Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
A
LKALI
M
ARSHES OF
C
ENTRAL
-E
UROPE
:
E
COLOGY
,
M
ANAGEMENT AND
N
ATURE
C
ONSERVATION
Balázs Deák
1
, Orsolya Valkó
2
, Béla Tóthmérész
1,2
and Péter Török
2
1
MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary
2
University of Debrecen, Department of Ecology, Debrecen, Hungary
A
BSTRACT
Alkali marshes and wetlands are among the few natural open ecosystems in Central-
Europe. Inland alkali marshes of the European steppe zone are typical only for the
Pannonian biogeographical region. They are characterized by shallow water cover, high
seasonal fluctuations in water availability and by considerable salt-content in water and
soil. Even small changes in the above parameters can result in significant differences in
habitat structure and species composition. Alkali marshes are usually characterised by a
species-poor vegetation, characterised by a few bulrush species (
Bolboschoenus
maritimus, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
and
S. littoralis
). As indicators of the alkali
character of these wetlands several halophytes and salt-tolerant species are present in the
vegetation, like
Aster tripolium
ssp.
pannonicus
,
Atriplex littoralis
,
Chenopodium
chenopodioides
and
Plantago maritima
. In sites with moderate salinity
Phragmites
australis, Schoenoplectus lacustris
and
Typha
spp. can reach high cover scores. Several
Pannonian endemic species are also present in alkali wetlands, like
Cirsium
brachycephalum, Acorellus pannonicus
and
Puccinellia limosa
. Due to the uneven
pattern of the soil salt-content and dynamic changes in water regime different types of
alkali marshes compose a diverse mosaic pattern even in the small scale. This natural
mosaic structure contributes to the maintenance of landscape-scale biodiversity, and also
provides favourable habitats for several animal taxa, especially for breeding and
migrating birds. These wetlands are also important as green corridors and stepping stones
in fragmented agricultural landscapes. Alkali marshes are especially important in
European nature conservation; they are included in the Natura 2000 system as priority
