, rodent assemblage,
population dynamics, home range, minimum convex polygon
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Horváth, A. (1998): INFOTHEM program: new possibilities of spatial series analysis based on information theory methods. - Tiscia 31, 71-84.
Abstract: The aim of the INFOTHEM 1.0 program is to analyze coenological patterns based on information theory models in a spatial series approach. The analysis, concept of which was developed by Juhász-Nagy, was applied to describe coexistence structures of vegetation. The facilities of program include numerous functions of both syncretic and diacretic models. It is also possible to use Rényi’s general entropy formula rather than Shannon’s formula. The spatial scaling of information theory functions is integral part of program operation, so there are some procedures to organize fusion of primary sampling units in steps of the spatial series. For the statistical evaluation, to estimate deviation from null hypothesis, the program is able to generate many types of random patterns considering different random references, and to calculate the significance levels using Monte-Carlo simulation. The features and operation of the program are discussed with some remarks on the application of information theory models.
Keywords: coexistence structures, information
theory models, loess grasslands, random reference, spatial series analysis
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Bartha, S. and Kertész, M. (1998): The importance of neutral-models in detecting interspecific spatial associations from 'trainsect' data. - Tiscia 31, 85-98.
Abstract. We compared two Monte-Carlo randomization tests as neutral models, for measuring interspecific spatial associations. Complete randomization randomly re-allocates the individuals of each species into the spatial sample with the same abundances as in the studied sample. Thus, this separates two components of association: (1) textural, i.e. related to the species abundance distribution, and (2) structural, i.e. related to the spatial distribution of the species. Random shifts keep the spatial patterns of individual species, but change their relative positions. Thus, this method separates (1) the interspecific components of associations from (2) the intraspecific ones, randomizing the first. We also applied a new algorithm for determining the signs of pairwise associations (i.e. positive or negative). This technique is based on the comparison of the observed and simulated joint distributions of a species pair. We tested the neutral models and sign determination algorithms on multispecies circular transect ('trainsect') data. All statistics were calculated across a range of scales, i.e. the calculations were repeated at a series of sampling unit lengths. One field transect and four simulated patterns were examined. The simulated patterns, created by spatially explicit individual based model, represent known assembly rules. We concluded that circular transects are appropriate in field studies for detecting fine scale community patterns because their topology allows us to apply more types of randomizations. The separation of textural, intraspecific and interspecific effects provided us more opportunity to detect and interpret the spatial associations. The new sign determination algorithm performed better than the traditional method. The need of developing neutral models based on biological mechanisms instead of simple statistical assumptions and the dynamical relevance of textural and structural constraints are also discussed.
Keywords: circular transect, computerized sampling,
information theory, randomization tests, spatially explicit Monte-Carlo
simulation, sandy grasslands, scale dependence, spatial autocorrelations,
textural versus structural constraints
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Grigorszky, I., Kiss, K.T., Vasas, F. and Vasas, G. (1998): Data to knowledge of Hungarian Dinophyta species III. Contribution to the Dinophyta taxa of Körös area I. - Tiscia 31, 99-106.
Abstract. Dinophyte species were investigated during this study from 28 sites in Körös area. Samples were taken from different oxbow-lakes, canals, and rivers. 30 taxa were identified, including 27 ones that were not previously reported from the Körös area and two from Hungary. New taxa for the Hungarian algal flora are Cystodinedria inermis, and Peridiniopsis kevei (P. kevei is a new freshwater species - Grigorszky et al. in print). The rare and valuable new species from Körös area are Glenodiniopsis steinii, Gymnodinium fuscum, G. hiemale, Katodinium vorticella, Peridiniopsis cunningtonii, P. kevei, Peridinium volzii, Sphaerodinium cinctum, Woloszynskia pseudopalustris. Four different forms of Ceratium hirundinella were recognized, including forma furcoides, forma gracile, forma piburgense and forma robustum.
Keyword: Dinophyta, Körös area, Ceratium,
Glenodiniopsis, Gymnodinium, Katadinium, Peridiniopsis, Peridinium, Sphaerodinium,
Woloszynskia.
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Kovács, É., Gallé, L., Dombos, M., Györffy, Gy., Hornung, E., Körmöczi, L., Margóczi, K. and Rudner, J. (1998): Ecological state assessment in Mártély Landscape-protection Area. - Tiscia 31, 107-109.
Abstract. The paper summarises the results of the studies on natural conditions in Mártély Landscape-protection area. We presented general information about the survey of natural conditions. A large-scale vegetation map was given with the botanical-floristical characterisation of habitat types. The studied reference groups of arthropods were: Gastropoda, Isopoda, Collembola, Homoptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadinea, Coleoptera, Caraboidea, Hymenoptera, Formicoidea. We described the vegetation of the studied areas and emphasised importance of some Arthropod species. The last part of the paper contains proposals for nature conservation.
Key words: state assessment, arthropods, vegetation
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