András Bidló

New national and regional bryophyte records, 33

ub lis he d by M an ey P ub lis hi ng ( c) B rit is h B ry ol og ic al S oc ie ty Bryological Note New national and regional bryophyte records, 33 L T Ellis, H Bednarek-Ochyra, R Ochyra, B Cykowska, M V Dulin, T Ezer, R Kara, J R Flores, G M Suarez, C Garcia, A Martins, C Sergio, R Garilleti, M Kirmaci, E Agcagil, L E Kurbatova, M Lebouvier, B Papp, E Szurdoki, D A Philippov, V Plasek, T Pocs, M Sabovljevic, J Sawicki, M Sim-Sim, P Szucs, A Bidlo, J Vaňa, B Vigalondo, F Lara, I Draper, V M Virchenko, G J Wolski Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK, Laboratory of Bryology, Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Centre UB RAS, Komi, Russia, Nigde University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Nigde, Turkey, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Institucion Miguel Lillo, Tucuman, Argentina, Universidade de Lisboa, Museu Nacional de Historia Natural e da Ciencia, Lisboa, Portugal, Departamento de Botanica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Burjasot, Spain, Adnan Menderes Universitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakultesi, Biyoloji Bolumu, Kepez-Aydin, Turkey, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, CNRS UMR 6553, Universite de Rennes 1, France, Botanical Department, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary, 12 I.D. Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Water RAS, Nekouz, Russia, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, Czech Republic, Department of Botany, Eszterhazy Karoly College, Hungary, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, Department of Botany and Nature Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland, Museu Nacional de Historia Natural, Jardim Botânico, Lisboa, Portugal, Department of Forest Site Diagnosis and Classification, University of West Hungary, Sopron, Hungary, Department of Botany, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic, Departamento de Biologia (Botanica), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain, Department of Lichenology and Bryology, Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine, Deptartment of Geobotany and Plant Ecology, University of Łodź, Poland

New national and regional bryophyte records, 41

Dicranum spurium has been recorded for the first time in Croatia. In neighbouring countries it is known from Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro (Cortini Pedrotti, 1992 ; Sabovljevic´ et al., 2008 ; Papp et al., 2010). In Hungary, it is treated as VU (vulnerable) (Papp et al., 2010), in Montenegro as DD (data-deficient) (Sabovljevic´ et al., 2004), and further in the Balkans as EN (endangered) in Romania (Stefanut¸ & Goia, 2012). Dicranum spurium was found on Papuk Mountain (northeastern Croatia). Ninety-five per cent of Papuk Mountain is covered by forest vegetation, the yearly mean temperature is between 8 and 11C, and annual precipitation varies between 800 and 1300 mm. Almost the whole of the mountain is protected as a Nature Park. The locality in Svinjarevac where D. spurium occurred is beech forest (Fagus sylvatica L.), unique in Croatia, with a dense cover of Sphagnum quinquefarium (Braithw.) Warnst. on the forest floor. The bedrock is quartzite and gneiss, sloping between 35 and 45, and exposed to the northwest. This Fagus-Sphagnum quinquefarium forest was spread over 2.4 ha., with a poorly developed layer of herbaceous plants. Sphagnum platyphyllum was recorded during an extensive survey of spruce forests throughout Croatia. It was found in Stirovaca, a plateau in the central part of Velebit Mountain. The locality for this first record of S. platyphyllum for Croatia is just near the border of the Northern Velebit National Park (The whole Velebit Mountain is protected as a Nature Park). According to Dull et al. (1999), Sabovljevic (2006), and Sabovljevic et al. (2008), the species has not been recorded from Croatia, although it is known to occur in neighbouring countries: Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia (Cortini Pedrotti, 1992 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2008 ; Papp et al., 2010). In many of these countries, it is red listed: as VU (vulnerable) in Hungary, Slovenia, and Serbia (Martincicc, 1992 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2004 ; Papp et al., 2010) and further in the Balkans as NT (near threatened) in Romania (Stefanut & Goia, 2012). This part of Velebit Mountain is characterized by cool and long winters, with 1900 mm average annual precipitation and an average annual temperature of 3.5C. The natural vegetation consists of beech-fir and spruce forests and some of the forest stands are still primeval. Sphagnum platyphyllum occurred in a wet spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) forest, where it grew in dense carpets covering the forest floor and the banks of shallow depressions (ca 100 m2) filled with water. The collection site in Stirovaca is the only known locality for this unique spruce forest community with peat mosses in Croatia. Sphagnum teres was found at two localities in Croatia, in or near the National Park Plitvicka jezera lakes, but in different habitats within the belt of beech-fir forests. The climate is moderately temperate, with 1500 mm annual precipitation and an average temperature of 7.9C. This is the first record of this species for Croatia, although in the neighbouring countries, it is known from Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia, and further to the south-east, in FYR Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece (Papp et al., 2010 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2008). S. teres has been recently recorded as new for Albania (Marka & Sabovljevic, 2011), Bosnia- Herzegovina (Sabovljevic´ et al., 2010) and Montenegro (Martincic, 2006), and is red listed as CR (critically endangered) in Hungary (Papp et al., 2010), and as VU (vulnerable) in Serbia (Sabovljevic et al., 2004). The first locality, Ljeskovacˇke bare, is within the National Park Plitvicka jezera lakes. Here, the species occurred in transitional peat bog belonging to the community Drosero-Caricetum echinatae and occupying an area of ca 1 ha., S. teres was the dominant Sphagnum species. Sphagnum squarrosum Crome, S. palustre L., S. centrale C.E.O.Jensen and S. flexuosum Dozy & Molk. were also relatively abundant. The bog is wet throughout the year, but mostly without open water. Depending on the amount of precipitation, it can be flooded during winter and spring. The bog is not shaded ; it is completely exposed to the sun, but partially overgrown by Molinia coerulea Moench, which is mowed in the management of the Park. Some other species characteristic for this site were Drosera rotundifolia L., Carex echinata Murray, C. lasiocarpa Ehrh., and Menyanthes trifoliata L. The second locality, Vrhovinsko polje, is situated near the eastern border of Plitvicˇka jezera lakes National Park. It is a typical karst field, with the lowest, central part periodically flooded during winter and early spring. It is covered with grassland vegetation of different communities reflecting gradients of water and soil pH. The flora was very rich. In the lowest part of the field were several shallow depressions with a perimeter of 10–20 m overgrown by sedges, mostly Carex vesicaria L. On the edges of these depressions were scattered peat moss hummocks of Sphagnum palustre L., S. capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw., and S. subnitens Russow & Warnst. Among them, S. teres (Schimp.) Angstr. also occured, but in much lower abundance.

The effect of forest stand characteristics on spider diversity and species composition in deciduous-coniferous mixed forests

Abstract We studied how forest stand characteristics influence spider assemblage richness and composition in a forested region of Hungary. Deciduous-coniferous mixed forests dominate in the Őrség National Park. Thirty-five plots were established and sampled for spiders for three years in 70–110 year-old stands with a continuum of tree species composition. Detailed background information was acquired for stand structure, tree species composition, forest-floor-related variables and spatial position of the plots. The effect of variables was analyzed by nonparametric multiplicative regression on rarefied spider species richness and by redundancy analysis on species composition. The relative importance of variable groups was assessed by variation partitioning. Spider species richness was positively and strongly affected by tree species richness, and the species composition of the spider assemblage was influenced by the proportion of the most important tree species. This study established the importance of tree species composition, but variance partitioning analysis also showed that tree species identity and forest floor variables together explain much of the variation. These findings may guide management and conservation efforts to maintain regional diversity of the spider fauna.

Environmental drivers of the composition and diversity of the herb layer in mixed temperate forests in Hungary

Herbaceous understory vegetation is an important part of temperate forested ecosystems, the diversity and composition of which are strongly dependent on the conditions of the forest stand and the landscape. The aim of this study was to find the most important environmental drivers influencing understory herb layer species composition (explored with multivariate analysis), and richness and cover (analysed by linear modelling) in managed mixed forests in West Hungary. Our detailed inventory showed that the most important factors increasing the diversity and cover of the understory are light, tree species richness, and landscape diversity. Composition is also mainly influenced by light conditions and tree species richness, with minor effects of tree species composition, soil texture, and moss cover. As the strongest influencing factors are closely linked to stand structure and tree species composition, they can either directly or indirectly be altered by forest management. In the studied region, heterogeneous light conditions and canopy structure, the maintenance of tree species richness and forest continuity are key elements for the conservation of forest herbs. Forestry that maintains continuous forest cover and the tree selection management system can better provide these conditions than the presently widely used shelterwood management system.

Country-level carbon balance of forest soils: a country-specific model based on case studies in Hungary

AbstractInternational agreements require countries to annually report on greenhouse gas emissions and removals. For the land-use sector, this includes estimating stock changes in various carbon pools. For carbon pools like mineral forest soil where a country-level statistical inventory based on measurements is very difficult, models are usually applied together with data from case studies. In this paper, we present a country-specific model together with case studies that aim at capturing major soil processes due to forestry activity. These processes include “hot moments”, e.g., disturbances that occur rarely but might result in relatively high emissions. The model only aims at developing a conservative estimate, rather than a central one, of net country-level carbon stock change with emissions overestimated and removals underestimated. The model is partially parameterised using paired sampling of soil organic carbon in the uppermost 30-cm layer, applying standard methods including those suggested by IPCC, in afforestations on former croplands and in artificial regenerations. Results show that soils of afforested croplands act as a sink, and carbon stock after regeneration might decrease due to disturbance by forest operations, but might also increase due to transfer of carbon from dead roots to soil depending on disturbance levels. The estimation at the country level, which involves additional considerations and data from the literature, suggests that overall, forest soils are a net sink in Hungary, but also that artificially limiting soil organic carbon changes estimation to the uppermost 30-cm layer as applied in the IPCC methodology might lead to artefacts.

Environmental drivers of the bryophyte propagule bank and its comparison with forest-floor assemblage in Central European temperate mixed forests

Species richness, composition and abundance of the bryophyte diaspore bank of Central European temperate mixed forests were compared with the forest-floor bryophyte assemblage. The impact of environmental variables and anthropogenic disturbances, including tree species composition, stand structure, microclimate, light conditions, soil and litter properties, management history, and landscape properties, potentially influencing bryophyte diaspore bank assemblages were explored. Thirty-four, 70–100 years old mixed stands with differing tree species composition were examined in the Őrség National Park, Western Hungary. The diaspore bank was studied by soil collection and cultivation, and data were analysed by multivariate methods. Contrary to the forest-floor bryophyte assemblage, where substrate availability, tree species composition and stand structure were the most influential environmental variables, the composition and abundance of the diaspore bank was mainly affected by site conditions (microclimate, litter and soil properties). Species richness of the bryophyte diaspore bank was lower than that of the forest-floor bryophyte assemblage. Short-lived mosses (colonists, short-lived shuttles) were dominant in the diaspore bank, as opposed to the forest-floor bryophyte community, where perennial mosses dominated. In the studied forests, the importance of the bryophyte diaspore bank was relatively low in the regeneration and maintenance of the forest-floor bryophyte vegetation.

Accumulation of Metals in Liver Tissues of Sympatric Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Southern Part of Romania

Several previous study results have already demonstrated that golden jackal and red fox may serve as biological indicators of trace elements and heavy metal concentrations in the various regions they inhabit. The aim of this study was to evaluate accumulation patterns of targeted elements (Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni and Pb) in liver samples of red foxes and golden jackals collected during the same period in the southern part of Romania. The accumulation patterns of trace elements in the livers of sympatric golden jackal and red fox were practically the same. To date, separate studies of the species individually in different habitats have shown that either of the species can be used for ecotoxicological and biomonitoring studies. Moreover, in general gender related studies, no significant differences in the concentrations of the investigated elements were found in either jackals or foxes. Also, average metal concentrations in liver samples do not show significant differences between groups under and above 12 months of age.

Development of an Online Soil Valuation Database

There is a constant need for the rational evaluation of every individual piece of land. To provide continuously upgraded, precise technical and economic assessment, an online digital geographic information system was developed. At the roots of the system are cadastral maps from the land registry and soil maps at the scale of 1:10,000. The basis of the technical land bonitation* is the D‐e‐Meter system, which is used not only for croplands but also for grasslands and forests. * As defined by FAO (2003), page 9, “soil bonitation is the comparative assessment of the land quality and productivity with a representative level of agricultural activity. Bonitation involves an analysis of the soil properties, both natural and human‐induced, that determine its crop carrying capacity, both its natural productive capacity and that obtained through agricultural activities.” The algorithm for the calculation of the land quality index, which is the core of the D‐e‐Meter system, was developed with a database of 60,000 plots that were monitored during a 5‐year period. Based on cultivation field records and a comprehensive system of economic valuation, the indicator “total standard gross margin” was calculated and finally a land value index in euro/ha was provided.

Influence of human impacts on trace metal accumulation in soils of two Hungarian cities

Despite the advanced activity of urban soil research, comparison of available trace metal contents in the soil of settlements has not yet been well investigated. First aim of research was the comparison of human impacts on urban soils in two Hungarian cities with different structure and development. To detect the sources of contamination, Szombathely and Sopron cities were separated into urban, suburban and peri-urban areas. Altogether 192 topsoil samples were collected at 0-20 cm in order to measure the physicochemical properties of the soil. Instead of total element contents, plant-available trace metal concentrations - Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn - were determined using ICP-OES method. Due to different geological conditions, urban soils of the investigated settlements had similar properties in the case of pH, CaCO3 and texture. In the case of plant available trace metals, limit excesses were found in urban and peri-urban areas mostly, but high values were recorded in the suburb. The amount of Cdavailable, Coavailable and Niavailable were negligible. Downtown area was the most contaminated in both cities, but extremes appeared in suburban areas. In Szombathely, Cuavailable values were <40 mg Cu/kg, but extremely high Cuavailable results were found in the peri-urban viticulture areas of Sopron (>90 mg Cu/kg). The samples taken alongside busy roads near the city centre were Pbavailable-contaminated due to traffic. The Pbavailable concentration decreased slightly towards the suburban areas of the cities. The Znavailable level exceeded 40 mg Zn/kg in soils taken from the watercourses of Szombathely. The highest trace metal pollution levels were recorded in soils of public parks of Sopron. Urban soils of Szombathely were more homogenized than urban soils of Sopron. Based on statistical analyses and comparison of the relations of urban, suburban, and peri-urban areas of Sopron to Szombathely, Szombathelys urban soils show more homogeneity.

Long-term ecological effects of the red mud disaster in Hungary: Regeneration of red mud flooded areas in a contaminated industrial region

As one of the most severe ecological disasters ever to take place in Europe, the 2010 red mud accident has left behind long-term environmental impact, prompting the need for monitoring of soil biodiversity. Red mud (wet storage solution) can be regarded as a complex mixture of contaminants due to its extreme alkalinity and the presence of potentially toxic trace elements. After-effect investigations on soil properties and soil microarthropods were carried out in three distinct habitat types (agricultural land, grassland, woodland) in the red mud affected area. Soils in the red mud affected area were moderately to strongly alkaline (pH 7.5 to 8.5). Total content of trace metals Cd, Ni, Cr exceeded threshold concentrations for soil. Acari and Collembola were by far the most abundant taxa, while important groups like Pauropoda, Protura and Symphyla were completely absent from the samples of red mud affected plots. These observations were also reflected by the low values of the soil biological quality (QBS-ar) index. Independently of habitat types, total collembolan abundance tended to be lower in the contaminated area when compared with nearby control samples. Typical species distribution of Collembola communities in the contaminated area generally included one or two very common and abundant species and more, relatively rare species of low abundance. In the red mud affected open habitats, a distinct eudominance of Brachystomella parvula and Parisotoma notabilis was observed; whereas in contaminated woodland Parisotoma notabilis formed the bulk of the community with Sphaeridia pumilis, Folsomia manolachei and F. quadrioculata being subdominant. Species sensitive to alkalinity and red mud components (e.g. Hypogastrura vernalis, Lepidocyrtus tomosvaryi) were completely absent or were present only in limited numbers in the contaminated samples.