S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 59. (Budapest, 1998)

FOLIA ENTOMOLOGICA HUNGARICA ROVARTANI KÖZLEMÉNYEK LIX 1998 pp. 17-27 Distribution of Orthoptera species and structure of assemblages along Slanské - Zemplén Mountains Range (SE Slovakia - NE Hungary) B. Nagy, V. Suslik and A. Kristin Distribution of Orthoptera species and structure of assemblages along Slanské - Zemplén Mountains Range (SE Slovakia - NE Hungary) - A study was conducted in 1997 to survey the Orthoptera fauna and assemblages of the 100 km long N-S volcanic range (Slanské and Zemplén Mts) crossing the Slovakian - Hungarian borders in the NE part of the Carpathian Basin. A total of 16 sites was selected representing mostly mesic, but also some xeric and humid habitats between 95 and 1090 m a.s.l. Based on these and some earlier samplings, altogether 33 Ensifera and 36 Caelifera species were detected, among them several biogeographically characteristic species as Isophya modestior stysi, I. brevipennis, Leptophyes discoidalis, Poecilimon schmidti, Pholidoptera transsylvanica. Ph. frivaldskyi, Saga pedo (Tettigoniidae) and Pseudopodisma nagyi, Arcyptera fusca, Pararcyptera microptera, (Acrididae) etc. A considerable high proportion of xerofrequent species occurred in the southern (Hungarian) half of the mountain range which reaches here the northernmost zone of their area. This mountain range may be considered as a biogeographical corridor transmitting some Carpathian species (e.g. Isophya brevipennis, Poecilimon schmidti, Pholidoptera transylvanica, Ph. frivaldskyi) toward south. Discussion is presented relating to the frequency, vertical and horizontal distribution of species. The possibility of using some species as bioindicators and questions of nature conservation are also touched upon. Key words: Orthoptera fauna, assemblages, vertical/horizontal gradients, Slovakia, Hungary, nature conservancy INTRODUCTION The Orthoptera fauna and assemblages of the Slanské Vrchy and the Zemplénihegység (Zemplén Mts) - in the following: S-Z Mts - were partly studied and mentioned in various papers. Chyzer (1897) was the first author, who gave a checklist of the S-Z Mts: 36 Orthoptera species were mentioned with localities from the entire range. The Orthoptera part of the Fauna Regni Hungáriáé (Pungur 1918, originally from 1899) in general contained all the data published previously, however, this needs critical evaluation, especially related to the recent nomenclature. Cejchan's (1987) enumeration is more update, he mentioned 19 Orthoptera species, but his data refer to the northern (Slovakian) part (Slanské Vrchy) only. Besides the authors mentioned above, scattered data of occurrences were published by Mocsáry (1877), Maran (1952, Poecilimon), Varga (1984), Rácz (1992), Galvagni and Fontana (1996, Pseudopodisma) related to this mountain range. No comprehensive