B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 33. 2002 (Budapest, 2002)
Buczkó, Krisztina: A new floristical survey of the algal flora of the Babat valley, Hungary
16 BUCZKÓ, K. plankton played marginal role in my study, since more interesting results were expected from the littoral algae communities. This floristical study is a contribution to the knowledge of algal flora of the Babat valley. Compared to the records of a recent country survey, a comprehensive study of the algal flora of the Nature protection areas of Hungary (NÉMETH 2002), in the present article 122 of the full number of records (209) are new (Table 1). In order to have a clearer picture of the overall algal flora of the area, it would be useful to make further comparisons our data with the earlier ones. Lajos Hajdu' s results were based on a very thorough research, but these are hardly comparable with ours, since his approach and methodology (spatiality, time scale, sampling methods) were quite different. In spite of the tough anthropogenic influence experienced in the study area, the algal flora of the ponds (even of the "Goose Ponds") is remarkably diverse. In this study the great variety of identified taxa could be attributed to the fact that the survey was conducted mainly in the littoral zone, where diatoms occur in large quantities and these were recorded as new for the flora of the ponds. Upper Pond (No. 11) With 91 taxa identified this undisturbed, shallow pond is the most "species rich" among the ponds in concern. The early spring sample was predominated by Cryptophyta taxa and diatoms, with abundant presence of Achnanthes minutissima, Diatoma tenuis, Nitzschia communis and Nitzschia palea. In May, Chara canescens was found in the lakeshore's shallow water, but it disappeared by July. Cymbella microcephala was the dominant diatom in the summer sample; this is often found among the attached algae, but rarely a dominant species in the periphyton. The presence of Dinophyta {Dinobryon sociale, Peridinium cinctum, P. palatinum and P. umbonatum) was characteristic for this pond in the time frame of the study. Alder Swamp Pond (No. 10) A 2-hectare pond back in 1969, its surface appeared small (almost without open water surface), especially during the first collecting trip. Presently the water surface is mosaicous, and the bed of the pond is largely covered by a moss species (Drepanocladus aduncus). The algal flora of this pond is a unique one among those in the chain of ponds. It has diverse species composition, altogether 65 taxa, and remarkably, 18 taxa were found only in this "Alder Swamp Pond" but completely absent in the rest of
