Dr. Nagy I. Zoltán szerk.: Fragmenta Mineralogica Et Palaentologica 9. 1979. (Budapest, 1979)
scheme it corresponds to the Arka or Palánk stage, although the microfauna of this stage is unknown. It corresponds to the period of the "postglacial" climatic oscillations which succeeded the glacial of the Würm III. Paleoecological conclusions Comparing the faunal elements of the Seybold Quarry representing the end of the Pleistocene with their ecological demands we could make at least two groups and draw at least two conclusions according to we examine either the demands making on the physical environment of the biotope or we study the overgrowing related to the vegetation. If we make a classification according to the demands made on the physical environment we can point out that Arvicola and Microtus oeconomus demand definitely permanent water or a marshy environment. This environment existed in the past, too, in the valley between the Seybold and Szabó hills, which even nowadays there is a stream in. Talpa and Pitymys demand a well developed and extensive soil producing a large quantity of organic material and the presence of many rodents living in underground levels like hamster or all of the vole species indicate such soil, too; The fissures and small recesses of mica slate forming the Seybold Hill would have been finely utilized by both the smaller shrews and bigger Ochotona , Mustela nivalis , M. erminea, Mêles as well as by snakes. The smaller part of the species demand wet microenvironment, like Sorex , some vole species and frogs. Those species which yield the considerable mass of the fauna prefer arid environment. They are Cricetus, Glis, Microtus ar valis and from the "cold" species the Dicrostonyx and the Ochotona . Therefore according to the physical demands of the animals it can be laid down as a fact that at the end of the Pleistocene in the surroundings of the Seybold Hill there was a permanent water, a well developed soil formation area, wet, shaded hollows near the rocks as well as extensive arid surfaces. Considering the demands of species made on the overgrowing we get the following results. The frequently occurring Cricetus and Microtus arvalis , but also Ochotona and Lepus like open areas. Most frequent is Glis preferring an environment with shrubs and groves and the majority of vole species prefer it, too. We scarcely find definitely forest dwelling species, except Sorex araneus , Apodemus and Myodes. Consequently, with the knowledge of the specific and quantitative composition of the fauna we can reconstruct a mostly arid, open environment with shrubs and groves which microenvironments of denser vegetation near the rocks play a secondary role in. The single snail species (Cepaea vindobonensis) supports the reconstruction resulted by the study of the vertebrates because this species lives in the grassy slopes of steppes, on rocks, in wooded steppes and in grassy-shrubby areas.
