Orthoptera fauna of the Mátra Mountains (North Hungary)

The recent knowledge on the Ortoptera fauna of the Mátra Mountains is summarised. The formerly published 197 data of 51 species from the Mátra are overviewed and complemented with results of our faunistic research carried out between 1948 and 2020. Altogether 3638 data of 85 species from 357 localities in the Mátra are published here. Nine species are protected by law (Arcyptera microptera, Celes variabilis, Gampsocleis glabra, Isophya modesta, Podisma pedestris, Poecilimon intermedius, Polysarcus denticauda, Saga pedo, Stenobothrus eurasius), and two more are strictly protected (Isophya costata, Paracaloptenus caloptenoides) in Hungary

Acetonitrile­trichloridobis(cyclo­hexyl­diphenyl­phosphane)rhodium(III) acetonitrile disolvate

In the title compound, [RhCl3(CH3CN)(C18H21P)2]·2CH3CN, the complex mol­ecule lies on a twofold rotation axis that passes through the RhIII atom, one Cl atom, and the C and N atoms of the coordinated acetonitrile mol­ecule. The RhIII atom is coordinated by two P atoms in trans positions, three Cl atoms and an acetonitrile mol­ecule in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. Intra­molecular C—H⋯Cl inter­actions are observed. The uncoordinated acetonitrile mol­ecule is disordered over two sites with occupancies of 0.588 (4) and 0.412 (4)

Distribution and habitat preference of Buxbaumia Hedw. species in Hungary

The genus Buxbaumia includes two species (B. aphylla and B. viridis) in Hungary. Both of them were thought to be rare and threatened: B. aphylla was rated as Vulnerable (VU), while B. viridis as Endangered (EN) on the national Red List. The latter is a Natura 2000 species and protected by law in the country. The aims of the research were to summarize the historical and actual distribution of these taxa and to reveal their habitat preference, population size and phenology in Hungary. During systematic surveys from 2014 to 2017, we have checked previously known localities and similar habitats in several Hungarian landscapes. In almost every newly discovered stand, phytocoenological relevés were taken in 1 m2 plots. We recorded here the number, state and maximal density (plant/1 dm2) of the individuals (sporophytes or setae), and listed the presence of cooccurring species. The cover values of moss layer, bare surfaces and organic debris were estimated; the exposure and the inclination were measured. We have found some formerly known and many more newly discovered populations of Buxbaumia species. Although B. viridis is usually considered to be an epixylic bryophyte, both species occurred mostly on soil, on steep, north-facing slopes, in stands of acidophilous communities. However, B. aphylla was more common in drier acidophytic oak forests, while B. viridis preferred acidophytic beech forests. In both cases, the most frequent (fr.≥50%) co-occurring mosses were Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme and Polytrichum formosum. According to the observed habitat preference and using MÉTA maps, we presume further potential occurrences of shield-mosses in Hungary, mainly in hilly regions. Since more than 1600 individuals and 160 (usually stable) stands of both taxa were discovered recently in the country, we suggest that their threat status should be lowered to Near Threatened (NT) in the next Bryophyte Red List of Hungary. Whereas the characteristics of B. aphylla are similar to those reported in the literature, our results on the habitat preference of B. viridis greatly differ from the Hungarian and international published accounts. Our new observations will be relevant for the protection of B. viridis in the future

Vegetation-based landscape regions of Hungary.

he first version of the map of the Hungarian vegetation-based landscape regions were prepared at the scale of 1 : 200,000 (1 km or higher resolution). The primary goal of the map was to provide an exact background for the presentation and evaluation of the data of theMÉTA database. Secondly, we intended to give an up-to-date and detailed vegetation-based division of Hungary with a comprehensive nomenclature of the regions. Regions were primarily defined on the basis of their present zonal vegetation, or their dominant extrazonal or edaphic vegetation. Where this was not possible, abiotic factors that influence the potential vegetation, the flora were taken into consideration, thus, political and economical factors were ignored. All region borders were defined by local expert botanists, mainly based on their field knowledge. The map differs in many features from the currently used, country- wide, flora- or geography-based divisions in many features. We consider our map to be temporary (i.e. a work map), and we plan to refine and improve it after 5 years of testing

Carbon disulfide. Just toxic or also bioregulatory and/or therapeutic?

The overview presented here has the goal of examining whether carbon disulfide (CS2) may play a role as an endogenously generated bioregulator and/or has therapeutic value. The neuro- and reproductive system toxicity of CS2 has been documented from its long-term use in the viscose rayon industry. CS2 is also used in the production of dithiocarbamates (DTCs), which are potent fungicides and pesticides, thus raising concern that CS2 may be an environmental toxin. However, DTCs also have recognized medicinal use in the treatment of heavy metal poisonings as well as having potency for reducing inflammation. Three known small molecule bioregulators (SMBs) nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide were initially viewed as environmental toxins. Yet each is now recognized as having intricate, though not fully elucidated, biological functions at concentration regimes far lower than the toxic doses. The literature also implies that the mammalian chemical biology of CS2 has broader implications from inflammatory states to the gut microbiome. On these bases, we suggest that the very nature of CS2 poisoning may be related to interrupting or overwhelming relevant regulatory or signaling process(es), much like other SMBs