Mónika Szűcs's BioArea HU by Mónika Szűcs

Mónika Szűcs's BioArea HU by Mónika Szűcs https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h South-Nyírség, Hortobágy National Park, Hungary en-us 2019-01-29 18:56:55 UTC 2025-04-18 01:14:08 UTC hello@padlet.com szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/325610265 2019-01-29 20:45:33 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/325610265 South-Nyírség (Dél-Nyírség in Hungarian) is located in the North-East of Hungary, within the operational area of our famous Hortobágy National Park. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/325610456 2019-01-29 20:45:55 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/325610456 A huge, flat area, The Great Hungarian Plain occupies most of Hungary's terrain. The Nyírség, especially its middle and southern parts are one of the areas richest in natural values in the Great Hungarian Plain. This high biodiversity is caused by the diverse geographical features. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/326989710

In the last glacial period of the Pleistocene, the north wind formed the surface, creating parabola-shaped sand dunes, with valleys between them. From the valleys, water couldn’t run off, creating low-lying wetland areas. On the sides and tops of the sand dunes, we can find sandy grassland vegetation and dry forests.

]]> 2019-02-02 20:20:18 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/326989710 Typical landscape: szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/326996846 2019-02-02 21:55:55 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/326996846 1.: Among wetland areas - between the sand dunes - we can find birch and willow marshy forests, swamp woodlands, wet shrubs, tall-herb vegetations of fern, floating fens and wet meadows. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/326997938 2019-02-02 22:15:18 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/326997938 2.: Grasslands comprise open sandy grasslands, uncharacteristic dry grasslands, sand pastures and sand steppes, which are transformed remnants of the steppe vegetation. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/326999528 2019-02-02 22:40:42 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/326999528 3.: Natural sandy woodland habitats include closed lowland steppic oak forests and open steppic oak forests. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327000150 2019-02-02 22:51:31 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327000150 Geomorphology of Hungary szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327001526 2019-02-02 23:16:09 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327001526 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327001618 Marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris)

IUCN Red List: Least Concern
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/164136/42331187

]]> 2019-02-02 23:18:30 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327001618 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327002058 Downy birch (Betula pubescens)

IUCN Red List: Least Concern
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194521/116337224]]> 2019-02-02 23:26:25 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327002058 Here I'm going to introduce some protected, rare and unique plant species of South-Nyírség. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327002298 Number of species: 800-1000; number of protected species: about 60-80.]]> 2019-02-02 23:31:19 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327002298 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327002510 Hartman's sedge (Carex hartmanii)
Endangered species in Europe, though not in the IUCN Red List.]]> 2019-02-02 23:36:39 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327002510 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327002878 Broad-leaved marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis), one of the 14 ocrhid species of the BioArea. Sadly, orchids and other protected plant species are exposed to collectors.

If someone is interested more deeply in orchids and other creatures of South-Nyírség, then have a look at this blog:
http://naturephoto-walter.blogspot.com/2013/06/south-nyirseg-hungary-sud-nyirseg.html]]> 2019-02-02 23:44:10 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327002878 South-Nyírség doesn't belong to a biodiversity hotspot area. However, this richness of natural values, the beauty of the mosaics of different habitats and the need for their preservation has brought the Hajdúság Nature Protection Area to life in 1988. This is a 7.000 hectare area within the Hortobágy National Park. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327031811 2019-02-03 09:01:53 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327031811 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327100550 Spring meadow saffron is a highly endangered and protected myrmecochorous plant, originally found in sandy oak forests and forest edges. Myrmecochorous means that the plant's seeds are dispersed by ants. But only some ant species are suitable seed dispersal vectors. What happens is that the seeds have an addendum (it's called elaiosome) full of proteins and lipids which the ants really like to eat in spring. They carry the seed into their nest and feed the larvae with the elaiosome. After they finished with it, they take out the seed to trash microsites, where, finally, the seed can start to germinate.]]> 2019-02-03 20:02:11 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327100550 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327104582 2019-02-03 20:28:24 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327104582 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327107007 Wetland valleys with cool microclimate served as a refugee for some plant species during the drier and warmer periods of the ice ages. These plants are called ice age relicts. For example globeflower (Trollius europaeus) ...]]> 2019-02-03 20:46:08 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327107007 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327107427 ... and marsh angelica (Angelica palustris), the latter found only in this part of the country. ]]> 2019-02-03 20:49:13 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327107427 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327110081 3 out of 105 sand lichen species found in South-Nyírség are protected, for example: Hungarian cup lichen (Cladonia magyarica), found in sandy grasslands. Might be a pannon endemic. Interestingly, these 3 protected lichen species are all described from this area.]]> 2019-02-03 21:09:13 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327110081 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327111149 Hungarian anemone (Pulsatilla pratensis ssp. hungarica): endemic subspecies; it’s found only in the Carpathian Basin, mainly in the sandy grasslands of Nyírség.]]> 2019-02-03 21:20:21 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327111149 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327112383 An other endemic plant species -more precisely: subspecies- of the BioArea is the Hungarian stool iris (Iris aphylla subsp. hungarica), living in the edges of sandy oak forests. ]]> 2019-02-03 21:31:16 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327112383 Bird of the Year szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327114790 Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the Bird of the Year in 2019. Highly protected species, 200-1000 pairs nest in Hungary.

Here you can read some more details about what it means to be the bird, fish, etc. of the year:
https://hungarytoday.hu/winners-of-species-of-2019-votes-announced/

IUCN Red List: Least Concern
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22727969/86541570]]> 2019-02-03 21:51:56 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327114790 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327505268 European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus), a highly protected rodent species, which has a quite strong population in this BioArea. It needs sandy pastures.

IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20472/9204055 ]]> 2019-02-04 19:43:33 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327505268 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327513254 Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is also highly endangered in Hungary and in the whole of Europe. Can be found around water bodies. It’s very important, considering their genetic diversity, that Hungarian otter populations are not fragmented, so they are connected with each other. But road kills are a major threat to these animals.

IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12419/21935287]]> 2019-02-04 19:57:36 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327513254 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327520259 A colourful, highly protected bird species, the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) can also be found in South-Nyírség, nesting in the walls of sand-pits. Because these birds are so beautiful, they are at risk of being collected by taxidermists.

Arkive:

https://www.arkive.org/european-bee-eater/merops-apiaster/video-00.html

IUCN Red List: Least Concern

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22683756/86910074

_{(The picture was taken by the world-famous Hungarian photographer, Bence Máté.)}

]]> 2019-02-04 20:12:13 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327520259 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327524114 Black stork (Ciconia nigra); this rare and shy bird species needs both the old, undisturbed forests and wetlands for it’s survival. There are some nesting pairs in the BioArea, but human disturbance is a major threat to them.

IUCN Red List: Least Concern

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697669/111747857

]]> 2019-02-04 20:21:13 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327524114 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327528686 Corncrake (Crex crex) is a threatened species, nesting in wet meadows. We can hear more than we can see the bird itself. Here's a video about the corncrake's sound (taken in West-Hungary, not in my BioArea):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT30_D0WbiM

An article about the conservation of the corncrake and its habitat:

http://real.mtak.hu/43440/1/BoldoghSA_eta_LengyelSz_OH.pdf

IUCN Red List: Least Concern
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22692543/60016665

]]> 2019-02-04 20:32:02 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327528686 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327537893 South-Nyírség is home to 12 amphibian and 7 reptile species (all of them are protected by law in Hungary), including Hungary’s only terrapin species, the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis),

IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7717/97292665

]]> 2019-02-04 20:53:29 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327537893 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327542474 ... Balkan wall lizard (Podarcis tauricus) typical to sandy areas,

IUCN Red List: Least Concern

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61554/12515695

]]> 2019-02-04 21:06:02 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327542474 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327542677 ... and the highly protected common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), which lives mostly in the marshes of the valleys between the sand dunes. The common lizard population of South-Nyírség is one of the most numerous in Hungary.

IUCN Red List: Least Concern

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61741/12552141

]]> 2019-02-04 21:06:43 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327542677 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327898767 A ground beetle species, Carabus hungaricus is highly protected in Hungary. It’s typical of steppes, but declining throughout its wide range. ]]> 2019-02-05 17:18:59 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327898767 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327916591 In the wetlands of South-Nyírség we can find a 1.5 m high spurge species, Euphorbia lucida. It’s presence is important because the Hungarian root boring moth (Chamaesphecia hungarica) – a Hungarian endemic and protected species - can’t survive without it. C. hungarica’s larvae develops inside the plant’s stem, moves downwards inside it, until it reaches the roots and finally kills the host plant. But what is more interesting, is that this moth was used in the USA in the 90’s to combat leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), which is native to Central Europe, but is an invasive species in the USA. ]]> 2019-02-05 17:45:57 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327916591 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327921040 2019-02-05 17:52:19 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327921040 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327932180 South-Nyírség is home to the largest European member of the order Hymenoptera, the Mammoth wasp. It ‘s a protected species, because it needs really old trees which have already started to decompose. These trees can be found only in undisturbed woodlands. The moth has an interesting repruduction behaviour. Females are parasites; they lay their eggs inside the bodies of the European stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) and the European rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicornis). These are also pretty rare insect species, which means the mammoth wasp is even rarer.]]> 2019-02-05 18:10:18 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327932180 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327946618 Darkling beetle (Oodescelis melas) belongs to the family Tenebrionidae. They have an important role in the ecosystem since most species of the family are detritivores. The Hungarian Natural History Museum has one of the most significant collections of Tenebrionidae.]]> 2019-02-05 18:33:09 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327946618 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327968449 South Nyírség's marshes are home to some very rare and unique insect species considering Hungary's biodiversity. Dragonflies are represented for example by the Yellow-spotted whiteface (Leucorrhinia pectoralis),

IUCN Red List: Least Concern
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165486/19167032]]> 2019-02-05 19:04:08 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327968449 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327982587 ... and the order Lepidoptera is represented by Arytrura musculus, a strictly protected moth species.

]]> 2019-02-05 19:26:54 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327982587 Here I’m going to pick out some unique and protected members of South-Nyírség’s vertebrate fauna. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327997511 2019-02-05 19:53:36 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327997511 South-Nyírség is famous for it's diverse flora, but it could be proud of it's colourful fauna as well. Molluscs, spiders, crustaceans, dragonflies, grasshoppers, beetles, ants, bees, butterflies and moths. I have the chance to show you only a couple of endangered species below. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327997819 2019-02-05 19:54:04 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/327997819 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328011896 2019-02-05 20:23:39 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328011896 Spring meadow saffron (Bulbocodium versicolor) & ants szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328012508 2019-02-05 20:24:55 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328012508 Mammoth wasp (Megascolia maculata) & beetle larvae szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328014759 2019-02-05 20:29:58 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328014759 Scarce large blue (Maculinea teleius / Phengaris teleius) & Myrmica ants szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328016765 2019-02-05 20:34:56 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328016765 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328022226 2019-02-05 20:49:26 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328022226 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328461057 The marshes of South-Nyírség show their most beautiful picture in the end of the summer, when the Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) is flowering. It’s presence is important because Scarce large blue’s larvae feed on the flowers. But after some time, the larvae depend on Myrmica ants, which carry the larvae into their nests. This co-existence is beneficial for the butterfly larvae because they feed on the eggs and the larvae of the ants. In exchange, the ants eat the sugary juice excreted by the butterfly larvae. These larvae then pupate inside the ant nest and fly out as an adult (imago).

IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12664/3372399

]]> 2019-02-06 19:38:19 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328461057 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328466450 Saker falcon (Falco cherrug), according to suppositions, can be the famous 'Turul' bird in the legend or saga of the origin of the Hungarians. The number of individuals of this strictly protected species is now coming increasing in Hungary thanks to committed nature conservationists. There are 1 or 2 pairs nesting in the BioArea

Saker falcon is considered a top predator, it used to predate mainly on the European ground squirrel, but since it's populations declined, Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and Common vole (Microtus arvalis) are the falcon's main prey species.

Turul bird:
https://www.e-flux.com/journal/56/60354/the-rise-of-a-fallen-feather-the-symbolism-of-the-turul-bird-in-contemporary-hungary/

IUCN Red List: Endangered
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22696495/110525916

]]> 2019-02-06 19:47:41 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/328466450 Besides Hajdúság NPA there are two small protected areas in South-Nyírség: Hajdúbagos Mole Rat Nature Conservation Area I mentioned earlier, and Debrecen Big Forest NCA, just 40 mins walking distance from my flat. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329407249 http://www.hnp.hu/en/szervezeti-egyseg/conservation/oldal/debrecen-big-forest-nca

Scilla vindobonensis , protected species, in the Big Forest:]]> 2019-02-08 20:48:03 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329407249 There is a superspecies of small mammal which is very unique since it’s found only in the Carpathian Basin, nowhere else on Earth. 5 blind mole-rat species (of the genus Nannospalax and Spalax) are endemic to the Carpathian Basin. However, we still can’t be 100% sure of their taxonomic status, because zoologists are continuously reserching their genetic diversity using molecular biological methods. They are extremely rare subterranean rodents, one species is found exclusively in South-Nyírség and the nearby Hajdúság. Blind mole-rats were widespread all over the Carpathian Basin, but due to agricultural development populations declined drastically. Now they live in only some tiny, isolated areas. One population (with about 20-30 individuals) near my hometown Debrecen is threatened by extinction, so scientists decided to move the population to an other protected area. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329414304 2019-02-08 21:14:02 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329414304 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329415246 6Hajdúbagos Mole Rat Nature Conservation Area:

http://www.hnp.hu/en/szervezeti-egyseg/conservation/oldal/hajdubagos-lesser-mole-rat-reservat-nca

Conservation of the blind mole-rats:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272830161_How_can_scientific_researches_change_conservation_priorities_A_review_of_decade-long_research_on_blind_mole-rats_Rodentia_Spalacinae_in_the_Carpathian_Basin

An interesting article about new findings about predation on blind mole-rats:
https://milvus.ro/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/N%C3%A9meth-et-al

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/14328/113301882

]]> 2019-02-08 21:18:26 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329415246 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329417725 One of the blind mole-rat specimens relocated.]]> 2019-02-08 21:30:49 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329417725 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329418045 Evidence of their presence:]]> 2019-02-08 21:32:21 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329418045 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329426935 2019-02-08 22:25:31 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329426935 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329507004 - Apex predator: European wildcat (Felis silvestris)
- 1st level carnivorous consumer: Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanni)
- Herbivorous consumer: European ground squirrel
- Primary producers: grass (Poaceae)

]]> 2019-02-09 17:07:33 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329507004 Birds of prey and owls also share the same food, but birds of prey are active in daytime whereas owls are hunting at night time. For example both the Common buzzard’s (Buteo buteo) and Lond-eared owl’s (Asio otus) most important prey is the common vole. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329514384 2019-02-09 18:15:14 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329514384 Insectivorous birds and bats feed on the same food items, insects, for example Common swift (Apus apus) and Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus). szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329516479 2019-02-09 18:37:12 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329516479 According to a ranger, whose job is to look after the BioArea, the most important factors threatening its wildlife are climate change, invasive alien species and habitat destruction. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329520707 2019-02-09 19:21:30 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329520707 The weather here is changeable and unpredictable. Winter in Hungary used to come with a lot of snow and cold weather. But in the recent years it happens that winter passes without any snowfall. Rainfall is not as even as it used to be; many months pass without a drop of rain, and then a huge storm comes with heavy raining. Normally Nyírség is a wet area compared to the rest of the Great Hungarian Plain, but it’s not true nowadays. Less rain means habitats dry out, what is the worst for the flora and fauna of the wetlands, marshes. Wetland species disappear. The accumulated organic matter begins to decompose causing nitrophilic weeds to appear and disperse. There are brooks in South-Nyírség which already dried out, with all the fish disappeared. We can experience that spring and autumn in fact disappeared. It’s either winter or summer with 30+°C. Flowering of many plants happens all at once, at the same short time period. This can have serious affects for exampleon the pollination by insects. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329524659 2019-02-09 20:03:04 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329524659 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329524910 https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.02003.x

]]> 2019-02-09 20:05:42 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329524910 The number one alien species which everyone in the region knows is the Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Native oak forests were replased by this North-American tree species. In these forests our native herbaceous plant species can’t survive and the flora is also very scarce. This is why black locust is very much against South Nyírség’s high biodiversity.Other invasive plant species are tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), false indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa), common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and goldenrod (Solidago spp.). szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329528512 2019-02-09 20:51:23 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329528512 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329528686 67% of steppe oak woodlands is endangered by plant invasion. The most important alien species is the black locust.]]> 2019-02-09 20:53:30 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329528686 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329528835 One-third of the meadows in Hungary is threatened by plant invasion. The most important ones are goldenrod species and false indigo.]]> 2019-02-09 20:55:55 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329528835 Ixodes ricinus and other Ixodidae species are very harmful and potentially dangerous parasites mostly to mammals, but to other animal groups too, by spreading diseases. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329529265 2019-02-09 21:00:33 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329529265 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329532601 To prevent further aridification of the wetlands, Hortobágy National Park established 2 water retention structures in a brook. ]]> 2019-02-09 21:44:55 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329532601 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329532996 The eradication of these invasive plant species is taking place continuously by the employees of the national park, using various methods (physical, chemical, depending on the species).]]> 2019-02-09 21:50:20 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329532996 One of the most important nature conservation problem related to pastures and other grasslands is that they are decreasing in size due to the spread of shrubs. To prevent this, the national park is mowing the area in a patchy pattern, creating a mosaic of habitats. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329533612 2019-02-09 21:59:04 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329533612 Native sandy oak forests are destroyed and reforested mostly with black locust and other non-native tree species. Other forested areas became arable lands, The really high number of herbivorous game populations - for example the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and the Wild boar (Sus scrofa) - also cause significant damage. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329533646 2019-02-09 21:59:37 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329533646 In South-Nyírség special territories were marked out in accordance with 2 EU directives - Habitats Directive and Birds Directive. Thus, these territories became part of the Natura 2000 network. This is a European ecological network, which aims to protect the original wildlife of Europe. Its areas are more or less connected with each other, creating a green corridor. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329535843 2019-02-09 22:29:29 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329535843 Wetland habitats are among the most threatened habitat types. Red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) are native to North-America, and are popular pets in Hungary. After reaching their adult size, owners don't want to keep them anymore and release them into natural water bodies. They pose a serious threat to the native European pond terrapin populations by competition for food and basking places. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329580258 2019-02-10 11:00:09 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329580258 "Come up with possible reasons for the decision to reintroduce grey wolves into the National Park. From the three options below, select the reason you find most likely." szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329584529 I think the wolves were brought in because the increased elk population was overgrazing the deciduous, woody species such as aspen and cottonwood. Scientists and conservationists finally realised how important it is to have top predators in a given ecosystem, so they made this decision to try to reintroduce Grey wolf.]]> 2019-02-10 11:53:37 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329584529 Dear co-learners, please feel free to write here your evaluations. szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329620310 2019-02-10 17:11:57 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329620310 szumon89 https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329622005 Originally I planned to create my padlet about Hungary, but I thought that would be too easy (so many endemic species, so many natural values, etc.). But then I changed my mind and wrote about South-Nyírség, which is my closest natural surrounding area. My aim was to get to know better the area where I was born and live. I reached my goal and as spring is coming, I'll go out and discover all the hidden special places I've never been before.

Evaluating other tablets is not easy since they are so diverse. I could see both ends of the spectrum; very informative and beautiful padlets, but there are some with quite few information. Comparing the biodiversity of other tablets to mine is also not easy. Many taplets are describing an area in Greece, which has a richer herpetofauna and orchid flora (due to climatic reasons), but for example in Belgium there are less species and the ecosystems are less diverse then in Hungary.]]> 2019-02-10 17:22:26 UTC https://padlet.com/szumon89/uqb8xmwt2c9h/wish/329622005