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Possibilities of speciation following anthropogenous environmental changes in the central sandy area of the Carpathian Basin through the example of Festuca taxa
47-48Views:498Our goal is to check and revise the dominant Festuca species of vegetation types formed under extraordinary conditions through morphotaxonomic and ploidy analyses. To accomplish this, we had to add examinations of dominant species in grasslands further from the Danube in the Carpathian Basin and East Central Europe. Individuals of examined taxa were analysed using 26 parameters of the inflorescences. Ploidy was analysed using low cytometry. After deforestation and shrubcutting, bare soil patches of areas exposed to anthropogenous effects had provided an opportunity new vegetation to form. As a result of this work, new species Festuca pseudovaginata had been discovered here, which is endemic in the Carpathian Basin. Survey continues in order to clear other hardly identificable taxa. The results have confirmed the presence of the species, but we also have new occurences discovered.
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Overview and comparative analysis of Festuca species dominant in extremely dry sandy grasslands of the Great Plain and important from a grassland management perspective
3-12Views:158Among the narrow-leaved Festuca taxa occurring in the Carpathian Basin, those inhabiting extremely dry lowland habitats are mainly species with a continuous sclerenchyma ring in their leaves, or in which the sclerenchyma becomes ring-shaped by the end of the vegetation period. The most characteristic representative of this group is Festuca vaginata, but recent studies have also confirmed the presence of Festuca pseudovaginata and Festuca tomanii in these habitats.
These species are of high importance for grassland management, as they are dominant components of dry steppe vegetation. In this paper, we provide a comparative and critical review of the three taxa, summarizing previous literature and presenting morphological data aimed at identifying the most reliable diagnostic characters for species delimitation. Our results indicate that the position of the fourth spikelet on both the terminal and the longest panicle branches are among the most informative morphological traits for distinguishing the species. Within the spikelets, the length of the outer glume in the second floret proved to be the most consistent and useful character, which is recommended for practical identification purposes as well. -
Botanical and forage value study of a fairy ring in a sandy steppe grassland
21-28Views:58Pannonian sand grasslands represent a prominent nature conservation value, for the maintenance of which knowledge of appropriate grassland management practices is indispensable. Our research investigated the complex effects of a phenomenon known as fairy rings – specifically, rings formed by Agaricus xanthodermus – which transform both the soil and the vegetation. In the different zones of a 14 m diameter fairy ring, we performed detailed botanical surveys using a total of 288 quadrats, each 0.5 m×0. 5m in area. These were evaluated using Borhidi's ecological indicators and the Balázs method for estimating yield and fodder value.
The fairy ring exerts a dual, spatially distinct effect on the vegetation. Intensive nitrogen mobilisation occurred at the fungal front, leading to the rapid dominance of the nitrogen-demanding, ruderal species Elymus repens. The characteristics of this zone included a steep increase in total cover, a drastic decrease in diversity, and a decline in the vegetation's naturalness value. Moving inwards from the ring, the effect weakened; regeneration was taking place, where the fodder-valuable Poa angustifolia dominated, resulting in the highest fodder value (K-value) in the central part of the ring. However, diversity remained low here as well, due to monodominance.
In summary, it can be concluded that the A. xanthodermus fairy ring functions as an ecosystem engineer, generating significant spatial heterogeneity in the grassland. Based on our results, a comprehensive assessment of the effects of fairy rings is essential to develop sustainable management and conservation practices for Pannonian grasslands, with particular regard to the balance between forage production and biodiversity. -
Fajösszetétel és diverzitás változás kiskunsági száraz és nedves fekvésű legelőkön
15-30Views:559Investigations were carried out in wet – next to Tatárszentgyörgy, and dry grass pasture – next to Bugac, both located in Kiskunság, in the central region of Carpathian Basin. Recordings were taken every June of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 from Tatárszentgyörgy – where cattle were grazed, and 1997, 2005 and 2010 from Bugac, where cattle and sheep were grazed. Coenological recordings were taken in three zones. The first zone ("A" zone) located 0-50 m near the stable, second zone ("B" zone) located 50-150 m from the stable, while the third zone ("C" zone) located farther then 150m from the stable. Analyses of ecological and environmental factors were based on Borhidi’s relative ecological indicators. Life form analyses were performed by Pignatti life form types. For statistical evaluation, R software was applied. Shannon diversity. Based on our results for both dry and wet grasslands, quadrates of "A" zone were well isolated from the rest of the zones. Overgrazing, which involves considerable trampling, vanishes differences among vegetations, thereby promotes weed and disturbance tolerant rich vegetation. The lowest species number and diversity could be found here. Recordings for "B" and "C" zones separated from recordings of "A" zone, furthermore, quadrates of wet and dry grasslands formed separate groups. From recordings of "B" and "C", zone perennial grass species (H caesp) and the emerging perennial (H wrap) species multiplied and these species were the indicators of grazing. The greatest lifeform richment were presented among "B" zone recordings. The amount of intensive grazing indicator species, such as creeping perennials (Hrep) was significant in "B" zone recordings of Tatárszentgyörgy. Grazing stabilised the local vegetation, but increased the ratio of disturbance tolerant species, which was confirmed by conservation evaluation. This is due to the conversion of grassland types, the transition from free grazing to switch grazing, which resulted in an intensive involvement of the more distant "C" zone as well. "A" zones fully converted; they changed into fully reliefs. Further located sample area vegetations were not homogenised by grazing and even helped the preservation of characteristic species. In the aspect of environmental protection, vigorous grazing led to a more valuable vegetation in "B" zone in an arid grassland (Bugac). According to the sample area, wet grasslands from the sandy areas of Kiskunság, preserve nature protection values and grass composition better moving away from stables, due to less grazing pressure. Drier backgrounds tolerate stronger grazing pressure (Bugac), while in case of wetter areas (Tatárszentgyörgy) – considering sustainability – grazing should be carried out with caution.
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Effects of grazing as anthropogenic environmental factor of natural grasslands in the Hungarian Great Plain, near Bugac
39-41Views:186The coenological quadrats were made in 1997, 2005, 2010 and 2021 in a sandy grassland which is used as cattle pasture. The quadrats can be sort in three groups. The first group of quadrats was made close to the cattle pen (Zone A: 0-50 m). The second group was made farther (Zone B: 50-150), where the grazing is not so intensive. The third group contains the quadrats which were made farther than 150m (Zone C). The animals use this area rarely, therefor this part of the pasture is undergrazed (Penksza et al., 2010a). The coenological survey was carried out with 2×2 meter squares, recording the cover value. The species names follow the nomenclature of Király (2009) and Engloner et al. (2001).
The rate of species which indicate degradation is the highest near to the cattle pen (0-50m). But farther than 50m the rate of species which indicates naturalness is higher. Lower nature conservation value can be observed near to the cattle pen. In this area weeds and degradation tolerant species can be found in the highest amount. Their ratio grew in the second zone (50-150m) too in the past few years, but the species which compose the natural vegetation also survived, so the species composition is able for regeneration. With the decreasing of grazing intensity the sample area could meet the requirements of nature conservation.
Data evaluation was made with considering naturalness state in case of habitats; and on the other hand, according to relative ecological factors of occurring species. A significant change in species composition could be detected. Particularly, deterioration of areas could be experienced. These negative processes are extremely heavy inside and near the animal husbandry farm. Even aggressive, invasive plant species occurred. Among dominant grass species, dominance relations and covering rate of disturbance tolerant Cynodon dactylon and Lolium perenne species have increased, caused partly by overgrazing and trampling as well. A new species, Poa humilis, appeared in the zone “A” in 2020, which is a degradation indicator species and tolerates overgrazing and trampling (Penksza and Böcker, 1999/200; Penksza, 2009). Farther from the farm, rate of degradation showed by vegetation has decreased compared to the areas closer to the farm, however, it has increased even on the farther area between the two time periods. During the preparation of management plans for the grasslands, these data should be considered at a higher rate in favor of preserving natural values,
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Vegetation investigation of cattle pastures in the Ipoly Valley, Dejtár
53-54Views:426The most natural and appropriate way to preserve the biodiversity of grasslands is the utilization, which is confirmed by current research. Conservation management requires intensive cooperation between nature conservation and intensive grassland utilization. Therefore, we investigated the effect of extensive grassland utilization on the outskirts of Dejtár.
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Biomass of the sandy grasslands along the Danube
31-35Views:325Festuca taxa are important grassland species in the pannonian vegetation, and are defining members of it where conditions are too extreme for most plants. Based on grassland management surveys, habitats of narrow-leaved or small Festuca species are an indicator of poor productive capacity, but are important in terms of nature conservation. The significance of these grasslands are likely to be increasing in line with climate change and expanding dry habitats.
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Horticultural applicability of Festuca taxa I.
3-9Views:399This survey is connected to OTKA-125423, which examines the vegetation of sandy grasslands along the Danube. During this survey, two potentially horticulturally usable Festuca species was analysed: Festuca wagneri and Festca tomanii. The main questions were the following: are they usable in an urban environment? Do the to species differ significantly? Have they any morphotaxonomic feature which can by utilized in horticultural practice? Specimens of the two taxa, which were planted either into normal garden soil or into pots differed greatly. Specimens of F. tomani were usually larger and more uniform. Both taxa had the pot treatment well. Though the average lengths of leaves and inflorescence stems tended to be higher on the soil mixed with perlite, the coverage values were lower on it; thus adding expensive perlite to the soil might not be rewarding for the farmer. The two species differed from each other in several morphological parameters. The diversity of Festuca wagneri showed well in this survey, and this taxons parameters would be also useful in horticultural practice.
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Pannonian grazed sandy grasslands in the Ipoly Valley
49-51Views:210The results of global climate change can be observed in climate of Hungary. In the last couple of decades significant have been observed extremes in the climate of Europe due to global climate change (IPCC, 2014), which the irregular alternation of droughts and floods could be traced in the Carpathian Basin (Bartholy et al., 2009, 2014). The river floodplains and adjacent wetlands were outstanding from a nature conservation point of view due to the increasingly exposed to this change (Capon et al., 2013). Because of climatic effects, floodplain areas are even more exposed to the spread of invasive species (Szollát and Schmotzer, 2004; Schmotzer, 2008; Füri 2000; Füri and Kelemen 1997; Čížková-Končalová et al. 2013), and changes in land use also aggravate this problem (Mosner, 2015; Penksza et al., 2012). The aim of this study is to present the impact of extreme climatic situations on vegetation in grazed grasslands. The question was, which Festuca species occurs in addition to this? Can Festuca javorkae or Festuca pseudovina be found. The Festuca javorkae, which was related to Festuca rupicola, could also be problematic, although this species was clarified (Penksza, 2000, 2009a; Penksza et al., 2020, 2021; Markgraf-Dannenberg, 1980) and its species differentiation was shown using molecular studies by Bnauer et al. (2003) and Galli et al. (2006). According to the description of association Salvio nemorosae-Festucetum rupicolae, Festuca rupicola is one of the species of the association that appeared in the present study.
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What are the grasses that are important for grassland management and animal health in the extremely dry grasslands of the Great Plain?
13-19Views:61The Festuca taxa of the Pannonian Basin are beautiful examples of environmental adaptation to specific climatic and soil conditions and genetic diversity within the plant genus. They are well adapted to grazing agriculture and summer droughts, after which their excellent regenerative capacity helps them to recover. For these reasons, and due to their vast territorial coverage, they are also of great importance to the national economy. However, in order to exploit their genetic potential, it is essential to separate the individual taxa on a genetic basis. Taking into account two important aspects, namely coping with drought and saline soils, we provide an overview below.