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Remote sensing is increasingly widely used in nature conservation management. The research focuses on developing an optimal set of airborne raster data for the identification of the invasive alien species Spiraea tomentosa L. The plant species selected for the purposes of this study poses a serious threat to peat bog plant communities, moist coniferous forests, and meadows in Central Europe. The impact of the data acquisition time on the accuracy of classification and the percentage cover limit required for correct identification of a target species using the developed method were also investigated. The study area is located in the Lower Silesian forests in Poland and is protected as a Natura 2000 site. Airborne hyperspectral and laser scanning data were simultaneously acquired two times in the growing season (August and September 2016) parallel to on-ground reference data collection. The 1 m resolution HySpex images with spectral range of 0.4–2.5 μm were corrected atmospherically, radiometrically and geometrically. Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data acquired at 7 points/m2 were used to generate several products, e.g. Canopy Height Model (CHM), rasters representing morphometric features of the area (Multiresolution Index of the Ridge Top Flatness or Valley Bottom Flatness—MRRTF, MRVBF), wetness relations (Topographic Wetness Index—TWI) and the availability of light (Total Insolation—TI), intensity of laser pulse reflection and geometric relations of vegetation points (i.a. Vegetation Cover, Vegetation Mean Intensity). The Random Forest (RF) classification and different raster datasets were used to identify the target species. As a result, the highest accuracy was obtained for the scenario based on HySpex images acquired in September. The accuracy (f1 score) for the target species achieved 83%. The developed method for the identification of Spiraea tomentosa has a great potential for application and can be used for monitoring peat bogs threatened by invasion of alien plants.

International audience; Fast-growing transgenic root cultures of Leonurus sibiricus transformed with the AtPAP1 transcriptional factor may be used as a base for potential large-scale phenolic acid production. The present study investigates the effect of different volumes of medium (300 mL, 1 L, 3 L, 5L flasks) and a 5 L bioreactor on biomass increase and phenolic acid production by transgenic roots of L. sibiricus. Of these cultures, those from the 5 L bioreactor demonstrated the greatest increase in dry weight (20.83g/L) and highest yields of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid 448 mg/L and caffeic acid 302 mg/L). Additionally, they also displayed a cytotoxic effect on melanoma cells across the range of tested concentrations, as well as antioxidant activity on human blood plasma. This approach may serve as an alternative to conventional field crops for enabling large-scale production of the active constituents of AtPAP1 root extract, which would be of great value for pharmaceutical production.

Multifunctional ecosystem of narrow grasslands located between croplands and streams slowly disappears from the agricultural landscape in Poland despite its importance to reduce the impact of land-based nutrients on freshwater ecosystems. We studied the effects of five extensive grasslands on nitrate and phosphate reduction in the catchment scale. During our 4-year monitoring, we did not observe the saturation effect in case of the two buffer zones that were receiving high nitrate load via subsurface flow. Highest nitrate concentration exceeded twice the level of 50 mg NO3/L, which is considered a threshold level of water pollution status by the EU Nitrates Directive. Concentrations above 100 mg NO3/L were reduced by 68% and 99% passing through the 25 m and 45 m of grassland, respectively. The efficiency of buffer zone to mitigate phosphate losses varied depending on the input load. The results obtained for high concentrations (above 1.5 mg PO4/L) showed 81% and 76% effectiveness of 45 m and 47 m grassland, respectively. However, the release of phosphates was reported as well and occurred at the buffer zones characterized by low inflow P concentrations when assimilation-decomposition processes dominated ecotone P dynamics. The analysis of nutrient retention in vegetation showed that harvesting of grassland removed 131 kg N/ha/yr and 19.4 kg P/ha/yr. Furthermore, the amount of nitrate and phosphate removed by buffer zones were statistically and positively correlated (r = 0.62, p

Capsule: Corncrake Crex crex males shift their territories and change habitat preferences across the breeding season as a consequence of anthropogenic pressure and/or to enhance the chances of reproduction through sequential polygamy.Aims: To examine how habitat structure changed during the breeding season, whether Corncrake males responded to those changes and which habitat features were crucial when males settled and occupied territories.Methods: Calling male Corncrakes were surveyed six times during the breeding season. In each location where a calling male was recorded, the habitat and vegetation structure was described from one to three times during the season.Results: Corncrake males avoided extremely wet and extremely dry habitats, whereas large sedge and reed communities were much more preferred. There were significant seasonal changes in the density of vegetation and moisture content. Males were more sedentary at the beginning of the breeding season. Males significantly changed habitat pr...

The Biebrza River valley (NE Poland) is distinguished by largely intact, highly natural vegetation patterns and very good conservation status of wetland ecosystems. In 2013⿿2014, studies were conducted in the upper Biebrza River basin to develop a remote sensing method for alkaline fen classification ⿿ a protected Natura 2000 habitat (code 7230) ⿿ using remote sensing technologies. High resolution airborne true colour (RGB) and color infrared (CIR) orthophotomaps, the laser scanning point cloud and thermal day and night images were obtained in August 2013 in the Biebrza River basin. At the same time, botanical studies were conducted in this area using conventional phytosociological methods. The random forest classification method was used to distinguish patches (phytocoenoses) of alkaline fens in the study area. The developed method of wetland identification has an accuracy of 91.5%. The night land surface temperature (LST) appears to have the greatest indicator potential. The obtained inventory results were compared with the results of the traditional habitat 7230 mapping method, carried out in 2011⿿2013 by another team of authors, under the Management Plan (MP, 2014). The obtained results suggest that the developed method has a wide application in nature conservation. Remote sensing methods are alternatives to traditional methods and can be used to identify alkaline fens on a larger scale.

Rare and endangered floodplain meadows have been a focus of previous restoration projects, but knowledge about the long-term development of newly created meadows is scarce. We studied the long-term development of sites restored via the transfer of seed-containing plant material on former arable fields and former species-poor grassland. We analyzed the long-term development of the vegetation and tested the differences between former land-use types and former preparatory treatments. In former arable fields, we studied the influence of sowing with a grass seed mixture. In former species-poor grassland, we tested the effect of topsoil disturbance by rotovation to inhibit competition by the resident grassland vegetation. Restoration was generally successful with mean transfer rates (number of meadow species at restoration site/number of meadow species at donor site) of 60%, increased species richness, and high proportions of plant material species in the vegetation. Transfer rates were similar between arable fields and former species-poor grassland, though the number of target species for restoration (typical and/or endangered species) was higher in former arable fields. Communities on grassland sites developed more slowly but were more resilient against flooding. Sowing the grass seed mixture had no influence on restoration success on former arable fields, and the positive effects of rotovating on former species-poor grassland decreased over time. We conclude that the transfer of seed-containing plant material is an adequate method to restore species-rich grasslands that are resilient enough to persevere under floodplain dynamics.

Secondary succession is a process that is often observed taking place in former agricultural ecosystems. Its characteristics are especially important in protected areas, for the purposes of monitoring and protective measures. Effective mapping of succession is facilitated by the development of automated methodologies based on remote sensing data, which are capable of complementing traditional field research. The objective of this work is to determine whether the classification of high-resolution hyperspectral and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data with the use of the random forest algorithm enables us to produce an accurate succession species map. First, feature extraction techniques are applied to 1-m hyperspectral images and a ∼7 point / m2 dense point cloud. Minimum noise fraction layers and vegetation indices are calculated from the hyperspectral data and geometry related indices from the LiDAR data. Finally, the recursive feature elimination algorithm is applied to the combined dataset and the reference polygons to select the optimal set of features for subsequent classification. The results indicate that the proposed methodology has the potential to be used operationally. The final classification product is characterized by a relatively high Cohen’s kappa value of 0.68, with single species classified with various accuracies, expressed by F 1 scores ranging from 0.45 to 0.87.

Non-forest communities in the western part of the Kampinos National Park were studied in the years 1991 – 1998 with regard to their phytosociological diversity and dynamic processes currently underway in them. A total of 323 phytosociological releves were prepared by the widely used method of Braun-Blanquet. These releves served as basis for identification of 31 associations and 7 meadow and sedge communities of undetermined level. 15 syntaxa were recorded in the Phragmitetea class, 18 syntaxa – in the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class, 2 associations in the Scheuchzerio-Caricetea class, as well as 3 grassland associations from Koelerio glaucae-Corynephoretea canescentis and Nardo-Callunetea classes. In order to determine the character and direction of changes in phytocoenoses, 4 basic ecological processes have been distinguished – fluctuation, degeneration, regeneration and secondary succession. Within secondary succession, recreative, creative and anthropogenically forced secondary succession were distinguished.

The main aim of the research was to identify areas of spontaneous restoration by investigating the relationship between the depth to groundwater table (DTW) and vegetation. A secondary aim was to confirm whether restoration is possible without any hydrotechnical engineering. The study was performed in one of the largest wetlands in central Poland, protected as a National Park and Natura 2000 site. The study area was modelled using an orthogonal discretization grid with grid cells of Δx = Δy = 100 m. The hydrodynamic model calculations were performed with VisualMODFLOW software, which uses the finite difference method. Vegetation analysis was based on the map of vegetation compiled for the area of 17697 ha. These results were next analyzed using ArcGIS to find areas where the correlation between depth to groundwater table and vegetation units was disturbed. Areas where DTW was significantly lower than would be expected based on their vegetation were identified as areas with potential for spontaneous renaturalization: around 10% of the entire study area was indicated as such, representing 1193 such grid cells. Restoration is possible through extensification or discontinuation of agricultural use, without the need for hydrotechnical engineering works which would result in DTW changes in the study area. As the last step of the analysis, the results were validated using soil maps of study wetlands.

Wetlands cover almost 14% of the area of Poland, but most of them are in bad condition. This paper aims are compiling an up-to-date Polish list of wetland species based on the data on their distribution and threat status in individual regions. 609 species were analyzed and their respective threat categories were examined in 13 local lists. It has been shown that 65% of the wetland species are classified as threatened taxa in at least one red local list. The data were used to create a formula for calculating the new threat category for each of the species. The resulting red list of wetland species includes 283 taxa.

The paper presents the changes of vascular plant flora in the Małków–Bartochów peatland area (the Warta River valley) which took place over a 40-year period. Vanishing, permanent and new components of the flora are presented with a special focus on valuable (protected by the law, threatened and locally rare) species. Changes in the share of ecological groups are estimated and discussed. Anthropogenic and natural factors, directly or indirectly influencing (in the past and at present) flora composition, are noted and analyzed.

The oxbow lakes of the lower San River are the place where many valuable and protected vascular plants such as Salvinia natans and Trapa natans can be found. The aim of the research conducted in the San Valley in 2000 and 2004–2005 was to ascertain the relationships between biodiversity and waterbody's local flora but also to examine physical and chemical water parameters and ways of micro-catchment cultivation. The authors also attempted to measure the sensitivity of each of the species to water deterioration. Five oxbow lakes situated in the area around the town of Zaleszany were studied. All of the oxbow lakes came into existence at the same time and only differ in their size and cultivation level. In the case of the San River oxbow lakes there is no direct correlation between macrophyte distribution or presence of threatened and protected species and environmental parametres. It is only considerable human impact that results in macrophyte decrease (expressed as cover index and biodiversity index). The most valuable species i.e. Salvinia natans may be threatened by lake overgrowing and excessive eutrophication.

Studies on ectomycorrhizal symbionts in plant communities were developed in the experimental floodplain located in the middle reach of the Pilica River valley near Sulejow (central Poland). This area is a natural floodplain where habitats are permanently or periodically flooded. Its vegetation is highly diversified and includes haygrowing meadows ( Molinio-Arrhenateretea ), rush communities ( Phragmitetea, Caricetea ), willow shrubs ( Salicetea ) and pine monoculture. Samples of trees' and bushes' roots were collected using a metal probe, sporocarps of ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) were collected together. Researches indicate that wet soil conditions and periodic flooding have a significant influence on mycorrhiza presence. The vast majority of ectomycorrhizal fungi were present in trees growing in dry habitats – willow bushes and pine monoculture ( Salix species, Betula pendula and Pinus sylvestris ). The species composition were determined - in total noted c.a. 40 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi and 15 morphological types. The number and diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) morphotypes increased significantly from flooded to dry habitats. Despite the fact that extremely humid and dry soil conditions make a negative impact on mycorrhiza, symbiotic parthnership enable floodplain plant communities to tolerate water level fluctuations, eliminate water stress and provide plants tissues with e.g. phosphorous.