Can the distribution of red fox burrows indicate the chafer larvae density?

Due to their general occurrence the European badger and the red fox have an important role in most of the ecosystems of the Carpathian basin. Both species use burrows for resting and cub rearing. Based on the previous studies, differences were found in the burrow site selection of these predators. The differences can be seen in case of the vegetation type, the soil texture and the density of primary food sources. This knowledge is important for wildlife managers and nature conservationists, but maybe useful for other sectors (e.g. agriculture, forest management) as well. In the present study, we have taken plant protection approach. Our question was the following: does the chafer larvae density differ in the surrounding of badger and red fox burrows? The study area is located between Gödöllő and Valkó, in the Gödöllő Hills. Its size is 3728 ha and mainly covered by forests (96%). Two methods were used during the study. At first strip transect method was implemented to find the burrows. 81 burrows were found in total, 14 of them were used by badger and 14 by red fox, 53 of them were abandoned. The second method was the chafer larvae density and biomass measurement. Eight samples were taken per each active burrow, it means 224 samples in total. Our results showed higher chafer larvae density and biomass in case of red fox burrows, than in case of badger burrows. We conclude that the soil texture could be in the background of this difference

Recent experience of Bioregio Carpathians project : IUCN categorization of species occuring in the Carpathian region of Hungary

In conservation biology increasingly more countries are using the IUCN categorization (IUCN category and criteria) to describe species occurrence and population dynamics. Although, the evaluation process of the categories is strict, the category and criteria might change, due to different spatial levels (continent, country, region), which often provide basis for considerable debates, like in the BioRegio Carpathians SEE. The basic aim of the program is to manage and conserve protected areas and natural resources in the Carpathian region, therefore increase the attractiveness of the area. Our aim with this study is to demonstrate the difficulties of the assessment and to draw attention to potential pitfalls. We have evaluated IUCN categories for 46 fish, 13 mammal and four bird species. Based on our result we can state that we usually do not even have enough verified data to evaluate the exact IUCN categories for more studied and well known taxa like mammals or birds. Primary reason for this is the lack for sufficient data (area, population size, population decrease/increase) that is needed for an accurate evaluation

Higher rank antipodality

Motivated by general probability theory, we say that the set $X$ in $\mathbb{R}^d$ is \emph{antipodal of rank $k$}, if for any $k+1$ elements $q_1,\ldots q_{k+1}\in X$, there is an affine map from $\mathrm{conv} X$ to the $k$-dimensional simplex $\Delta_k$ that maps $q_1,\ldots q_{k+1}$ onto the $k+1$ vertices of $\Delta_k$. For $k=1$, it coincides with the well-studied notion of (pairwise) antipodality introduced by Klee. We consider the following natural generalization of Klee's problem on antipodal sets: What is the maximum size of an antipodal set of rank $k$ in $\mathbb{R}^d$? We present a geometric characterization of antipodal sets of rank $k$ and adapting the argument of Danzer and Gr\"unbaum originally developed for the $k=1$ case, we prove an upper bound which is exponential in the dimension. We point out that this problem can be connected to a classical question in computer science on finding perfect hashes, and it provides a lower bound on the maximum size, which is also exponential in the dimension.Comment: 11 page

A Kárpát-Pannon térség oligocén utáni deformációi mágneses anizotrópia mérések alapján = Post-Oligocen tectonic deformations of the Carpathian-Pannonian region from magnetic anisotropy measurements

A pályázat célja a neogén tektonikai deformációk hatásának tanulmányozása volt a Kárpát-Pannon térségben, üledékek mágneses szövetének vizsgálatával. A finomszemű üledékek jobb indikátornak mutatkoztak mint a homokkövek, ezért agyagos rétegeket vizsgáltunk. A Sziléziai- és Magúra-takarók oligocén korú flis képződményei mind gyenge deformációt szenvedtek, amit a rétegződéssel közel párhuzamos mágneses foliáció (MF) jelez. A mágneses lineációk (ML) véletlen eloszlásúak a Magúra-, ill. a helyi csapásirányokkal korrelálnak a Sziléziai-takaróban. Utóbbi kompressziót jelez. Az ML irányok nem követik a kárpáti ívet, amely kizárja annak oroklinális hajlítási eredetét. Hasonló következtetés volt levonható a Pieniny Klippen Belt kréta korú márgáinak vizsgálatából. A belsőkárpáti flisben gyenge deformációt és az áramlás által nem befolyásolt paleomágneses irányokat mértünk. A Dunántúli-középhegységben (DK) az oligocén és pannon üledékek gyengén deformáltak. Az oligocénen egy középső miocén extenziós deformációt tükröző, regionálisan megegyező ML-eket mértünk. A pannonban viszont ritka a jól definiált ML, valószínűleg azért mert a DK fiatal üledékeit a konszolidált alaphegység, illetve a nagyobb távolság leárnyékolja az É-ra mozgó és elforduló Adria mikrolemez közvetlen deformációs hatásától. Ezt a következtetést erősíti, hogy a Pannon-medence D-i részéből származó, hasonló korú üledékek mágneses szövete jelentős deformációról tanúskodik. | The project aimed at tracing the effect of the Neogene deformation in the Carpatho-Pannonian region by studying the magnetic fabric of sediments. We found that fine grained sediments show more clearly the signs of tectonic deformation than sandstones. Thus we studied claystone beds from Oligocene flysch of the Magura and Silesian nappes. They have bedding parallel magnetic foliation (MF), suggesting weak deformation. Magnetic lineations (ML) in the former are randomly oriented. In the latter ML correlate with local strike (compression). The orientations of ML and the Carpathian arc are not in harmony, thus oroclinal bending of the arc in the Miocene is not supported. Similar conclusion was drawn for late Cretaceous marls from the Pieniny Klippen Belt. For the Central Carpathian flysch we proved that deformation was weak and the paleomagnetic directions are not biased by flow orientation either during deposition. From the Transdanubian Range (TR) both Oligocene and Pannonian sediments show signs of weak deformation. The former exhibit geographically consistent ML related to middle Miocene extension. The latter rarely shows well defined ML. We think that the young sediments of TR were protected by consolidated basement and larger distance from northward moving and rotating Adria microplate, for the magnetic fabric of sediments of similar age from the South Pannonian basin was found to show clear evidence of important deformations

Burrow densities of Eurasian badger (Meles Meles) and red fox (Vulpes Vulpes) in Börzsöny mointains

Due to their common spread in Hungary, Eurasian badger (Meles meles) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) play key role in most Hungarian communities' life, and have decisive importance in both of wildlife management and nature conservation. Thus, development of a biologically well based carnivore management for these species is a relevant task that requires to getting to know their population statuses and to tracking the changes of these statuses. Our study aim was to verify the accuracy of stripe transect method that is commonly used for estimating burrow densities of carnivores, in a hilly area, that has always been a habitat for both of these two species. We were looking for answer to how the estimated burrow densities of the study area are related to data of countywide questionnaires, and to results of other, similarly detailed surveys. Burrow estimation was done in February 2011, and complete counting in January, February, and March of 2012. Our results showed 20.0% underestimation of Eurasian badger, and 2.2% overestimation of red fox burrows. Comparing to similarly detailed surveys, burrow density of badger in Börzsöny is equivalent to results from hilly areas, whilst definitely exceeds the level of densities on plain habitats. Red fox burrow density of the study area is multiple of the countrywide mean value that may refer to a remarkable systematic underestimation by wildlife managers. Our data, which are based on detailed assessment, show reliable burrow density values and offer a feasible method for practitioners

Burrow densities of Eurasian badger (Meles Meles) and red fox (Vulpes Vulpes) in Börzsöny mointains

Due to their common spread in Hungary, Eurasian badger (Meles meles) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) play key role in most Hungarian communities' life, and have decisive importance in both of wildlife management and nature conservation. Thus, development of a biologically well based carnivore management for these species is a relevant task that requires to getting to know their population statuses and to tracking the changes of these statuses. Our study aim was to verify the accuracy of stripe transect method that is commonly used for estimating burrow densities of carnivores, in a hilly area, that has always been a habitat for both of these two species. We were looking for answer to how the estimated burrow densities of the study area are related to data of countywide questionnaires, and to results of other, similarly detailed surveys. Burrow estimation was done in February 2011, and complete counting in January, February, and March of 2012. Our results showed 20.0% underestimation of Eurasian badger, and 2.2% overestimation of red fox burrows. Comparing to similarly detailed surveys, burrow density of badger in Börzsöny is equivalent to results from hilly areas, whilst definitely exceeds the level of densities on plain habitats. Red fox burrow density of the study area is multiple of the countrywide mean value that may refer to a remarkable systematic underestimation by wildlife managers. Our data, which are based on detailed assessment, show reliable burrow density values and offer a feasible method for practitioners