Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 68. (Budapest 1976)

Jánossy, D. ; Kordos, L.: Pleistocene-holocene Mollusc and Vertebrate fauna of two caves in Hungary

cliange was greater in flora than in fauna it is only a seeming contradiction because in fauna there are more species therefore they appear in the graph in a smaller proportion than floral species. Considering the two ends of this change (200-220 cms and Block II 4th level) a succession of the same measure had taken place in both flora and fauna. Floristic data can be completed with the result of pollenanalysis made by MIHÁLTZ—FARAGÓ on the material of the Boundary of 6-7 layers (approx. Block III. 200 cms) : 4 Pinus, 1 Picea, 1 Tilia, 1 Garyophyllaceae, 916 Polypodiaceae, 1 Selaginella and 8 fungi spores were determined (STIEBER 1969). Biostratigraphical Position of the Faunas of Petényi Cave and Rejtek I. Rock Shelter (L. K.) Three successions of vertebrate faunas representing the transition between the end of Pleistocene and Holocene are known so far from Hungary. Two of them came to light from the two localities discussed in this paper, while the third was found in Jankovich Cave near Bajót in Gerecse Mountains. The cave was excavated by VÉRTES and JÁNOSSY in 1956. Its biostratigraphical evaluation was made by KRETZOI (1957, 1965, 1969). Based on the microstratigraphical analysis of the material of Jankovich Cave KRETZOI (1965, 1969) established four faunal phases within Holocene. They are: Bajót Phase: cooler climate conditions, than existing today, with Ochotona and Cricetulus. Kőrös Phase: dry, grassland conditions with the dominance of Cricetus and Microtus arvalis. Bükk Phase: cooler and more humid than the previous phase with the invasion of sylvan species. Alföld Phase: a rise in temperature together with a climate becoming more and more continental and with the expansion of "cultural-steppe". On the basis of investigations made on the material of localities excavated in Bükk Mountains and Aggtelek Karst recently we have a possibility to refine our Holocene vertebrate biostratigraphy both logically and actually (KORDOS 1974 a-í>). KRETZOI based his phases on a single stratotype and within these phases also ecological conclusions can be drawn from the fauna that played an important role. Gradually the climatic phases of Holocene became almost world-wide chronological categories. It is quite evident, however, that climatic processes of the same tendency could not have been existed simultaneously on the whole world, therefore climatic phases are increasingly loosing their correlation basis. Therefore our intention is to refine the faunal phases of Holocene by separating biostratigraphical categories purely on the basis of those limits which can be concluded from faunal successions quite apart from the fact that originally they are founded on changes in climatic conditions. Naturally ecological and other conclusions can and should be drawn from faunal analyses, nevertheless, they cannot influence the biostratigraphical system. After these preliminary remarks concerning the logical aspect of the matter, the vertebrate faunal phases of Holocene according to our recent knowledge are as follows: Bajót Phase: its fauna is characterized by the significant percentage of species surviving Pleistocene together with the unambiguous presence of species repressed during Pleistocene and becoming diffuse again later. It would be advisable to set the upper limit of this period with the point when the ratio of newly diffused species to Pleistocene ones reaches 2/3 to 1/3. 2 Természettudományi Múzeum Évkönyve 1976.