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

than the leaves and consequently their distribution is influenced by the direction and strenght of the wind to a higher degree which is likely to be explained by their smaller size and weight (elongated period of fall, transport on the ground). Similarly, fruits and leaves of Fraxinus ornus and Tilia cordata growing in the sample plot were found close around the parent tree with a pattern of distribution indicating the dominant wind direction (Fig. 5). It is conspicuous that the Acer platanoides situated in the centre of the sample area hinders the transport of leaves and fruits of other trees (depending on the position of the parent tree) in the north, north-east and south-east directions by means of decreasing wind speed. Relationship of the number of leaves and distance - The logarithm to base 10 of the number of Acer platanoides leaves found in the quadrats (y) is inversely proportional to the distance of the quadrats from the trunk (x) (Fig. 8). It is well in accordance with earlier results of SZCZEPANSKI (1965), RAU (1976) and FERGUSON (1985). The points along the six transections fit in well to the straights. It is demonstrated also well by the fact that r

2 > 0.9 and P < 0.001 in all the cases. Since y = mx Fig. 8. Logarithm to base 10 of the number of Acer platanoides leaves per quadrat (axis "y") is inversely proportional to the distance of quadrats from the trunk (axis "x"), i.e. the number of leaves is a negative exponential function of the distance being well in accordance with earlier works (FERGUSON 1985, RAU 1976, SZCZEPANSKI 1965). The data of each transection are indicated separately by the straights