Vig Károly: Zoological Research in Western Hungary. A history (Szombathely, 2003)
68 Phylum Mollusca of the lake, publishing their findings in several articles (MAZEK-FIALLA 1935; SAUERZOPF 195 7 and 1961; KLEMM 1973). ISTVÁN PINTÉR did malacological research in several districts of Transdanubia in the 1950s, including the Hanság, publishing an article that includes data on Fertő (PINTÉR 1960). Study of the Hungarian side of Fertő and western part of Sopron has yielded findings of great importance (RICHNOVSZKY 1981; KOVÁCS and RICHNOVSZKY 1986). To gain a full picture of the mollusc fauna around Fertő also meant investigating the marshes and peat bogs and presentday peat workings. The findings include both faunistic data and information about the connection between fauna and pH alkalinity of the soil (KOVÁCS et al 1987). ANTAL SMUK (1972) described molluscs of the genera Anodonta and Sphaerium from the lake and a subfossil species of the Pisidium genus from the open peat workings near Hidegség, but without specifying any of the species. A malacological survey was made in 1999-2000 during a comprehensive zoological survey of the Fertő-Hanság National Park. The aims were to gather data from the less explored parts of the territory and to seek species reported from neighbouring Austrian territories, but hitherto unknown on the Hungarian side. Unfortunately, none of the three species reported by KLEMM (1973) from the Austrian part of the Fertő district could be reported from Hungarian territory. One of these, Columella columella, has not been found in Burgenland for a long time either and is believed to be extinct there. 2 Oxychilus cellarius occurs in several localities along the western shore of Fertő (Rust, Zurndorf and Siegendorf), but it remains undiscovered on the Hungarian side. The search for Candidula unifasciata also failed. The species is rare even in the Austrian Fertőzug (Seewinkel). The district with the most diverse malacological fauna is the Hanság, especially Barbacs Pond, Lake Szőke, Lake Fehér and their vicinities. Fifty-one species are known from the Balf Hills district. Poorest is the fauna of Fertő itself, with only 17 of the commonest freshwater species and large mussels absent. There are no endemic molluscs in the park, most species being Palaearctic/Holarctic in distribution and frequent or common in Hungary. Only five protected species are found. Generally speaking, the mollusc fauna can be described as neither a very diverse nor very unusual. However, a large number of species abundant in the Fertő-Hanság National Park are on the Slovak or Austrian red lists, so that the area may act as a refuge and gene pool for species endangered in neighbouring countries (FEHÉR 2002; VARGA 2002). The earliest data on the mollusc fauna of the Kőszeg Hills appeared in a paper of REZSŐ SZÉP (1891), where he listed 60 species and 4 variants. These data (sometimes inaccurately spelt) were taken over by ERNŐ CSÍKI (1906) in the chapter of Fauna Regni Hungáriáé covering molluscs and by MIHÁLY ROTA2 FRANK, C, and P.L. REISCHÜTZ 1994. Rote Liste gefährdeter Weichtiere Österreichs (Mollusca: Gastropoda und Bivalvia). In GREPP, J. ed. Rote Liste gefährdeter Tiere Österreichs. Grüne Reihe BM Umwelt, Jugend und Familie series Vol. 2, 283-315. Graz: Styria Medien Service.
