A Veszprém Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 7. (Veszprém, 1968)

Papp Jenő: A Bakony-hegység állatföldrajzi viszonyai

sides, etc. (Diplachno-Festucetum, Festucetum sulcatae, Festucetum glaucae, Arrhenatheretum elatioris, Molinietum). By deforesting the vegetation on large areas (e. g. Balaton-Highland, East-Bakony) and subjecting them to agricultural cultivation, man has been instrumental in furthering the penetration of various thermo- and xerophil „southern" animal species. Zoogeographie situation of the Bakony. — On the Zoogeographie map of the Carpatian Basin drawn by MÓCZÁR—

DUDICH (Fig. 2) the Bakony is marked (without any adjective) as a member of the western (Transdanubian) wing (II/l) of the Matricum. The Zoogeographie description of the Bakony had been carried out exclusively on faunal-ecologicalchorological basis. Although the common species can, by their presence or absence, shape the character of a zoogeographical region, yet the detachment of a zoogeographical area is usually perfected on the basis of a suitable ensemble and of the degree of occurrence of the so-called colouring elements. Beside the common species of high occurrence frequency the exploration of colouring elements, the mapping of data concerning their localities, their rate of occurrence in a given locality, the plant community of locality, its geomorphological conditions, the simultaneous evaluation of many other facts and the synopsis of all these phenomena with regard to each species are the decisive criteria for the detachment of a certain zoogeographical area. Only the knowledge about all these facts can enable us to find out the origin of the so-called native species (endemisms) of high occurrence frequency, furthermore the origin and migration circumstances of the colouring elements originating both from adjacent and remote areas. An investigation leaning on such a synopsis can result in a zoological picture even of a small region that will be clear both from the viewpoint of the area (spatial factor) and that of history (time factor). The colouring animal species of the Bakony — All those species concerning which scientific knowledge can be gained through the study of the home zoological literature and through recent investigations" will be listed in the light of the following principle: „An area gets its characteristic features from its colouring elements and these elements are decisive in detaching it from adjecent area-units" (DUDICH 1954). The number of colouring elements established thus far in the Bakony i s 73. They are subdivided into fauna-element types (DE LATTIN 1967) whose list is show on page 292—293. In comparison with the 73 colouring species the 23 fauna-element types appear too high. On the other hand, in the case of grouping species of various taxonomic orders the number can be considered as low. However, accordance with the up-to-date zoogeographical contemplation forbids to break up the fauna-element types into small details. For the stake of good arrangement, manageability, facilitation of fauna-igenetic inference and of other points of view it is expedient instead of increasing rather to limit their number. For that matter, exactly for the sake of good arrangement, several fauna-element types are grouped under a common denomination that can be considered as a second-rank catagory (e. g. Eurasian Species). DE LATTIN (1967) has introduced the denomination "Oreotundral" for high mountains and "Arboreal" for the remaining areas of the Palearctic. Concerning the letter one he made the following novel fauna-genetical statement of great importance having also far-reaching zoogeographical meaning: "... the recent centres of expansion of the Arboreal are identical with the glacial areas of refuge of the forest fauna" (p. 355). The Bakony a small area as it may be in comparison to the Palearctic, yet the validity of the statement to this area can be verified. Already from the first compilation of the colouring elements will be seen the highest rate of participation of the southeast-European species (32 species — 43%). With the exception of the NorthBakony the entire Bakony is housing "Species of Southern and of Souteast-Europe" and the W

—NWhabitat boundary of several such species crosses the Bakony. The Bakony, as a low central mountain region, with its relief, climatioal, hydrographical and floral conditions furthers first of all the large-scale expansion of "southern" species. From this point of view (the geomorphologically meant) Balaton-Highland, Tapolca Basin, southern quarter of the Keszthely-Mountain and South-Bakony take the lead. It is true that man, through his region-forming activity has facilitated the settlement of southern species; however, he has not changed considerably the proportion of species brought about by the original forces of nature. All that can be said is that man has been conditioning the texture of colouring elements. — From the fauna-genetical point of view the high rate suggests that, in the 10—12 thousand years following the Ice Age (i. e. in the recent millennia of Earth History) most of all "southern" elements have penetrated into the lowlands and central mountain regions of the Carpathian Basin, a part of which is the Balkony. The description of the colouring elements was carried out with an eye on certain properties of expansion and ecology which point to the natural settlement of the species. Following the Ice Age, early in the Corylus Age and in the Atlantic Age a climate-optimum came about favouring the various oaks. Since plants and animals have been concomitant phenomena, justified is the assumption that the "southern" elements in the western wing of the Transdanubian Central Mountain Range, the Bakony, had appeared in the same time period. It is very likely that in the light of future analysis of the Bakony's fauna the present percentile rate will still (at least approximatively) hold and the recent fauna-genetical results will be confirmed. Two other important fauna-elements are contracted under the headings "Eurasian Species" and "European Species". The former number 17 (23%), the latter 23 (30%). Here are listed ranging from the one really Eurasian species to the Central European ones all those coluring elements whose habitats are unusually varied. Several of them are living 311