Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 96. (Budapest 2004)

Molnár, J., Erdei, B. ; Hably, L.: The transport of leaves and fruits - a taphonomical study of leaf litter

arboreal elements, distribution of plant parts were investigated in open and closed vegetation types. On the other hand, prospects of a vegetation reconstruction using data of the present study were outlined. OBJECTIVES Based on sampling in areas with open and more closed arborescent vegetation several questions were raised. In the first place the relationship of the number of leaves/fruits in the litter, their distribution pattern and the height and horizontal range of the leafy crown were studied. The distribution of leaves/fruits was taken as a function of the distance from the parent tree in order to reveal regularities. To gain more information about the role of leaf characteristics in wind transport the relationship between the average mass, average surface and average density of the leaves per quadrat, and the distance from the parent tree were investigated as well. The expected number of leaves and the limits of leaf distribution in the case of the evergreen and deciduous trees of the sample plots were compared. Based on the number of leaves in the autum and spring litter we attempted to record the move of the litter and to take into account factors exercising an influence on it. Finally, the floral lists of the autum and spring quadrats were compared to an ideal quadrat (containing all the taxa of the sample plot), in order to reveal - to what an extent the reconstruction of the flora and vegetation (based on the quadrats) corresponds to the actual flora and vegetation of the sample plot. SAMPLE PLOTS AND THE METHOD OF SAMPLING Two sample plots were indicated in the Botanical Garden of the Ecological and Botanical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Vácrátót (20 km north of Budapest, Fig. 1). Sample plots were chosen in a botanical garden just for the sake of simplicity. Thus, the study was simplified by using plots in which even one certain tree could be investigated without marking its leaves (the parent tree of leaves was unambiguous e.g. first sample plot). Sample plot I A more or less open area covered with scattered arborescent vegetation (Figs 2-3). A 17 m high Acer platanoides LINNAEUS, 1753 was chosen for the study with regard to the precondition not to have other specimens of the same species close to the sample plot. At the time of sampling the tree had shed already about 90% of its leaves. A Platanus x hybrida BROTERO, 1804 tree close to our study tree had shed rather few leaves and fruits till the time of sampling, thus it was not included in the study.