Search

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.

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.

Plant species diversity is threatened in many agricultural landscapes due to the changes it has to undergo. Although the modification of the agricultural landscape pattern is observed across Europe, both extensive and intensive agricultural landscapes still co-exist in Poland. The objective of the study was to examine the flora in field margins in intensively and extensively managed agricultural landscapes, located across three regions in SE Poland. The flora was compared with respect to species richness, diversity, and evenness indices. Detrended correspondence analysis was employed to characterise variation in species composition. Agricultural landscape type made a higher contribution than the topography or geology to species richness and composition in field margins. Field margins function as important habitats for general vascular plant species diversity and are useful for the conservation of rare, threatened, endangered or bee plants. A significant decline in species diversity was observed over a distance of 1000 m from the habitat elements. Plants growing on field margins are mainly perennials; however participation of annuals clearly increases in intensive landscapes. The participation of wind-dispersed species decreased in an open-spaced intensive landscape. Animal-dispersed plants predominated in an extensive landscape with forest islands. Irrespective of landscape type, native species predominated. However, these habitats create the biota and corridors for alien-invasive species as well.

The distributional patterns and ecology of the ponto-mediterranean species Poecilimon schmidtii were only insufficiently known until now, despite assumed to be one of the northernmost distributed species of the genus. Based on the review of all available published and own field data, we improved the distribution map of the species and recorded it for the first time from Poland. The distribution survey was carried at 1,208 sites in Slovakia, 39 sites in SE Poland and 26 sites in W Ukraine between 1994 and 2015. P. schmidtii was found at 59 sites and the habitat requirements were analysed. The results show a clear preference of the species for broadleaved forest ecotones with hazel and Rubus spp. shrubs being the main host plants. The species was present in grid cells with a lower mean altitude, a higher annual mean temperature and a lower annual precipitation compared to those available within the northern species’ range. Its altitudinal distribution was between 105 and 950 m a.s.l. Altogether, 70 Orthoptera and one mantid species were recorded and assemblages of Orthoptera and Mantodea were described for 49 sites with P. schmidtii in Slovakia and Poland. On average 18.9 ± 7.5 (SD) species were found per site, ranging from 7 to 37. Using detrended correspondence analysis it was not possible to distinguish between the orthopteran assemblages with and without (n = 94) P. schmidtii. In the assemblages, P. schmidtii was more often present with mountainous species.

In a modern agricultural landscape the assurance of food resources is a key issue in the maintaince and control of food niche for pollinators. In the present study we evaluated bee forage flora composition and diversity within railway embankments located in the agricultural landscape, SE Poland. We also analysed the abundance of pollinators that use food resources along railway embankments and recognized insect visitors preference for selected plant species. Railway embankments represent valuable refuge areas for bee forage flora (307 species, i.e. 76.1% of total flora) and pollinators (in total 4172 insect visits from 9 taxonomic groups). However, the richness and abundance of bee forage flora significantly differed between types of the railway distinguished by traffic volume. The highest diversity of bee forage flora is noted along the railway with intermediate traffic volume. Approx. 25% and 40% less bee forage species was identified along railways with low and high traffic volume. Likewise, bee forage flora differed considerably between microhabitat types, i.e. top vs. slope vs. bottom of the embankment. Providing support (e.g. mowing) seems to be an important management type in order to strengthen the native bee forage flora particularly on railway embankments along low and high traffic volume tracks. Such activity is crucial to counteract the spread of aggressive non-forage species (e.g. Calamagrostis epigejos, Artemisia vulgaris, Phragmites communis) and invasive species (e.g. Bunias orientalis, Solidago gigantea).

The paper describes chosen habitat conditions determining the occurrence and nesting of the Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus and their effect on the nest type (breeding nest BN or mock nest MN). The Little Bittern is a monogamous bird whose male can build a couple of nests during the breeding season. The main questions posed in this work are: (1) what habitat is chosen for the nesting site, and (2) do habitat conditions influence the nest type? The study was carried out in a fishpond complex in the Lasy Janowskie Landscape Park (SE Poland) during the breeding seasons of 2010−2012. All 44 nests (23 BN and 21 MN) were built in a waterside belt of perennial Common Reed Phragmites australis. All nests were built at sites with water depth between 11 and 101 cm. The type of the nest did not depend on the date when it was built during the breeding season. There was a significant difference in the width of the nests between breeding and mock nests. Moreover, obtained results showed a significant influen...

As degradation of sensitive habitats like Sphagnum L. (Sphagnales: Sphagnaceae) peatbogs is endangering their invertebrate fauna, artificial peat pools may offer peatbog insect fauna a chance of survival. The entomofauna of seven peat pools in a peatbog and its surrounding natural marginal zone in SE Poland was investigated at the level of species, assemblages and faunistic metrics, indicating the key environmental drivers of the insect distribution and their implications for the biodiversity and potential conservation of these habitats. The species composition, specialists, and insect assemblages of the peat pools were linked with the fauna typical of both peatbogs and dystrophic pools with an open water surface. The most specialized fauna was found in the pools with the largest Sphagnum cover: only tyrphobionts, of all the ecological elements, significantly discriminated the fauna of peat pools and the marginal zone. Sphagnum cover was the key structural factor affecting the distribution of all the insects. Additionally, dragonflies were dependent on pH, beetles on temperature, and caddisflies on dissolved oxygen; however, structural factors—apart from Sphagnum cover—pool perimeter and emergent vegetation cover were predominant. Our results show that appropriate management of the structural factors of peat pools, especially Sphagnum cover, and the provision of different successional stages, can enhance biodiversity and help to maintain a valuable specialist fauna. Even along small environmental gradients and in a homogeneous area, the response of insects is highly differentiated. Dragonflies probably best represent the conservation value of the overall invertebrate fauna of Sphagnum bogs.

Populations at the edge of their main range of distribution are often exposed to suboptimal environments. They therefore exhibit a greater susceptibility towards habitat changes and often clearly differ in their structure and dynamics from populations in the main range. Here we define population parameters of the Aesculapian snake Zamenis longissimus, a species endangered in Europe, at its northern range limit based on data obtained in the valley of the River San (Bieszczady Mts., SE Poland) in 2009-2013. We focus on the spatial and temporal sex ratio patterns by comparing data obtained in 2009-2013 with published records from 1990 to 1998 and five other northern populations (1 from the main range, 1 at the northern edge of its contiguous range, and 3 entirely isolated ones). Using the capture-mark-recapture (CMR) method, we estimated the population size to be about 230 snakes. Our data show that among adults the percentage of females (17.74%) in the San valley population was significantly lower than in those other five populations and the same population studied two decades earlier. Because of the male-biased sex ratio, we estimated the effective population size to be about 74 snakes. This disproportion between the sexes in adults may be interpreted as an early stage of the population extinction process at the northern range limit of this species’ distribution. It is probably due to the limited availability of egg-laying sites, compelling females to undertake longer movements, which may heighten the risk of mortality. Keywords: Zamenis longissimus, Population size, Sex ratio, Northern range limit, Extinction

This paper presents the first record of Luticola vanheurckii Van de Vijver & Levkov, outside of the type locality (second record in the Europe). Authors present habitat characteristic of the species, with LM and SEM micrographs. Luticola vanheurckii was found in a small outflow of water from storm sewers in Stalowa Wola (SE Poland). Luticola vanheurckii occurred only rarely (0–5 valves per slide), in a small, shallow puddle which was supplied by the water from the outflow. This species was recorded in sediments and on plants submerged in water with a wide range of conductivity (347–22,100 μS cm−1), chloride content (64.56–6195.0 mg l−1) and sodium ions (43.04–3789.1 mg l−1). The cells observed in the examined material were slightly longer and wider than those from type locality.

In central Europe, the endangered Rosalia longicorn Rosalia alpina (L.) has rarely been observed to develop in the wood of elms Ulmus sp.; however, this beetle has recently expanded into habitats formed by elms. The factors driving these changes are unknown in detail, but a potential one is the increasing amount of breeding material, namely, dead elm wood. Dutch elm disease, caused by the fungi Ophiostoma ulmi and O. novo-ulmi, by killing off elm trees, has created a supply of dead wood. The aim of this work was to assess the potential role of Dutch elm disease in the formation of habitats suitable for the endangered Rosalia longicorn. The health of four elm stands (Carpathians, SE Poland) was analysed and the pathogen responsible for elm death were determined by DNA sequence comparison. O. novo-ulmi — the causative agent of Dutch elm disease — was isolated from weakened and dying trees at all studied localities. In total, 30% of the elm trees were dead, 34% showed signs of dieback or were moribu...

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 Szum is a right-side tributary of the Tanew River crossing the southern escarpment zone of the Central Roztocze region (SE Poland). Downstream of the strict river break in a section between the 10th and 12th km of the river course in the Szum valley, meadow and peatbog complexes have developed, associated with semi-hydrogenic and marshy soils. In an area of approx. 13 ha of the most valuable non-forest habitats, a variety of plant communities have been identified, including habitats of the Natura 2000 network and habitats that are protected under the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment (2001). These are, for instance, meadow associations Lysimachio vulgaris-Filipenduletum, Lythro-Filipenduletum, Filipendulo ulmariae-Menthetum longifoliae, Angelico-Cirsietum oleracei, and Cirsietum rivularis. The moss–sedge and sphagnum bog communities comprise noteworthy associations Caricetum limosae, Rhynchosporetum albae, Caricetum lasiocarpae, Caricetum paniceo-lepidocarpae, Caricetum davallianae, and Sphagnetum magellanici. These communities are composed of ca. 160 vascular plant species and 40 moss and liverwort species.In 1999–2014, the greatest changes occurred within macroforb meadows, i.e. small Angelico-Cirsietum oleracei and Cirsietum rivularis patches have been transformed into Lysimachio vulgaris-Filipenduletum, while some patches of the latter association have been transformed into a Caricetum acutiformis rush. Several patches of bog-spring associations Caricetum paniceo-lepidocarpae and Carici canescentis-Agrostietum caninae have been irretrievably destroyed. Sphagnetum magellanici appears to be the least stable community among the preserved peatbogs. The changes of meadow and peatbog vegetation observed for the last 15 years are a consequence of natural processes that take place in the river valley and to a large extent human activity connected with the so-called small-scale water retention as well as the presence of a beaver colony in the area and later the abandonment of this area by beavers. Despite the multidirectional changes, the peatbogs of the Szum valley have retained their high species and phytocoenotic diversity, which indicates a substantial degree of naturalness.

Understanding the factors that have an impact on the diversity of forage flora in the agricultural landscape is a key issue in the maintenance and control of food niches for pollinators. Field margins are common linear structures in the agricultural landscape. In the present study, we evaluated the factors that exert an impact on the forage flora composition and on the diversity in field margins. The study was conducted in the 2010 - 2011 time period across the agricultural landscape on the Lublin Upland of SE Poland. Data on the forage flora were obtained while making floristic charts along 45 transect plots x 300 m; the total length being 13500 m. Multivariate ordination techniques (PCA and RDA) were employed to analyse forage-flora characteristics. Field margins represent valuable refuge areas for forage-species richness, but not for the abundance of forage species. On field margins, forage-species diversity benefits from the location of natural habitats (forests or meadows), primarily if the distance from these habitats is

Abies alba and Senecio rivularis - two of 44 mountain species reported from the Roztocze Highlands, SE Poland were objects of the study. Both species reach the north-eastern limits of their occurrence in this region. In case of Abies alba, the extent of its habitat niche and possibility of adaptation to alternative niches at the range limits were investigated in two areas of the Roztocze Highlands - the Roztocze National Park (RNP) and gorge sections of four river valleys (RV) of a mountainous character. In both landscapes, fir prefers mineral soils that are too leachy for deciduous species and even for spruce. In the RV sites, fir seems to have a much broader ecological scale and often colonizes organic soils with wet mixed coniferous forests with spruce, ash-alder, and bog alder forests. The studies on Senecio rivularis are an example of long-term ecological studies at the population level, conducted in the RNP since 1987, e.g., in terms of changes in the size structure of individuals compared to the changes in the surface area covered by this population. A nearly 3-fold increase in the area inhabited by the population was accompanied by changes in the spatial organisation of the population and individual size structure dynamics, which reflects the intensification of intra- and interspecific competition, and indicates condition changes in the population area.

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 terms of flowering ecology, Pulsatilla flowers are classified as “pollen flowers” producing inconsiderable amounts of nectar. The aim of this study was to assess the length of the flowering period in Pulsatilla slavica and P. vulgaris and to investigate the structure of the epidermis of the perianth and generative elements of their flowers. Special focus was placed on the structure of hairs and the distribution of stomata. The weight of nectar released by the flowers of the two Pulsatilla species and the content of sugars in the nectar was also evaluated. In SE Poland, both species flowered for similar periods between the second half of April and the first half of May. The flower life-span of both was determined to be 9–14 days. The lower part of each sepal was observed to be covered by long hairs having cellulose-pectin cell walls of varying thickness. Hairs present on the pistil style are thinner; they may provide some protection against cold and can play a role of a secondary pollen presenter for insects. The bowl-shaped structure of the perianth and the nature of the adaxial surface of the sepal epidermis may facilitate reflection of sunlight into the inner parts of the flower, which may contribute to an elevation of the intraflower temperature. This is particularly important for the functionality of the ovary. The surface of the hairs was seen to be covered by a cuticle ensuring water impermeability. Flowers are visited by honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, and ants, for which nectar and pollen are the main attractants. Ants, which are regarded as illegitimate flower visitors, were found to cause damage to the androecium. The number of fruits produced in the flowers of both Pulsatilla species was lower than 50% of the number of pistils.

Ellenberg indicator values (EIV) have been widely used to estimate habitat variables from floristic data and to predict vegetation composition based on habitat properties. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) are valuable tools for studying the relationships between topographic and ecological characters of river systems. A 3-meter resolution DEM was derived for a. 3-km-long break section of the Szum River (SE Poland) from a 1:10,000 topographic map. Data on the diversity and ecological requirements of the local vascular flora were obtained while making floristic charts for 32 sections of the river valley (each 200 m long) and physical and chemical soil measurements; next, the data were translated into EIV. The correlations of the primary and secondary topographic attributes of the valley, species richness, and EIV (adapted for the Polish vascular flora) were assessed for all species recognized in each valley section. The total area and proportion of a flat area, mean slope, slope curvature, solar radiation (SRAD), and topographic wetness index (TWI) are the most important factors influencing local flora richness and diversity. The highest correlations were found for three ecological indicators, namely light, soil moisture, and soil organic content. The DEM seems to be useful in determination of correlations between topographic and ecological attributes along a minor river valley.

Military training areas, where ecosystems are shaped under a complex disturbance regime, are recognized to be favourable pieces of land for maintaining high biological diversity. Our study focused on explosion craters – a small-scale disturbance type of high severity, and their effect on species diversity including vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens. The research was carried out on an active military training area in Nowa Deba (SE Poland). The examined vegetation represented open communities on nutrient-poor soils with a wide range of soil moisture conditions. We compared 76 pairs of vegetation samples, each pair consisting of a crater and a closely located control plot of the same size. Out of 135 species recorded (72 vascular plants, 33 mosses, 9 liverworts, 22 lichens), 37 were found only in craters, while 19 occurred only in control plots. Both, species number and diversity were significantly higher for craters than controls. In general, the positive effect of cratering on all studied groups rises from dry to wet habitats. The highest increase of diversity was observed in relation to bryophytes in the moist habitats. Moreover, craters within habitats of higher moisture turned out to be more resistant to alien colonization and at the same time were characterized by significantly higher number of red-listed species compared to the control plots. Differences in species composition between craters and undisturbed plots were most visible in moderately moist habitats. We found several species with a strong preference for craters, and the plants of the highest indicative value are Atrichum tenellum and Dicranella cerviculata.

In the face of the intensifying process of urbanization and the increased incidence of pollen allergies among urban residents, there is still a need to continuously monitor the airborne concentration of allergenic plant pollen. Urban green spaces (UGS) are a desirable element of the urban fabric and necessary for the proper functioning of cities, but they are a rich source of allergenic pollen that may pose a certain risk to people visiting them. The main aim of this study was to analyse the airborne allergenic pollen content in parks of different types relative to a reference point located on the roof of a building. Moreover, this study investigated the relationship between tree canopy volume and the number of recorded airborne pollen grains (SPIn- Seasonal Pollen Integral), and these parameters were compared with the potential impact of vegetation in the parks studied through the Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (IUGZA). Aerobiological monitoring was carried out in Rzeszow, SE Poland in 2016. A volumetric Hirst-type device was used. The pollen seasons of many taxa largely overlapped at each site where the monitoring was carried out, but the concentration values clearly differed. Tree pollen concentration values were not dependent on total canopy volume, and the greatest disproportions were found for Acer, Betula, Quercus, and Tilia pollen. This may be due to the fact that a solitary tree produces more pollen than a tree growing near others of the same species. The downtown park, surrounded by densely built-up areas, exhibited the highest allergenic potential, and the concentration of pollen, in particular tree pollen, was highest there. It is undesirable to plant hedges of allergenic plants, as they are a rich local source of pollen. Aerobiological monitoring carried out in urban parks provides information about the real threat of allergenic pollen to park visitors.