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

GUSON' result (1985) is supported, i.e. most of the leaves/fruits in the sample plot were transported not further than the height of the parent tree of the certain leaf or fruit. Higher trees growing over the average leafy crown level make an exception, since their leaves probably more exposed to the effect of wind were transported to major distances (e.g. Quercus robur). Great number of Pinus needles were recorded, however, in limited number of quadrats close to their parent trees. Due to their resistant structure to decay needles are dissimilated relatively slowly and may accumulate in the litter for several years. Probably it has contributed to the frequent occurrence of needles of gymnosperms in Tertiary fossil floras. Based on the comparison of the leaf spectra of the autumn and spring quadrats set by 18th m of the transection the later - spring sampling provided a leaf assemblage displaying much higher diversity than that of the autumn. Though the total leaf number in the spring quadrat was one third of that of the autumn quadrat it contained leaves representing one taxon more from the circle of 10 m radius set around the quadrats. Using multivariate methods the leaf assemblage of quadrats located in the central part of the transection proved to be the most comparable to the ideal quadrat containing the leaves of all the taxa of the sample plot. Based on the combined data set the distribution of quadrats refers to a vegetation displaying high ß-diversity and may indicate that samples originate from a patch of forest vegetation (forest) instead of an extensive one. Thus, even in the case of autochtonous fossil assemblages (no transport e.g. in situ fossilization in volcanic areas) it has a low chance that sampling is carried out from those limited areas representing the most the actual vegetation, therefore it is advisable to use the data of more (non-adjacent) "quadrats" for flora, vegetation and palaeoclimate reconstructions. Acknowledgements - We are indebted to GÉZA KÓSA, director of the Botanical Garden of the Ecological and Botanical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Vácrátót for approving our field work in the garden and to JÚLIA TAMÁS for her useful suggestions in statistical methods. The study was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA No. T-029041). REFERENCES BURNHAM, R. J. (1989): Relationships between the standing vegetation and leaf litter in a paratropical forest: implications for palaeobotany. - Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 58( 1 ): 5-32. BURNHAM, R. J. & SPICER, R. A. (1986): Forest litter preserved by volcanic activity at El Chichón, Mexico: a potentially accurate record of the pre-eruption vegetation. - Palaios 1: 158-162. FERGUSON, D. K. ( 1985): The origin of leaf-assemblages - new light on an old problem. - Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 46: 117-188.