Abstract
Negative effects of the human land use results in habitat destruction and seriously endanger the stability of populations. Certain species of conservation interest only can survive in biodiversity hot spots; others can find their habitats in degraded areas. Ecological research on species behaviour have uncovered different types of responses to environmental change, but very little is known about their genetic background. Genetic diversity, as well as species diversity has been shown to enhance ecosystem resistance to disturbances, such as climate change, and, in certain biotopes, it has been shown to provide protection against invasive species. The aim of this project is the evaluation of ecological, morphological and genetic diversity in biodiversity hotspots and human influenced landscape in the characteristic habitat complexes of the Pannonian Ecoregion. Genetic diversity will be assessed by means of different molecular genetic and morphological methods. The expected results of this project will reveal the genetic diversity of selected endemic plants and animal species characteristic of the Pannonian Ecoregion, and based on this the forecast the loss of ecological and genetic diversity due to intensification of land use and climate change in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems will be possible. These results can provide support to nature conservation to better focus financial and human resources, and reshape, if necessary, conservation strategies.
Hungary