Habitat Mosaics of Sand Steppes and Forest-Steppes in the Ipoly Valley in Hungary

Ildikó Járdi,Dominika Falvai,Norbert Péter,Károly Penksza,Péter Csontos,Dénes Saláta,Ferenc Stilling,Gergely Pápay,Eszter S.-Falusi,Zalán Zachar

doi:10.3390/f12020135

Abstract

The present study focuses on the mosaic-like occurrences of patches of steppes and fore-steppes in the Pannonian forest-steppe zone. We present the current vegetation, which is maintained including by human landscape use, i.e., grazing and mowing. The area is complex and for this reason it shows the changes in the landscape and differences in the vegetation more diversely. We wanted to answer the questions: Do sand steppes and forest-steppes occur in the Ipoly Valley and what location? What kind of environmental effects influence the species composition on these areas? Besides classic habitat mapping, are the satellite data from Sentinel-2A useful for distinction of different areas? Comparison of vegetation patches was based on the Hungarian habitat classification system (ÁNÉR). Based on satellite images, quantile data of the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) were used for comparison. Based on the result, water bodies and urban areas are clearly distinguishable from other natural habitats. In some natural vegetation types, we found visible differences, such as grasslands, i.e., sandy steppe meadows and shrubby, woody vegetation patches. Sandy vegetation mainly grows on calcareous soils, which appear to be mosaic-like in the landscape on raised alluvials on the patches of past islands and reefs. From open to continuous closed grasslands, these vegetation types mainly grow on lithosoils. New occurrences of Pannonian sandy vegetation were discovered. In the sandy areas along the Ipoly Valley, open sandy grasslands were found, which is where the northernmost known occurrences of this vegetation type are. Besides common sandy grassland species, the vegetation also contains herbs that are typical in loess-grasslands and it is maintained by grazing, similarly to the eastern Pannonian area. This type of grazing can be useful when maintaining the mosaic-like appearance and diversity of the vegetation.

Highlights

The Pannonian-Pontic environmental zone (PAN) occupies the major part of the Carpathian Basin
The two vegetation types were discovered in the Pannonian region as a new occurrence, which may have appeared as a result of environmental conditions [8,31]
Two vegetation types were discovered in the Pannonian region as a new occurrence, which may have appeared as a result of territorial utilization, as in the eastern part of the basin (Nyírség) [31]

Summary

Introduction

The Pannonian-Pontic environmental zone (PAN) occupies the major part of the Carpathian Basin. The area is characterized by natural forest-steppe and steppe vegetation [1,2]. Numerous studies were carried out investigating the sandy areas of the Pannon region. The first significant review was published by Zólyomi [3]. Szujkóné–Lacza [4] assembled and reviewed the literature and collections of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, while using the data of the Botanical Department of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Surveys usually dealt with the central region of Hungary, which includes the most natural (i.e., relatively intact) parts. Owing to these studies, the temporal structure, the distinguishable aspects, and aspect-forming species of Festucetum vaginatae Simon 2000 are well known [5]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion