Ábrahám Levente (szerk.): Válogatott tanulmányok III. - Natura Somogyiensis 12. (Kaposvár, 2008)

Salamon-Albert Éva-Horváth Ferenc: Vegetation of Külső-Somogy in Hungary II.

Natura Somogyiensis 12 17-29 Kaposvár, 2008 Vegetation of Külső-Somogy in Hungary II Regional diversity and pattern of non-woody habitats at landscape scale 1 SALAMON-ALBERT ÉVA & 2

HORVÁTH FERENC 'University of Pécs, Biological Institute, Department of Systematic and Ecological Botany H-7624 Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6., e-mail: albert@gamma.ttk.pte.hu institute of Ecology and Botany of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences H-2163 Vácrátót, Alkotmány utca 4., e-mail: feri@botanika.hu SALAMON-ALBERT E. & HORVÁTH F.: Vegetation of Külső-Somogy in Hungary II Regional diversity and pattern of non-woody habitats at landscape scale. Abstract: In this study occurrence, proportion and landscape pattern of grasslands and wastelands are analysed in Külső-Somogy based on MÉTA method at landscape scale. The relative importance of these habitat types represent more than the half of the total number of non-woody habitats listed for Hungary. Wastelands (62%) and disturbed grasslands (54%) have relatively the greatest area in this region, where uncharacteristic dry or semi-dry grasslands and tall herb communities dominate. Semi-natural dry and semi-dry grassland habitat types are in subordinated position in the southern and eastern parts of the region, especially with habitats of E-group, H-group or uncharacteristic herb communities (OC). As semi-natural non-woody wet grasslands types habitats of B-group are the relatively most frequent with eu- and mesotrophic reed and Typha beds, nontussock beds of large sedges and mosaics of marsh communities of channels, ditches and artificial lakes. In landscape elements which are poor in grasslands uncharacteristic wet or dry grass habitats (O-group) are significant. The north-western parts of Külső-Somogy near Lake Balaton are strongly endangered by the reduction or lack of semi-natural grasslands. Regional land and grassland management ought to promote functioning of grassland regeneration processes. Keywords: GIS database, MÉTA method, habitat patches, grasslands, landscape ecology Introduction Külsö-Somogy is a characteristic hilly landscape with semi-natural woodlands and grasses in the middle of Transdanubia belonging to Kaposense and Somogy icum phytogeographical regions. This landscape is the least revealed and documented area in Transdanubia according to Hungarian flora and vegetation. Published botanical data of species and (semi-)natural vegetation stands are sporadic in the last decades (e.g. HORVÁT 1943, KEVEY 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2001). Reference points for the southern and western zones of Külső-Somogy region are basic or correspondent vegetation descriptions and analyses of the sorrounding areas (e.g. Zselic, Belső-Somogy e.g. BORHIDI 1984,'JUHÁSZ 2006). Results of complex botanical mapping and research started in the last decade (BARTHA et al 2002). It would be presented as the reference verifying and finding new occurrences of vegetation types on one hand or as corresponding