Climatic conditions and habitats in Belső-Somogy, Külső-Somogy and Zselic as vegetation-based landscape regions III. Temperature envelopes of mesic deciduous woodlands

In our study distribution response to climatic temperature of mesic deciduous woodlands (lowland pedunculate and sessile oak-hornbeam woodlands, beech woodlands) are discussed in the relation of vegetation based landscape regions of South Transdanubia, including Belső-Somogy, Külső-Somogy and Zselic. Selected bioclimatic variables are used to characterize and compare climate envelopes of the habitats by their occurrence. Gaussian probability curves were fitted for yearly, quarterly and some short time range or variability of temperature indexes, representing annual trends, seasonality and extreme or limiting environmental factors in order to generate more biologically meaningful variables. Mesic deciduous woodlands (K) are accurately integrated into the regional habitat envelope (Á-NÉR), according to multipeaks of temperature indices. Among temperature variables, mean annual temperature and maximum one of warmest month is not relevant for habitat differentiation in any way. Mean temperature variables (BIOCLIM-6, -8, -9, -11) are resulted a moderate shifting in the realised range of habitat envelopes in case of pedunculate oak-hornbeam woodlands (K1a) especially, but not in case of sessile oak hornbeam woodlands (K2) and beech woodlands (K5). Separation of pedunculate oak-hornbeam woodlands is well represented by the range and seasonal variables (BIOCLIM-2, -4, -7). This habitat type tolerates high range of diurnal temperature, but a lower one of yearly extremities, as seasonality and annual difference. The most significant temperature effect in the existence of pedunculate oak-hornbeam woodlands is high mean diurnal range as a temperature hardiness and high mean temperature of coldest quarter as a themal limitation

Climatic conditions and habitats in Belső-Somogy, Külső-Somogy and Zselic as vegetation-based landscape regions IV. Precipitation envelopes of mesic deciduous woodlands

In our study precipitation response of mesic deciduous woodlands (lowland pedunculate and sessile oak-hornbeam woodland, beech woodland) are discussed in the vegetation based landscape regions of South Transdanubia, including Belső-Somogy, Külső-Somogy and Zselic at landscape scale. Long term precipitation variables from BIOCLIM series as potential ecological predictors are used to characterize and compare climate envelopes of selected mesic woodlands. Non-parametric Gaussian probability estimation detailed with kernel densities as a potential series of ecological niches were computed for yearly, quarterly and some short time range or deviation of precipitation representing annual trends, seasonality and extreme or limiting environmental factors in order to get more extensive knowledge about macro-ecological responses leading to environmental adaptation. Precipitation envelopes of the woodlands as the whole and the habitats in each are nearly integrated into the regional range according to their summarized densities on relative frequency. Precipitation response of beech woodlands shows significant difference to semi-natural habitats by all variables consequently but to habitat group of mesic woodlands only in some case (e.g. annual sum of precipitation). Climate envelope of pedunculate oak-hornbeam woodlands and sessile oak-hornbeam woodlands significantly differ from semi-natural habitats response by precipitation of wettest and coldest quarter, especially. Among studied variables the annual sum and one of the warmest quarter turned to be the most effective in climatic niche differentiation in habitat group of woodlands as a whole as well as in mesic habitat types in each. In contrast to the above mentioned, fall sum of wettest month and precipitation seasonality is verified to provide the most slight niche segregation effort. The two latter ecological phenomena is suitable to discover the most significant macro-ecological factors to enchance functional diversity [BIOCLIM-12, -18] or variables to confirm a nearly uniform precipitation performance [BIOCLIM-13, -14] in submontaine mesic woodlands as the main macroecological predictors for water input

Az év vadvirága 2014-ben: a szibériai nőszirom (Iris sibirica L.) = The Wildflower of the Year 2014 in Hungary: Siberian flag (Iris sibirica L.)

Abstract – In this paper a review of the nomenclature, etymology, taxonomy, morphology, histology, life cycle, phenology, reproduction, habitat preference, biotic interactions, biologically active compounds, micropropagation, application possibilities and conservation status of Siberian flag (Iris sibirica L.) can be found. Leaf traits, phenological data, seed-set, thousand-seed weight, germination, growth rate and soil characteristic data are published based on original observations: • Leaf area is between 25,3 and 52,9 cm2, its dry mass is 232 and 272 mg/g, specific leaf area is 14,5 and 15,0 m2/kg; based on measurement of 5–5 leaves of I. sibirica, collected from Tapolca and Létavértes (Hungary) in May of 2014. • Based on herbarium dataset, blooming of I. sibirica begins at the end of April and lasts to early-July, contrary to the literature data (May–June). • Capsules contain (0–)58–76(–121) fertile seeds. (20–)60–80(–90)% of ovules develops to (seemingly) viable seeds, meanwhile the other ovules remain as aborted ones or develop to infertile seeds (probably because of absence of resources); based on fruits collected from Regéc (Hungary) in 2014 and 2015. • Thousand-seed weight of I. sibirica is 8,8298–11,2914 g (based on 3×100–100 seeds collected from Regéc and Tapolca in 2014 and 2015), which is lower value than the literature data. • In our germination test (50–50 seeds sowed to wet soil, after different treatments) 14% of scarified seeds, 6% of scalded seeds, 4–4% of imbibed and control seeds, 0–0% of cooled and refrigerated seeds are germinated. Scarified seeds germinated in the 8–26th days, imbibed seeds 15–19th days, control seeds 16–20th days, scalded seeds 20–23th days after sowing. It seems that scarification stimulates, meanwhile temperature-treatments inhibit the germination. Until 18 weeks the seedlings grow to 30 cm (in mean) and develop 5–7 leaves (in mean). After the 14th week, the first and littlemost lateral leaves are necrosed. • Analyses of soil samples collected from 17 locations of I. sibirica in Hungary, suggest that the species prefers highly acidic to slightly alcalic, lime-free to highly calcareous soils with generally high amount of humus and clay, different amount of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen and low concentration of salt. Keywords: endangered species, flora of Hungary, Iridaceae, protected species | Összefoglalás – Jelen közlemény áttekintést nyújt a szibériai nőszirom (Iris sibirica L.) nevezéktanáról, rendszertanáról, alak- és szövettanáról, életciklusáról, fenológiájáról, szaporodásbiológiájáról, élőhelyválasztásáról, biotikus interakcióiról, hatóanyagairól, mikroszaporításáról, felhasználási lehetőségeiről és veszélyeztetettségéről. Saját megfigyelések és mérési eredmények alapján közlünk adatokat a növény levéltulajdonságairól, fenológiájáról, magképzési sikeréről, ezermagtömegéről, csirázási és növekedési erélyéről valamint termőhelyeinek talajadottságairól. Kulcsszavak: Iridaceae, Magyarország flórája, védett fajok, veszélyeztetett fajo

Estimated seasonal daily evapotranspiration rates for a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland

We measured the daily evapotranspiration on a horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland in Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary. The main focus of our research was the seasonality of evapotranspiration in this CW. We measured the water balance of the CW and searched days when no precipitation, no inlet or outlet impacted on the water balance of the constructed wetland, only the evapotranspiration. had impact on the water balance. The results show that in spring the evapotranspiration rates were between 18-42,6 mm/day, in summer 12,3-42,3 mm/ day and in autumn the values were 13,6-22,7 mm/day. The highest hourly evapotranspiration was 16,3% of the daily evapotranspiration. This value was 415 % of the average, hourly hydraulic load that can significantly affects on the effluent concentration. The results also show the morning and evening condensation which has two main effects. On the other hand, the water balance of the CW is increased, which results the decrease of the concentration of wastewater

Estimated seasonal daily evapotranspiration rates for a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland

We measured the daily evapotranspiration on a horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland in Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary. The main focus of our research was the seasonality of evapotranspiration in this CW. We measured the water balance of the CW and searched days when no precipitation, no inlet or outlet impacted on the water balance of the constructed wetland, only the evapotranspiration. had impact on the water balance. The results show that in spring the evapotranspiration rates were between 18-42,6 mm/day, in summer 12,3-42,3 mm/ day and in autumn the values were 13,6-22,7 mm/day. The highest hourly evapotranspiration was 16,3% of the daily evapotranspiration. This value was 415 % of the average, hourly hydraulic load that can significantly affects on the effluent concentration. The results also show the morning and evening condensation which has two main effects. On the other hand, the water balance of the CW is increased, which results the decrease of the concentration of wastewater

Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Functional response traits influence the ability of species to colonize and thrive in a habitat and to persist under environmental challenges. Functional traits can be used to evaluate environment-related processes and phenomena. They also help to interpret distribution patterns, especially under limiting ecological conditions. In this study, we investigate landscape-scale functional distribution responses of beech forests in a climatic transitional zone in Europe. We construct empirical density distribution responses for beech forests by applying coping-resilience-failure climatic traits based on 27 bioclimatic variables, resulting in prevalence-decay-exclusion distribution response patterns. We also perform multivariate exploratory cluster analysis to reveal significant sets of response patterns from the resilience and adaptation aspects. Temperature-related distribution responses presented a prevalence-dominated functional pattern, with Annual mean temperature indicating the most favorable adaptation function. Precipitation indices showed climate-limited response patterns with the dominance of extinction function. Considering regional site-specific climate change projections, these continental beech forests could regress moderately due to temperature increase in the near future. Our results also suggest that both summer and winter precipitation could play a pivotal role in successful resilience. Functions and variables that indicate climate sensitivity can serve as a useful starting point to develop adaptation measures for regional forest management