Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 46 (2), pp. 79–102, 2000

Title: Ant assemblages associated with lowland forests in the southern part of the Great Hungarian Plain

Authors: Alvarado, M. and L. Gallé

Authors' address: Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged, Pf 51, Hungary, alvaro@bio.u-szeged.hu, galle@bio.u-szeged.hu

Abstract: A survey of ants in 11 native forests and 13 plantations of introduced trees resulted in an inventory of altogether 36 species. The number of species was the highest in the native poplar forests (total: 24, mean: 13.33±4.16), and the lowest in the hybrid poplar plantation (13 and 6.33±1.15, respectively). Ants were numerically most abundant in native poplar and oak forests and least in black locust habitats. The typical forest ant species could be found in the forests native in the region (poplar, oak) or in the Carpathian basin (pine), whereas the fauna of the introduced forests (hybrid poplar, black locust, Russian olive) consisted of the fraction of either degraded forest or grassland ant communities. The fauna of the open juniper forests also consisted of both forest and grassland species, but more characteristic for natural sites. Neither close correlation between the regional distribution and the local density, nor definite bimodal trend in the regional distribution was observed. There was, however, a close correlation between the information content of distribution and the local densities of the ant species.

Key words: ant assemblages, forests, commonness, rarity, diversity

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 46 (2), pp. 103–114, 2000

Title: Relationships between the abundance of breeding birds in western Poland and the structure of agricultural landscape

Authors: Kujawa, K. and P. Tryjanowski*

Authors' addresses: Research Centre for Agricultural and Forest Environment of Polish Academy of Sciences Field Station, Szkolna 4, 64–003 Turew, Poland, e-mail: ortolan@priv7.onet.pl
*Department of Avian Biology and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Fredry 10, 61–701 Poznan, Poland, e-mail: ptasiek@main.amu.edu.pl

Abstract: The relationships between bird abundance and landscape structure were studied in nine plots located in an agricultural landscape in W Poland. Numbers of bird species per plot ranged from 3 to 31, densities from 3.8 to 32.8 pairs/10 ha. Habitat parameters, as percentage of tree cover ranged from 0 to 14.5%, meadows from 0 to 48.5%, habitat diversity (H') from 0.004 to 1.07, density of forest – field ecotones from 0 to 144 m/ha, density meadows and crop field ecotones from 0 to 38 m/ha, and ecotones between crop fields – from 0 to 245 m/ha. The number of bird species per plot increased most significantly with tree cover (r²=0.63 in linear regression); the density of breeding pairs also increased linearly with tree cover (r²=0.85 in linear regression). Tree cover was also the main factor influencing the density or species number of particular nesting-guilds with the exception of the density of ground-nesters, which was not significantly related to any 'habitat' variable. The relationships between wood cover and species number appeared to be non-linear, showing higher slope values at smaller values of wood cover. Protection of high bird abundance in western Poland is strongly linked with the preservation of margin habitats, especially woodlots, which provide nesting opportunities for most of the species occurring in farmland in W Poland.

Key words: breeding bird community, agriculture, management implications, Poland

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 46 (2), pp. 115–146, 2000

Title: Use of radiotelemetry on snakes: a review

Authors: Ujvári, B. and Z. Korsós

Authors' address: Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, H–1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13, Hungary, E-mail: ujvari@zoo.zoo.nhmus.hu
korsos@zoo.zoo.nhmus.hu

Abstract: Radiotelemetry is a useful technique for studying certain aspects of the life history and ecology of snakes. In the present paper a comprehensive overview is given of all the methodological experiences of herpetological radiotelemetry in the past 25 years. A useful guideline shows how to plan and carry out a study on snakes using this advanced method. Summaries and helpful comments are presented of almost every chapter of such a project; the possible aims of the study, the choice of the snake species in question, the selection of the study area and the different transmitters, attaching the transmitter to the snake's body, obtaining optimum results and the analysis of the results.
Separate chapters deal with the relevant technical aspects of radiotelemetry: type, size, lifespan and efficiency of the different transmitters and receivers; immobilisation of the snakes: anaesthesia and control during and after the implantation of the transmitter, cold immobilisation and local anaesthesia.
Results, which can be obtained by radiotelemetry are thoroughly discussed: location of the snakes with different techniques, details of behaviour, feeding, breeding, hibernation and habitat preference. Mathematical formulas for identifying and calculating home range size and movement are briefly referred. Concepts and solutions of biotelemetry as a useful aid for studying thermoregulation and the thermal biology of snakes is also described.
As an example, experiences from a project on a small European grassland viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis) are presented in order to illustrate problems and practical solutions when carrying out a radiotelemetric study.
Two tables on the radiotelemetric studies carried out on snakes further complement the review.

Key words: herpetological radiotelemetry, biotelemetry, anaesthesia, location, home range, thermoregulation, snakes, Vipera ursinii rakosiensis

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 46 (2), pp. 147–153, 2000

Title: New oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) of the genera Protoribates and Proteremaeus from Mongolia

Author: B. Bayartogtokh

Author's address: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia

Abstract: Two new oribatid species, Protoribates bayanicus sp. n. and Proteremaeus punctulatus sp. n. are described from Central Mongolia.

Key words: Protoribates, Proteremaeus, new species, Mongolia

Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 46 (2), pp. 155–179, 2000

Title: Taxonomical review of Thanatus species (Philodromidae, Araneae) of Hungary

Authors: Szita, É. and F. Samu*

Authors' addresses: Eötvös Loránd University of Sciences, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, H-1088 Budapest, Puskin u. 3, Hungary, E-mail: h7208szi@ella.hu
*Plant Protection Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 102, Hungary, E-mail: h2367sam@ella.hu

Abstract: The spider genus Thanatus is one of the most difficult groups of the family Philodromidae. As opposed to many other members of the family, all Thanatus species are epigeic. The following six species of the genus can be found in Hungary: Th. arenarius Thorell, 1872, Th. atratus Simon, 1875, Th. formicinus (Clerck, 1757), Th. pictus L. Koch, 1881, Th. sabulosus (Menge, 1875), Th. striatus C. L. Koch, 1845. The occurrence of two further species: Th. coloradensis Keyserling, 1880, Th. vulgaris Simon, 1870 is not proven. As both might occur in Hungary, they are included in the present study. For each species description, illustrations and distributional maps are provided. The examination is based on the collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, as well as on materials from several museums and arachnologists from Hungary and Europe, and on our own collections. Th. atratus was regarded as a subspecies of Th. vulgaris until 1983, when it was raised to the level of a full species. After the examination of all Hungarian specimens available, only the occurrence of Th. atratus was established for the country. Apollophanes babaly Logunov, 1996 is a junior synonym of Th. pictus L. Koch, 1837.

Key words: Thanatus, Hungary, Central Europe, phenology, taxonomy