Spring in the Hortobágy National Park

Spring is here so we have started our field work :) We visited alkaline, sandy and loess grasslands in the Hortobágy National Park (East-Hungary). All grassland types are considered as priority habitats in the Natura 2000 system of the European Union. Alkaline grasslands are salt-affected habitats which harbour several endemic halophyte species. In the Hortobágy, these grasslands form a continuous 'puszta', which is an approximately 80,000 hectare-sized connected habitat complex with outstanding natural values. Sandy grasslands are also important habitats in the Nyírség region, which is situated east from the city of Debrecen. Due to the severe land transformation activities in that region, several former grasslands have been ploughed or afforested. However the region is still hold some stands of acidic sandy grasslands which harbour several rare and protected plant and animal species. Loess grasslands are outstandingly species-rich habitats that occur on the most fertile chernozem soils. Unfortunately, most of the stands have been ploughed, but remnant stands can be found inside the nature reserves or in sites, such as verges or steep slopes, which were not suitable for crop production. This is the period when the early-spring annuals and the geophytes are in bloom in the mentioned grassland types. Here we share a few pictures about a few typical plant species of these nice grasslands.

Cerastium dubium, an early-spring annual species typical to alkaline grasslands.

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

The blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a typical shrub species that occur in small numbers in loess and sandy grasslands.

Erophila verna is one of the first flowering annuals in sandy and alkaline grasslands.

Sandy grassland in Bagamér.

Mounds of the Transylvanian mole rat (Nannospalax (leucodon) transsylvanicus), an interesting subterranean mammal that act as ecosystem engineer in sandy grasslands.

The willows are in bloom.

Spider net, like a veil in the alkaline grasslands.

Spider-net veil.

Gagea szovitsii is a protected geophyte which occurs in the most pristine alkaline grasslands.

Pulsatilla flavescens is a strictly protected and endemic species which occurs in the sandy grasslands of the Nyírség region.

This specimen occurred on a mound of the Transylvanian mole rat.

Agricultural activities have already started.

In the unusually hot and dry weather, ploughing makes clouds of dust.

Adonis vernalis, a protected geophyte species that occurs in some loess grasslands in the region. There is an Epicometis hirta visiting the flower.

Blackthorn flowers.