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The aim of the study was to test the suitability of the 6th edition of Polish Soil Classification (SGP6) in reflecting the typical features of subalpine Bieszczady Mts. soils in comparison with the 5th edition of Polish Soil Classification (SGP5) and the newest version of World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). Five soil profiles located in differentiated in terms of the parent material, topography and vegetation conditions of the natural environment were investigated. On the basis of described morphology and determined properties soils were classified according to different soil classifications. All soils under study were featured by presence of thick A horizons and high content of soil organic carbon accumulated even very deep in the profiles. Some of the mineral topsoil layers were classified as umbric/umbrik horizons. Moreover cambic/kambik horizons were present and in some cases also weak redoximorphic features occurred. The SGP6 enabled to distinguish soils with a thick, organic carbon-rich A horizons as umbrisols, a newly created subtype of grey soils. Furthermore, the soil taxonomic position according to SGP6 was more detailed in relation to the soil trophic status (in case of brown soils) and occurrence of weak redoximorphic features. That was reflected in number of subtypes to which analyzed soils were classified – 4 in SGP6 vs 2 in SGP5.

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Clay-illuvial soils with argic horizon and developed from loess or other silty deposits constitute high-quality arable land owing to favourable physical and chemical properties. There are thus numerous reports on such soils, considering their structure, compaction, erosion, water and air properties. However, there is still a lack of quantitative studies on structure and physical properties on analogous soils under forests. The aim of this research was therefore a comprehensive description of the physical state, including structure, water and air properties, of a forest Retisol developed from loess. Morphographic, morphological and morphometric parameters of structure, selected physicochemical and water and air properties and also relationships among the obtained parameters were analysed for genetic horizons O, Ah, AE, E, Bt/E, Bt, BtC and C. The field survey and soil structure images indicated that the studied forest soil had an undisturbed sequence of genetic horizons. The soil structure was shaped by soil flora and fauna causing bioturbation. Qualitative and quantitative structure analysis revealed that the O horizon had a loose arrangement, the Ah horizon had an aggregate crumb structure, the AE horizon had zones of an aggregate crumb structure and non-aggregate structure (fissured or with channels), while the remaining mineral horizons showed essentially a non-aggregate structure with varying proportions and sizes of planes and biogenic pores (i.e. cracked or fissured structure and structure with channels, respectively). The morphometric and physicochemical parameters facilitated a detailed analysis of the Retisol's physical state. The Retisol's structure type and degree of aggregate development directly influenced its hydraulic conductivity and water retention capacity. Therefore, under simulated precipitation, the soil water content and effective saturation varied mainly in the topsoil (O-E horizons) and virtually no changes were observed in the subsoil (Bt-C horizons). The research resulted in a comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical and morphometric parameters, their relationships, and structure images that were previously unavailable in other studies, covering the physical state of the entire pedon of a forest Retisol. The results obtained may serve, for example, as a reference (control) for analogous soils located in non-forest ecosystems and become an element in space-for-time substitution scenarios aimed at assessing the intensity of anthropogenic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of the genus Orobanche in SE Poland is presented. The study area stretches between the Vistula and the Bug rivers, and comprises the Polish areas of the Lublin-Lwów Upland, the Wołyń Upland and the southern part of Polesie. Eight species of the genus Orobanche: O. alba, O. alsatica, O. arenaria, O. caryophyllacea, O. elatior, O. lutea, O. pallidiflora, O. picridis, were collected during floristic investigations conducted between 1999 and 2010. The hosts, abundance and habitat preferences at the localities are given and a supplemented map of the distribution in SE Poland is included.

The results of a study of NDII applicability for monitoring of a heterogeneous rural and urban area during a growing season (April–November) were shown. We evaluated the spatial and quantitative distributions, and temporal trends of NDII derived from Landsat 8 imagery, NDII = (NIR–SWIR)/(NIR+SWIR) or NDII = (Band5–Band6)/(Band5+Band6), over a typical medium-sized European city with its surroundings. The temporal changes of NDII were also correlated with sunshine duration, temperature, and precipitation. Vegetation was the component of land cover that was changing to the highest degree during the growing season. The most dynamic temporal alterations of NDII were recorded within the arable land. In forest areas and grassland NDII was relatively stable through the summer. The NDII values were stable also in the built-up area in view of practically constant state of human-made covers in the studied period. NDII can support the monitoring of land cover/land use in the urban and rural areas, provided that the images of fully developed plant cover are used. It was stated that NDII correlated with weather conditions. The relationships between NDII and precipitation, temperature, and sunshine duration could facilitate risk assessment and planning of agronomic practices with regard to the weather.

Recent advances in search and rescue methods include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to carry out aerial monitoring of terrains to spot lost individuals. To date, such searches have been conducted by human observers who view UAV-acquired videos or images. Alternatively, lost persons may be detected by automated algorithms. Although some algorithms are implemented in software to support search and rescue activities, no successful rescue case using automated human detectors has been reported on thus far in the scientific literature. This paper presents a report from a search and rescue mission carried out by Bieszczady Mountain Rescue Service near the village of Cergowa in SE Poland, where a 65-year-old man was rescued after being detected via use of SARUAV software. This software uses convolutional neural networks to automatically locate people in close-range nadir aerial images. The missing man, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease (as well as a stroke the previous day) spent more than 24 h in open terrain. SARUAV software was allocated to support the search, and its task was to process 782 nadir and near-nadir JPG images collected during four photogrammetric flights. After 4 h 31 min of the analysis, the system successfully detected the missing person and provided his coordinates (uploading 121 photos from a flight over a lost person; image processing and verification of hits lasted 5 min 48 s). The presented case study proves that the use of an UAV assisted by SARUAV software may quicken the search mission.

The aim of the present study was to describe the distribution of xerothermic species of vascular plants in the lower San River valley and the relationship between their density and the intensity of selected environmental (natural and anthropogenic) factors. Xerothermic species occurred more frequently in the present valley floor compared to the glacial terrace. Within the present valley, the highest density was observed in the floodplain. The examined species also occurred more often on steep slopes of the valley, at the margins of the present valley terraces, and in the area of occurrence of aeolian sands. Moreover, a positive correlation has been found between the number of xerothermic species and the area of polyhemeroby ecosystems. The distribution of xero- and thermophilous species is determined by natural edaphic and geomorphological factors as well as anthropogenic ones (land use, lowering of the groundwater level as a result of river regulation).

Geoparks currently form the basis for the development of geotourism and, therefore, proposals of new geoparks are developed in many countries, including Poland, where over 20 locations for geoparks have been proposed so far. Two national geoparks have been established thus far, while another two have received the status of UNESCO Global Geoparks None of them are located in the Carpathian Mountains. Simultaneously south-eastern Poland—the Podkarpackie Province—boasts valuable geoheritage, biotic and cultural assets. In the past, having regard for the geological heritage, several research teams proposed the creation of three geoparks encompassing the existing landscape parks in that area. However, these were proposals based solely on scientific values. The objective of the study was to comprehensively assess their tourism potential, with a particular focus on geoheritage assets. The assessment has made it possible to determine to what extent these assets meet the conditions necessary for the functioning of this type of areas, i.e., the occurrence of diverse tourist assets, well-developed infrastructure and appropriate development potential. The assessment method used is based on 25 indices forming six groups. The analyses have been carried out for districts lying within the proposed geoparks. It has been found that the analysed area has a sufficiently high geoheritage potential that can be the basis for the functioning of two geoparks. The tourist infrastructure—particularly accommodation and catering facilities and geotourist trails—needs to be expanded and improved. It is particularly important to encourage local communities to become involved and engage in business activity within the geopark.

Insects of the genus Lipoptena are parasitic arthropods with a broad host range. Due to the type of parasitism (hematophagy), their potential role as vectors of pathogens, i.e., Bartonella sp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi is considered. As the range of their occurrence has been changing dynamically in recent years and infestations of humans have increasingly been reported, these organisms are now the subject of numerous studies. Our research aimed to present the molecular characteristics of Bartonella sp. detected in Lipoptena fortisetosa parasitizing wild cervids in south-eastern Poland. Adults of Lipoptena spp. were collected from carcasses of roe deer and red deer between spring and autumn in 2013. The PCR method was used to detect Bartonella sp. in the insects. We report two new haplotypes of the rpoB gene of Bartonella sp. isolated from L. fortisetosa feeding on wild cervids in south-eastern Poland and the presence of this invasive ectoparasitic species in the studied area since 2013. Phylogenetic analyses of newly obtained Bartonella sp. haplotypes confirmed their unique position on the constructed tree and network topology. The rpoB gene sequences found belonging to lineage B support the view that this phylogenetic lineage represents a novel Bartonella species.

Seminatural meadows are characterized by a rich botanical composition, which determines their specific type. The content of macro- and micro minerals in sward seems important for ruminant farmers. The aim of the study was to determine the content of macro- and micro minerals in the sward of selected meadow types. The study was carried out in SE Poland from May to July in the years 2010−2017. The relationship between the content of each of the studied elements (N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) in soil and plants was investigated, as well as whether there were differences between the average content of elements in the sward of different types of meadows. In some types of meadows there was a correlation for K, Fe, Cu, Mg and Mn. The largest differences in the content of macro minerals in the sward were found for Mg (44%) and K (42%), and in the case of micro minerals for Mn (56%). Large differences resulted primarily from different plant species; composition forming a given meadow community and not the content of these elements in the soil. The results can be applied to the proper management of farms, especially organic ones.

The appropriate identification of the geoheritage resources of a specific area is the sine qua non of the development of geotourism. The identification of tourists’ perception of abiotic nature sites of high scientific value is also particularly important because it determines the possibility of using the potential of geosites. In the study, a detailed analysis was carried out of the assets of geological, geomorphological and hydrologic sites in the Central Roztocze region (SE Poland) comprising the central part of the proposed Geopark “Stone Forest in Roztocze”. Data from the Polish Central Register of Geosites, the results of a geotourist assessment and questionnaire surveys were used in the analysis. These data indicate a high potential for geotourism development and consistency between scientific assessments and ratings from tourists. However, this potential is not used to a sufficient degree, while actions aimed at developing geotourism and establishing the Geopark are not appreciated by local authorities and institutions responsible for tourism development. The idea of geoparks and geotourism development is not supported by the State either, whether institutionally or financially. Based on the studies conducted, we propose practical measures that should be implemented to increase the use of the region’s geotourist assets.

The thick-bedded, deep-water sandstone succession was described at the Tylmanowa site from the Polish Outer Carpathians. This part of the Carpathians is built mainly of the Upper Jurassic to Paleogene deep-water rocks. Succession at the Tylmanowa site is composed of massive, ripple-cross laminated, planar and trough cross-stratified, horizontally laminated and deformed sandstones as well as massive and horizontally laminated mudstones. All these sediments derived from gravity flows that prograde downslope from a basin margin towards the widespread abyssal plain. Exposed succession records the gradual transition from a decelerating debris flow to a turbidity current what is extraordinary in the recent investigations of deep-water sediments. The study succession has been compared with the widely known sediment models, such as: the classic Bouma Sequence (Bouma 1962), the high-density turbidite model (Lowe 1982), the fluxoturbidite model (Ślączka, Thompson 1981) and the hybrid event bed model (Haughton et al. 2009). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The “Riese” project was a huge construction project initiated by German Nazi authorities, which was located in the northeast of the Sowie Mountains (Ger. Eulengebirge) in southwestern Poland. Construction of the “Riese” complex took place in 1943–1945 but was left unfinished. Due to the lack of reliable sources, the exact intended function of the Riese complex is still unknown. The construction was carried out by prisoners, mostly Jews, from the main nearby concentration camps, KL Gross-Rosen and KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. Thanks to the discovery in the National Archives (NARA, USA) of a valuable series of German aerial photographs taken in February 1945, insight into the location of labour camps was obtained. These photographs, combined with LiDAR data from the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography (Warsaw, Poland), allowed for the effective identification and field inspection of the camps’ remains. The location and delimitation of the selected labour camps were confirmed by an analysis of the 1945 aerial photograph combined with LiDAR data. These results were supported by field inspection as well as archival testimonies of witnesses. The field inspection of the construction remains indicated intentionally faulty construction works, which deliberately reduced the durability of the buildings and made them easy to demolish. The authors believe that it is urgent to continue the research and share the results with both the scientific community and the local community. The authors also want to emphasize that this less-known aspect of Holocaust history is gradually disappearing in social and institutional memory and is losing to the commercial mythologization of the Riese object.

This paper presents the results of a research project aimed at evaluating the unconventional natural gas potential of the autochthonous Miocene sediments in the Polish part of the Carpathian Foredeep. The primary objective of the study was to re-evaluate the biogenic gas generation system within Miocene sediments, paying special attention to unconventional gas resources accumulated in tight mudstone formations. The four-dimensional (4D) petroleum system modeling method (PetroMod software) was used to reconstruct the basin geometry and three-dimensional (3D) evolution through a geological timescale, in particular the progress of gas generation, migration, and accumulation processes, as well as their consequences for gas exploration and development. Special attention was paid to the dynamics of gas generation processes and the advancement of sediment compaction and their time dependence, as well as to the progress and outcomes of gas migration and accumulation processes. The results indicate significant potential for unconventional gas accumulations in mudstone reservoirs. However, part of the biogenic gas resources occurs in a dispersed form. Analysis of the dynamics of biogenic gas generation and accumulation conducted on a basin scale and within particular sedimentary complexes and depth intervals allowed an indication of the premises regarding the most favorable zones for mudstone–claystone reservoir exploration.

The study was designed to examine the relationship between features of forests and the quality of forest landscapes, and to determine the strength of effect of the features in the aesthetic value of the landscape. The methodology applied to assess forest landscapes took into account the following features: forest site humidity, age of forest, terrain slope, site index of stands, species composition of the tree layer, under-story cover, colour and composition, mosaic-like, as well as horizontal structure of the tree stands. The study was conducted in temperate forests located in Central-Eastern Europe – more precisely – in south-eastern Poland. In the investigated area the dominating tree species are: Pinus sylvestris L., Abies alba Mill., Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus L. They cover 42.2%, 20.8%, 20.4% and 6.5% of the total forest area, respectively. The findings show that nearly 1% of the area of the examined forests within the relevant territory are characterized with very high landscape value, over 67% with high, 31% with medium, and less than 0.5% with low landscape value. A strong relationship occurs between terrain slope vs. aesthetic quality of landscape as well as forest site humidity vs. aesthetic quality of landscape. Weak effect was observed for site index of stands vs. aesthetic quality of landscape, and moderate relationship was identified in the case of the remaining features. The findings show the strength of relationship between the features of forests and the aesthetic quality of landscapes, consequently providing a tool for forest managers to develop attractive forest landscapes in selected areas.

Various forms of human activity in large cities contribute to the creation of a specific climate and new environmental conditions for plants. One of the most important results is the so-called atmospheric urban heat island (UHI). The aim of this study was to compare the thermal conditions in the Lublin City center with those of suburban areas, and so confirm the existence of the UHI and then analyze the influence of thermal conditions on features of the flora. The analysis of the air temperatures was based on data from 2000 to 2014 provided by meteorological stations in the Lublin City center and its nearest surroundings. Floristic data were collected during field studies between 2012–2014 and included species richness and frequency, life forms, and synecological groups of the flora and its elements. The thermal requirements of species were defined on the basis of ecological indicator values (EIVs). Our research confirmed the presence of the UHI in the Lublin City center. Over the study period, the mean temperature in the city center was by 0.87°C higher than that in the suburban areas. The largest differences in mean annual air temperature between the city center and the suburbs were recorded in 2007 and 2011–2013. In total, 552 species were recorded, including six life-form and synecological groups, 246 thermophilous and 436 heliophilous species. The species richness, proportion of therophytes, alien, thermo- and heliophilous species decreased with distance from the city center. The thermal conditions expressed by the EIV L and T ranged from L = 4.5, T = 3.8 in the city center, to L = 3.1, T = 3.4 in the suburbs. An ordination analysis facilitated determination of the relationships between characteristics of the flora, the EIV values, and land use classes. An increasing level of anthropopressure was found to be positively correlated with thermal conditions and the flora traits.

The objective of this study is to interpret the regularities in distribution of surface geochemical anomalies observed in a fragment of the contact zone between the Carpathian Fold-and-Thrust Belt and the Carpathian Foredeep (SE Poland). The surface geochemical survey included a total of 670 soil gas samples analyzed by gas chromatography, integrated with seismic cross sections, and supplemented by production data from wells. Maximum concentrations of methane, total alkanes C2-C5, total alkenes C2-C4, H2, and CO2 measured in soil gas samples were 27.1 vol.%, 45.3 ppm, 0.49 ppm, 0.232 vol.%, and 6.29 vol.%, respectively. Traces of alkanes detected in samples are the result of microseepage from a few accumulations of various compositions. Methane and ethane migrate primarily from relative shallow Miocene strata, and higher alkanes from deeper Miocene strata and from Paleozoic-Mesozoic basement. We found relatively high positive correlation between the distribution of surface geochemical anomalies and the relative intensity of hydrocarbon shows recorded in the wells. The location and range of 13 anomalous zones are controlled by the patterns of both the Dębno and the Wojnicz slice-folds. Most of the anomalies occur over the Wojnicz Trough, suggesting the presence of conventional accumulations and/or the sites where the Miocene mudstone and heterolithic formations are saturated with gas.