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The Old Lake of Tata, an important wild goose roosting site in Central Europe, is unique in its location being in the middle of a city with a population of 24,000. Consequently, the site is subject to intensive human disturbances. Goose migration and wintering on the lake was studied for over 37 years (1984–2021). In addition to weather, hydrological, and feeding conditions, particular attention was focused on human influences (which were deemed generally disruptive, but also beneficial in some cases) that can induce significant changes in the population dynamics of the 30,000–50,000 wild geese from 13 species wintering here. Almost without exception, the largest observed changes in the abundance of wild geese roosting overnight on the Old Lake are due to anthropogenic effects. In the majority of cases, the most significant population changes are due to impacts associated with the operation and upkeep of the lake and the New Year’s Eve fireworks. As a result, the winter operation of the Old Lake has been regulated by the Wild Goose Preference Mode since 2011, and the City of Tata has banned the use of fireworks during the winter period since 2018. Consequently, the conditions for wild goose migration have improved significantly. However, the situation of the Old Lake is still quite fragile and more conservation measures are needed to protect it further.

A változatlanul kedvezőtlen agrár-környezetet csak paradigmaváltással (Faragó, 1999b), a „bölcs vadgazdálkodás” gyakorlatával lehet semlegesíteni, ami egy élőhely gazdálkodással megtámogatott apróvad-gazdálkodás bevezetését jelenti. A területek 5-10%-át érintő élőhelyfejlesztés és szükségletek szerinti predátor gazdálkodás/szabályozás az élőhelyszerkezet diverzitásának fokozása révén a célfajok, azaz az apróvad állománynövekedését is eredményezi (Faragó, 1997b; Faragó és Náhlik, 1997). Ebben a munkában fontos szerep jut a gyepek megőrzésének, apróvad-barát kezelésének, mindenekelőtt a szegély élőhelyeken bolygatástól mentes, tartós gyepstruktúra kialakításának és fenntartásának.

Maintaining environmental balance and reducing the damages caused by climate change anomalies are the basic pillars of sustainable agricultural competitiveness. Applying agricultural sector life cycle assessment (LCA) to achieve both internal (comparative) and external (efficiency enhancing) benefits is a priority.The investigated area (Lajta-Project) is located in Kisalföld plain, specifically in the southern part of Mosoni-sík (plain). The main cultivated plant species in this agricultural land (2678-2768 ha) are cereals, maize, hemp and canola. There are, on average, 10-15 crops present during a single cultivation cycle. The area is divided into 56 parcels measuring between 20 and 105 ha. The investigation covers the two decade period between 1991 and 2011. We analysed the cultivation data of 5 crops: canola, winter barley, winter wheat, green maize and maize.We applied the following methods and models in our life cycle impact assessment: CML2001 (January 2016) method, carbon footprint analysis according to the standard ISO 14067, GaBi impact assessment model for land use and GaBi model for water. In order to represent the overall environmental impact, we used the method of CML2001, Experts IKP (Central Europe).Significant impact categories resulted from the average cultivated plant values calculated on 1 ha (territorial approach) were: abiotic depletion pot. (ADP fossil), global warming (GWP 100 years) and marine aquatic ecotoxicity pot. (MAETP inf). We compared the yearly time series values on 1 ha and the average yearly values of cultivated plants. According to the resulted ratio, we could define the year of above-average level emission and the year of lower level environmental impact. This provides opportunity to draw further conclusions in the time series assessments of the resulting changes in the local flora and fauna.We also summarized the indicator results of appropriate impact categories according to CML2001 method in the studied area by crops which resulted in the territorial environmental footprints of crops for the total time period, namely the ’super footprint’ values. The calculated carbon footprint value specific to the area was 307,000 kg CO2-equiv. according to ’super footprint’ approach. The calculated values are clear to interpret by comparison with the similar data or average values of other areas or time periods.The obtained results help to better assess environmental impacts, climate risks, and climate change as they pertain to arable crop production technologies, which advances the selection of appropriate technologies that have been adjusted to environmental sensitivities.Acknowledgement: Our research was supported by the „Lajta-Project”.

We have pointed out 272 plant and 217 animal, altogether 489 taxa in the diet of Great Bustard on the basis of data received from 9 (10) countries for Otis tarda tarda (Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, former Soviet Union). Out of 272 plant taxa, 40 were classified as cultivated plants, 232 wild plants and weeds. From the latter, 43 taxa were monocotyledons and 189 were dicotyledons. Animal food is shared among Annelida (n = 3), Arthropoda (189) Mollusca (2) and Vertebrata (23) phyla. Arthropods are mostly represented with Insecta (181), Arachnoidea (3), Chilopoda (2), Diplopoda (2) and Crustacea (mostly Isopoda) (1) classes. The component of the diet is possibly not related to selection but to the change of the abundance and availability of food and the ever present demand for animal food needed for the organism. Owing to the high number of taxa known as food, Great Bustard is definitely a generalist species. Due to the wide spectrum of animal taxa and because of the ability to subsidize the inefficient quality of food with quantity, Great Bustards can be regarded as a species with positive adaptation ability. It can be explained with a wide plant and animal food spectrum that Great Bustards even in intensive agricultural habitats can find food with indispensable quantity and quality.

This study investigated the habitat selection of the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) during the breeding season of 2014 in an intensively managed agricultural environment (LAJTA Project, North-West Hungary). In order to assess the habitat preferences of the Common Quail, habitat composition around occupied plots were compared with unoccupied control plots. To characterize the habitat, a total of 11 variables related to vegetation structure and diversity, food availability and landscape were quantified. Multivariate methods (PCA and GLMs) were used to distinguish the main factors influencing habitat selection and to model the presence of the Common Quail. Based on our results, in the LAJTA Project, high probability of Common Quail presence can be predicted in plots with higher herbaceous cover and more abundant arthropod communities. The network of ecotone habitats, particularly the proximity to woody habitats, also appeared to have significant importance during the breeding season.

Climate warming is driving changes in species distributions, although many species show a so-called climatic debt, where their range shifts lag behind the fast shift in temperature isoclines. Protected areas (PAs) may impact the rate of distribution changes both positively and negatively. At the cold edges of species distributions, PAs can facilitate species distribution changes by increasing the colonization required for distribution change. At the warm edges, PAs can mitigate the loss of species, by reducing the local extinction of vulnerable species. To assess the importance of PAs to affect species distribution change, we evaluated the changes in a non-breeding waterbird community as a response to temperature increase and PA status, using changes of species occurrence in the Western-Palearctic over 25 years (97 species, 7,071 sites, 39 countries, 1993– 2017). We used a community temperature index (CTI) framework based on species thermal affinities to investigate the species turn-over induced by temperature increase. In addition, we measured whether the thermal community adjustment was led by cold-dwelling species extinction and/or warm-dwelling species colonization, by modelling the change in standard deviation of the CTI (CTIsd). Using linear mixed-effects models, we investigated whether communities within PAs had lower climatic debt and different patterns of community change regarding the local PA surface. Thanks to the combined use of the CTI and CTIsd, we found that communities inside PAs had more species, higher colonization, lower extinction and the climatic debt was 16% lower than outside PAs. The results suggest the importance of PAs to facilitate warm-dwelling species colonization and attenuate cold-dwelling species extinction. The community adjustment was however not sufficiently fast to keep pace with the strong temperature increase in central and northeastern Western-Palearctic regions. Our study underlines the potential of the combined CTI and CTIsd metrics to understand the colonization-extinction patterns driven by climate warming.

Crop production is applied on about half of Hungary’s land area, which amounts to approximately 4.5 million hectares. The agricultural activity has significant environmental impacts.Our work aims the time series investigation of the impacts of large-scale agricultural cultivation on environment and primarily on climate change in the test area by applying environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) method.The investigated area of Lajta Project can be found in the triangle formed by the settlements Mosonszolnok, Jánossomorja and Várbalog, in the north-western corner of Hungary, in Győr-Moson-Sopron county. The area has intense agri-environment characteristics, almost entirely lacking of grasslands and meadows.We were looking for the answer to the question “To what extent does agricultural activity on this area impact the environment and how can it contribute to climate change during a given period?” The selection of the plants included in the analysis was justified by their significant growing area. We analysed the cultivation data of 5 crops: canola, winter barley, winter wheat, green maize and maize. Material flows of arable crop production technologies were defined in time series by the agricultural parcel register data. These covered the size of the area actually cultivated, the operational processes, records on seeds, fertilizer and pesticide use and harvest data by parcels. The examined environmental inventory database contained also the fuel consumption and lubricating oil usage of machine operations, and the water usage of chemical utilization.In the life cycle modelling of cultivation, we examined 13 years of maize, 20 years of green maize, 20 years of winter barley, 18 years of winter wheat and 15 years of canola data calculated on 1 ha unit using GaBi life cycle analysis software.In addition, we also calculated by an average cultivation model for all cultivated plants with reference data to 1 ha and 1 year period.We applied methods and models in our life cycle impact assessment. According to the values of the impact categories, we set up the following increasing environmental ranking of plant cultivation: (1) canola has minimum environmental impacts followed by (2) green maize and (3) maize with slightly higher values, (4) winter barley has 6 times higher values preceded by (5) winter wheat with a slight difference. The previous environmental ranking of the specific cultivated plants’ contribution was also confirmed as regards the overall environmental impact: canola (1.0%) – green maize (4.9%) – maize (7.1%) – winter barley (43.1%) – winter wheat (44.0%).Environmental impact category indicator results cumulated to total cultivation periods and total crop growing areas (quantitative approach) display the specific environmental footprints by crops. Increasing environmental ranking of environmental impacts resulted from cultivating the sample area is the following: (1) canola – (2) maize – (3) green maize – (4) winter barley – (5) winter wheat. The slight difference resulted in the rankings in quantitative approach according to the rankings of territorial approach on the investigated area is due to the diversity of cultivation time factor and the crop-growing parameter of the specific crops.Acknowledgement: Our research was supported by the „Lajta-Project”.

Protected area networks facilitate community changes in responses to climate warming. However, the contribution of the site environmental and conservation-oriented characteristics to these responses to climate warming are not well understood. Here, we investigate how composition of non-breeding waterbird communities within the European Union Natura 2000 (N2K) network changes in response to increases in temperature. We measured the community reshuffling of 97 waterbird species in 3,018 N2K sites over 25 years in 26 European countries. We find that N2K sites explicitly designated for protection of waterbirds and with a management plan had faster climate-driven community changes. In contrast, the designation period of the N2K sites was not associated with community adjustment, and sites funded under EU-LIFE had lower climate-driven community changes. Our findings imply that efficient conservation policy that may help waterbird community responses to climate warming is to manage sites that are specifically designated for waterbirds. Climate warming is driving changes in species distributions and community composition. Many species have a so-called climatic debt, that is, shifts in range lag behind shifts in temperature isoclines. Inside protected areas (PAs), community changes in response to climate warming can be facilitated by greater colonization rates by warm-dwelling species, but also mitigated by lowering extirpation rates of cold-dwelling species. An evaluation of the relative importance of colonization-extirpation processes is important to inform conservation strategies that aim for both climate debt reduction and species conservation. We assessed the colonization-extirpation dynamics involved in community changes in response to climate inside and outside PAs. To do so, we used 25 years of occurrence data of nonbreeding waterbirds in the western Palearctic (97 species, 7071 sites, 39 countries, 1993–2017). We used a community temperature index (CTI) framework based on species thermal affinities to investigate species turnover induced by temperature increase. We determined whether thermal community adjustment was associated with colonization by warm-dwelling species or extirpation of cold-dwelling species by modeling change in standard deviation of the CTI (CTISD). Using linear mixed-effects models, we investigated whether communities in PAs had lower climatic debt and different patterns of community change than communities outside PAs. For CTI and CTISD combined, communities inside PAs had more species, higher colonization, lower extirpation, and lower climatic debt (16%) than communities outside PAs. Thus, our results suggest that PAs facilitate 2 independent processes that shape community dynamics and maintain biodiversity. The community adjustment was, however, not sufficiently fast to keep pace with the large temperature increases in the central and northeastern western Palearctic. Our results underline the potential of combining CTI and CTISD metrics to improve understanding of the colonization-extirpation patterns driven by climate warming.

Clausen, Preben/0000-0001-8986-294X WOS: 000536149100018 Migratory waterbirds require an effectively conserved cohesive network of wetland areas throughout their range and life-cycle. Under rapid climate change, protected area (PA) networks need to be able to accommodate climate-driven range shifts in wildlife if they are to continue to be effective in the future. Thus, we investigated geographical variation in the relationship between local temperature anomaly and the abundance of 61 waterbird species during the wintering season across Europe and North Africa during 1990-2015. We also compared the spatio-temporal effects on abundance of sites designated as PAs, Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), both, or neither designation (Unlisted). Waterbird abundance was positively correlated with temperature anomaly, with this pattern being strongest towards north and east Europe. Waterbird abundance was higher inside IBAs, whether they were legally protected or not. Trends in waterbird abundance were also consistently more positive inside both protected and unprotected IBAs across the whole study region, and were positive in Unlisted wetlands in southwestern Europe and North Africa. These results suggest that IBAs are important sites for wintering waterbirds, but also that populations are shifting to unprotected wetlands (some of which are IBAs). Such IBAs may therefore represent robust candidate sites to expand the network of legally protected wetlands under climate change in north-eastern Europe. These results underscore the need for monitoring to understand how the effectiveness of site networks is changing under climate change. Academy of FinlandAcademy of Finland [312579, 275606]; Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation, Helsinki (Finland); Research Council of NorwayResearch Council of Norway [280952/E20]; project Future Bird Scenarios through the 2017-2018 Belmont Forum; Research Council of Norway (Forskningsradet)Research Council of Norway [NINA: 295767]; Academy of Finland (AKA, Univ. Helsinki) [326338]; Swedish Research Council (Formas, Lund Univ.) [2018-02441] We thank the thousands of volunteer birdwatchers that carry out the International Waterbird Census (IWC) across Europe and Africa. We also thank Wetlands International (www.wetlands.org) for coordinating such a large-scale monitoring scheme and for compiling all these data. We acknowledge all the funding sources that allow the continuation of the IWC. This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (projects 312579 and 275606), the Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation, Helsinki (Finland), the Research Council of Norway (project 280952/E20, cofounded by Statnett and the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate). In addition, this study is framed within the project Future Bird Scenarios funded through the 2017-2018 Belmont Forum and BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals, under the BiodivScen ERANet COFUND programme, with the following funding organisations: the Research Council of Norway (Forskningsradet, NINA: 295767), the Academy of Finland (AKA, Univ. Helsinki: 326338), and the Swedish Research Council (Formas, Lund Univ.: 2018-02441).

At the turn of the 19-20th centuries, the Great Bustard population of the Kisalföld (Little Hungarian Plain) numbered 4000 specimens. By 1990, only about 100 individuals remained in the Hungarian and Austrian territories. Of the many possible negative factors of current times, the greatest pressure on the Great Bustard population stems from unfavorable crop structures, extensive use of intensive agricultural technologies and predation. During the past decades, we have seen a shift in nesting place locations from natural-like habitats to agrar-type habitats. This change may be explained by the more favorable structure and microclimate of this latter habitat type paralleled with greater food source availability. In order to escape this ecological trap, we have to engage in active conflict resolution that provides protection the region's Bustard population. For this very reason, the MOSON Project was founded in 1992 at the northern part of the Mosoni-Plain in the territory of Lajta-Hanság Co. Later, several Austrian regions joined the project. On these territories, out of the above mentioned 100 specimens, only 20 birds lived at the time. As the result of active habitat management of Great Bustards and coexisting small game species (mostly due to the influence of set-aside areas) as well as effective predator control (especially the Red Fox) resulted in an increase of the Great Bustard population. By the end of the 1990's, the population grew to 120-130 individuals which number was limited by the carrying capacity of this territory. Consequently, the species continued to reoccupy new regions in the Hungarian and Austrian territories. These days, the number of Great Bustards in these protected regions is estimated to be 400 individuals. In 1998, the Mosoni-plain was given IBA (HU-001) status, and in 2004, the region was protected under the Natura 2000 EU nature conservation network.

Mercury and lead concentrations were measured in the livers of cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), an aquatic bird species living and nesting in the special, highly protected nature conservation area of Kis-Balaton, Hungary. The measurements of metal concentrations were performed by atomic absorption spectrometry using the cold vapour method for mercury and the electrothermal method for lead. Mercury concentrations in the livers were significantly higher in the adult population (4.479 ± 3.336 mg/kg dry matter, DM) than in the juvenile birds (2.682 ± 2.087 mg/kg DM), indicating an increase of bioaccumulation with age. A similar pattern was not observed for lead. There were no statistical differences between males and females either in mercury or in lead concentrations. The average levels of mercury (3.580 ± 2.906 mg/kg DM) and lead (0.746 ± 0.499 mg/kg DM) were statistically different in the liver. No correlation was found between the concentrations of the two heavy metals. Recently, the wild birds have been chronically exposed to subtoxic amounts of metals which have a tendency to accumulate especially in the soft tissues.

We studied the effects of water level in the Danube River on waterbird species abundance and species assemblages along 83 km from the border of Hungary and Slovakia. 651,622 birds of 62 species were counted between 1992 and 2009. The dominant species was Mallard Anas platyrhynchos contributing 436,198 individuals (66.9% of all observations). Throughout the year total numbers of individuals and species richness were negatively correlated with local water level registered on the same day throughout the year. Shannon diversity indices were generally positively correlated with water levels. During floods, dabbling ducks, especially the dominant Anas platyrhynchos, dispersed to peripheral waters, where they are less likely to be counted, and diving ducks (Bucephala clangula, Aythya fuligula and Mergus spp.) left the area entirely, because fast flowing, highly turbid waters reduced local feeding efficiency. Abundance of most waterbird species decreased with elevated water levels. High water levels remove distinctive microhabitats (gravel banks, paved riverbanks and shoals), and create unfavourable conditions of high water velocity and turbidity. Retention of high water levels as a result of damming of the Danube creates long-term conditions similar to natural flooding effects. In our opinion, further manipulation of Danube water levels is likely to reduce waterbird richness and abundance and should be subject to appropriate environmental impact assessment.

Study on some breeding parameters of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) was carried out in 2005 on Kis-Balaton and in 2009 in the Nagyberek Fehérvíz Nature Conservation Area. Mean (±SE) of clutch size was 3.51±0.15 (N=41) on Kis-Balaton and 3.27±0.19 (N=11) on Nagyberek while ranges of clutch size were 1–6 and 3–5, respectively, that didn’t show significant differences (F= 0.38, p= 0.68) compared with earlier Hungarian data. Mean of egg sizes (length±SE x width±SE), shape index and egg volume were 62.0±0.2 x 39.1±0.1 mm, 1.59±0.01 and 48.38±0.34 cm3 on Kis-Balaton (N=137), while their values were respectively 61.6±0.5 x 38.2±0.2 mm, 1.61±0.02 and 45.94±0.69 cm3 on Nagyberek (N=29). Egg weight was measured only on Kis-Balaton (53.0±0.4 g, N=135). Comparing the results of the two areas, significant differences were found on egg width (t=3.15, p=0.002) and volume (t=3.02, p=0.003), while no statistical differences were found when comparing the other egg parameters measured.

Hungary has many areas of international importance for four goose species during migration and wintering. Monitoring of numbers started in November 1984 and has been carried out monthly in October–March since 1986/1987 at all important sites. The maximum count of Tundra Bean Goose has decreased from 100,000– 120,000 birds in the 1980s and 1990s to about 15,000 today. Twelve sites are still of international importance. The maxima of Greater White-fronted Goose were below c. 50,000 in the 1980s. After a peak count of more than 150,000 in 1991/1992, maxima of c. 100,000 or more have been recorded in several subsequent seasons. Twenty-one sites are of international importance. The Lesser White-fronted Goose has declined drastically and after the 1997/1998 winter it is no longer recorded every month, and maximum has exceeded 53 birds only twice. Despite the small numbers, five sites are still of international importance. The Greylag Goose increased considerably both as a breeding bird and winter visitor. Currently the wintering population has stabilized with maximum counts of 25,000–30,000 birds. Seventeen sites are of international importance.