Study area

The study area is located within a gallery forests on the Danube floodplain just south of Vác city centre.  The floodplain is part of the Danube-Ipoly National Park and is designated as National Conservation Area. There is constant presence of water. The gallery forest stretches south along the river to the next settlement after Vác. The study area is reachable via 510m long board-walk. A small stream named Gombas (Fungal) serves as a northern boundary and its waters are being discharged into the wetland. To the east there is a small fishing lake, which is heavily managed and regularly supplied with fish. The main bicycle route to Budapest separates the riparian habitat from the fishing lake and adjacent woodland.

History

The wetland we see today began its transformation in the years after the World War II. Until then the area was part of Danube. In the middle of 20th century new plans were made for river regulations and flood management. The river bed was gradually filled up with shingle and other debris and planted with pioneering species like poplar and willow to retain the banks. Eventually the area established into healthy and thriving ecosystem and today is very rich and important habitat.

Conditions

360 view (click on the hand tool for better pan)

The area is very damp all year round.  Trees create a good wind protection but during the summer, when the temperature is relatively high, the humidity in the air makes spending time here almost unbearable.

Soil structure is alluvial – fine-grained soil deposited by the water. There is constant supply of organic matter from the lush vegetation growing there.

During the summer when Danube is at its lowest the area becomes more of a bog land with big pockets of still water which does not really drain anywhere. Mosquitoes are also very abundant in this period.

Ecology and management

The annual water fluctuation is approximately 6m. When Danube level raises with 3m the boardwalk is already underwater and the area becomes inaccessible. A small but steady water supply comes from the Gombas stream. The riparian vegetation in the area has been introduced by humans. Forests are dominated by single willow species which primary function is dam maintenance. The forests are capable of regenerating themselves rather quickly. The entire scene in the wetland is constantly changing. From month to month old trees fall and make space for small vigorous successors. Due to the constant presence of water decomposing happens much faster compare to a dry area.

The habitat is very rich and extremely valuable. Since the river bed has been filled up, big variety of planting communities and animal species have established and thrive quite successfully. Some of the characteristic plants area  White willow and Coral bark willow, Boxelder maple, Common nettle, Bitter dock, Yellow flag, Ragweed etc. Common among the animal species are muskrat, dice snake, great spotted woodpecker, frogs, large red damselfly etc. Since 1996 a program for reintroducing beavers  have been established. The rodents have disappeared from Hungary for more than 100 years and now once again they are part of the wildlife.

Management by people is regular. Old trees often fall down on the board-walk and have to be remove and cut to smaller pieces. Spring storms with strong wind and sudden water raise are the main reason for tree felling. Occasionally beavers also contribute for the felling. And the board-walk itself needs regular repairs.