Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 43 (4), pp. 295–301, 1997

Title: Spatial arrangement of roosting Great Tits (Parus major) in a Hungarian forest

Authors: Báldi, A. and T. Csörgõ

Authors' addresses: Animal Ecology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Baross u. 13, H-1088, Hungary, baldi@zoo.zoo.nhmus.hu
Department of General Zoology, Eötvös L. University, Budapest, Puskin u. 3, H-1088, Hungary

Abstract: We studied the territoriality of the Great Tit (Parus major) in winter, on the basis of spatial arrangement of roosting birds. The study was conducted in a Central Hungarian swamp from 1988 to 1990. We developed a simulation model to analyse the spatial pattern (uniform, clumped or random) of roosting birds based on nearest-neighbour distances. This technique compares the observed nearest-neighbour distances with the expected values from random arrangement of the individuals. The results showed that random spatial pattern of roosting individuals was common. There may be biological reasons which caused the failure to show winter territoriality in the Great Tit: (1) the variations in wintering strategies (floaters, residents), (2) possible alliance among individuals, and (3) no territoriality in winter at all.

Key words: spatial pattern analysis, Great Tit (Parus major), nestbox area, wintering site fidelity

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 43 (4), pp. 303–312, 1997

Title: Testing edge effect on carabid assemblages in an oak-hornbeam forest

Authors: Magura, T. and B. Tóthmérész

Authors' addresses: Department of Zoology, Kossuth L. University, P. O. Box 3, H-4010 Debrecen, Hungary, magura@tigris.klte.hu
Ecological Institute, Kossuth L. University, P. O. Box 71, H-4010 Debrecen, Hungary

Abstract: The edge effect hypothesis was tested along a transect for carabid assemblages in an oak-hornbeam forest in Aggtelek National Park, Hungary using pitfall traps. The number of trapped individuals, species richness, and Shannon diversity increased significantly along the transect, and each of these characteristics was significantly higher at the forest edge than in the interior. Carabus arcensis Herbst, 1784, Harpalus latus (Linnaeus, 1758), Harpalus rufipes (de Geer, 1774), Pterostichus strenuus (Panzer, 1797) and Abax parallelus (Duftschmid, 1812) appeared exclusively in the forest edge suggesting that it has a particular carabid assemblage with several edge-associated species. Correlation analyses proved that relative air moisture, percentage cover of the leaf litter, cover of herbs and shrubs and the cover of canopy layer are important factors determining the abundance, species richness and diversity of carabid assemblages along the transect. Our results suggest that in oak-hornbeam forests there is a significant edge effect on the carabids, and forest edges play a crucial role in the maintenance of diversity of carabid assemblages.

Key words: edge effect, carabid assemblages, forest edge, diversity

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 43 (4), pp. 313–322, 1997

Title: Post-embryonic development of Lithobius validus Meinert (Chilopoda: Lithobiidae)

Author: I. Kos

Author's address: Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia, ivan.kos@uni-lj.si

Abstract: Five larval (L) and 9 post-larval (PL) stadia have been identified in the post-embryonic development of Lithobius validus Meinert, 1872 (Lithobiidae); specimens caught in nature in Slovenia, as well as those laboratory-reared, were studied. The changes in morphological character currently in use for species identification were followed during development. The characters distinguishing different stadia of the same species are described, as well as those by which the species are mutually distinguished.
The larval stadia of L. validus have a different number of legs and antennal articles, but there is only a small difference in body size, and no difference in the number of ocelli. The post-larval stadia are recognized by the number of coxal pores, ocelli, setae on the genital sternites and gonopods, forcipular teeth, body size and spinulation on legs.
Comparison of the same stadia reveals that the specimens of L. validus are larger than those of L. forficatus (Linné). Both species are also distinguished by the number of antennal articles up to L3, teeth on the forcipular coxosternite up to L1, and the presence of posterior projections on tergites 6, 7 up to L3.

Key words: Lithobius validus, post-embryonic development, taxonomy

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 43 (4), pp. 323–343, 1997

Title: Revision of the Cleptes (Holcocleptes) species of the world (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae)

Authors: L. Móczár

Author's address: H–1114 Budapest, Szabolcska u. 1, Hungary

Abstract: One species, Cleptes ignidorsum sp. n. male (from Russia) and the previously unknown males of Cleptes radoszkowskii Radoszkowski and C. sjoestedti Hammer are described. The following types are designated: neotype for C. sjoestedti Hammer; lectotype female, paralectotype female, and also additional syntypes (2 males) as paralectotypes male in C. radoszkowskii Radoszkowski. The original specimens designated as male paralectotypes of Cleptes radoszkowskii Radoszkowski belong to C. femoralis Mocsáry. Cleptes pinicola Lin is a synomyn of C. sjoestedti Hammer. Cleptes flammifer Semenow is a subspecies of C. radoszkowskii. The subgenera Holcocleptes, Leiocleptes, Chrysocleptes and Oxycleptes are reinstated as a valid subgenera. A key for the 14 taxa of Cleptes (Holcocleptes) of the world is presented. The lectotype C. aerosus Förster male is corrected to holotype. New taxonomic, distribution data and variability are given for C. aerosus Förster, C. fudzi Tsuneki, C. moczari Linsenmaier, C. seoulensis Tsuneki and C. sjoestedti Hammer.

Key words: taxonomy, distributions of subgenus Holcocleptes, Hymenoptera, Chysididae, Cleptinae

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 43 (4), pp. 345–357, 1997

Title: Morphology of the smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris) in former Yugoslavia: taxonomical implications and distribution patterns

Authors: Krizmanic, I., G. Mesaros, G. Dzukic and M. L. Kalezic

Authors' addresses: Institute for Protection of Nature of Serbia, Radnicka 20, 21000 Novi Sad
Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"
29 Novembra 142, 11000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia, mesaros@ibiss.bg.ac.yu
Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Abstract: The morphological traits of the smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758), have been studied in a considerable number of population samples from former Yugoslavia, taxonomically the most intriguing area of the Balkans. We found a great deal of variation in various morphological traits, more than previously thought, including those used to delimit subspecies. However, relevant taxonomic conclusions could be suggested from such variability patterns. We reaffirmed the possibility of the existence of two separate population groups within the range of the T. v. graecus subspecies. One group occurs in the area of southern Herzegovina and Montenegro, which was described a long time ago as the tomasinii form or subspecies (T. v. tomasinii). The other group is from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (T. v. graecus sensu stricto). Rather broad intergradation zones of tomasinii × T. v. vulgaris and T. v. meridionalis × T. v. vulgaris were determined. The former zone occurs mostly in the Oromediterranean part of the Dinaric Alps. It was found that the ranges of the smooth newt subspecies followed the Balkan zoogeographical divisions to some extent.

Key words: smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris, morphology, former Yugoslavia

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 43 (4), pp. 359–374, 1997

Title: Three rare species of Pipistrellus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) new to Vietnam

Authors: Bates, P. J. J., D. L. Harrison, P. D. Jenkins and J. L. Walston

Authors' addresses: Harrison Zoological Museum, Bowerwood House, St Botolph's Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3AQ, UK; hzm@btinternet.com
Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK, Stocks Barn West, Swaffham Prior, Cambridge, CB5 OHT, UK

Abstract: Five species of Pipistrelle bat have recently been collected from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Three of these, Pipistrellus cadornae, P. pulveratus and P. paterculus are rare and have not previously been recorded from the country. The diagnostic characters, including bacula, are discussed for all five species. The baculum of Pipistrellus cadornae is described and illustrated for the first time and the systematic status of P. paterculus and P. abramus is reviewed. The high diversity of bats in Vietnam is briefly commented on.

Key words: Mammalia, Vespertilionidae, Pipistrellus, Vietnam, taxonomy

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 43 (4), pp. 375–402, 1997

Title: A new mouse-eared bat species, from Nepal, with statistical analyses of some other species of subgenus Leuconoe (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae)

Author: Gy. Topál

Author's address: Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, H–1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13, Hungary, topal@zoo.zoo.nhmus.hu

Abstract: A description of a new bat species Myotis csorbai sp. n., from Nepal, related to Myotis longipes (Dobson, 1872) is given. Results of statistical analyses, along with those on samples from Kashmiri and Afghan populations of the other species and on some other members of the Leuconoe subgenus are presented.

Key words: Mammalia, Vespertilionidae, Myotis, Leuconoe, Nepal, taxonomy, systematics