Locomotory techniques in Upper Cretaceous frogs (Iharkút, Hungary)

The Iharkút lissamphibian assamblage consists of a mixture of autochthonous Laurasian taxa [albanerpetontid allocaudatans, discoglossid (Bakonybatrachus) and pelobatid anurans] along with those of Gondwanan origin (the neobatrachian Hungarobatrachus). Functional anatomical interpretations of the preserved iliac structures and taphonomical observations were used in the reconstruction of the paleoecological conditions. Different paleoecological circumstances of these groups are indicated by the attachment surfaces of locomotory muscles in the preserved iliac bones of Bakonybatrachus and Hungarobatrachus and compared to recent representatives of discoglossid and ranid frogs (i.e. Discoglossus and Rana). Large insertion surfaces for m. gluteus maximus and for the m. iliacus externus pars externa indicates that Bakonybatrachus had good jumping and swimming abilities pointing to a periaquatic life-style, whereas the large m. iliacus externus and m. ilifibularis-iliofemoralis combined with a huge interiliac tubercle, suggest that Hungarobatrachus was a strong jumper, swimmer or both

DESIGNING A MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR ACHIEVING ECONOMIC-ENVIRONMENTAL BALANCE IN INVESTMENT PROJECTS

This paper describes a method for achieving the economic-environmental balance based on the assessment of environmental and/or pollutant factors in connection to community option on the evaluation of investment projects having a major impact on environment. This assessment is based on the concept of welfare, the distinction between satisfaction and dissatisfaction and implies a practical approach including the scientific aspects of environment pollution degree and the community position on developing an investment project, by assuming responsibility for negative and positive aspects of such a project, respectively for satisfaction and dissatisfaction, in order to fulfill the supreme goal of preserving the environment and ensuring human welfare.Pareto optimum, satisfaction/dissatisfaction, model, economic-environmental balance

Előzetes eredmények a késő kora-pleisztocén Somssich-hegy 2 (Villányi-hegység) ősgerinces lelőhely kétéltűinek vizsgálatában

The study of anurans from the late Early Pleistocene deposits of Somssich Hill 2 at Villany suggested the presence of six species of amphibians: Bombina cf. variegata, Pelobatesfuscus, Bufo bufo, Bufo viridis, Hyla cf. arborea es Rana cf. temporaria. This fossil assemblage consists almost entirely of isolated bones which belong to juvenile specimens. Strata of this locality demonstrate the dominance of heliophile species in the face of periaquatic taxa within the studied amphibian fauna. This suggests that the environment was mainly dry steppe during the sedimentation of these deposits but the climate became more humid at least three times. This led to the formation ofclosed forests or gallery forests where a river or lake near the locality may have formed a large permanent water surface

Bufo aff. viridis (Anura: Bufonidae) from the Middle Miocene diatomite of Szurdokpüspöki, northeastern Hungary

Abstract The excellently preserved toad fossil was found the Middle Miocene (Badenian) lower freshwater-brackish diatomite layers in Szurdokpüspöki, Mátra Mountains, northern Hungary. This is the first amphibian fossil of the locality. This specimen is the only toad skeleton from Hungary and possibly from the Miocene of Europe. The toothless premaxilla and maxilla denote the family Bufonidae and the ossification of the frontoparietal, prootic and exooccipital indicates the toad species Bufo viridis. The difference from other bufonid toads is the presence of a small bulge on the ventral side of the well-preserved right ilium; thus it is referred to as Bufo aff. viridis. The size of the bones of the fossil anura suggests it was probably a young specimen. Detailed taxonomic description is given

The Late Pleistocene microvertebrate fauna of the Vaskapu Cave (North Hungary) and its taphonomical, biostratigraphical and palaeoecological implications

About 60 years later than the systematic excavation in 1933 carried out by Dr. Mária Mottl and her coworkers, the Vaskapu locality in North Hungary was rediscovered by Dr. János Hír. In the following 15 years, several different field surveys were take place at the site and a rich microvertebrate assemblage were found. The aims of the present study were to review the vertebrate fauna (paying particular attention to the previously poorly studied herpetofauna) and to summarize its taphonomical, biostratigraphical and palaeoecological implications. The slightly mixed assemblage with elements of the forest as well as the grassland habitat is interpreted here as the result of a mosaic or quickly shifting environment left behind a retractive glaciation in the late Würm (namely at the time of the transition between the Pilisszántóian and Palánkian local biochronological stages around 15 000 years ago)