Örs Ábrám, Eszter Tormáné Kovács, Orsolya Mile, Zoltán Ecsedi, Emil Boros

Changes in the ecological state of the Böddi-szék soda pan between 2010 and 2021

Introduction

Changes in the ecological state of the böddi-szék soda pan between 2010 and 2021. Study reveals ecological improvements at Böddi-szék soda pan (2010-2021). Conservation efforts, habitat restoration, and reduced pollution led to better conditions and more bird species.

Abstract

Monitoring the state of wetlands assists their conservation. In 2021, our research repeated a survey implemented a decade earlier, aimed at assessing the ecological condition of alkaline soda waters in the Carpathian Basin. Repeating the original examination of 20 characteristic factors offers the opportunity to monitor changes in the basic ecological state of soda pans. In the present paper data from 2010 and 2021 collected at the Böddi-szék soda pan in Dunatetétlen are compared. The indices used for the evaluation show that the condition of the soda pan and related wetlands has improved slightly. It is due to the reduction of arable land and the increase of grassland areas in the catchment area and the appropriate grazing of the shoreline. It has also increased the number of characteristic bird species nesting in the area. In addition, the previously detected water pollution from seepage and scattered waste has ceased to exist. Although the proportion of reed areas decreased slightly, the proportion of areas covered with Bolboschoenus maritimus increased in parallel. Significant change in the proportion of habitats in the soda pan bed has not been observed. The implementation of a LIFE project for the restoration of the area by the reallocation of a canal bypassing the pan may have additional significant positive effects on the ecological state of the alkaline soda ecosystem.

Review

This study presents a timely and important assessment of the ecological changes observed in the Böddi-szék soda pan, a critical alkaline wetland within the Carpathian Basin. By repeating a comprehensive survey originally conducted in 2010, the research offers a valuable decadal comparison of the site's ecological state. The commitment to consistent monitoring, utilizing 20 characteristic factors and established indices, provides a robust framework for understanding long-term environmental dynamics in these unique and often vulnerable ecosystems, thereby directly supporting conservation efforts. The core finding of the research indicates a slight but discernible improvement in the ecological condition of the Böddi-szék soda pan and its associated wetlands between 2010 and 2021. This positive trajectory is attributed to several key management interventions and land-use changes, including a reduction in arable land and an increase in grassland areas within the catchment, alongside appropriate grazing practices along the shoreline. Crucially, the cessation of previously identified water pollution from seepage and scattered waste has also contributed significantly to this recovery. Ecological indicators supporting these improvements include an increased number of characteristic bird species and shifts in vegetation composition, specifically a decrease in reed areas compensated by an increase in *Bolboschoenus maritimus*. The findings are highly encouraging, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted conservation measures in reversing ecological decline in sensitive wetland habitats. The study effectively links specific management actions (e.g., land-use shifts, pollution control) to measurable ecological improvements. Furthermore, the abstract highlights the potential for future enhancement through an upcoming LIFE project focused on canal reallocation, suggesting a sustained commitment to the restoration of this valuable ecosystem. A full paper detailing the specific indices, quantitative changes in the "20 characteristic factors," and the methodological robustness would undoubtedly provide deeper insights and enhance the replicability and broader applicability of these significant results.

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