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Rosa gallica is a rare, threatened, and legally protected species; hence, research on this species is important for identification of threats and development of protection strategies. The aim of the study was to characterise plant communities with Rosa gallica and to determine the habitat conditions, abundance, and diversity of selected population traits. The study was conducted in 2016-2020 in two localities (Bukowa, Kołaczyce) in Strzyżów Foothills. Twenty phytosociological relevés were made using the Braun-Blanquet method. The habitat conditions were assessed using Ellenberg indicator values. The following parameters were used to evaluate the diversity and quantitative relationships between the species in the analysed communities: Shannon-Wiener diversity (H՛), Evenness (J՛), and Simpson dominance (SIMP) indices. The size of the analysed populations was estimated based on the number of vegetative and generative shoots. Height was measured in 100 randomly selected shoots, and the number of flowers per generative shoot was additionally determined. Rosa gallica was part of the community with Brachypodium pinnatum in the Bukowa locality and occurred in the association Arrhenatheretum elatioris in Kołaczyce. The diversity indices had higher values ​​in Kołaczyce. The population in Bukowa covered an area of 500 m2 and comprised 911 (578 generative and 333 vegetative) shoots. From 1 to 10 flowers per shoot were noted. The population from Kołaczyce occupied a twofold smaller area and was less numerous, i.e. 465 (168 generative and 297 vegetative) shoots were recorded. It was also characterised by less abundant flowering (1-5 flowers per shoot). There were differences in the height of the generative and vegetative shoots. The parameter exhibited higher values in Bukowa ​​(55.17 and 36.95 cm, respectively) than in Kołaczyce (33.79 and 26.79 cm, respectively). All the habitat indices (except for K and R) and the biodiversity indices had higher values in Kołaczyce. The present results show that Rosa gallica occurs in a wide range of habitats varying in light, moisture, and fertility requirements. It grows in different-sized clusters or sometimes produces single shoots. Advanced succession has a negative impact on the conservation status of the population, which is particularly evident in the Kołaczyce locality. Therefore, the conservation of this species will depend on active protection measures.

In this study, the species composition and diversity of dragonfly and damselfly assemblages of six post-mining ponds differing in habitat conditions, located within a single sand pit in the central part of the Sandomierz Forest (SE Poland) were assessed. In total, 42 species were recorded in 2019, including 35 species considered resident to the site. In the six studied ponds, a range of 8 to 30 species were recorded, including 5 to 26 resident species. In each pond, at least one unique species was found, and one-third of all species were confined to single ponds only. As a result, the qualitative (Jaccard) and quantitative (Bray-Curtis) similarity indices between the pairs of ponds were low, reaching 12-61% and 19-53%, respectively. Thus, despite a lack of distinct barriers and negligible distances between the ponds (max. 350 m), the structure of assemblages in adjacent water bodies differed considerably. This is probably largely due to the habitat selectivity of species. A redundancy analysis (RDA) showed, that factors such as area and plant diversity of the pond were shaping odonate assemblages, explaining 49.1% of the total variance in the dataset. Due to the high species richness and the identification of several species of special concern, the studied sand pit should be considered a valuable secondary habitat for odonates, which – after termination of exploitation – should be regarded as a good candidate for a site designated for the conservation of biodiversity.

The research was conducted in July 2018 on six oxbow lakes of the San River. A total of 21 samples from various macrophyte species were collected. Over 400 species of diatoms were identified in the analyzed materials, 9 of which belonged to the Rhopalodiaceae family. Most of these Epithemia and Rhopalodia species developed as dominants in most of the studied samples. One of reported species – Epithemia selengaensis Vishnyakov, Kulikovskiy & Genkal was first time reported from Poland. The aim of the study was to present the taxonomic diversity of the representatives of the Rhopalodiaceae family growing different macrophyte species in oxbow lakes in the summer aspect.

This paper presents the nest-site selection of the Syrian Woodpecker in the agricultural landscape of SE Poland. For this purpose, 89 locations of trees with excavated nest cavities were characterized by comparing the parameters of nest trees and non-nest trees located in the immediate vicinity of the nests in 2002–2006. The study showed that woodpeckers nest in trees that are thicker and in worse condition compared to other trees available in the environment. The birds also nested very close to residential buildings, and chose trees for nest cavity excavation that had drying or pruned boughs and branches. Research indicates that the Syrian Woodpecker may be sensitive to loss of thicker (more than 40 cm in diameter), dying and older trees aged 40–60 years. In addition, it may react negatively to increasing the share of non-forest coniferous trees, which it does not prefer for nesting.

This paper presents the results of a palynological investigation of the sands from upper Eocene (Priabonian) epicontinental marine strata at Łukowa, SE Poland. This locality represents an isolated spot of upper Eocene strata in the southern part of epicontinental Poland due to later uplift and erosion of this area. The sands studied yielded a well-preserved palynoflora, providing information about palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate after the Early Eocene Climate Optimum. During the study a total of 94 fossil species of palynomorphs were identified. The results indicate that the vicinity of the sedimentary basin was covered by vegetation with a significant portion of thermophilous taxa and containing many elements with East Asian affinities. The plant communities were composed of Platanus, Platycarya, Engelhardioideae, members of the Hamamelidaceae, Sapotaceae, Fabaceae, Oleaceae, Fagaceae (probably evergreen Quercus and Castanoideae), and Betulaceae families, as well as Salix, Carya, and others. Members of the Pinaceae family and Sciadopitys were components of coniferous or mixed forests. Taxodium, and presumably Glyptostrobus, together with Nyssa, might have covered areas with a higher groundwater level. The pollen of Milfordia and Aglaoreidia cyclops can probably be considered as representing marsh/freshwater vegetation. Cryptogams are represented mainly by ferns (including members of the Lygodiaceae and Schizaeaceae, probably as well as Gleicheniaceae and Cyatheaceae families) and Lycopodiaceae (including Lycopodiella). The presence of frequent pollen and spores of the genera presently growing under tropical and subtropical climatic conditions and the presence of several taxa characteristic for swamps indicate that the climate during deposition of the sediments studied was warm and humid. The mean annual temperature of 17.2–23.1 °C was estimated on the basis of Coexistence Approach method.

The aim of this work was to present a morphological description and ecological characteristics of a rare species from the Gomphonema genus, occurring in calcium-rich waters, along with its new occurrence sites. The research was carried out in flowing waters of mountain and sub-mountain streams and rivers in Poland: the Wołosaty, the Wisłoka, the San and their tributaries. The occurrence of many rare and new to Polish flora species from the genus Gomphonema was recorded: G. cuneolus E. Reichardt, G. drutelingense E. Reichardt, G. innocens E. Reichardt,G. lateripunctatum E. Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot, G. lippertii E. Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot and G. calcifugum Lange-Bertalot & E. Reichardt. These species occur mostly in alkaline or close-to-neutral waters with medium or low electrolytic conductivity (78–530 μS cm-1), low nutrient content and medium-to-high calcium ion content (12.4–76.4 mg l-1). Despite the rare occurrence in other parts of the world, the studied Gomphonema species has found favorable conditions in unpolluted and calcium-rich stream beds with flysch strata. The literature data define G. calcifugum as a non-calciphilous species, but this study shows that it can develop in a wide pH range and in calcium-rich waters.

BACKGROUND Proper management of bee pastures is considered an important activity for diversity of pollinators and conservation of the population size. In the present study, we evaluated the floral composition and diversity, flowering spectrum, and availability of food resources in natural and man-made habitats in four rural municipalities in the Lublin Upland, SE Poland. We also determined the connection between pollinator-friendly biotopes and made some suggestions on creation/supplementation of bee pastures adapted to the arable land structure in eastern Poland (mean acreage 7.65 ha). RESULTS Forage species richness (S) differed among vegetation types - the highest S value was found in field margins, while mixed forests represented the lowest species richness (mean ± SD = 37.8±9.5 vs 16.5±2.3). In all habitats, the most abundant flowering was recorded in May. Then, the blooming abundance decreased until a complete decline at the end of summer. The mean distance between the pollinator-friendly biotopes is 2.4±1.53 km, which is out of the flying range/foraging distance of most pollinators. CONCLUSION Shortages of nectar and pollen resources in agricultural landscape of SE Poland are evident. Therefore, we assume that the landscape structure requires support in terms of food niches for pollinators and creation/supplementation of bee pastures is necessary, e.g. 6-9 patches of 0.025-0.3 ha each within an area of 100 ha.

Invasive plant species are a growing concern in global biodiversity management. In this study, we tried to determine whether invasive plants could spread from railway track into the surrounding areas and focused on the factors responsible for the invasive plant species composition, richness, and abundance. We sampled invasive species along transects located outside a railway route and recorded the invasive species richness and abundance at a distance of 15 m away from the railway edge in three geographical regions in SE Poland. We revealed that the mechanism allowing alien species to invade was complex. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) explained 30.9% of variance. On a regional scale, the invasive flora composition in the surroundings of railway habitats was determined by abiotic environment diversity (mean annual air temperature, mean annual precipitation), but not habitat-related factors (soil type, soil properties). On a spatial scale, the traffic volume, the distance from the railway area, the distance from build-up areas, and the interaction of these factors affect the invasive species composition away from railway areas. The invasive species spread from railways to the surrounding vegetation, therefore, regular monitoring of railway areas should be a framework for assessing the risk of invasive species.

Numerous studies have investigated the nest-site characteristics and selection of bird species, because these features often play a determining role in bird breeding success. In recent years researchers focused on urban environments as a source of novel conditions which provide breeding opportunities for species that are able to survive in human-altered environments. Although thrushes Turdus spp. are among the species which frequently inhabit urban areas, the fieldfare Turdus pilaris only recently has started to colonize human settlements and reports on populations in urban ecosystem are rare. The aim of our study was to investigate the fieldfare density and nest-site selection in urban parks of Rzeszow, Poland. We found that the average density of breeding pairs in study area was 2.92 pair/ha. Fieldfares nested entirely on deciduous trees, despite the presence of numerous coniferous trees in parks. They built their nests mostly on those tree species which were the most abundant in particular study plot, which indicates that the studied urban population of the fieldfare is rather opportunistic in the selection of a nest-tree species. Also nest-tree surroundings consisted of the trees that dominated in the parks. The results of our study suggest that the fieldfare is among the species that synurbize easily and may reach even higher breeding densities in towns than in natural habitats.

Radiocarbon-dated spring-fed fen deposits from the Komarów site (Volhynia Upland, SE Poland) with its multi-proxy data (macrofossils, molluscs, geochemistry, pollen, stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon) enable us (1) to distinguish four main stages of fen evolution, which reflected a distinct variability of water supply conditions and (2) to reconstruct the Holocene humidity–temperature changes. The beginning of peat–tufa deposition took place in a Boreal phase, after a significant cool fluctuation of climate occurring ca. 9.4 ka cal. BP. We suggest that climate was the most important factor conditioning the development of the spring-fed fen. Permafrost degradation, and then wet periods, intensified the activity of ascending springs. The impact of humans was possible since the Neolithic period and increased during the Middle Ages: therefore, the anthropogenic influence could have partially overlapped with the regional tendencies of climate changes. Autogenic development of deposit succession in the studied fen was definitely conditioned by hydrological changes induced by climate. Based on the multi-proxy data, 12 cold events of different ranks were identified. They are also recorded in other Polish and European sites. A record of distinct variability of depositional conditions at ca. 9.4, 8.2, 5.9, 4.6, 2.8, 1.4 and 0.55 ka cal. BP corresponds to quasi-periodical global climate changes in the Holocene named the Bond events. The majority of the cold events recorded in δ13C and δ18O of carbonates can be correlated to the Greenland oxygen isotope curve.

Analysis of pollen and macroremains from the Mazovian/Holsteinian interglacial in the Nowiny Żukowskie succession enabled the identification of numerous climatic indicators. The applied indicator-species method allowed for a detailed description of climatic changes, i.e. warmings and coolings that occurred in this interglacial. The determined ranges of temperatures that prevailed in particular periods provide a basis for an assumption that it was probably the warmest interglacial of the Pleistocene. The estimated temperature of the warmest month during the climatic optimum (Abies–Carpinus period) may have been 2–4 C° higher than in the warmest period of the Holocene. Moreover, numerous changes in humidity, evidenced by frequent oscillations from oceanic to continental climate, are particularly important. The cool periods are generally marked by the presence of Betula nana, Selaginella selaginoides and S. helvetica, heliophytes such as Helianthemum nummularium, and shrubs of Ephedra and Hippophae rhamnoides. The warmest period is documented by the occurrence of thermophylous trees, e.g. Pterocarya fraxinifolia, Juglans, shrubs, e.g. Buxus sempervirens and Vitis sylvestris, as well as Hedera helix, Viscum, and aquatic plants, e.g. Brasenia borysthenica.

The nesting preferences including both habitat and nest site characteristics of Syrian Woodpeckers in the agricultural landscape were assessed based on 69 nest sites described. Orchards were the preferred tree stand of the woodpecker, where 58% of its nests were located. The average diameter of tree in which the woodpeckers nested was much higher than the average trees available in territories (47.4 cm and 32.5 cm respectively). The condition of the nest trees was worse than the average trees present in the territories of the birds. Amongst Syrian Woodpecker nesting habitats, only orchards had a worse state of health compared to trees growing in groups, rows or forests. Apple trees Malus domestica with 43.5% of nest sites were also in worse health condition compared to willows Salix spp. (20.3% of nest sites), poplars Populus spp. and walnut trees Juglans regia. The average height of trees with nest holes was 11.3 m and the average height of nest hole placement was 4.2 m. The Syrian Woodpecker i...

The aim of this work was to investigate the diversity of diatom assemblages developed in the Przyrwa stream, to assess water quality based on benthic diatoms and to make an attempt at the identification of physicochemical factors having the greatest impact on the differentiation of diatom assemblages. Studies were conducted in 2011-2012 on the Przyrwa stream, a left-side tributary of the Wisłok River flowing through the city of Rzeszów and with its spring section located on the borders of the city. A total of 259 diatom taxa were identified in the Przyrwa stream during three studied seasons. At all investigated sites, the most abundant population consisted of Ulnaria ulna (Nitzsch) Compère, Cocconeis pediculus Ehrenb., Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kütz.) Czarnecki var. minutissimum, Navicula gregaria Donkin, Planothidium frequentissimum (Lange-Bert.) Lange-Bert., P. lanceolatum (Brébisson) Lange-Bert., Navicula lanceolata (C. Agardh) Ehrenb., Amphora pediculus (Kütz.) Grunow, Eolimna minima, (Grunow) Lange-Bert., Melosira varians C. Agardh and Cyclotella meneghiniana Kütz. Based on IPS (Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index) and GDI (Generic Diatom Index) indices, the ecological status of the Przyrwa stream was assessed as moderate to poor (mostly III-IV class of water quality), while the TDI (Trophic Diatom Index) index indicated a poor to bad ecological status (mainly IV-V class of water quality).

Over geological time, fauna inhabiting alluvial environment developed numerous traces of life, called bioturbation structures. However, present literature rarely offers comprehensive and comparative analyses of recent bioturbation structures between different types of environments. In this paper, the distribution of recent animal life traces in two different fluvial environments (lowland and mountain watercourse) was examined. An analysis of a set of vertical cross-sections of river bank enabled to determine physical and environmental features of the burrows, as well as degree of bioturbation in individual sections. Most of the burrows were assigned to their tracemakers and compared between two studied reaches in relation to the geomorphic zones of a stream channel. A mesocosm was conducted using glass terraria filled with river bank sediment and specimens of Lumbricus terrestris. The experiment confirmed field observations on the ability of earthworms to migrate into deep sediment layers along plant roots. The impact of floods on fauna survival was assessed on the basis of observations of large floods in 2016, 2018 and 2019. The abundance, distribution and activity of fauna in the sediment are mainly controlled by the occurrence of high and low flows (droughts and floods), which was particularly visible in lowland river reach.

The environmental variability during the Mazovian/Holsteinian interglacial is better understood thanks to the results of multidisciplinary palaeobotanical studies. The perfectly preserved and abundant material from Nowiny Żukowskie in SE Poland has been the subject of numerous palaeobotanical analyses. The results both of initial pollen analysis and of the examination of plant macroremains provide a detailed view of changes in the palaeoenvironment of this area during the Mazovian/Holsteinian interglacial. Originally, the water basin was mostly the habitat of plants indicative of low trophy. The frequent occurence of swamp plants evidences a change in hydrological and climatic conditions consistent with the intra-interglacial climatic oscillation. In the subsequent part of the optimum, an expansion of swamps with Aracites interglacialis and Dulichium arundinaceum was recorded. The development of a peat bog overgrown by i.a. Sphagnum sp., Eriophorum vaginatum, and Andromeda polifolia was also observed. The growth of swamp and peat vegetation resulted in the nearly complete disappearance of aquatic vegetation, apart from species typical of the climatic optimum of the Mazovian/Holsteinian interglacial: Brasenia borysthenica and Aldrovanda dokturovskyi. The close of the interglacial was marked by the intensive development of peat bog and swamp communities with Carex rostrata, Menyanthes trifoliata, and A. interglacialis. The intensive increase in the number of A. interglacialis during the period described as the “birch oscillation” supports the hypothesis of noticeable changes in hydrological conditions at that time. The end of the described period is typified by a deterioration of climatic conditions, indicated by the increase in values for Betula humilis, B. nana, and Juniperus communis.

The pollen diagram from the Kobyle Jezioro raised bog, situated in the source area of the Tanew River in the Roztocze region, covers the whole Neoholocene. The deposit thickness (about 3.5 m) has permitted high resolution pollen, peat (including macrofossils) and lithology analyses. Vegetational and palaeoenvironmental changes in this part of the Roztocze were recorded in pollen spectra and organic deposits. Palynological evidence shows the typical Neoholocene succession, which corresponds with the phenomena described from central Europe: from mixed deciduous forests at the decline of the climatic optimum, through hornbeam- and beech-dominated forests to pine forests. Peat accumulation in the Kobyle Jezioro peat-bog started during increased climatic humidity at the beginning of the Subboreal, and originally a fen peat was formed. Raised bog peat layers make up the uppermost 80 cm of the deposit. Within the fen deposits can be found layers of transitional peat, indicating short-term episodes of water deficiency in the early Subboreal phase (short-term climatic dryness) and towards its end (drainage of the bog resulting from the lowering of the groundwater table in the source area of the Tanew River). The growth of the raised bog started at the beginning of the climate deterioration in the Little Ice Age, and the unstable climatic conditions are reflected in the numerous periodical mineral (aeolian) material supplies in the developing ombrogenic bog. The accumulation of the younger section of transitional and raised peats during the Little Ice Age reflects the local hydrological changes in the source area of the Tanew River.

The aim of this study was to provide a phytosociological and ecological characterization of meadow communities in the Łąki w Komborni Natura 2000 site (SE Poland), assess the trends in their transformation, and indicate the major threats impacting on their conservation. The study was conducted in 2015–2016. Three types of meadow communities were distinguished (alliances Molinion, Arrhenatherion, Filipendulion), due to the absence of the species characteristic for associations. The species richness noted per relevé differed significantly between the types of meadows (Kruskal–Wallis test: H = 21.65, p < 0.05). The highest floristic biodiversity (H' = 2.99) was noted for the meadow patches classified as in the Molinion alliance and the lowest (H' = 2.50) was found for the patches from the Filipendulion alliance. Mean values of the ecological indicators (F, R, N) differed between the meadow communities. The greatest disparity was noted for the mean values of the soil moisture indicator (from 6.42 to 7.45). Patches classified in the Filipendulion alliance were developed on the wettest soil substratum, whereas the patches classified in the Arrhenatherion alliance were predominant on a relatively dry substratum. The abandonment of traditional management practices (grazing, mowing) has contributed to transformation of the Molinia meadows, disappearance of characteristic species and succession of shrubs. The Molinia meadow habitat should be conserved by improvement of protection measures (appropriate mowing regime and removal of biomass) to conserve a high species richness and the rare and protected plant species.

The article presents a list of 357 macromycetes species found so far in the Janów Forests Landscape Park (SE Poland), and takes into account their abundance in individual localities categories of threat, and gives a preliminary mycological evaluation of the Park.

Shallow and vegetation-rich storage reservoirs can be a very important element of a hydrological network supporting specific fauna. However, their ecological potential for many insect groups is often neglected in hydrobiological studies in contrast to lakes. Therefore, caddisfly fauna was studied at different levels of its organization as well as environmental drivers of the species' distribution across three reservoirs (SE Poland). The species' composition and assemblages distinguishingly showed close relationships with the caddisfly fauna of meso- and eutrophic lakes. Quantitative naturalness index (Wns) of caddisfly fauna in all reservoirs was higher in comparison to this value obtained for regional lakes. Oxygen reduction potential, temperature, electrical conductivity (physical and chemical variables of water), shading, elodeids (structural variables of reservoirs) and the average distance to the nearest water bodies (landscape variables in buffer zones of reservoirs) were all significant for caddisflies in CCA models. Analysis of functional groups revealed two characteristic features of these habitats: the lack of rheophiles and an evenly balanced trophic structure. Shallow reservoirs, despite their origin and human intervention, can provide important secondary habitats for specific invertebrate fauna. Practical guidelines are also given concerning management practices favourable to aquatic biota.

In relation to almost completely reduced anthropogenic pressure after 1944 and the consequently low number of present settlements, impoverishment of the bat (Mammalia: Chiroptera) fauna has been suggested for the Western Bieszczady Mountains (Mts), southeast Poland. During a field study in 2009–2011, we recorded 15 bat species within the Bieszczady National Park and 19 in total (i.e. all but one or two expected for the Bieszczady Mts), including a locality at a cave near the park border. At 26 (72%) of 36 localities sampled over water, forest roads and glades, in 278 mist net hours, we captured 159 bats representing 12 species. Species most frequently sampled and most abundant in captures were Myotis brandtii and M. daubentonii (both over 50% of localities and 80% of bats in total). Most of the captured bats were males (73%) and adult individuals (85%). Fifty percent of M. daubentonii (both sexes) and several males of M. brandtii, netted over streams, were soiled with fresh clay, indicating day ...

In most cases, in soils exposed to heavy metals accumulation, the highest content of heavy metals was noted in the surface layers of the soil profile. Accumulation of heavy metals may occur both as a result of natural processes as well as anthropogenic activities. The quality of the soil exposed to heavy metal contamination can be evaluated by indices of pollution. On the basis of determined heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni and Cr) in the soils of Roztocze National Park the following indices of pollution were calculated: Enrichment Factor (EF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Nemerow Pollution Index (PINemerow) and Potential Ecological Risk (RI). Additionally, we introduced and calculated the Biogeochemical Index (BGI), which supports determination of the ability of the organic horizon to accumulate heavy metals. A tens of times higher content of Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn was found in the surface layers compared to their content in the parent material. This distribution of heavy metals in the studied soils was related to the influence of anthropogenic pollution (both local and distant sources of emission), as well as soil properties such as pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen content.

In the last 40 years of the twentieth century, as a result of the growth in the exploitation and industrial processing of sulphur, the northern part of the Sandomierz Basin was one of the most polluted areas of Poland. Forests growing in this region, predominantly the Scots pine, offered an opportunity to analyse the degradation of the environment during that period using the dendrochronological method. The study was based on 814 samples, taken from 53 research surfaces belonging to nine linear transects. The investigations demonstrated that the highest reduction in growth occurred during the years 1970–1990. After that period, a considerable improvement in the condition of the pine trees was observed in most of the research plots. The spatial schedule of the trees with reductions reveals a clear relationship with the distance from the emitter i.e. the reductions were significantly lower in more distant sites. A distinct weakening of the trees is also indicated by missing rings, recorded in the years: 1964, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 2002. A definite impact on the condition of the tree stands was also due to the cone of depression around the Jeziorko mine, the post-flotation landfills, as well as pollution on a regional scale.

Diet variation of the long-eared owl (Asio otus Linnaeus, 1758) was investigated on the basis of pellets collected in winter season 2007/2008 from a communal roosting site in a municipal cemetery in Rzeszów (a city in south-eastern Poland). We assumed that the proximity of human settlements would affect the diet composition of this predator, resulting in a higher proportion of species associated with urban habitats. Although voles, especially the common vole Microtus arvalis, were still the most important prey, mice constituted approximately 17% of all prey items, with the field mouse Apodemus agrarius being most frequent. Food niche breadth was wider in December than in March. Our results suggest that owls from Rzeszów hunt mostly in open habitats surrounding the city, where they can still capture their basic prey species. Yet, they can broaden their diet with species of murids associated with the mosaic urban and suburban habitats.

We studied seasonal movements of wisents (also known as European bison) from the western subpopulation in the Bieszczady Mountains, in forest districts of Baligród, Komańcza, Lesko, and Cisna. The estimation of distance of seasonal movements was based on telemetric bearings of 4 adult animals (1 cow and 3 bulls) in 2002‑2005. We assumed that a maximum distance of movement was a linear extent between 2 most distant locations of an animal recorded in winter and in the following growing season. The maximum distances were 12.8‑18.5 km for the cow, and 5.1‑22.9 km for bulls. Wisent movements were triggered by significant changes in ambient temperature (decrease in late autumn and increase in early spring) and the appearance of first snowfall in autumn.

The global rise in air temperature has major implications for ecosystems, populations, ecology of many living organisms, public health as well as economy. Plants, like silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), strongly respond to the climatic variation. Therefore, the species is a good indicator of the global climate change, especially warming. The phenological observation was undertaken to verify the hypothesis on an acceleration of the start of Betula pendula pollen release in the season. The investigations were carried out in 2000–2015 (16 years) in the Rzeszów area, SE Poland. On average, Betula pendula started to pollinate in the middle of April; the difference between the earliest and latest dates was nearly 1 month. The full pollination started on 18 April, on average. The timing of pollination strongly depended on the course of weather in February and March. The most crucial was temperature in the first half of March. Considering the synergistic impact of meteorological parameters, the most important were temperature and rainfall in January and February, rainfall in March and temperature just before the pollination. It was found that North Atlantic Circulation influenced pollen release in Betula pendula. The positive North Atlantic Oscillation in March and in December–March periods resulted in pollination onset. Tendency towards warmer average annual temperature was recorded, however the timing of phenophases did not follow it. Despite the strong relationship with temperature there was no acceleration of Betula pendula pollination. Probably, the climate warming effect on the onset and duration in Betula pendula phenophases would be detectable in longer than a 16-year period.

Wolf activity varies considerably among differentstudies that explained activity patterns by factors suchas human activity, breeding status or prey availability(Fancy and Ballard 1995; Vila` et al. 1995; Ciucci et al.1997; Theuerkauf et al. 2003; Kusak et al. 2005; Chavezand Gese 2006; Theuerkauf et al. 2007). However, it islikely that the high variability of wolf activity patterns isa result of their ability to react to various environmentalconditions (Packard 2003). Activity of individual wolvesmay also vary among days, switching from being diurnalto nocturnal. The purpose of our study was to examinethe variability of wolf activity between days and seasonsand to determine the most important factors thatinfluence activity in the Bieszczady Mountains, Poland.The study was conducted in the Bieszczady Moun-tains (Polish Carpathians) over an area of about1000km

The investigated problem was whether and to what an extent the elements of weather conditions were associated with changes in the concentration of Ambrosia pollen in air. The study was carried out in the years 1997-2004 using the volumetric method. Ragweed did not occur in the flora of the town of Rzeszów and its vicinity, but every year its pollen occurred at concentrations considerably exceeding the threshold values for the allergic response. The pollen seasons usually began from near the end of August to the first part of September. The values of daily concentrations varied greatly: days without pollen grains being frequently noted while single grains occurred long before and after the season. The effect of the elements of weather on changes in the concentration of pollen in the air was slight. Taking into account all meteorological parameters, it can be stated that an increase in the number of pollen grains is connected with increased temperature and higher wind speeds, but negatively correlated with humidity and rainfall. These relationships can usually be explained by the effects of the type of weather taking place over the wider region. The analysis of the results showed that pollen was probably transported from distant regions. The mean angle at which the greatest pollen concentrations were recorded corresponded to the SE wind direction. The analysis of synoptic phenomena during the pollen season confirms the thesis about the long-distance transport from the south, southeast and southwest. A close dependence was also found between the starting date of the season and the sum of maximum temperatures and the sum of differences between the maximum and minimum temperatures.

Carpinus pollen has been recorded in fossil pollen diagrams of different interglacials. In case of the Ferdynandovian pollen sequence it is of particular importance to know if scattered presence of Carpinus pollen at the decline of Ferdynandovian 1 interglacial represents long distance transport of pollen or small isolated Carpinus populations. The study aims to trace the pollen-vegetation relationship in Roztocze (SE Poland) using Tauber-style pollen traps to understand better the pattern of Carpinus pollen dispersal and deposition. High and low pollen deposition years were recorded for Carpinus betulus in the period 1998–2010. Deposition was extremely high in 2002. Average annual pollen accumulation rate was calculated at 1348 grains cm -2 year -1 , which was 4.1% of total pollen spectrum. The study confirms that the earlier pollen presence/absence threshold values of about 5% for the presence of Carpinus trees in vegetation (Huntley & Birks 1983) were too high. The pollen monitoring data from Roztocze support the opinion of Ralska-Jasiewiczowa et al. (2004) that low values of about 0.5% may reflect the presence of Carpinus trees in the forests. These data, in comparison to the scattered Carpinus pollen grains in the last part of the Ferdynandovian 1 interglacial seem to indicate that single trees of this genus may nave occurred in the vegetation at the decline of interglacial optimum.

The paper presents characteristics of a meadow community with Trollius europaeus , threats posed to the community, and proposals for active protection thereof. The study was carried out in the “Łąki w Komborni” Natura 2000 site (PLH 180042) in the Podkarpacie Province (SE Poland). In 2015, 20 releves were taken with the Braun-Blanquet method and they are presented in a synthetic table. Additionally, the number of clumps, the number of flowering shoots per clump, and the height of flowering shoots were determined. The community with Trollius europaeus was classified into the alliance Molinion caeruleae with Selinum carvifolia , Galium boreale , Succisa pratensis , Betonica officinalis , Gladiolus imbricatus , and Carex tomentosa as characteristic species. Scrub species, in particular Filipendula ulmaria , had a substantial share, which indicated long-term abandonment of land use. The community also comprised rush species ( Carex gracilis , Phragmites australis ) and a numerous group of species from the order Arrhenatheretalia (e.g. Geranium pratense , Alchemilla monticola , Galium mollugo , Arrhenatherum elatius ) and the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea (e.g. Lathyrus pratensis , Alopecurus pratensis , Ranunculus acris , Poa pratensis ). Abandonment of extensive land use leading to progressive secondary succession is the major threat to phytocoenoses with Trollius europaeus . To preserve meadows with Trollius europaeus , active protection involving mowing and removal of biomass is recommended.

Methane and carbon dioxide emission from some reservoirs in SE PolandThe results of emission measurements of carbon dioxide and methane from the surfaces of three man-made lakes in southeastern Poland (two little dam reservoirs - in Rzeszów and Wilcza Wola, and the biggest Polish reservoir situated in Solina) are presented in this paper. The experiments were conducted in summer and autumn of 2009. The gas fluxes on the water - atmosphere interface were measured in the littoral area by so called "static chamber" method. Carbon dioxide and methane concentrations in collected gas samples were measured using a Pye Unicam gas chromatograph (model PU-4410/19) equipped with a methanizer to detect low levels of CO2concentrations. The fluxes of determined gases ranged from -24.98 to 162.51 mmol m-2d-1for carbon dioxide and from 0 to 235.60 mmol m-2d-1for methane. The highest values of flux for both CH4and CO2were observed for Rzeszów Reservoir, the lowest ones - for Solina Reservoir. In some studied cases emission of CO2and CH4was as much high as in tropical reservoirs.

In the peat bogs of the Bieszczady National Park an inventory of the Black bog ant (Formica picea Nyl.) was made in order to get an impression of the probability of its survival in SE Poland. Three habitat networks are distinguished, which are situated too far from each other for (re)colonization by means of flying queens. The largest network includes five peat bogs. In two of them F. picea was found. The species was not found in peat bogs which belong to the other habitat networks. The quality of the peat bogs depends on management strategies, currently challenged by two main threats: desiccation and the influx of nutrients. This process will speed up the succession of the vegetation. As a result dwarf shrubs are encroaching on habitat areas of F. picea, where Sphagnum species are still dominating in the moss layer

Vegetation data (70 relevés) of ephemeral wetlands collected in both permanent and temporal water basins were analyzed. Numerical classification of the data revealed two distinct subsets, the first comprised communities of Eleocharition ovatae Philippi 1968 alliance, the second combined communities dominated by Alisma lanceolatum, Isolepis supina or Elatine alsinastrum (Alisma lanceolatum group). Phytocoenoses of Eleocharition ovatae were widely distributed in the study area and developed, most frequently, on exposed bottoms of fishponds. This group could be divided into four types of communities. Patches representing Alisma lanceolatum group were found only in mid-field depressions periodically filled with water and concentrated in Volhynian Upland. In this group, two lower vegetation units were distinguished.

The paper presents the results of the research on Usnea florida in the Polish Eastern Carpathians. Three new sites of this species have been found in the Bieszczady National Park at an altitude of 800-880 m. U. florida grows on the bark of Fagus sylvatica, Populus tremula and Betula sp. The historical sites of this species in the Western Bieszczady Mts. have not been confirmed. In Poland U. florida has also been recorded in the Białowieża Forest and Gdańskie Pomerania.

Here, for the first time in SE Poland, we document the long-term development of a rich fen and assess its sensitivity to climate change and human impacts over the last ca. 3500 years. Our results are based on a high-resolution, continuous plant macrofossil remains, mollusc and pollen record, complemented by geochemical, mineral magnetic and physical characterisation, and radiocarbon dating from Bagno Serebryskie rich fen located in SE Poland. Based on the palaeoecological data we distinguished five stages of wet habitat conditions: 5000–3300, 2800–2150, 1600–1100, 750–230, 150–10 cal yr BP and five dry periods at ca. 3300–2800, 2150–1600, 1100–750, 230–150, 10 to − 64 cal yr BP. The pollen and geochemistry records, particularly Pb, show that the first human activity in the study area occurred ca. 3200 cal yr BP and increased markedly from 500 cal yr BP affecting local plant development including the population size of Cladium mariscus. Our study has shown that despite human impact (drainage, fire), Bagno Serebryskie peatland has hosted rare, presently protected species, such as Cladium mariscus for hundreds of years. We conclude that, in common with ombrotrophic bogs, rich fen ecosystems can provide a reliable source of palaeoclimatic and palaeohydrological data. Our study also shows that a large peatland (376 ha) can be as sensitive a palaeohydrological archive as smaller mires.

The paper presents the first record ofLithurgus cornutus(Fabricius, 1787) in Poland. Until recently, bees of the genusLithurgushave not been recorded in Poland. Five females and one male ofL. cornutuswere caught in Lublin Region, SE Poland. The localities are beyond the range of this species, being the northernmost known records from Central Europe. The following information is provided: short diagnosis, ecology, distribution, recent records and threat status ofL. cornutusin Central Europe.

We investigated temporal changes in diet composition of the Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus breeding in natural habitat (calcareous peat bog) in SE Poland. We characterized diet composition in a three‐year period (2007–2009), based on pellet analyses. We investigated whether diet composition was affected by years or stage of breeding. We compared diet of the studied population between 2000s and 1990s and with other populations. We found that the food of the studied population was dominated by insects and mammals (by number) and mammals and birds (by biomass). Biomass and abundance of main prey items differed between studied years because of different air temperatures. We found some interannual differences in contribution of some prey items including higher number of thermophilic prey (insects and amphibians) in warmer years. Comparison of pellet composition in the 1990s and 2000s revealed significant increase in the abundance of thermophilic prey (insects and reptiles) and decrease of mammals including Microtus voles and birds. Those changes may be linked to habitat changes in areas neighboring peat bogs and climate change‐induced changes in prey communities. The studied population was able to respond to changes in foraging habitats and prey composition by opportunistic foraging on easily available prey. The diet of the studied population is the most similar to the geographically closest populations foraging in similar habitats and characterized by high contribution of insects., Comparison of pellet composition of Montagu's Harrier in the 2000s revealed inter‐annual differences in abundance (a) and biomass (b) of prey items. Samples collected in the warmest 2007 [characterized by a higher contribution of of thermophilic prey (insects and amphibians)] clustered in different positions than those collected in 2008 and 2009.

Phytosociological research on aquatic and marsh vegetation was conducted in Rzeszów Reservoir (SE Poland): 134 relevés according to the Braun-Blanquet method were collected there in 2016 and compared to 91 relevés published in 1994 (225 relevés in total). Changes in vegetation type, diversity measures, species composition, and Ellenberg Indicator Values (EIVs) for light, moisture, reaction, and nitrogen were analysed. Over the 22 years (1994–2016), the greatest changes were noted in communities of the classes Lemnetea and Potametea and the alliance Salicion albae. The long-term observations demonstrated the disappearance of 14 phytocoenoses and the occurrence of 12 new ones. An expansion of marsh communities (Typhetum latifoliae, Typhetum angustifoliae, Glycerietum maximae, Leersietum oryzoidis) was noted, causing a decline of several species and vegetation types. According to canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), four environmental variables (light, moisture, nitrogen, and pH) were related to plant distribution. The strong disturbances reflected in intensive eutrophication were due to human activity, which is the main factor shaping the ecological succession and overgrowing of the reservoir.

The main aim of this study is to present the role of anthropogenic habitats created by the remnants of old iron ore mining activities in preserving the ancient woodland plant species (AWS). The studies, which took place in 2010–2015, covered 30 former post-mining fields in the northern foreland of the Świetokrzyskie Mountains (SE Poland). Each field contains the remnants of old iron ore mining – gob piles and the areas not transformed by mining, which surround the heaps. Within each post-mining fields, two lists (on gob piles and in their surroundings) covering the AWS were prepared. Additionally, two substrate samples were taken – one from the randomly selected gob pile, and one from the non-transformed site. The relationships between the numbers of AWS and selected environmental variables were analysed by statistical methods. It was found that the difference in the number of AWS characteristic of the Querco-Fagetea class between gob piles and their surroundings is significant. The conducted analyses indicated that this difference is not resulting from the difference in the areas between gob piles and their surroundings but from the pH of the substrate. The numbers of the mesophilous AWS in gob piles are not uniform and range from 3 to 37 and are correlated with the age of gob piles, the pH values and the depth of the iron ore deposits. At present, the remnants of old ore mining – gob piles constitute the sole habitat islands for the ancient mesophilous deciduous woodland species within the northern foreland of the Świetokrzyskie Mts.

Urban green areas, due to their high plant diversity, can be supportive as floral resources (nectar and/or pollen) to wild and managed pollinating insects. This research aims towards understanding the contribution of ornamental ground cover perennials as a food source for urban pollinators. We compare floral phenology and abundance, nectar and pollen production, and insect visitation to flowers of Geranium macrorrhizum, G. platypetalum and G. sanguineum, planted in the botanical garden of Lublin, SE Poland. The investigation revealed that the studied hardy geraniums exhibit many features valuable for pollinators, including large floral display (G. macrorrhizum and G. platypetalum), extended flowering period (G. sanguineum) and ample nectar and pollen reward (G. macrorrhizum). They can supply urban pollinators with a high quality food during spring and early summer time, i.e. the period of high food demand by many bee species. Moreover, hardy geraniums might be valuable plants for urban beekeeping as they are eagerly visited by honeybees. The investigated ground cover plants could therefore be considered in future city plantings.

Numerous abiotic factors have an important impact on the phenology of woody plants with temperature as the main driver of their development. Furthermore, the biological factors connected with phenotypic plasticity and genetic heterogeneity might be the cause of differentiation in phenological response to abiotic factors. As objects of our study, we chose black alder and silver birch trees. The main aims of the study were to demonstrate the spatial and temporal diversity in the timing of Alnus glutinosa and Betula pendula pollination as well as to identify factors affecting these variations. We focused on abiotic factors such as thermal conditions: air and surface temperatures, within and between population variability. Phenological observations were carried out in Rzeszow (SE Poland) in a period of four years at over a dozen locations. Stands differed in their thermal conditions and prevalent land use types. The pollination pattern in the study area was presented against the background of local thermal conditions which were described by Land Surface Temperature (LST) and maximum daily air temperature. LST was estimated with a single-channel algorithm using satellite images obtained from Landsat 7 and 8. Our results showed great spatial and temporal diversity in the pollination pattern in the study area. Year-to-year variations in the B. pendula pollination pattern were less pronounced than in the case of A. glutinosa. The pollination pattern was strongly influenced by temperature before and during pollination. In the study area, the variability of LST was greater than that of air temperature but the relationships between the timing of pollination phenophases and LST or land use types were weak. It was observed that the same sites were similar in their pollination pattern − the timing of phenophases was ‘accelerated’ or ‘delayed’ during the whole study period. The same individuals were the first or the last that began to pollinate independently of the year. We concluded that despite the impact of temperature on A. glutinosa and B. pendula development, the phenotype of an individual tree might be as important for phenological variability as local climate.

Invasive plants are known to have significant impacts on habitat structure and abiotic properties of the soil, and can noticeably modify soil animal community composition, diversity and function. We studied the effects of environmental change induced by an intercontinental, exotic invasive plant, Solidago gigantea L., on the resident Collembola and Protura communities at the species level, abundance of the soil mesofaunal communities at a coarse taxonomic level (Collembola, Protura, Oribatida, Gamasida, Actinedida) and abundance of the major trophic guilds (detritivores and predators). This research was conducted in an extended complex of riparian Molinia meadows in the upper Vistula drainage basin, SE Poland. Soil properties and soil mesofaunal communities were compared between Molinia meadow patches in well-established S. gigantea-invaded sites (about 20 years old) and uninvaded patches of Molinia meadows. Our results showed significant invader effects on soil properties such as pH. Collembola communitiy composition, in contrast to Protura communities, were significantly different between invaded vs. uninvaded meadows. Soil mesofaunal communities as measured by abundance of the major taxa were not altered, and relative abundance of detritivores and predators remained the same. The study shows that observed changes in soil properties induced by invasive plants can have a moderate effect on soil mesofaunal diversity and structure, primarily with regard to Collembola community composition, and a weak effect on modifications of the trophic structure.

This paper will focus on determining the trophic status of the two basins of the Niwa Reservoir - Niwa I and Niwa II (Sawin commune, Lubelskie Province, SE Poland) at the sixth year of operation, by using partial TSI indexes – TSI(SD), TSI(TP), TSI(chl-a), as well as qualitative and quantitative structures of phytoplankton. As a supplementary, index TSI(TOC) was employed [Dunalska 2011]. We show that the phytoplankton abundance, as well as TSI(chl-a) and TSI(TP) were relatively low and typical for mesotrophic waters (with the exception of July TSI(TP) values for the Niwa II basin), although the evaluation of trophy based on other partial TSI indexes – TSI(SD), TSI(TOC) pointed to a eutrophic or even a hypertrophic water characteristic. The obtained results were discussed in detail and referenced to other, non-nutrient related trophy factors: morphometric features and geology of the basins, as well as the physicochemical properties of its water.

The aim of the study was to recognize the current distribution and biology of the noctuid moth – Xylomoia graminea (Graeser, 1889) which was spreading in the Podkarpacie (SE Poland) in recent years. The material includes observations collected from 2012 to 2018 from two macroregions: Kotlina Sandomierska and Pogórze Środkowobeskidzkie. The paper contains a number of details on phenology and biology of the species – the female’s behaviour during oviposition, host plant, eggs and young caterpillars up to the 3rd stage, which are illustrated with photos.

Canopy gaps produced by natural disturbances are an important source of structural and functional heterogeneity within forest ecosystems. However, the effect of natural, small-scale canopy gaps, caused by the mortality of a single tree or a group of trees, on bird assemblages has not been adequately addressed in temperate deciduous forests. We studied the effects of small-scale canopy gaps on the breeding birds of old-growth deciduous forests in the Carpathians (SE Poland). Our hypothesis was that such small gaps and the adjacent closed-canopy forest would differ in bird richness, diversity and relative abundance. Breeding bird assemblages were surveyed using point counts in 30 canopy gaps (mean area 301 m2 ± 228 SD, range: 37–970 m2) and in 30 control plots situated in the adjacent closed-canopy forest. The species richness, diversity and relative abundance of birds were significantly higher in the gaps than in the control plots and were correlated with the number of large snags. Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis and White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos occurred more frequently in the gaps than in the control plots. Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris, Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos and Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea were more abundant in the gaps than in the control plots. The species richness of cavity- and ground-nesters was higher and these birds were more abundant in the gaps than in the control plots. The presence/absence of a gap and the number of large snags recorded in it explained 35.4% and 52.7% of the deviance in the total number of species and the total number of individual birds, respectively. Our results indicate that even small-scale canopy gaps, in combination with the large snags recorded in them resulting from the death of a single tree or group of trees, affect bird assemblages in deciduous forests as measured by the occurrence or abundance of individual species or community indices. We suggest that treefall gaps, which are heterogeneous structures, mediate the spatial distribution of bird territories within a stand and are crucial for the biodiversity of temperate deciduous forests.

Studies were conducted on two rivers in SE Poland, the San River and the Wisloka River, and inside the Solina Dam. Two rare species of Gomphosphenia, G. fontinalis Lange-Bertalot, Ector & Werum and G. holmquistii (Foged) Lange-Bertalot were noted. Gomphosphenia fontinalis was recorded only inside the Solina Dam. Before now, both G. fontinalis and G. holmquistii had only been reported from cold, natural, unpolluted and alkaline waters. Morphological details (light microscope and scanning electron microscope) and ecological characteristics of both species are described and briefly discussed.