Tamás Hammer

Decoupling of active and passive reasons for the invasion dynamics of Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae): Comparisons of dispersal history in the Apennine and Florida peninsulas

ABSTRACT: Aedes albopictus is an important vector of several diseases including dengue- and Chikungunya fever and is a potential vector of Zika-fever. The invasion dynamics of Aedes albopictus was reconsidered by comparing the temperature-related development of the mosquito with the observed real geographical distribution in Florida and in Italy. The potential number of generations and the annual dispersal distances of the mosquito were calculated for the estimates. The estimated total dispersals are 3.6–4.6 km/year/generation in Italy and 4.6–5.3 km/year/generation in Florida, values that are at least five to six times higher than those derived from release and recapture studies and from the previously measured flying distances of female Asian tiger mosquitoes. Subtracting the calculated dispersal distances with the known active dispersal of female Ae. albopictus, the passive dispersal component of the total dispersal distances was found to be 2.8–4.1 km/year/generation in Italy and 3.8–4.8 km/year/generation in Florida. Our results confirm that the active dispersal of female mosquitoes plays a secondary role in determining the rate of areal expansion and, in contrast, passive factors may play a primary role. It was concluded, based on similar average values of the passive dispersal distances of the mosquito in Florida and Italy, that at large spatial scales the anthropogenic component can be well estimated.

Innovative females are more promiscuous in great tits (Parus major)

Lay Summary We found that innovative great tit females are prone to cuckold their mates. Innovative problem solving can be important to animals for survival and reproduction in nature, yet we found no evidence that females mated to males with poor problem-solving performance compensate for poor male quality by obtaining superior genes for their offspring from other males via cuckoldry. Instead, females’ infidelity increased with their own innovativeness.

MODELLING THE GROWTH OF YOUNG INDIVIDUALS OF PINUS NIGRA ON THIN CARBONATE SOILS UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE IN HUNGARY

Climate change highly impacts on tree growth and also threatens the forest of the karstic terrains. From the 1980s the frequency of decay events of the Pinus nigra Arnold forests showed a marked increase in Hungary. To understanding the vulnerability of Pinus nigra forests to climate change on shallow karstic soils in continental-sub Mediterranean climatic conditions we developed the study of three sampled population in the typical karstic landscape of Veszprem in North Transdanubia. We built our model on non-invasive approach using the annual growth of the individuals. MPI Echam5 climate model and as aridity index the Thornthwaite Agrometeorological Index were used. Our results indicate that soil thickness up to 11 cm has a major influence on the main growth intensity, however, aridity determines the annual growth rate. Our model results showed that the increasing decay frequency in the last decades was a parallel change to the decreasing growth rate of pines. The climate model predicts the similar, increased decay frequency to the presents. Our results can be valid for a wider areas of the periphery of Mediterranean climate zone while the annual-growth based model is a cost-effective and simple method to study the vitality of pine trees in a given area.

Reflection of the Neogene–Quaternary phylogeography in the recent distribution limiting climatic factors of eight Mediterranean Phlebotomus species (Diptera: Psychodidae)

ABSTRACT The diversification of Mediterranean Phlebotomus species occurred during the Neogene and Quaternary periods. The climatic and geographical history of the Mediterranean area plausibly influenced the climatic requirements of recent sand fly species. Our aim was to investigate the European zoogeography and the climate-based ecological groups of eight Phlebotomus species considering the phylogeography of the studied taxa. Jaccard index calculation, hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses were performed. The results of Jaccard-coefficient calculations may indirectly refer to the former existence of three possible glacial refuges of sand fly populations in Europe: an Iberian, an Apennine and a Balkan Peninsula–Asia Minor refuge. Three main climatic groups of the studied sand fly species were distinguished, namely the so-called ‘Trans-Mediterranean’, ‘East Mediterranean’ and ‘West Mediterranean’ groups. Our results suggest that the ancestor of Phlebotomus similis and Phlebotomus sergenti was adapted to the hot, dry summer Mediterranean climate during the late Neogene. The third member of this climate group, Phlebotomus papatasi because of co-adaptation shows similar climatic requirements as P. similis and P. sergenti. The five Larroussius species studied should have evolved under moister climatic conditions. Species of the ‘West Mediterranean’ group were adapted to the milder and wetter oceanic climate of Atlantic coasts. The species of the ‘East Mediterranean’ group diversified under the less balanced climate of the East Mediterranean. The recent climatic requirements and the European distribution of the studied species is the consequence of the complex Quaternary–Neogene geographical and climatic history of their former habitats in the Old continent. The adaptation of the ancestors of the studied sand fly species to the changing geographical and climatic factors of Europe are discussed.

Expected changes in the length of Anopheles maculipennis (Diptera: Culicidae) larva season and the possibility of the re-emergence of malaria in Central and Eastern Europe and the North Balkan region

Anopheles maculipennis is one of the potential vectors of Plasmodium vivax caused malaria in Europe. Although potential malaria vectors are present in the continent, malaria was eradicated in historical times and recently absent in Central and East Europe and the North Balkan. Climate change may trigger the re-emergence of malaria in Europe positively affecting the seasonal patterns of the potential Anopheline vectors. The increasing length of the larva season of mosquito vectors is one of the risk factors of the re-emerging of malaria. The monthly relative abundance values of the larvae of Anopheles maculipennis were modeled for the reference period 1961–1990 and the periods 2011–2040 and 2041–2070 based on the REMO climate model for Central and East Europe and the North Balkan region. Strong, significant correlation (r2=0.94, p<0.0001) was found between the monthly relative abundances of larvae and monthly mean air temperature values in Hungary between March and November. The threshold of the larval activity of Anopheles maculipennis was found to be about 4 °C. Comparing the modeled relative abundances for 1961–1990, 2011–2040, and 2041–2070, April and October months showed the most notable changes. The model predicts that in Southeast Hungary, East Croatia, North Serbia, South Romania, and North Bulgaria, the main season will increase by +1 to +2 months to the period of 2041–2070 comparing to the reference period. The model also indicates that the complete main Anopheles maculipennis larva season of the mosquito will increase by two months in Southeast Hungary and at least 1 month in the other parts of the south Pannonian Ecoregion, in the North Balkan region including South Romania and North Bulgaria for 2041–2070. Key-words: ecological modeling, mean monthly temperature, Carpathian Basin, malaria mosquitoes

Habitat preference of Common Sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos) along the River Rába, Hungary

Abstract We investigated habitat preference of Common Sandpipers as part of a monitoring program in the Őrség National Park, Hungary. Field observations were conducted during the summers between 2008 and 2012 along a 47-km long section of the River Rába. During the observations we recorded the number and location of birds on the river bank. We divided the studied area into 1 km long sections and measured the proportion of the visually distinguishable habitat types (water, low gravel and sand bank, vegetation and degraded area) from a digitalized map. Furthermore, we recorded the number of the low banks and the number of bends of the river within each section, as well as the sections’ distance from the closest hydroelectric power plants and human settlements. In 2012 we also performed a detailed habitat mapping, recording the proportion of the vegetation types along the river bank and the number of fishing spots, embankment strengthenings and gravel banks. We tested the correlations between these habitat variables and number of birds present in the river sections. Our results show that Common Sandpipers were observed more frequently in locations which have (1) larger number and area of low gravel and sand banks, (2) less dense vegetation, and (3) lower proportion of degraded habitats. These findings can be taken into account in the conservation management of River Rába Összefoglalás Az Őrségi Nemzeti Park monitoring programja keretében a Rábán előforduló billegetőcankók élőhely választását vizsgáltuk. Az állományfelmérés 2008-2012 nyarán történt a Rába 47 km-es szakaszán. Ennek során rögzítettük a folyó partvonala mentén megfigyelt egyedek számát és előfordulási helyét. A folyót 1 km-es szakaszokra osztottuk fel, majd a szemmel jól lehatárolható élőhelytípusok (folyó, zátony, vegetáció, degradált terület) arányát minden egyes szakasz esetében légi felvételekről mértük. Ezen felül felmértük a szakaszokban található zátonyok számát, a kanyarok számát, valamint a szakaszok távolságát a folyóra telepített vízierőművektől és a folyó mentén található településektől. 2012-ben egy részletes terepi élőhely-térképezést is végeztünk, amely során a folyó mentén található növénytípusok előfordulási gyakoriságát, valamint a horgászhelyek és partfalerősítések számát jegyeztük fel. Teszteltük az egyes környezeti változók és a madarak előfordulási helye és egyedszáma közötti korrelációk erősségét. Az elemzések eredményei alapján a madarak nagyobb számban fordulnak elő (1) a nagyobb számú és területű zátonyokkal rendelkező, (2) növénytakaróval kevésbé sűrűn benőtt, és (3) a kevesebb degradált élőhelyet magában foglaló folyószakaszokon. A vizsgálat eredményei felhasználhatók a Rába jövőbeni természetvédelmi kezeléséhez