Search

Abandonment of cultivation particularly applies to mountainous areas, characterized as less-favorable areas. In addition to natural conditions, changes in land use are also influenced by socioeconomic factors and systemic transformations. One factor that affected the agriculture of post-socialist countries in Europe was their accession to the European Union. A study of changes in land use that occurred during this period can thus offer interesting insights related to the contemporary landscaping process. To this end, this research analyzes Dukla, a small commune located in the Polish Carpathians for which land-use maps were made based on aerial imagery. These maps recorded the landscape just before Poland's accession to the European Union in 2003, and its current status as recorded in 2018. Abandoned land area was found to have decreased by 17% in the studied region over that time, with a simultaneous 12% decline in agricultural land area. In contrast, forest and settlement area had increased. In this commune, a clear division was seen between the foothills area, with distinct increase in the area of abandoned land; and the mountainous region, characterized by a decrease in abandoned land. It seems that in mountainous areas, the lack of potential for a non-agricultural livelihood induced farmers to restore abandoned fields. The analysis conducted also showed a reduced impact of environmental factors on abandoned land area. In 2003, this parameter was affected by topography, distance from forest, and soil quality; while in 2018, this only correlated to topography. [Display omitted] • The changes in land use after Poland's accession to the European Union were studied. • Opposite trends in land use in the foothills and in the mountains were found. • In the mountains, farmers started to use abandoned fields again. • In the foothills, the area of abandoned and forest land increased. • Environmental conditions played smaller role in land use transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Visitor activity is associated with park land cover structure and its location. • Peripheral park is the most attractive for families with children. • Open park is chosen mainly by sportsmen and has the lowest allergenicity index. • Downtowns parks are the most crowded and have the highest allergenicity index. Abstract The political and social changes that have taken place in Central Europe after the collapse of the communist regimes in the 1990s, followed by the accession of some countries to the European Union, have initiated the intense development of cities. The development is manifested, among other features, in the renovation of old parks and establishment of new ones. These actions, however, require studies on the role of parks depending on their location in the city, the activities undertaken by park visitors, and the allergenic risks of park vegetation. Taking into account the above assumptions, comprehensive studies of this type were conducted in four urban parks in Rzeszów (Poland) in order to develop recommendations for the city authorities on their spatial management. Harmful impact of parks' vegetation was described by allergenicity index. Park visitors were counted during eight scans in each park. Types of visitors' activities were grouped into five main categories: resting, using playgrounds, cycling, other sports, others. Three categories of the parks land cover were studied: canopy, lawns and paths as well as location of the parks. We concluded that the type of activity undertaken in the park was primarily associated with the land cover structure of the park and its location within the city. A comparison with the use of statistical methods and an evaluation of the parks also showed that diversification of the character and functions of parks in the city is a desirable feature. We have identified three major types of parks using results of studies on the role of parks depending on their location in a city, the activities undertaken by park visitors, and the allergenic potential of their vegetation: downtown parks, open parks, and peripheral parks – requiring different spatial development recommendations to ensure their attractiveness for visitors while simultaneously mitigating their allergy hazard impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the increasing frequency of inhalant allergy is often linked to the urbanization effect. The pollen forecasts for a given city are most often prepared using data from one aerobiological station. However, there is evidence that the pollen concentrations in the air might differ depending on the city area and the height of the pollen trap. This study evaluated the spatial differences in the daily concentrations of alder and birch pollen grains in an urban area in relation to the proximity of the pollen sources and meteorological parameters. Pollen grains were sampled in Rzeszów in 2014–2016 by three volumetric traps located at the roof and nose levels in two city areas that differed in the numbers of alder and birch trees. The daily pollen concentrations were categorized into three allergy symptom thresholds. The relationship between the daily pollen concentrations and meteorological variables was examined using a redundancy analysis and circular statistics. There were spatial differences in the pollen season intensity and, to a lesser extent, the variability in its course. Generally, higher concentrations were registered at the roof level and in the city suburbs than at the nose level and in the downtown area where alder and birch trees were less numerous. Despite the spatial variability of the pollen concentrations and the differences in the proximity and abundance of pollen sources, the risks for allergy sufferers were similar throughout the city. It was concluded that the main cause of this phenomenon is the high dispersal abilities of Alnus and Betula pollen grains. Although temperature seems to be a crucial factor that influences the airborne pollen of both taxa, several weather variables were found to have complex impacts on the daily concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spores of Cladosporium Link. are often present in the air in high quantities and produce many allergenic proteins, which may lead to asthma. An aerobiological spore monitoring program can inform patients about the current spore concentration in air and help their physicians determine the spore dose that is harmful for a given individual. This makes it possible to develop optimized responses and propose personalized therapy for a particular sensitive patient. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of the human health hazard posed by the fungal genus Cladosporium. For the first time, we have determined the number of days on which air samples in Poland exceeded the concentrations linked to allergic responses of sensitive patients, according to thresholds established by three different groups (2800/3000/4000 spores per 1 m 3 of the air). The survey was conducted over three consecutive growing seasons (April–September, 2010–2012) in three cities located in different climate zones of Poland (Poznan, Lublin and Rzeszow). The average number of days exceeding 2800 spores per cubic meter (the lowest threshold) ranged from 61 (2010) through 76 (2011) to 93 (2012), though there was significant variation between cities. In each year the highest concentration of spores in the air was detected in either Poznan or Lublin, both located on large plains with intensive agriculture. We have proposed that an effective, science-based software platform to support policy-making on air quality should incorporate biological air pollutant data, such as allergenic fungal spores and pollen grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ganoderma spores are one of the most airspora abundant taxa in many regions of the world, and are considered to be important allergens. The aerobiology of Ganoderma basidiospores in two cities in Poland was examined using the volumetric method, (Burkard and Lanzonii Spore Traps), from selected days in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Spores of Ganoderma were present in the atmosphere from June to November, with peak concentrations generally occurring from late July to mid-October. ANN (artificial neural network) and MRT (multivariate regression trees), models indicated that atmospheric phenomenon, hour and relative humidity were the most important variables influencing spore content. The remaining variables (air temperature, dew point, air pressure, wind speed and wind direction), also contributed to the high network performance, (ratio above 1), but their impact was less distinct. Those results are consistent with the Spearman''s rank correlation analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Changes in land use induced by human activity trigger a number of processes in river catchments. These processes are particularly evident in the mountains, where wild vegetation overtakes abandoned arable land, stabilizing slopes and reducing sediment delivery to rivers. The energy of under-loaded rivers then makes incisions into their beds, which results in lower water levels. What is the rate of environmental changes induced by farmland abandonment, and does the environment restore its primary characteristics through a certain inertia? To answer these questions, we analyzed changes in land use in the Jasiołka River catchment located in the Carpathians, based on topographic maps from three periods covering more than 60 years. We also compared data on land use change with changes in the water levels in the Jasiołka River using regression models and principal component analysis. In the period analyzed, substantial transformations of the landscape were evident, mainly caused by dislocation of the population during and after World War II and, to a lesser extent, by changes in the political system in Poland after 1989. All these events led to the reduction of the arable land area, along with the enlargement of forest areas. Before World War II, arable land was the prevailing form of land use, taking up an area almost twice as large as the forest. Currently, the area of arable and forest land combined in the catchment area analyzed is similar, at approximately 42%. The response of the river to the changes in land use in its upper course, the location of the greatest extent of changes in landscape, is triggered almost immediately, decreasing the mean water level. In the mouth of the river, these processes occurred over a different period of time: The river incision was not as intensive and ended nearly 30 years later. The investigations strongly correlated the changes in almost all landscape elements with processes occurring in the river channel. Therefore, even small landscape components such as settlements or gullies that can exert a significant effect on catchment functioning should not be disregarded in this type of analysis. Together with large areas of forest, they regulate processes occurring on the slope and in the river channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne pollen might be transported over thousands of kilometres, which has important ecological, evolutionary and clinical consequences. The long-distance transport (LDT) of birch (Betula sp.) pollen has been described in detail for northern Europe. However, a comprehensive analysis of this transport from other European regions is lacking. This study focused on the post-seasonal LDT of birch pollen to Poland (central Europe), with special attention paid to determining potential source areas of pollen and describing the causal mechanism favouring LDT episodes. Pollen monitoring (1997–2016) was conducted in Poznań and Rzeszów (500 km away from each other) using volumetric traps. The LDT episodes were characterized by analysing the (1) bi-hourly backward air mass trajectories using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT); (2) sea level pressure (SLP) and 500 hPa geopotential height (z500) anomalies; and (3) patterns of the Enhanced Vegetation Index to determine the birch flowering time along the moving air mass trajectories. The potential locations of birch populations within broadleaved forests were estimated with GLOBCOVER data. Finally, the movement of pollen emitted from potential source areas was simulated using the HYSPLIT dispersion model. LDT episodes were mainly recorded in the first fortnight of May. The main source areas of pollen to Poland were western Russia, Belarus and to a lesser extent the eastern Baltic republics and the Scandinavian Peninsula. In most cases, a high-pressure centre located over Scandinavia and an elevated z500 over Germany-Denmark-Sweden favoured pollen transport. On average, the post-seasonal LDT episodes of birch pollen to Poland occur almost every year (Poznań) or every second year (Rzeszów). The episodes are highly variable in time; thus, the pollen concentration may unexpectedly cause allergy symptoms in sensitized patients. In some cases, these episodes may be extremely severe, thereby prolonging and strengthening the exposure to birch pollen allergens. Unlabelled Image • Airborne birch pollen transport from distant sources occurred almost every year. • Long-distant transport (LDT) episodes occurred mainly in the first fortnight of May. • A high pressure centre over Scandinavia favoured the LDT of birch pollen to Poland. • Potential pollen source areas were located primarily in western Russia. • LDT caused a clinically relevant extension of the birch pollen season in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]