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Heterogeneous and disturbed habitats within railway areas create an ideal environment for establishment of invasive plant species. In this study, we compared the invasive species composition and abundance within railway areas of two cities, Lublin, SE Poland and Lviv, W Ukraine. In total, 70 invasive species were recorded. The invasive species list was similar for the two cities, with the most invasive species occurring at both (81.4%), 8.5% occurring only in Lublin and 10% only in Lviv. The proportion of invasive species in the total flora was almost 1.5-fold higher at Lviv compared to Lublin. Invasive species have originated mainly from continental America (45.7%), followed by Asia and Eurasia. The participation of invasive plants derived from Asia and Eurasia at Lviv is higher than at Lublin. The invasive flora includes a wide range of taxonomic groups, with a predominance of Asteraceae and Poaceae. The ecological attributes of invasive species on railway areas are: mainly annual therophytes, mostly wind- and insect pollination modes, a predominance of generative reproduction, anthropochorous and anemochorous dispersal and short-term persistent, long-term persistent or transient seed banks.

In Poland, like in other parts of Central Europe, dry grasslands significantly contribute to the biodiversity of both fauna and flora. Anthropogenic pressure impair many species of xerothermic habitats, and several populations face an increased risk of extinction. The goal of the study was to define factors that may affect the size of wild populations of Anemone sylvestris L., a protected species in Poland, with both a short- and long-term perspective, and to examine the influence of vegetation changes on the density, the abundance of flowering and male function (pollen production, pollen viability), as well as seed set. In situ observations were performed in 2005–2006 and 2011–2012 in three populations located on the Lublin Upland, SE Poland. The reduction in population density and A. sylvestris blooming was exacerbated by the expansion of the shrubs, but not by Brachypodium pinnatum. Male characteristics of A. sylvestris, i.e. pollen amount per multi-staminate flowers or pollen viability appeared to decrease under pressure of shrub competition. Populations with limitation of male function had impaired degree of seed set. Various consequences for the functioning of populations within a metapopulation system can be expected due to substantial qualitative and quantitative disorders in pollen traits. It is crucial that successful recovery programs for A. sylvestris primary should aim to conserve and manage the habitat.

The investigations were carried out in 2002-2006 in two municipalities of Konopnica and Jastków close to the western part of Lublin, Poland. The aim of the study was to identify the condition of bee flora and determine the floristic richness depending on the biotops in agricultural landscape. Flora of the anthropogenic refuge areas consists of 214 species, among them 80% were flow taxons. Apophytes (162 species - 78%) predominated on all types of biotops under consideration. Perennials predominated in flora of boundary strips and bush communities. Mainly annual (40%) and biennial (15%) species comprise the flora of fallows. A great number of bee taxons represent meadow, segetal or ruderal communities. Most of flow plants compose loose patches, but their successive blooming ensures a source of food for Apoidea from early spring till the end of summer. The flora of boundary strips, bush communities and fallows significantly increases the biodiversity in agricultural landscape. The treatments including sowing, mainly on fallows with nectariferous and polleniferous species, would enrich generally weak flows in highly agricultural landscape.

This study investigated the floral biology and pollen quantity and quality of Campanula bononiensis L. (Campanulaceae), a protected species in Poland. Observations and measurements were made during the years 2007–2009 in natural phytocoenoses from the Festuco-Brometea class situated within the Lublin area, SE Poland. A considerable decrease (approx. 87%) in population density was observed. Significant variations both in the amount of pollen (18.5%–34.8% of pollen in the total anther dry weight, i.e. 0.5–1.5 mg per 10 anthers) and in pollen viability (38.8–97.0%) were noted. Both a low amount of pollen and low pollen viability may reduce the reproductive success of individuals. The most frequent visiting insects were bees (Apoidea), including solitary bees 45.7%, honeybees 20.4%, and bumblebees 11.4%. Dipterans, coleopterans (weevils), lepidopterans and ants were also recorded, implying a strong impact of C. bononiensis on insect biodiversity within grasslands.

The observations were conducted in long-term sequence studies in the years 2006, 2009, 2013, in the Lublin area, Poland (51o 16’ N, 22o 30’ E). The flowering phenology, diurnal pattern of blooming, pollen production and insect visitation to the shrubs of Syringa oblata Lindl. var. dilatata (Nakai) Rehd. and S. meyeri ‘Palibin’ Schn. were examined. Syringa oblata var. dilatata and S. meyeri ‘Palibin’ blo- omed from the mid May till mid June. The species are characteristic of early morning diurnal pattern of blooming, with approx. of 60% of daily instalment of flowers opened before 9.00 (GMT + 2h). Both species studied had the corolla tube 2-fold deeper during the pollen shedding phase compared to bud stage (mean = 14.9 mm ± 3.2 SD vs. 7.8 mm ± 2.8). No species effect was found for the size of anthers, for the mass of pollen produced in anthers and for the pollen viability. A constant number of 2 stamens in the flowers of Syringa species entailed the pollen yield was derivative mainly to the number of developed flowers. Therefore significant differences were noted for the pollen yield between individual shrubs (mean 0.9 kg for S. meyeri ‘Palibin’, and 8.1 kg/ha for S. oblata var. dilatata ). The Syringa oblata var. dilatata and S. meyeri ‘Palibin’ due to their attractive flowering period, and the abundance of blooming are suitable for different ornamental designs in urban areas. Unfortunately, despite the entomophilous flower traits, the insect visitors appeared sporadically.

The paper attempts to synthesize the determinants which may influence the diurnal rhythm of blooming. Additionally, I tried to explore and bring together topics that concern blooming and have always been considered separately because of their origin in different disciplines. The following species were included: Hydrangea arborescens L. subsp. discolor (Raf.), H. paniculata Sieb., Viburnum opulus L., Chaenomeles japonica Lindl., Knautia arvensis L., Adonis vernalis L., Aster saggitifolius Willd., Taraxacum officinale L. Chelidonium majus L. The taxons were observed in Lublin (51008' - 51018' N and 21027' - 21041' E) in the years 2001-2007. The blooming of species was determined at least for two vegetation seasons. During observations all flowers developed in one-hour intervals were counted. The diurnal dynamics of blooming differs among species and is modified by different endogenous and exogenous factors. The endogenous determinants of diurnal dynamics of blooming are morphological diversity of flowers (fertility or sterility) within species or heterostyly. The different pattern of blooming succour different mechanisms which prevent self-pollination (Chaenomeles japonica Lindl., Knautia arvensis L.). The abiotic factors, such as day length and temperature during the vegetation season, influence the change in the process of diurnal dynamics of blooming (e. g. Taraxacum officinale, Chelidonium majus).

The estimation of participation and density of forage species in several xerothermic communities of the Lublin Upland were carried out in 2004 and 2005. Most plants species visited by bees are grouped in plots of the Brachypodio-Teucrietum and the Adonido-Brachypodietum pinnati communities. The nectariferous and polleniferous taxons are mostly perennials predominated by hemicryptophytes (79%), others are terophytes and geophytes (21%). Successive blooming of the nectariferous and polleniferous species in both associations ensures unbroken food flow from the early spring until the late summer and early autumn. Xerothermic swards make a valuable food potential to be important for the Apoidea before and after blooming of the main forage cultivated crops.