Morava River alluvial meadows on the Slovak–Austrian border (Slovak part): plant community dynamics, floristic and butterfly diversity – threats and management

The Morava river forms a border 71 km in length between Slovakia and Austria. Along this stretch of river is the largest complex of flooded grasslands in Central Europe, most of which lays on the Slovak side. Most of the grasslands belong to the subcontinental vegetation alliance Cnidion, with smaller areas of Alopecurion and Molinion. The grasslands are biotopes of many endangered plant and animal species. The influence of water regime dynamics on species composition have been studied since 1992 along permanent transects. The results of studies on the relation between water regime dynamics, vegetation and soils on the whole section of the Morava River floodplain are presented.     

Population structure and population dynamic of Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill. in relation to vegetation characteristics

In 2003, the last existing population of Pulsatilla patens in Germany was studied in the nature reserve “Garchinger Heide”, a calcareous grassland north of Munich. The aim of our study was to evaluate the endangerment of the species in ancient and young grasslands of the nature reserve. Therefore, the size, structure and generative reproduction of the population in relation to vegetation characteristics were investigated. Total population size and mean density of individual plants in different zones of the nature reserve were determined by a GPS-supported counting and compared to a mapping of 1991. The population structure was analyzed by counting the number of individuals of different age–state classes on 4 m² plots in ancient and young grasslands of the nature reserve. The cover of phanerogams, cryptogams, litter and bare soil was studied in order to characterize habitat quality.In 2003, about 9700 individuals of P. patens were counted which means that population size strongly decreased in comparison to 1991 (about 27 000). In the ancient grasslands, the number of individuals of all age–state classes of P. patens correlated negatively with the cover of phanerogams and litter. In contrast, phanerogam and cryptogam cover had a positive influence on the number of individuals of all age–state classes on a topsoil-removal site due to protection from desiccation. This site was the only one in the nature reserve, where population size increased between 1991 and 2003. The large population size indicates that short-term endangerment or extinction of the species in the nature reserve is not very likely. Nevertheless, the management of the nature reserve has to be optimized in order to prevent a further long-term decrease of the population size of P. patens.     

扇蕨配子体发育与濒危机制的探讨

采用改良Knop’s固体培养基、原生境腐殖质土和红壤分别培养扇蕨（Neocheiropteris palmatopedate）孢子,光学显微镜及解剖镜下观察记录其孢子萌发及配子体发育过程,比较了3种培养方法对其配子体发育和有性繁殖的影响,并在此基础上探讨了扇蕨的濒危原因。结果表明：成熟孢子黄褐色,赤道面观为豆形,极面观椭圆形,单裂缝。孢子萌发类型为书带蕨型,原叶体发育为槲蕨型。成熟原叶体呈心脏形。毛状体在原叶体阶段出现。有性生殖周期长及配子体发育成幼孢子体的百分率低是扇蕨在配子体世代的主要濒危原因。此外,红壤固有的理化性质导致扇蕨配子体发育极其缓慢、精子器和颈卵器发生的时间间隔过长使其不能受精产生孢子体。原生植被遭受破坏引起的林下腐殖质土消失、红壤裸露,加剧了扇蕨的濒危。     

试论赤尾噪鹛指名亚种的受胁程度

本文作者近期曾梳理赤尾噪鹛指名亚种(Garrulax milnei milnei)自戴维神父1874年命名以来的相关报道,揭示出该鸟近数十年来在野外的高稀缺性。为此,2015年3月至10月,江西武夷山国家级自然保护区对赤尾噪鹛指名亚种展开专项野外调查达20余次,并在保护区海拔1 700 m以上地带29个位点安放了57台红外触发相机,以期发现该鸟的现存证据。遗憾的是,无论是野外调查还是本次红外触发相机的照片/录像记录,并扩延至保护区自2009年10月以来300余台红外触发相机的全部记录,均未能发现或甄别出赤尾噪鹛指名亚种的存在。据此,作者提出赤尾噪鹛指名亚种当前的受胁程度当在极危(CR)与野外(功能性)灭绝(EW)之间。     

Comparison of funding and demand for the conservation of the charismatic koala with those for the critically endangered wombat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lasiorhinus krefftii</Emphasis>

This study contrasts the actual conservation spending and the Australian public’s demand for conservation funding for two Australian mammal species, the koala and the northern hairy-nosed wombat. It involves a survey of 204 members of the Australian public. Willingness to fund conservation action to protect the northern hairy-nosed wombat was found to be higher than that for the koala despite the koala’s immense popularity. The critically endangered status of the northern-hairy nosed wombat and the more secure conservation status of the koala is a factor likely to have influenced the comparative willingness-to-pay decisions. Actual annual conservation expenditure for both species is lower than the estimated aggregate willingness-to-pay for their conservation. Furthermore, conservation funding for the koala is much more than that for the northern hairy-nosed wombat even though the estimated public willingness-to-pay (demand) for funding koala conservation was less than for this wombat species. Reasons for this are suggested. They may also help to explain misalignment between demand for conservation funding of other species involving differences in charisma and endangerment.     

Assessing stream dwelling caddisfly assemblages (Insecta: Trichoptera) collected by light traps in Hungary

In the present study the conservation status of light trap-collected stream dwelling caddisfly assemblages was evaluated on the basis of original data and also from the literature representing different regions in Hungary. Altogether the catches of eight complete seasons were compared. Species richness, diversity and endangerment indices as well as a newly introduced rarity index (RI) expressing the average rarity of the collected species in Hungary were calculated to evaluate the conservation status of the streams in the Bakony, Börzsöny and Bükk Mountains and in the Zala Hills. The results highlight the importance of streams in maintaining endangered species of caddisfly in Hungary and bring to attention the fact that species richness or diversity are not necessarily the best indicators of conservation status of caddisfly assemblages. Indicators, for instance RI, which take into consideration the general rarity of the species seem to reflect more sharply conservation status and thus are more appropriate for the assessment of caddisfly assemblages.