Semi-natural grasslands were previously established through traditional land use and maintained by active management, but their extension nowadays is declining rapidly, particularly in areas that also have tourism potential. In parallel, the conservation value of the remaining areas is increasing. The shore of Lake Balaton is a particularly good example, as Lake Balaton is an area highly affected by tourism, yet there have been valuable habitats able to survive and provide refuge for many vulnerable, protected species. Fortunately, we have reliable information about the vegetation of the area from two decades ago. Comparing these data with our recent surveys we investigated the changes in habitats and the distribution of protected plant species in connection with the active conservation treatments such as grazing or cutting. Our results show that in areas where treatments are still ongoing, protected plant species are more likely to survive, or even other species can appear, which is in clear contrast with conditions experienced in abandoned areas, where at least seven protected species have disappeared. According to our results, minor, but appropriately chosen and well-executed management interventions, can help in the long-term maintenance of species-rich habitats and improving the conservation status of threatened species.

Most of Europe’s semi-natural grasslands have been maintained by land use for thousands of years. Consequently, as a side effect of this type of land use, high grassland biodiversity was able to develop in those areas. Today, due to changes in land use, only fragments of the native grasslands and their biodiversity, especially in wetlands, remain. We conducted a study on changes in land use and the conservation context of a species-rich Hungarian fen meadow over 250 years. In addition to the main changes, we focused on sustainable grassland management. For our research, we built a geospatial database in which we attached great importance to georeferenced aerial photographs taken decades ago. To better understand what we can see in aerial photographs, we studied archived newspaper articles and conducted interviews. An aerial photograph taken in 1963 served as an exceptional illustration and data source for the key factors of sustainability and biodiversity. Our case study illustrates most of the major global problems affecting the European fen meadow (drainage, agricultural intensification, expansion of infrastructure networks, abandonment of farming). Based on our research, mosaic, adaptive, small-scale landscape use is necessary for the long-term sustainability of European wet grasslands and their special wildlife.

Management of invasive alien plants is an increasing problem throughout the world. In some cases native rare or protected species can appear or even prefer habitats dominated by invasive alien plants, which raises questions about the optimal treatment of such areas. Erythronium dens-canis in Hungary is a protected species which only have several occurrences in the country and a number of these populations situated in Robinia pseudoacacia stands developed after harvesting native forests. In this study a total of five populations of E. dens-canis were surveyed between 2020 and 2022 in southwestern Hungary examining and comparing the ongoing demographic changes under native and Robinia stands by monitoring individual plants. Two populations were situated in forests composed of native tree species, two in Robinia pseudoacacia-dominated stands and one in a Robinia-native tree species mixed stand. We categorized the plants into five age-state categories: dormant, seedling, juvenile, vegetative adult, and reproductive adult. We found some considerable differences (e.g. leaf size, reproduction rate) between the populations situated in native and in Robinia stands, whereas the population in mixed forest showed intermediate character in most examined factors. Based on our results, R. pseudoacacia have a significant effect on the phenology and life history of E. dens-canis, and this effect is greater with higher proportion of R. pseudoacacia in a forest stand where the E. dens-canis occurs.

A hazánkban ritka és védett kakasmandikó (Erythronium dens-canis L.) életmeneté- ről, valamint populációinak demográfiai és dinamikai sajátosságairól kevés irodalmi adattal rendelkezünk. A faj előfordulási területének jelentős részén törvényi oltalmat élvez, illetve veszélyeztetett fajként van nyilvántartva, ezért különösen fontos az adathiányos állapot megszüntetése. Kutatásunk célja a faj populációbiológiájának jobb megismerését célzó demográfiai vizsgálatok megalapozása volt az egyedek egy vegetációs perióduson belüli életmenet-állapot változásának nyomon követésével három zalai állományban. Legfőképpen azt a módszertani kérdést kívántuk tisztázni, hogyan lehet az egyedeket állapotkategóriákba sorolni egy olyan évelő, többször termő faj esetében, melynek hajtásai nem egyszerre jelennek meg a vegetációs periódus kezdetén. Összesen 377 kakasmandikó tő került legalább egyszer felvételezésre 2020-ban, ezek közül 255 tövet (67,6%) mindkét vizsgálati időpontban, márciusban és áprilisban is fel tudtunk mérni. Eredményeink alapján jelentős különbségek figyelhetők meg az egyes Erythronium állományok szerkezetében, hely és időpont függvényében egyaránt, ezért az életmenet-állapotba való besorolást mindenképpen hozzá kell igazítani a felvételezés idejéhez és helyéhez. Az életmenet-állapot megállapítása a reproduktív tövek esetében egyértelmű, a juvenilis és vegetatív adult tövek esetében azonban a felvételezés idejétől függően mérsékelt bizonytalansággal végezhető el – egyes tövek besorolása a mérettartományok által meghatározott kategóriákba ugyanis változik a felmérés időpontjától függően. A juvenilis és vegetatív adult kategóriák között a mérethatárt a reproduktív tövek levélmérete alapján állapítottuk meg. Mivel az azévben virágzó tövek hajtanak ki először az állományban, ezek hamarabb érik el a kifejlett levélméretüket is. Feltételezhető, hogy a felmérés pontossága az idő előrehaladtával növekszik, mivel a később kihajtó tövek is elérhetik vagy megközelíthetik a maximális levélterület-méretüket. Egy későbbi időpont választásának további előnye, hogy egyúttal a reproduktív tövek termésképzési sikerességét is meg lehet állapítani. A késői felvételezést azonban akadályozza a tövek időközbeni elhervadása, eltűnése vagy károsodása, ami egyre gyakoribbá válik a faj tenyészidejének végéhez közeledve.

With 22 taxa reported from the country so far, Epipactis is the most species-rich orchid genus in Hungary. Many of them are rare, threatened species. To protect endangered species effectively, it is crucial to explore their ecology. Our work aimed to select and examine factors that are influencing the distribution of Epipactis species. Our data collection (2014–2018) was carried out in the Keszthely Hills, in the northeastern part of the Zala Hills and the Southern Bakony Mountains. We assigned ecologically relevant data from databases of local forestries, terrain models and geological maps to each occurrence. We examined the factors that result in the best differentiation between the studied species. At 1,261 localities, a total of 5,223 individuals of 15 taxa were found. We found three factors (tree species composition of the forest, genetic soil type, bedrock type) that significantly influenced the distribution of Epipactis species. Our results can help understand the distribution patterns of these species and allow for more effective, targeted protection of their potential habitats on a regional level. With 22 taxa reported from the country so far, Epipactis is the most species-rich orchid genus in Hungary. Many of them are rare, threatened species. To protect endangered species effectively, it is crucial to explore their ecology. Our work aimed to select and examine factors that are influencing the distribution of Epipactis species. Our data collection (2014–2018) was carried out in the Keszthely Hills, in the northeastern part of the Zala Hills and the Southern Bakony Mountains. We assigned ecologically relevant data from databases of local forestries, terrain models and geological maps to each occurrence. We examined the factors that result in the best differentiation between the studied species. At 1,261 localities, a total of 5,223 individuals of 15 taxa were found. We found three factors (tree species composition of the forest, genetic soil type, bedrock type) that significantly influenced the distribution of Epipactis species. Our results can help understand the distribution patterns of these species and allow for more effective, targeted protection of their potential habitats on a regional level.