In this case study, the ecological background of an unusual hunting behaviour was investigated, when otters Lutra lutra preyed upon European pond turtles Emys orbicularis in a Hungarian fish pond system during an 18-month period. Predation on turtle was found only during cold periods (established by spraint analysis and also by the collection of 182 turtle carcasses in 2003). The relationship was not close between fish availability and turtle consumption (r P =À0.325, P= 0.19). The crude protein content of the turtle head and leg was higher than that of fish, frog and turtle body, whereas the energy content of the samples was similar. The mean body weight of the killed turtles (460 g) fell within the range of the optimal prey size of the otter. Turtles were used as cache foods by otters during extreme environmental conditions (as in the long winter), but occurred only rarely as buffer foods during moderate winter. In fish ponds, the conservation of the coexistent otter and turtle depends on pond management. The maintenance of a higher fish availability in ponds during winter makes it possible to avoid the need to acquire a proper hunting technique on turtle, indicated by the scarcity of primary fish food.

Genetic selection for body size during domestication of animal species can inadvertently affect a number of physiological and behavioural traits. The pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) hypothesis predicts that domestication in an artificial environment lacking predators and providing abundant resources prefers proactive individuals with strong feeding motivation, high levels of aggression and risk taking, with low hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responsiveness. In the present experiment we weaned fingerling pike-perch from live feed and habituated them to formulated feed. We recorded the number of weeks needed for the fish to accept pellets, their body length at the age of 100 days, their boldness in a novel object test and their HPI axis responsiveness. Individuals accepting the artificial feed within the first week grew larger than fish habituating later; therefore early weaners would be kept and bred in routine aquaculture procedures. Contrary to predictions of POLS hypothesis, fish weaning earlier and thus growing faster were less bold and had higher HPI axis responsiveness than fish accepting the pellets later or never. As live feed is preferred to artificial pellets, less competitive individuals may switch to pellets earlier. Inadvertent selection for stress sensitive fish may have an effect on production in aquaculture as well as on natural population after intensive restocking.

The effect of rabbit-assisted interventions on the anxiety levels of first-grade children at a primary school was analyzed. At the beginning of our research, no rabbit-assisted intervention was applied for 6 weeks in order to establish the level of stress caused by the start of the education period. We then alternated 6-week-long periods with and without rabbit-assisted intervention. The level of anxiety in children was assessed every three weeks both in the assisted and non-assisted periods, using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, STAI-C. One of the examined classes did not apply the integrating policy while the other class contained pupils with special education needs (called the integrating class). Rabbit-assisted interventions proved to be efficient, as anxiety level scores were significantly lower during the animal-assisted periods. The rabbits actively initiated encounters with humans, not only in the framework of animal-assisted interventions, but also at other occasions. In cases of discomfort, the rabbit retreated to the cage and stayed inside for a short time. The children displayed signs of pleasure when the rabbits approached them. The favorable effect of animal assistance was more apparent in the integrating class. It could be concluded that rabbit-assisted interventions were suitable for decreasing the anxiety levels of elementary school children, improving the efficacy of the educational ability of teachers.

Experiments were carried out between 1999 and 2001 on pikeperch fingerlings using two feeds at four stocking densities to evaluate the success of training 35-day-old pond-reared pikeperch, Stizostedion lucioperca L., to lifeless feed in intensive culture. Training periods of 28 days for each of three cohorts (1999)(2000)(2001) were applied to introduce pikeperch from zooplankton to minced feed. In a preliminary study (1999), two feeds (live prey and minced fish meat) were compared at two stocking densities. Two higher densities were investigated in 2000 and 2001 and matched with the minced fish diet. Different feeds had significant effects on feed consumption and, as a consequence, on body weight gain; fish fed live prey showed highest growth rates. Unexpectedly, the stocking density had no significant effect on growth, and at the highest density there was a significantly betterfeed conversion rate. Stocking density and feed type significantly influenced the feeding behaviour. Three characteristic foraging techniques are described.

-This is the first bryofloristic study in the Martonvásár manor park. In our survey in 2015, 56 species (6 liverworts and 50 mosses) were found in the park. Most of them are considered to be common in Hungary, but an endangered (Eurhynchium speciosum), a vulnerable (Orthotrichum patens) and five near-threatened species (Aphanorrhegma patens, Orthotrichum obtusifolium, Orthotrichum pumilum, Pseudocrossidium revolutum, Riccia cavernosa) were also found. These results point out the nature conservation value of the manor park. Keywords: bryoflora, floristics, manor park, anthropogenic habitatÖsszefoglalás -A martonvásári kastélypark mohaflorisztikai felmérését 2015-ben végeztük el, koráb-ban nem történtek ilyen átfogó vizsgálatok a park területén. Munkánk során 56 fajt találtunk (6 máj-moha és 50 lombosmoha). A fajok többsége közönséges, de találtunk természetvédelmi szempontból figyelmet érdemlő fajokat is. Az Eurhynchium speciosum veszélyeztetett magyarországi vörös listás besorolású faj. Ezen kívül előkerült még egy sérülékeny státuszú faj (Orthotrichum patens) és öt veszé-lyeztetettséghez közel álló (Aphanorrhegma patens, Orthotrichum obtusifolium, Orthotrichum pumilum, Pseudocrossidium revolutum, Riccia cavernosa). Ezek az eredmények is megerősítik a park természet-védelmi értékét.