Antal Nagy

Small scale gradient effects on isopods (Crustacea: Oniscidea) in karstic sinkholes

We studied abundance and diversity patterns of terrestrial isopod assemblages along a ‘micro-scale’ vertical gradient in sinkholes in the Aggtelek National Park, Hungary. Time restricted manual sampling yielded ten native species, including endemic and rare ones. Along the gradient we found no major differences in species richness and -composition, and abundance decreased from the bottoms to the upper zones of the sinkholes. Species specific habitat preference on a vertical gradient showed two distinct groups by indicator species analysis: occurrence of habitat “generalists” was irrespective of vertical zones while “specialists” were restricted to the bottoms of the dolines. The latter group is formed mainly by rare species. We found that both diversity and evenness of isopod assemblages were highest in the bottom zone. Our results draw the attention to the significance of such common, yet undiscovered surficial depressions that can provide shelters for rare and specialist species and can provide shelter for survival of populations under changing climatic conditions.

Incidence of grapevine trunk diseases is influenced by soil, topology and vineyard age, but not by Diplodia seriata infection rate in the Tokaj Wine Region, Hungary

Grapevine Trunk Diseases (GTD) are of great importance worldwide, including Hungary, a Center European country with long wine producing history. Several GTD pathogens have been described till now in Europe, but only a few from Hungary. The presence of a GTD pathogen in the vine does not necessarily result in the immediate appearance of disease symptoms, and information on the importance of environmental factors related to disease incidence are still limited. The aim of this research was to assess the occurrence of GTD in the Tokaj Wine Region, and to determine the biotic and abiotic factors influencing disease incidence. Five vineyards within 15 km radius – each with different topology, soil types, varieties and age – were studied for three consecutive years (2013 – 2015). The incidence of GTD-infection was determined every year for each vineyard. Diplodia seriata was isolated with incidence ranging from 50 to 100%, while Diaporthe spp. were the only other – minor – GTD pathogen found. Topology and soil type appeared to be major abiotic factors affecting incidence of GTD symptom. Disease incidence was also positively correlating with the age of the vineyards, and it was in fact found to be the definitive biotic factor regarding incidence. In contrast, D. seriata infection rate appeared unrelated to disease incidence or to any of the biotic or abiotic factors investigated.

Diversity and concordance in the composition of butterfly assemblages of the Transcarpathian (Bereg) plain (SW Ukraine)

In eastern Central Europe the abandonment of traditional land use represents a major threat for biodiversity. Evidence on species loss and shifts in assemblages is often based on butterfly surveys since these are known as sensitive indicators of habitat changes. Butterfly assemblages were studied in meadows of the Transcarpathian lowland in three consecutive years (2012–2014) with standard transect walks in six different sites (two transects/site). More than 6500 individuals of 66 species were recorded. The less disturbed habitats surrounded by natural forests have shown the highest diversity (Shannon-Wiener, dominance profiles). In faunal types the widely distributed, generalist Euro-Siberian species predominated with significant presence of Holo-Mediterranean and southern Continental elements. Three main types of habitats were separated and characterised by indicator species, i.e. we hierarchically classified the species according to their fidelity by the IndVal method. The dry sites were characterised by a few generalist species only, while the humid ones and mostly the transitional sites were inhabited by numerous habitat and/or food plant specialists. The assemblages were compared with multivariate analysis and the concordance of inter-annual changes of the assemblages were surveyed. The concordance profiles of the less diverse dry habitats were clearly separated from others while other sites with dominance profiles with longer sequence of scarce species have also shown similar concordance profiles. The importance of nature-like forest fringe structures was pointed out for both habitat and species conservation. Conservation efforts should be focused to sustain the general level of biodiversity by the preservation of nature-like habitats and the possible re-establishment of some kinds of traditional use.

European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn., Lepidoptera: Crambidae): comparing the performance of a new bisexual lure with that of synthetic sex pheromone in five countries.

BACKGROUND Phenylacetaldehyde is a flower volatile and attractant for among others the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis. The addition of 4-methoxyphenethyl alcohol has recently been reported to increase O. nubilalis catches four to five times, yielding a bisexual lure for the species. RESULTS The bisexual lure significantly outperformed synthetic pheromone lures of O. nubilalis at 11 out of 13 experiments conducted in Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey. CONCLUSION The bisexual lure will provide growers with a new and efficient method for detection and monitoring of O. nubilalis.

A morphometric and molecular study of the genus Pseudopodisma (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The specific status of three described taxa belonging to the genus Pseudopodisma (P. fieberi, P. transilvanica, P. nagyi) is based on a single character, because the original descriptions separate the species solely on the basis of genital structure of the males, and the three species are seemingly indistinguishable based on external morphology. To test this taxonomic separation we conducted morphometric and molecular investigations in the genus. Males were a priori identified by the original descriptions of the taxa, and from 18 external morphometric characters collected, the six most eligible characters of males and females were selected for linear discriminant analysis. The linear discriminant based classification agreed for 35 (85.3%) male and 30 (88.2%) female specimens out of the 41 a priori identified males and 34 females. Besides morphometrics, we sequenced the cytochrome b gene with newly devised primers in all species plus two outgroups. The phylogenetic analysis of resulting sequences indicated a strong species-delimitation within the genus Pseudopodisma (i.e., multiple individuals of the a priori species formed monophyletic clades). Thus, taking the morphometric and molecular results into consideration, we conclude the validation of specific status of Pseudopodisma fieberi, P. nagyi and P. transilvanica within the genus.

Night-active macroheterocera species in traps with synthetic attractants in the velyka dobron' game reserve (Ukraine, transcarpathia)

1Department of Evolutionary Zoology, University of Debrecen, H-4010 Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Hungary; E-mails: szanyiszabolcs@gmail.com; varga.zoltan@science.unideb.hu 2Institute of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, H-4032 Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, Hungary; E-mail: nagyanti@agr.unideb.hu 3Department of Biology and Chemistry, Ferenc Rákóczi II. Transcarpathian Hungarian Institute, UA-90200 Beregszász, Kossuth tér 6, Ukraine, E-mail: athoeska@gmail.com 4Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences H-1525 Budapest, Pf. 102, Hungary; E-mail: toth.miklos@agrar.mta.hu

Comparison of Macroheterocera assemblages of four forests in the Bereg Plain (Hungary, Ukraine)

Abstract We compared the macro-moth assemblages of four forests from which one is extended on the Ukrainian and three on the Hungarian side of the Bereg lowland, and additionally one in the adjacent part of the Hungarian plain (NE of Carpathian Basin). The data were collected by light trapping during at least in five years in all sites. Numerous faunistically significant and/or rare species were recorded. The species composition, faunal types and ecological components were rather similar in all sites, dominated by widely distributed Euro-Siberian species but with considerable participation of Boreo-Continental and Holo-Mediterranean – West Asiatic species. Considering the ecological connections of the species, the largest part of the assemblage is composed by species of different types of deciduous forests (oak woods and hardwood gallery forests) but also with significant proportion of wetland components (marshy-boggy habitats and tall forb communities) and generalist species. The similarity of the species composition proved to be high in all dominant taxonomical groups (Geometridae, Erebidae and Noctuidae, including the most diverse subfamilies). Several species have high conservation significance.