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Grasses characteristically produce a huge amount of small pollen grains, which pose a risk to allergy sufferers. In many aerobiological studies, great variations in the behaviour of the grass pollen season are stressed. We state that in Rzeszów and Ostrowiec Sw. there is some regularity in the pattern of the main grass pollen seasons, which is clearly double-peaked. The aim of our work was to elaborate the algorithm which defines the main grass pollen season. Next, the null hypothesis was tested about the lack of difference between daily pollen concentrations and meteorological parameters. Grass pollen seasons were defined using the method of fitting two bell curves. The estimated grass pollen season is characterised by two periods of high or relatively high concentrations, separated by a period of low concentration. In order to investigate the time dependence of the correlation between pollen concentration and the weather parameters, the Gaussian-weighted correlation coefficient has been calculated. Maximum temperature, mean temperature and sunshine positively correlated with pollen concentrations, but relative air humidity and rainfall on the previous day had a negative effect. The temperatures of the second and third ten-day periods of April were the best independent variables for forecasting the beginning and peak dates of the main pollen seasons. An analysis of the results shows that the pattern of successive flowering in grass species and meadow cutting dates appear to be the factors which cause the characteristic bimodal behaviour of the grass pollen season.

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.

Poaceae pollen is one of the most widespread sources of aeroallergens in the world. The aim of this study is to build predictive models for the pollen season start day (PSsd) and peak dates of the Poaceae pollen season and thus give an overview of the climatic parameters that have the greatest influence. In Tétouan, sampling was carried out using a volumetric spore trap of the Burkard Hirst type. The relationships between the PSsd, peak dates and meteorological parameters were determined using correlation analysis. The models were constructed using multiple regression analysis with data from 2008 to 2019 and tested on data from 2022. The PSsd was especially significantly influenced by minimum temperature during winter and precipitation in the autumn of the previous year. The peak dates were significantly correlated with precipitation in January, March and April, but not with temperature. Three models were obtained for each of the season's parameters; the most accurate model for the PSsd explained a variability of 61% and includes as main predictors rainfall from the autumn of the previous year and the mean daily average temperature from 23 February to 8 March. The two most efficient peak dates models included precipitation in January and April as the main predictor variables, and explained greater variability (87 and 88%). Precipitation in autumn and the mean daily and the sum of minimum temperature in winter, showed significant decreasing tendencies. However, the PSsd trend delay was not statistically significant. This study draws the importance of the weather during preseason for grass pollen production and emphasises the usefulness of the models for allergic patients to take preventive measures and for healthcare professionals in allergy therapy., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Society of Biometeorology.)

The main objective of the study was to reconstruct palaeoenvironmental changes recorded in lake and peatland sediments from the peatland located in the western part of Lublin Polesie, where no former palaeoecological research had been conducted, and to compare findings to changes reconstructed for other sites in the eastern part of this region. Climate changes were considered, as well as the effects of human impact, which intensified particularly after the Middle Ages. In recent times the trajectory of change of the Mytycze ecosystem was exceptional because in the 1960s this area was included in the Wieprz-Krzna Canal System, and then renaturated after the discontinued use of hydraulic engineering structures. This is the largest canal in Poland and runs in the immediate vicinity of the watershed supplied by two large rivers: the Bug and the Wieprz. The presented study mainly relied on the following proxies: pollen, testate amoebae and other non-pollen palynomorphs, and peat decomposition. Data from the Archaeological Picture of Poland (AZP) allowed for a detailed reconstruction of chronological changes in the palaeoenvironment. An important aspect of this study was also the first ever use of testate amoebae remains in the reconstruction of the Lublin Polesie environment. Findings from research on the Mytycze site for the first time confirmed that the beginning of the formation of the lake basin was similar to that reconstructed for all other lakes in the Lublin Polesie region investigated previously with multidisciplinary methods, and dates to the end of the late glacial of the Vistulian. The early phase of the peatland formation resulting from the shallowing of the lake was very long and lasted from the Subboreal period to the 15th century. The youngest phases with records of human impact are characterised by increased human pressure (intensified cultivation of cereals, buckwheat, legumes and brassica crops) after the Wieprz-Krzna Canal System was put into use, and intensified grazing in the vicinity of Lake Mytycze. This phase, dated to the 1970s, is followed by a marked increase in the water level, which was probably related to the supply of water to the dammed Lake Mytycze from Wieprz-Krzna Canal via Lake Dratów. Records in the upper part of the core indicate the return of Sphagnum spp., most likely due to the cessation of the use of hydraulic engineering structures and the renaturation of the lake and peatland ecosystem, which led to the appearance of valuable species of plants and birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multi-proxy data from the Lake Słone sediments (SE Poland) yielded information on the Holocene changes of Lake Słone in a karst region. Changes of limnological conditions and vegetation reconstructions correspond to high resolution multi-proxy records from north-central Europe. Ostracods showed several small oscillations. Most significant changes occurred at 12300cal yr BP (Younger Dryas–Preboreal transition) and between 11800 and 11100cal yr BP (“Preboreal Oscillation”). Lowering of the water table at around 11100–10800cal yr BP was probably connected with abrupt warming at ca. 11000cal BP. Temperature and water depth fell at about 8400–8100cal yr BP (8200cal yr BP). The Atlantic period was generally warm and is divided into two parts: an older one with comparatively stable water level and a second one (between 7000 and 6300cal yr BP) with two phases of higher water level separated by lowering at 6800cal yr BP. At the transition from the Atlantic to the Subboreal (6200–5950cal yr BP) the dry period is more pronounced than changes in the second half of the Atlantic. Since the beginning of the Subboreal an increase in human activity in Central Europe was the main factor shaping the landscape and changing the limnic regimes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract  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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to compare the course of flowering and the occurrence of Alnus, Corylus and Betula pollen grains in the air in 1999–2001. In 2000 and 2001 birches flowered in a typical way – the flowering period was short and intense and that period had the highest concentration of pollen. Both years had no rainfall then and the temperature was high, which caused intense flowering of birches over a large area. In 1999 and 2000 most of the Alnus and Corylus pollen was recorded at the end or after their flowering period. At that time the weather was unstable (as is usual in February and March). Pollen must have been transported from elsewhere. Wind analysis showed that the main sources of Corylus pollen must have been in the south, and of Alnus in the south and west. In the southern margin of Poland the vegetative period begins later due to a colder climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Badenian/Sarmatian boundary in the Central Paratethyan basins is characterised by a change from open marine conditions during the late Badenian to the assumed brackish conditions during the early Sarmatian. The foraminiferal and palynological results of the Badenian/Sarmatian boundary interval in the Babczyn 2 borehole (in SE Poland) showed that the studied interval accumulated under variable, unstable sedimentary conditions. The Badenian/Sarmatian boundary, as correlated with a sudden extinction of stenohaline foraminifera, is interpreted as being due to the shallowing of the basin. The lack of foraminifera and marine palynomorphs just above the Badenian/Sarmatian boundary can reflect short-term anoxia. The composition of the euryhaline assemblages, characteristic for the lower Sarmatian part of the studied succession, indicates from marine to hypersaline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, honey bees and bumble bees are among the most important pollinators, and there is a growing interest in understanding the effects of floral resource availability on their survival. Yet, to date, data on nectar and pollen supplies available to bees in agricultural landscapes are still scarce. In this paper, we quantify species-, habitat- and landscape-scale pollen production in the Lublin Upland, SE Poland. The production per unit area was highest (mean = 2.2-2.6 g/m 2 ) in non-forest woody vegetation, field margins and fallows, whilst significantly lower pollen amounts were shown to be available in road verges and railway embankments (mean = 1.3-1.6 g/m 2 ). At landscape scale, natural and semi-natural areas (forests and meadows/pastures) offered ca. 44% of the total pollen resources during the year. Relatively high amounts of pollen (ca. 35% of the year-round total pollen resources) were from winter rape, but this resource was short-term. Man-made, non-cropped habitats added only ca. 18% of the total pollen mass offered for pollinators during flowering season. However, they provided 66-99% of pollen resources available from July to October. There exists an imbalance in the availability of pollen resources throughout the year. Hence, a diversity of natural, semi-natural and man-made, non-cropped areas is required to support the seasonal continuity of pollen resources for pollinators in an agricultural landscape. Efforts should be made to secure habitat heterogeneity to enhance the flower diversity and continual pollen availability for pollinators., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This research aims to assess ornamental shrubs Ribes aureum, R. sanguineum and Staphylea pinnata as an early food source for urban bees. In a two-year study, the abundance and flowering pattern, nectar and pollen production, and spectrum of urban insect visitors were investigated in Lublin, SE Poland. The apiarian value of S. pinnata was studied for the first time. The studied species exhibited abundant and extended flowering, skewed inflorescence flowering pattern, and persistent flowers and inflorescences. They bloomed from late March to late May and could be considered as valuable early foraging resources for urban bees, despite the substantial differences between the species. The highest mean sugar yield and pollen yield · plant−1 (92.9 g and 44.0 g, respectively) was estimated for S. pinnata whereas the lowest ones were found in R. sanguineum (4.3 g and 1.8 g, respectively). Hymenopterans were the principal flower visitors in the studied species accounting for more than 79% of all visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agrobotanica is the property of Polish Botanical Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Botaniczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This two-year study tested whether urban bees benefit from the forest perennial Geranium phaeum L. replanted from natural stands to an urban environment. The flowering abundance and phenology, spectrum of insect visitors, nectar and pollen production, and the energetic value of nectar were investigated in Lublin, SE Poland. The apiarian value of G. phaeum was studied for the first time. The species bloomed abundantly from late April to early June and can be regarded as a valuable spring food resource for urban bees, mainly bumblebees, which accounted for >50% of all visits in both years of study. Bees collected mainly nectar. The highest daily pollen and nectar sugar amount offered by a plant reached 73.7 mg and 36.5 mg, respectively, with the caloric value of nectar of 146 cal. The estimated mean sugar yield, caloric value of nectar and pollen yield · m−2 were 1.7 mg, 6.9 kcal, and 3.4 mg, respectively. The current study confirms the advantage of using native plants in urban landscaping and proves their positive role in strengthening both wild and managed bee populations in cities. The finding that wild plants translocated from the natural habitat can develop a self-sustaining population in the urban environment and establish beneficial relationships with urban bees is of interest in terms of the conservation of both native plants and pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen rain studies are rare in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. Interpretations related to the dynamics of plant communities and possible paleoclimatic changes in these areas face significant limitations due to this lack of data. The global biome of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests and Shrublands (SDTFS) is represented in Northeast Brazil by the caatinga, which is composed of xerophytic vegetation. This study aimed to generate information about the pollen rain in this area and to understand its relationship with species flowering, pollination syndromes, life forms, and climatic aspects. A caatinga area in Canudos, Bahia, Brazil (09°54′ S 39°07′ W), was selected for this purpose. Artificial pollen collectors were installed and exchanged monthly over two years for palynological analyses of the collected material, using standard palynological techniques. A total of 124 pollen types were identified, with approximately 8823 pollen grains deposited per cm2 over the two years. Several vegetation components were represented in the pollen rain, reflecting local plant diversity, life forms, and physiognomies. A positive relationship was observed between increased temperature and pollen production from trees and shrubs, and new pollen types were associated with indicator species of caatinga vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agrobotanica is the property of Polish Botanical Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Botaniczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Agrobotanica is the property of Polish Botanical Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Botaniczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Agrobotanica is the property of Polish Botanical Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Botaniczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For many years, we have observed a significant rise in urban population, the spatial development of cities, and an increase in urbanized areas. More and more people feel the need to have contact with nature. The interest in forest recreation is growing, though the forest is a serious source of allergenic plant pollen. The aim of the present study was to compare two forest types in the context of their recreational potential and the effect strength of aeroallergens. This study was conducted in SE Poland in a Nemoral Scots pine forest (RB) and in a Central European submountainous beech forest (TH). Their recreational potential was assessed. Samples of moss containing plant pollen were collected under the canopy, from forest clearings and forest edges as well as in an open area. Based on the number of pollen grains deposited in moss pollsters, the forest impact on humans was calculated. The recreational potential values for both sites studied are evidence of the high recreational suitability of these forests, but the recreational capacity of RB is lower compared to TH. Palynological analysis showed that the pollen deposition is higher in BR and that the plant pollen risk is lowest under the canopy, regardless of the forest type. The beech forest was found to be characterized by greater recreational potential and a weaker actual effect of pollen allergens than the pine forest. In assessing forest recreational potential, palynological data should form the basis for modification of the degree of recreational suitability. Such information would also be useful in controlling recreational traffic since, as we have proved, visiting appropriate places in a forest allows the exposure of allergen sensitive people to be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agrobotanica is the property of Polish Botanical Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Botaniczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Agrobotanica is the property of Polish Botanical Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Botaniczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2) can affect plant growth and physiology, which can, in turn, impact herbivorous insects, including by altering pollen or plant tissue nutrition. Previous research suggests that eCO2 can reduce pollen nutrition in some species, but it is unknown whether this effect is consistent across flowering plant species. We experimentally quantified the effects of eCO2 across multiple flowering plant species on plant growth in 9 species and pollen chemistry (%N an estimate for protein content and nutrition in 12 species; secondary chemistry in 5 species) in greenhouses. For pollen nutrition, only buckwheat significantly responded to eCO2, with %N increasing in eCO2; CO2 treatment did not affect pollen amino acid composition but altered secondary metabolites in buckwheat and sunflower. Plant growth under eCO2 exhibited two trends across species: plant height was taller in 44% of species and flower number was affected for 63% of species (3 species with fewer and 2 species with more flowers). The remaining growth metrics (leaf number, above-ground biomass, flower size, and flowering initiation) showed divergent, species-specific responses, if any. Our results indicate that future eCO2 is unlikely to uniformly change pollen chemistry or plant growth across flowering species but may have the potential to alter ecological interactions, or have particularly important effects on specialized pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scopolia carniolica Jacq. is a perennial plant from the family Solanaceae. The study objective was to examine floral traits that may be important for interactions with floral visitors (i.e., blooming phenology, floral micromorphology, nectary characteristics, nectar quantity, nectar sugar composition, and pollen production). In S. carniolica, papillae, numerous non-glandular trichomes, and a few glandular trichomes were present on the inner corolla epidermal surface. Lipids, acidic lipids, tannins, and alkaloids were present in the non-glandular trichomes and in the corolla cells. The discoid-type nectary was located at the base of the ovary. Floral nectar was released through nectarostomata. The process of nectar release started in the bud stage (ca. 5–8 h before corolla opening) and continued to the 4th day of anthesis. The amount of secreted nectar peaked in 2-day-old flowers. The amount of produced nectar, nectar sugar concentration, and sugar mass varied significantly across years. On average, the total mass of sugars in the nectar was 0.54 mg/flower. S. carniolica produced sucrose-dominant nectar with no glucose. The sugar proportions did not differ during the flowering season. On average, 1.95 mg of pollen per flower was produced. Among floral visitors, bumblebees were most frequently noted, accounting for 79.7% of the total number of floral visitors to S. carniolica flowers. The species can be used in early spring ornamental arrangements to support the food supply for insects, mainly bumblebees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offering more floral resources for urban bees can be achieved by growing ornamental bee plants. The aim of the present study was to evaluate selected Asteraceae ( Calendula officinalis 'Persimmon Beauty' and 'Santana', Centaurea macrocephala, Cosmos sulphureus, Dahlia pinnata, Tagetes patula, Tithonia rotundifolia, and Zinnia elegans) as pollen sources for pollinators. Under urban conditions in Lublin, SE Poland, the investigated plants flowered from late June to the end of October. The mass of pollen produced in florets and capitula was found to be species-related. The highest pollen amounts per 10 florets (10.1 mg) as well as per capitulum (249.7 mg) were found for C. macrocephala. The mass of pollen yielded by a single plant depended on both the pollen mass delivered per disk florets and the proportion of disk florets in capitulum, and the flowering abundance of the plants. A single plant of D. pinnata and a single plant of T. rotundifolia each produced the largest pollen mass. Mean pollen yield per 1m2 of a plot ranged from 6.2 g ( Z. elegans) to 60.7 g (D. pinnata). Pollen grains are tricolporate, with echinate exine, medium or small in size. They can be categorised as oblatespherical, spherical, and prolatespherical. The principal visitors to C. macrocephala, C. sulphureus, and C. officinalis were honey bees, whereas bumble bees dominated on T. rotundifolia and D. pinnata. A magnet plant for butterflies was Z. elegans. Among the investigated species, D. pinnata, C. macrocephala, and T. rotundifolia were found to be the most valuable sources of pollen flow for managed and wild bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agrobotanica is the property of Polish Botanical Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Botaniczne and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the flowering phase and plant pollination ecology is very important for understanding the life history of long-lived perennials. In the case of rare species, the information may have implications for conservation practices. Our studies on flower morphology and blooming biology of the vulnerable plant Senecio macrophyllus M. BIEB. were conducted in situ (flowering, activity of insect visitors) in the largest population in SE Poland and in laboratory (light and scanning electron microscopy). The disc florets open diurnally with most intensive anthesis in the early afternoon and attract insect visitors with nectar and pollen. In highly protandrous disc florets, pollen viability decreases in time, whereas stigma receptivity increases. The upper part of the pistil forms a brush-like pollen presenter, covered with unicellular trichomes with chromoplasts. Pollen presentation lasts 4-11 hours per floret, and 8 days in a single head, the main function of which is to extend the availability of male gamets for reproduction. The number of florets per head, the head size, and the number of pollen grains produced per anther, and the pollen grain viability differed significantly between microsites. The finding indicates that, apart from the biotic factors, abiotic conditions may considerably influence generative reproduction of the species. In the study area, the principal visitors of S. macrophyllus flowers were Hymenoptera, with predominance of Apis mellifera (53.4% of visits). The remarkable share of butterflies (13.9%) recognized as the long-distance moving insects may improve the genetic variability of individuals within a fragmented population. A more detailed study is necessary to explain the role of insect visitors in effective pollination and in gene transfer between patches. The assessment of optimal conditions for the generative reproduction is fundamental for the in situ conservation of this rare species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting the time when the atmospheric pollen season of allergenic plants begins is particularly important for doctors and their patients. The aim of this paper is to determine whether it is possible to forecast the start of the oak (Quercus) pollen season in Rzeszów, Poland. In the elaboration of the most effective model, various forecasting techniques were tested: growth degree days (GDD degrees C); meteorological factors; bioclimatic factors; and indicator taxon. The aerobiological monitoring was carried out in 1997-2005 and 2007 in Rzeszów (SE Poland). In the presented investigation, three methods defining the start of the Quercus pollen season were selected on the basis of accumulated sums of pollen or the constant occurrence of pollen grains in air. Despite the application of different combinations of GDD degrees C methods and threshold temperatures, the correlation coefficients between the expected and obtained values were low. In some cases, however, they proved highly effective for the test years (2005, 2007) with the accuracy of a few days. For GDD degrees C methods, the best threshold temperatures range between 5 and 6 degrees C. Models based on bioclimatic indices and meteorological variables were not satisfactory. On the basic of the 10 years of results, the method of indicator species were good for forecast the start of oak pollen season. Birch was the best indicator taxa.

In Central Europe, Helianthus tuberosus L. is a late summer/autumn bloomer (August/November). The disc florets produce both nectar and pollen. Floral reward is available in male-phase flowers (pollen and nectar) and in female-phase flowers (nectar). The floral reward is attractive to a variety of insect visitors (honey bees, wasps, flies and butterflies). The season of blooming as well as the total sugar yield (25.4 – 47.4 kg ha−1) and pollen yield (57.8 – 212.7 kg ha−1) indicate that H. tuberosus is important in the enhancement of food resources for pollinators. The generative reproduction in H. tuberosus is impaired (the species does not set seeds/fruits). However, due to its attractiveness for a variety of pollinators in both rural and urban areas, the spread of H. tuberosus should be monitored. Moreover, its propagation needs to be attended with restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two neighbouring Eemian (MIS 5e) palaeolakes, discovered during works on reambulation of the Garwolin sheet of the Detailed Geological Map of Poland (scale 1: 50 000), revealed differences in the palynological record of the succession of the Eemian interglacial. In the profile of Parysów WH-125, a very pronounced hiatus in the transition from the mesocratic to the telocreatic period, i.e. from the hornbeam to the spruce-fir zone, is visible. In the pollen diagram of Niesadna, the maximum percentages reached by Quercus, Corylus and Carpinus are very low, although this is undoubtedly an Eemian succession. The reasons for this should be sought in the presence of several sedimentary gaps probably caused by the different geological and geomorphological conditions of the Niesadna palaeolake located on a slope as opposed to the Parysów palaeolake, which was formed by the melting of a block of dead ice in the process of deglaciation of the area during the late Saalian (MIS 6). An additional rationale for the hypothesis of extremely unfavourable conditions for undisturbed sedimentation in Niesadna palaeolake is its geological-geomorphological situation that caused admixtures of mineral material in the organic sediment, including sand intercalations, indicating that erosion was taking place. The two developed pollen successions were presented against other published data on the Eemian interglacial in the Garwolin Plain, with particular emphasis on the continuity of the Eemian succession. The palynological results showed that the Parysów WH-125 profile joins several other profiles lacking representation of the upper part of the hornbeam zone and sometimes also the lower part of the spruce-fir zone (e.g. Żabieniec, Jagodne). On the other hand, the presence of distinct sedimentary gaps in the oak, hazel, and hornbeam zone, as is the case in the Niesadna profile, has not been recorded in any of the profiles in the Garwolin Plain examined to date. The Eemian pollen succession in the studied Niesadna and Parysów palaeolakes is presented against the broader background of the course of this interglacial in the European Lowlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen allergy remains insufficiently studied in the Philippines despite its global significance. This community-based, cross-sectional study thus determined the sensitisation profile of Filipino individuals to pollen allergens from selected grass species (Zea mays, Saccharum spontaneum, and Dichanthium spp.) and tree species (Mangifera indica, Delonix regia, and Peltophorum pterocarpum). Study subjects (n = 523), 2–70 years old, and residents of Bustos, Bulacan, Mayorga, Leyte, and Laoag, Ilocos Norte, were recruited from November 2018 to July 2019. Clinical history was evaluated through a self-directed questionnaire, while pollen sensitisation was assessed through skin prick test (SPT) and pollen-specific immunoglobulin E enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (sIgE ELISA). Correlation and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant relationships between pollen sensitisation and demographic characteristics. Of the 523 study subjects, 38.24% reported symptoms of allergic rhinitis, 32.70% reported atopic dermatitis, and 30.02% reported allergic asthma. Participants were mainly sensitised to M. indica (32.70%). More males were sensitised at earlier age groups than females. Alternatively, females had increased odds of reporting allergic rhinitis and more than one type of allergic disease. Sensitisation to tree pollen, age, smoking, and secondhand smoking status were also significant predictors (p ≥ 0.05). Smoking status, sex, age, family history, and sensitisation to tree pollen were significant risk factors associated with allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen analysis was performed on 14 profiles of fossil biogenic sediments from different parts of the vast depression near the Wola Starogrodzka village (Central Poland). The results allowed the determination of the time of their accumulation for the period from the end of the Odra Glaciation (Warta Stage, Saalian, MIS-6), through the Eemian Interglacial (MIS-5e), to the first interstadial of the Early Vistulian (Brørup, MIS-5c). In many studied profiles, we noted the incompleteness in the pollen record of the Eemian vegetation succession - hiatuses occur usually in the hornbeam (E5) and/or spruce phase (E6). Moreover, the thickness of the same pollen zone and the development of its palynological record are strongly differentiated between individual profiles, e.g. the hornbeam zone (E5) is contained in an exceptionally thick sediment layer (3.7 m) in the PWS1-19 profile, and the oak zone (E3) in the WH-123 and PWS2-19 profiles (1.0 and 1.2 m, respectively), while in other profiles they are represented only by single pollen spectra. If we only had a single profile with a hiatus and/or a poorly developed pollen record, it would be impossible to reconstruct a complete interglacial succession of vegetation. However, having several such imperfect profiles which complemented each other enabled us to do it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]