Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 94. (Budapest 2002)

Korsós, Z., Hornung, E. , Szlávecz, K. ; Kontschán, J.: Isopoda and Diplopoda of urban habitats: new data to the fauna of Budapest

the Pest side, drier, and surrounded by residential areas. The isopod and diplopod fauna obviously reflects various degrees of human disturbance and urban influences. However, further surveys are necessary to reveal more clear patterns. CONCLUSIONS Altogether a remarkably high species richness was found in Budapest and its surroundings. Based upon the known Hungarian fauna of these two arthropod groups (FORRÓ & FARKAS 1998, KORSÓS 1994, 1997, [1998]), our species lists represents 38% and 25% of the Oniscidea and Diplopoda, respectively. One explanation for this high species richness is the extreme heterogeneity of the urban landscape. On the one hand, urban development results in destruction of natural habitats. Depending on their size, and degree of human impact, fragmented semi-natural habitats may still support populations of native soil invertebrates. On the other hand, cities create special environments, such as greenhouses, where exotic species can survive. Species introductions as well as habitat destruction are likely to continue in the future. Urbanization is a dynamic process, which undoubtedly will lead to the modification of the species list presented here. Monitoring is one tool to assess the long term changes in soil fauna composition. * Acknowledgements - This study was supported by the US National Science Foundation (Int. Suppl. to DEB-97-14835) and the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (MTA 049-OTKA 31623). Most field work took place during the visit of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study Soil Biodiversity Group. We thank ASHLEY KING, MISSY VALENTINO, VINCENT GIORGIO, RICH POUYAT and JONATHAN RUSSELL-ANELLI for their help in the field. The Hungarian field work was supported by a grant Hungarian Scientific Research Fund to ZK (OTKA 26172). We greatly appreciate the hospitality and many useful discussions with Dr. HENRIK ENGHOFF (Zoologisk Museum, Copenhagen) and Dr. HELMUT SCHMALFUSS (Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart). The paper was finalized while ZK visited the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen with the support of COBICE (Copenhagen Biosystematic Centre, Project No. 323). REFERENCES ALLSPACH, A. & SZLÁVECZ, K. (1990): The terrestrial isopod (Isopoda, Oniscidea) fauna of the Bátorliget Nature Reserves. - In: MAHUNKA, S. (ed.): The Bátorliget Nature Reserves - after forty years. Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, pp. 251-257. BERG, M. P. & WIJNHOVEN, H. (1997): Landpissebedden. KNNV Uitgeverij, nr. 221. Stichting Uitgeverij Koninklijke Nederlandse Natuurhistorische Vereniging, Utrecht, 80 pp.