Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 54 (2), pp. 113–123, 2008
Title: Marionina scintillans sp. n., a new enchytraeid species (Annelida: Oligochaeta) from Hungarian green houses
Authors: Boros, G. and Dózsa-Farkas, K.
Authors' address: Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology of the Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary. E-mail: dfk@elte.hu
Abstract: The article describes Marionina scintillans sp. n., a new enchytraeid species found in the green houses of the Botanical Garden of the Eötvös Loránd University Budapest and the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden as a result of a comprehensive investigation. This very small new species differs from all the Marionina species – which have 1–2 chaetae in all ventral chaetal bundles in the absence of the third pharyngeal glands and in the existence of a pair of small secondary (postseptal) pharyngeal glands in VI close to 5/6 and in a peculiar nephridial degeneration.
Key words: Oligochaeta, Enchytraeidae, Marionina, new species, green house, Hungary
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 54 (2), pp. 125–150, 2008
Title: A new genus and some other data of oribatids from Thailand (Acari: Oribatida)
Author: Mahunka, S.
Author's address: Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum and Systematic Zoology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1088 Budapest, Baross utca 13, Hungary. E-mail: mahunka@nhmus.hu
Abstract: A study on the material collected by S. Mahunka and L. Mahunka-Papp (1994), E. Horváth and Gy. Sziráki (2001), A. Orosz and Gy. Sziráki (2003) and L. Peregovits (2003) from Thailand is presented here. A list of 23 determined species is given, among them 11 species are represented as new for science, and one of which as new genus (family Microzetidae). Taxonomical notes on hardly known species of this region are given. With 52 figures.
Key words: Acari, Oribatida, new taxa, taxonomy, zoogeography, Thailand
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 54 (2), pp. 151–157, 2008
Title: A most unusual animal distribution pattern: A new siphonocryptid millipede from Taiwan (Diplopoda, Siphonocryptida)
Authors: Korsós, Z.1, Enghoff, H.2 and Chang, H. W.3
Authors' addresses: 1Deparment of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross u. 13, H-1088 Budapest, Hungary. E-mail: korsos@nhmus.hu Abstract: The millipede order Siphonocryptida previously consisted of three
species. Its distribution demonstrates an unusual geographical pattern
with one species in the Canary Islands and Madeira, one in Sumatra,
and one in Malaya. A fourth species, Hirudicryptus taiwanensis
sp. n., here described from Taiwan, complicates the pattern, and suggests
an ancient, relictual trans-Palaearctic distribution. Connecting
occurrences probably await discovery.
Key words: Siphonocryptida, millipedes, new species, Taiwan, zoogeography Download in
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 54 (2), pp. 159–167, 2008
Title: A new species of the valvatiform hydrobiid genus Hauffenia from Hungary (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Hydrobiidae)
Authors: Erõss, Z. P.1 and Petró, E.2
Authors' addresses: 1Óbudai Gimnázium, H-1033 Budapest, Szentlélek tér 10, Hungary, E-mail: erosspeter@hotmail.com Abstract: The first record of a valvatiform hydrobiid species in Hungary is presented. Hauffenia kissdalmae sp. n. is the eleventh species assigned to the genus and is differentiated from all known congeners. Distinguishing characters are the pegless operculum, the almost flat spire, the short, flat penis with a wide lateral lobe on the left side and a less evident one on the right, and female genitalia with a very small seminal receptacle, arising from the posterior-most point of the renal oviduct. The zoogeographic corollary of this discovery is that the distribution of the genus is now extended eastward and thus it nearly reaches the range of a large group of valvatiform and still unidentified Hauffenia(?) forms found in several localities in Slovakia and in a cave spring in north-eastern Hungary. Other species of the genus Hauffenia live in subterranean, running or interstitial water and karst spring, always in complete darkness. On the contrary, several living specimens of this new species were found in small and shallow spring on volcanic bedrock in the Börzsöny Mountain. For assessment of rarity and conservation status of the species further data from nearby localities are needed.
Key words: conservation status, geographical distribution, Hauffenia, Hungary, new species, valvatiform Hydrobiidae
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 54 (2), pp. 169–179, 2008
Title: Occurrence of a new Ponto-Caspian invasive species, Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771) (Hydrozoa: Clavidae) in Lake Balaton (Hungary)
Authors: Muskó, I. B.,1 Bence, M.1 and Balogh, Cs.1,2
Authors' addresses: 1Balaton Limnological Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-8237 Tihany, Hungary, E-mail: musko@tres.blki.hu, bence.melinda@freemail.hu Abstract: Cordylophora caspia, a new Ponto-Caspian invasive species was found in Lake Balaton in August 2001. The aim of this study was to survey the distribution, abundance and life cycle of this species in Lake Balaton and to investigate its possible route of invasion. In Lake Balaton different substrata (stones, water lilies, reeds) were examined at several stations. Life cycle studies of C. caspia were done on specimens sampled at Tihany peninsula station. Colonies of C. caspia occurred at most sampling stations in Lake Balaton together with other invasive Ponto-Caspian invertebrates (e.g. the mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the amphipod Chelicorophium curvispinum). Colonies of C. caspia form menont stadia from December through April. Reproduction starts in May and lasts until November, the density ranged between 6.44 to 25.78 ind. cm–2 of stone substrata. Lake Balaton is connected to Danube River via the Sió canal. Stones from the littoral zone of the Danube River were sampled in 2003, from Dunaföldvár to Mohács, to ascertain whether this waterway might be the source of the introduction of C. caspia to Lake Balaton. No individuals of C. caspia were found at any of the Danube stations.
Key words: Cordylophora caspia, life cycle, stony littoral zone, Lake Balaton, invasive species
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 54 (2), pp. 181–190, 2008
Title: Spatio-temporal variations of macroinvertebrate community in the Tisza River (NE Hungary)
Authors: Móra, A.1, Csépes, E.2, Tóth, M.3 and Dévai, Gy.3
Authors' addresses: 1Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebelsberg Kuno 3, H-8237 Tihany, Hungary, E-mail: marnold@tres.blki.hu Abstract: Investigations were carried out on spatial and temporal distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages at a cross-section of the River Tisza. The macrozoobenthos showed significant spatial and seasonal changes in number of individuals and taxa, and Margalef's species richness. The spatial and temporal differences were shown by discriminant analysis (DA) too. These variations were most pronounced in chironomids. When all macroinvertebrate groups were taken into consideration, the identification of chironomids to genus and species level increased the sensitivity of DA in characterization of spatial distribution. However, the chironomids themselves less showed the spatial differences along the cross-section. In contrast with spatial distribution, the temporal variations in the benthic community were most remarkable by DA when the chironomids were identified to family level, and the sensitivity of DA decreased according to genus and species level identification of chironomids. The same situation was
detected if only the chironomids were taken into account. Present results suggest that species level identification can be important in characterizing habitat-dependent variations of benthic community. In contrast, the family level identification of chironomids is enough for characterization of temporal distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates.
Key words: Chironomidae, discriminant analysis, spatial and temporal distribution, identification level
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 54 (2), pp. 191–199, 2008
Title: Male signalling and dominance in the Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus
Authors: Pogány, Á.1, Altbäcker,
V.1 and Székely, T.2
Authors' addresses: 1Department of Ethology, Eötvös University, H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány P. S. 1/C, Hungary, E-mail: apogany@ludens.elte.hu Abstract: Secondary sexual characters (e.g. badges, ornaments) are involved in many species in male-male competition and/or in female choice. We tested a proposition, the armament-ornament model, in a small passerine bird, the Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus, which exhibits an unusually diverse breeding system that includes sequential polygyny and polyandry, and uniparental care by the male or the female. Previous studies showed that the size of black eye-stripes (masks) in males functions as an ornament, since females prefer males with large masks. Here we report that in an aviary experiment, male mask size did not predict dominance status. Our results are consistent with a field study, and these together suggest that male mask size is a secondary sexual signal in penduline tits: it is a trait used by females in mate choice decisions.
Key words: dominance, dual function, sexual signal, penduline tit, Remiz pendulinus
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 54 (2), pp. 201–212, 2008
Title: Biological data from post mortem analysis of otters in Hungary
Authors: Lanszki, J.1, Sugár, L.1, Orosz, E.2 and Nagy, D.3
Authors' addresses: 1University of Kaposvár, Ecological Research Group, H-7401 Kaposvár, P.O. Box 16., Hungary, E-mail: lanszki@ke.hu Abstract: In this paper we examined the characteristics of reproduction parameters, stomach content and inner organ weights on carcasses (male, n = 67, female n = 57, unknown n = 3) of otters (Lutra lutra) collected in Hungary between 1999 and 2006. Most otter carcasses (90.6%) were collected as road casualties. In breeding females (n = 28), the mean (±SE) number of placental scars was 2.22±0.17. One female was pregnant (3 embryos). Suckling were detected at four females, the number of active teats (2–4) equalling the number of placental scars. Reproduction period, calculated from the age of juveniles, was long (from winter to summer). No seasonal difference was found in the gonado-somatic index values of adult males, and births were estimated to have occurred from winter to summer. The stomach was empty in 31% of the cases, while mean weight of the stomach content was 49 g the main food eaten by otters was small-size, non-commercial fish. In the adult age group, the organ weight index of the kidneys (P < 0.01) and adrenal glands (P < 0.05) was greater in females, while in case of the other organs: heart, liver, spleen, tyroid glands and lungs no significant difference was found.
Key words: Lutra lutra, uterine horn, placental scar, testis, organ index, Hungary
2Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen,
Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. E-mail: henghoff@snm.ku.dk
3Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lien-Hai Rd. 804, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. E-mail: hwchang@mail.nsysu.edu.tw
2H-1154 Budapest, Pöltenberg u. 111, Hungary
2University of Veszprém, H-8200 Veszprém, E-mail:
baloghcs@tres.blki.hu
2Middle-Tisza District Environment and Water Authority,
Ságvári krt. 4, H-5000 Szolnok, Hungary
3University of Debrecen, Department of Hydrobiology, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
2Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
2Central Agricultural Office, Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, H-1149 Budapest, Tábornok u. 2., Hungary, e-mail: orosze@oai.hu
3ELTE, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c Hungary, e-mail: nad@etk.hu