O. G. Dely szerk.: Vertebrata Hungarica 8/1-2. (Budapest, 1966)
Marián, M.: The herpetofauna of the Fehértó (Lake Fehér) near Kardoskut, Hungary 93-104. o.
conditions, water is the most important environmental factor which makes the settling of the above species possible, or rather the survival of the specific populations. Even of the eurytop species, only some few can adapt themselves to such unfavourable conditions. This also explains the small number of the species. (The smaller size, as related to that occurring in plain areas of other characteristics, demonstrable in some of the species also imply that conditions are not quite optimal for even those which live here.) The individual numbers of the (aquatic forms of the) few amphibians inhabiting the research area are rather high. According to I.KISS (1959),with respect to the phytoplankton of the Kardoskut lake, and as put forward by J. MEGYERI (1959), concerning the mesozooplankton of the alkali waters, the soda flats are characterized less by the high number of species than by the great number of individuals. Interestingly, this statement holds also for the amphibians, but only for the larval stage and the younger lunged form respectively, As soon as the amphibious Bpecies break away from the protective environment of the water, they come under extreme ecological effects. Pood supply decreases, since the sparse plant cover of the dry land fails to offer an abundance of Insect food. The number of predators increases. However, the decrease of the individual numbers can in essentials be ascribed to the summer drought, destroying tens of thousands of the young frog generation. Progs and toads, being Poikilothermie animals, endure hunger rather well. However, their organism can hardly take measures against drying out. Members of the genus Ran a and the family Discoglossida e are especially sensitive to this. In the survival of the amphibious fauna, the nawy holes, ditches j, abandoned wells around the lake play a decisive role.Bombinators and lake frogs,retreated to these shelters, obtain but a paucity of food there, but they can still weather drought rather well. (On 3 July, 1962, I observed
