Bádeni foraminiferák kvantitatív paleökológiai vizsgálata és stabil izotópos (d18O, d13C) elemzése: Paratethys paleóceanológia, paleoklíma = The quantitative paleoecological analysis of Badenian foraminifera and its stable isotope composition (d18O, d13C): paleooceanology of the Paratethys, paleoclimate

A kutatás célja a középső miocén Paratethys paleoóceanológiájának jobb megismerése volt a klímakutatásban használt proxik (angol proxy) segítségével. A levont következtetések nem csupán a foraminiferák kvantitatív vizsgálatára alapultak, hanem független geokémiai mérésekre. A bentosz foraminifera és a geokémia adatok (d18O, d13C foraminifera vázban mérve) alapján e beltenger áramlási rendszerét sikerült rekonstruálni. A feltételezett áramlási rendszer változása a bádeni folyamán magyarázta a tapasztalt eutrofizálódási trendet, a kora-bádeni fauna mediterrán jellegét és a középső bádeni sóképződést. Ennek az eutrofizációs trendnek köszönhetően a felső bádenire (szarmatára) szénhidrogén anyakőzetek keletkeztek a Pannon-medencében. Fény derült a bentosz foraminifera közösség váltások szoros kapcsolatára az üledékben felhalmozott szervesanyag mennyiségének (TOC), hidrogén gazdagságának (HI) és stabil karbon izotópos (d13Corg) összetételének változására. | The aim was to contribute to the paleooceanography of the Paratethys with the help of proxies used in climate research. The conclusions were based on evidences from the field of paleoecology (quantitative analyses of foraminifera) and from geochemical measurements (d18O, d13C, analyses of organic matter). Based on these data the circulation system of this enclosed sea was reconstructed. The suggested circulation model explained well the eutrophic trend through Badenian time, the Mediterranean character of Early Badenian fauna and the Mid Badenian evaporite deposition. The observed eutrophication trend resulted the formation of hydrocarbon source rocks by Late Badenian (Sarmatian) in the Pannonian Basin. The shifts of benthic foraminiferal assemblages were found to be accompanied by changes in the amount of organic matter (TOC), its richness in hydrogen (HI), and carbon isotopic composition (d13Corg)

Short Communication: Systems-based conservation and conflicts between species protection programs

Although the conflict between conservation efforts and economic growth is a major topic of conservation science, the conflicts between different conservation projects are much less documented and represented in the literature. We provide an overview of some case studies where these conflicts arise and discuss how to manage and solve them. We argue that conflicts are unavoidable, and that we can find optimal and efficient solutions only by studying the holistic, macroscopic properties of whole socio-ecological systems. Novel computational solutions offer simple and efficient simulation toolkits providing indicators that can support strategic and integrative decisions from a systems perspective

Effects of forest edge on pest control service provided by birds in fragmented temperate forests

Controlling herbivorous insects by insectivorous birds is one of the most important regulating services in forest ecosystems. The fragmentation of forests and the associated increase of edge effect, however, influences forest bird communities and thereby may have an impact on biological control via the modification of prey-predator interactions. In the present study we aimed to examine how insectivorous bird abundance and their predation on artificial caterpillars were affected by forest edges and vegetation structure in fragmented temperate forests of southwest Hungary. We found an unexpected negative humped-shaped pattern for predation rate as well as for bird abundance, having peaks both at the edge and in the interior (50 m from the edge). We found a positive correlation between bird abundance and predation rate, therefore the important role of birds in insect pest control was supported. Interestingly, the abundance of insectivorous birds had negative relationships to forest structure variables, such as tree basal area and tree species richness. This unexpected pattern may be a result of the context-dependency of edge effects that cannot be fully explained by our study. It highlights the need for more studies to explore the general pattern of edge effect on insect pest control