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This paper tried to define the role of vegetation diversity as an environmental factor, which determines functions and services served by water reservoirs ecosystems originated as an effect of land subsidence in post-mining areas. The aim of this study was to conceptualise: i) whether the mining subsidence reservoirs, despite their similar origin, differ in the level of species diversity; ii) whether water and substrate quality and metric characteristics of subsidence pools affect the diversity of vegetation; iii) which functional groups of species contribute to ecosystem services provided by these objects. The study was conducted in Central Europe in the Czech-Polish coal basin. The species composition of vegetation, diversity (species richness ( S), Shannon-Wiener ( H’) and Simpson index ( λ)), participation of dominant species and belonging to functional groups ( FG) was assessed in 10 reservoirs formed in subsidence. The values of services provided by the ecosystems in mining subsidence reservoirs by the indicator method were used. The results showed that despite similar origins subsidence pools differ when it comes to the level of diversity S, H’ and λ. In contrast, there is no difference in terms of the average share of various FG. Vegetation diversity was substantially affected by the size and depth of reservoirs, humidity, C/N ratio, the concentration of P total in the soil, and water clarity. The importance and value of ecosystem services provided by the studied mining subsidence reservoirs and their vicinity were estimated at 647,486.90 [$⋅ rok ].

Copper (Cu) is an essential element involved in various metabolic processes in plants, but at concentrations above the threshold level, it becomes a potential stress factor. The effects of two different cytokinins, kinetin (KIN) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), on chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, stomatal responses and antioxidation mechanisms in castor (Ricinus communis L.) under Cu2+ toxicity was investigated. Ricinus communis plants were exposed to 80 and 160 μM CuSO4 added to the growth medium. Foliar spraying of 15 μM KIN and BAP was carried out on these seedlings. The application of these cytokinins enhanced the tissue water status, chlorophyll contents, stomatal opening and photosynthetic efficiency in the castor plants subjected to Cu2+ stress. The fluorescence parameters, such as Fm, Fv/Fo, Sm, photochemical and non-photochemical quantum yields, energy absorbed, energy trapped and electron transport per cross-sections, were more efficiently modulated by BAP application than KIN under Cu2+ toxicity. There was also effective alleviation of reactive oxygen species by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidation systems, reducing the membrane lipid peroxidation, which brought about a relative enhancement in the membrane stability index. Of the various treatments, 80 µM CuSO4 + BAP recorded the highest increase in photosynthetic efficiency compared to other cytokinin treatments. Therefore, it can be concluded that BAP could effectively alleviate the detrimental effects of Cu2+toxicity in cotyledonary leaves of R. communis by effectively modulating stomatal responses and antioxidation mechanisms, thereby enhancing the photosynthetic apparatus’ functioning.

Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad is a valuable and endemic medicinal plant. Boron and zinc are essential elements for the vegetative and reproductive growth of plants and have significant effects on yield, essential oil composition and the seed production of plants. To investigate the effects of the foliar application of zinc and boron on the growth, yield, seed production and phytochemical properties of S. khuzistanica, a study was conducted in a factorial experiment with three replicates in two consecutive years based on a randomized complete block design. The foliar application of boron (B) at three concentrations (control or distilled water, 0.4% and 0.8% as H3BO3) and zinc (Zn) at three concentrations (control or distilled water, 0.3% and 0.6% as ZnSO4) was carried out. Our results showed that the foliar application of B resulted in a significant increase in the fresh and dry weights of plants, the dry weight of stems, drug yield, seed yield, seed germination and 1000-seed weight. At the same time, the application of B resulted in a significant decrease in seed emptiness. The fresh and dry weights of plants, drug yield, seed yield, 1000-seed weight and seed germination were also significantly improved by Zn foliar spraying compared to the control. Application of 0.8% B resulted in a significant decrease in seed emptiness by 14.16% and 22.37%, as compared to the control. The foliar spraying of B and Zn improved the total phenolic content, the essential oil content and the yield and antioxidant activity of S. khuzistanica. Moreover, B application generally concentrated more carvacrol in the essential oil (in the first experimental year). In contrast, no significant differences were observed between Zn treatments in carvacrol content and total flavonoids. The use of several microelements, such as B and Zn, could improve both the quantity and quality of S. khuzistanica. Additionally, improvement of seed set and seed quality by the foliar spraying of Zn and B may be useful for growing plants in arid and semi-arid areas.

Sierka E., Parusel J., Chmura D. (2009). Występowanie i dynamika populacji Impatiens parviflora w rezerwacie "Ochojec" (Wyżyna Śląska). [In:] Rezerwat przyrody "Ochojec" w Katowicach (Górny Śląsk), Katowice, 314-320.

The paper presents the results of investigations on relationships between phases of developments of mid-field scrub communities and groups of thrips in the Jaworznickie Hills area (the Silesian Upland) (tab. 1, 2). Authors suggest that scrubs should be protected in regard to their importance in the maintenance of the biodiversity of natural habitats.

The paper presents the results of investigations into the thrips fauna of plant communities of the Jaworznickie Hills. The study was conducted in selected forest, shrubby, xerothermic and meadow areas. The relations between thrips and their host plants were also observed. Three main associations of thrips were distinguished on the basis PCA and thrips abundance, species composition, domination structure and ecological elements. 84 species were recorded.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and melatonin are endogenous compounds that enhance plant responses to abiotic stresses. The response of Vicia faba to different stressors (salinity (NaCl), poly ethylene glycol (PEG), and sulfur dioxide (SO2)) was studied after priming with sole application of GABA and melatonin or their co-application (GABA + melatonin). Both melatonin and GABA and their co-application increased leaf area, number of flowers, shoot dry and fresh weight, and total biomass. Plants treated with GABA, melatonin, and GABA + melatonin developed larger stomata with wider aperture compared to the stomata of control plants. The functionality of the photosynthetic system was improved in primed plants. To investigate the photosynthetic functionality in details, the leaf samples of primed plants were exposed to different stressors, including SO2, PEG, and NaCl. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PS II) was higher in the leaf samples of primed plants, while the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of primed plants was decreased when leaf samples were exposed to the stressors. Correlation analysis showed the association of initial PIabs with post-stress FV/FM and NPQ. Stressors attenuated the association of initial PIabs with both FV/FM and NPQ, while priming plants with GABA, melatonin, or GABA + melatonin minimized the effect of stressors by attenuating these correlations. In conclusion, priming plants with both GABA and melatonin improved growth and photosynthetic performance of Vicia faba and mitigated the effects of abiotic stressors on the photosynthetic performance.

The beneficial role of fungi from the Trichoderma genus and its secondary metabolites in promoting plant growth, uptake and use efficiency of macronutrients and oligo/micro-nutrients, activation of plant secondary metabolism and plant protection from diseases makes it interesting for application in environmentally friendly agriculture. However, the literature data on the effect of Trichoderma inoculation on tomato fruit quality is scarce. Commercially used tomato cultivars were chosen in combination with indigenous Trichodrema species previously characterized on molecular and biochemical level, to investigate the effect of Trichoderma on photosynthetic characteristics and fruit quality of plants grown in organic system of production. Examined cultivars differed in the majority of examined parameters. Response of cultivar Gružanski zlatni to Trichoderma application was more significant. As a consequence of increased epidermal flavonols and decreased chlorophyll, the nitrogen balance index in leaves has decreased, indicating a shift from primary to secondary metabolism. The quality of its fruit was altered in the sense of increased total flavonoids content, decreased starch, increased Bioaccumulation Index (BI) for Fe and Cr, and decreased BI for heavy metals Ni and Pb. Higher expression of swolenin gene in tomato roots of more responsive tomato cultivar indicates better root colonization, which correlates with observed positive effects of Trichodrema.

Copper (Cu) is an essential element involved in various metabolic processes in plants, but at concentrations above the threshold level, it becomes a potential stress factor. The effects of two different cytokinins, kinetin (KIN) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), on chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, stomatal responses and antioxidation mechanisms in castor (Ricinus communis L.) under Cu2+ toxicity was investigated. Ricinus communis plants were exposed to 80 and 160 μM CuSO4 added to the growth medium. Foliar spraying of 15 μM KIN and BAP was carried out on these seedlings. The application of these cytokinins enhanced the tissue water status, chlorophyll contents, stomatal opening and photosynthetic efficiency in the castor plants subjected to Cu2+ stress. The fluorescence parameters, such as Fm, Fv/Fo, Sm, photochemical and non-photochemical quantum yields, energy absorbed, energy trapped and electron transport per cross-sections, were more efficiently modulated by BAP application than KIN under Cu2+ toxicity. There was also effective alleviation of reactive oxygen species by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidation systems, reducing the membrane lipid peroxidation, which brought about a relative enhancement in the membrane stability index. Of the various treatments, 80 µM CuSO4 + BAP recorded the highest increase in photosynthetic efficiency compared to other cytokinin treatments. Therefore, it can be concluded that BAP could effectively alleviate the detrimental effects of Cu2+toxicity in cotyledonary leaves of R. communis by effectively modulating stomatal responses and antioxidation mechanisms, thereby enhancing the photosynthetic apparatus’ functioning.

Woźniak G., Sierka E., Wheeler A. (2018). Urban and Industrial Habitats: How Important They Are for Ecosystem Services. Ecosystem Services and Global Ecology. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75723.

The natural mineral resources (hard coal, sands, dolomites, lead and zinc ores) found in the Silesia and the excavation of them led to significant transformation or even degradation of the environment. The landscape of Upper Silesia was dominated by heaps created as a result of the accumulation of post-mining coal waste. These post-industrial sites are characterised by difficult conditions for the development of plant communities. Nevertheless, the heaps are spontaneously overgrowing and over time, a separate ecosystem can be observed (for heaps). The article analyzes the enzymatic activity of the substrate in relation to the selected dominant grass (Monocots) and herbaceous (Dicots) plant species. The aim of this study was to compare the activity of particular enzymes in soil substratum of the vegetation patches dominated by grass and herbaceous plants.

Vascular plants are able to conduct biomineralization processes and collect synthesized compounds in their internal tissues or to deposit them on their epidermal surfaces. This mechanism protects the plant from fluctuations of nutrient levels caused by different levels of supply and demand for them. The biominerals reflect both the metabolic characteristics of a vascular plant species and the environmental conditions of the plant habitat. The SEM/EDX method was used to examine the surface and cross-sections of the Calamagrostis epigejos and Phragmites australis leaves from post-industrial habitats (coal and zinc spoil heaps). The results from this study have showed the presence of mineral objects on the surfaces of leaves of both grass species. The calcium oxalate crystals, amorphous calcium carbonate spheres, and different silica forms were also found in the inner tissues. The high variety of mineral forms in the individual plants of both species was shown. The waxes observed on the leaves of the studied plants might be the initializing factor for the crystalline forms and structures that are present. For the first time, wide range of crystal forms is presented for C. epigejos. The leaf samples of P. australis from the post-industrial areas showed an increased amount of mineral forms with the presence of sulfur.

http://www.aloki.hu/indvol18_4.htm

Dominant species influence both species and functional composition of the vegetation as well as soil properties of the substrate. However, knowledge about the role played by dominant species in the process of shaping their habitat within post-industrial ecosystems is still limited. We aimed to assess the impact of four dominant species (Calamagrostis epigejos, Daucus carota, Poa compressa and Tussilago farfara) on soil abiotic and biotic properties, and to detect differences in species and functional composition of the vegetation types studied. We hypothesized that (1) dominant species of higher mean biomass cause lower aboveground biodiversity and (2) dominant species of higher mean biomass have a higher impact than the others on soil properties. We measured soil chemistry (TOC, N, P, K, Na, Mg content, EC, pH and enzyme activities) as well as biomass, species diversity and functional diversity of vegetation on 15 study plots (28.3 m2) for each species studied. The DCA analysis revealed a clear distinction between the patches dominated by studied species. Vegetation patches dominated by Calamagrostis epigejos were correlated with amount of biomass, canopy height CWM and specific leaf CWM. Patches dominated by Daucus carota were related to the light requirements (EIV-L), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and K content. The vegetation patches dominated by Poa compressa were related to dehydrogenase activity, higher Mg content and species richness of the vegetation patches. The highest TOC content was recorded for T. farfara substrates, and the lowest for C. epigejos substrates. The content of potassium does not differ statistically significantly in the substrates from sites dominated by D. carota and P. compressa. The highest values of Mg content were recorded for D. carota and were statistically different from Poa compressa sites, while the higher phosphorus content (statistically significantly different) was recorded for patches dominated by T. farfara and P. compressa. Despite our assumptions, the species with the highest mean biomass (Calamagrostis epigejos) did not cause lower species or functional diversity. In contrast, Tussilago farfara has the highest impact on postindustrial site habitats on coal mine heaps, as extreme values of four soil substratum parameters were recorded on these plots. This species also decreased both species and functional diversity of vegetation. The knowledge about relationship existing between plants (aboveground vegetation) and soil organisms seems important in order to undertake suitable reclamation measures and to restore variety of functions as well as to create diverse vegetation based on native species.

The relationship between the size of the particle fractions of the soil substrate and the diversity of the spontaneously developing vegetation was investigated on coal mine spoil heaps in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland). The analyses were based on 2567 research plots of developed spontaneous vegetation and their associated soil substrate samples collected from 112 coal mine spoil heaps. For each research plot the prevailing particle size fraction was determined (stones, gravel, sand, silt), the species composition and abundance was recorded and the species richness (S), Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′), Simpson (C) and Evenness (E) indices were used to determine species diversity. From a total of 119 research plots (in all particle size fraction categories), the values of 15 physicochemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, water holding capacity, moisture, carbon content, total N, available P, Mg and exchange cations Ca, Mg, K, Na, fine particles (%), gravel (%), stone (%)) were obtained to asses their impact on the floristic composition of vegetation patches using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Additionally, functional traits of the dominant species of each vegetation patch (life forms, life strategies and socio-ecological groups), were selected to analyse their relation to substrate texture. It was shown that the highest species richness and the highest values for Shannon-Wiener diversity index, as well as Simpson and Evenness indices, were obtained in plots formed on stones. Moreover, the greatest variation in the participation of species representing different habitats, life forms, and life strategies was found on gravelly substrates. Contrary to our expectations, the vegetation diversity (in terms of both species and their functional traits) was not highest in habitats with a high composition of fine size particles.

At the time of discovering and exposing the scientific and educational potential of areas where mineral resources were exploited in the past, they have become a significant element in tourism elements. In the presented paper, the potential of the GEOsfera Ecological and Geological Education Centre in Jaworzno as a geoproduct was analysed. In the first part of the study, based on the published works and consultations with experts, the “geoproduct” was defined. Then the area, where the GEOsphere is located, was characterized. Its geology, the natural world, the way of land development and the promotion of geo-attractions located in this area are described. In the next stage, an analysis of the opinions of users regarding their perception of the GEOsphere was carried out. For this purpose, evaluations posted on social media and the collected survey results were used. As shown by the results, the majority of users of the GEOsfera are residents of Jaworzno – 63% of the respondents. The importance of the GEOsphere as an educational centre was indicated by 22% of visitors. About 5% of the respondents mentioned learning and obtaining information from the descriptions placed next to the exhibits in the centre. 93% of respondents recognised the graduation tower as the greatest attraction of the GEOsphere. Over 92% of people noticed the recreational role of the GEOsphere. 81% of users declared that they were satisfied with their visit to the GEOsphere. More than half of the respondents (56%) visited the GEOsfera with their family. A significant part of respondents (42%), pointed to the role of environmental protection, which is extremely important from the point of view of geoproducts’ design. The respondents also indicated that the GEOsphere has numerous geological, natural and educational functions and protects and promotes the geological heritage of the region. W dobie odkrywania i eksponowania potencjału naukowego i edukacyjnego terenów, na których w przeszłości prowadzono eksploatację surowców, stają się one znaczącymi obiektami turystycznymi. W prezentowanej pracy dokonano analizy potencjału Centrum Edukacji Ekologiczno-Geologicznej GEOsfera w Jaworznie, zlokalizowanego na terenie wyrobiska surowców skalnych, jako geoproduktu. W pierwszej części opracowania, opierając się na dostępnych pracach publikowanych i konsultacjach z ekspertami, zdefiniowano „geoprodukt” oraz określono kryteria, jakie powinien spełniać. Następnie opisano teren, na którym zlokalizowana jest GEOsfera, uwzględniając geologię, elementy przyrody ożywionej oraz sposób zagospodarowania terenu i promowania geoatrakcji, które się tam znajdują. Na kolejnym etapie przeprowadzono analizę opinii użytkowników w zakresie postrzegania przez nich GEOsfery. Do tego celu wykorzystano oceny zamieszczone w mediach społecznościowych i zgromadzone wyniki badań ankietowych. Wykazały one, że większość spośród badanych użytkowników GEOsfery to mieszkańcy Jaworzna, którzy stanowili 63% ankietowanych. Znaczenie GEOsfery jako istotnego ośrodka edukacyjnego wskazało 22% odwiedzających. Około 5% pytanych doceniło uczenie się i pozyskiwanie informacji z opisów umieszczonych na tablicach obok eksponatów na terenie ośrodka. Jako największą atrakcję terenu GEOsfery 93% ankietowanych wskazało tężnię solankową. Ponad 92% respondentów dostrzegło rekreacyjną rolę GEOsfery i dogodne warunki do aktywnego spędzania czasu. 81% badanych zadeklarowało zadowolenie z wizyty. Ponad połowa respondentów (56%) odwiedziła GEOsferę z rodziną. Znaczna część ankietowanych (42%) zwróciła uwagę na znaczenie ochrony środowiska w funkcjonowaniu GEOsfery, co jest niezwykle ważną informacją przydatną podczas projektowania geoproduktu. Użytkownicy, którzy wzięli udział w badaniu, wskazali również, że GEOsfera ma liczne walory geologiczne, przyrodnicze i edukacyjne oraz chroni i promuje dziedzictwo geologiczne regionu.

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Grasses have a considerable potential for the adaptation to various, often extreme, habitat conditions. The aim of the work was to present the vegetation diversity of the coal-mine spoil heaps with the dominant share of grasses and to identify the main factors responsible for this diversity in the aspect of post-industrial land reclamation. The communities differ in reference to the species preferences to light, moisture, soil fertility and reaction, which is reflected in the wide variety of microhabitats in the area. It was shown that the increase in the abundance of certain grass species, including Calamagrostis epigejos, Festuca rubra, Festuca arundinacea, Phragmites australis, has a significant negative impact on the species richness, species diversity and the uniformity of distribution of species of the plant community. Preliminary analyses revealed that on post-mining waste, the biomass production of the dominant species is negatively correlated with biodiversity. The knowledge about the biology and ecology of grass species, as well as on the assembly rules may be used in the reclamation of degraded areas. Gaining the knowledge about the vegetation diversity of the coal-mine spoil heaps with the dominant share of grasses can be useful in planning the reclamation works, taking into account natural processes, which leads to the creation of a permanent vegetation cover at a given site, protecting it against water or wind erosion. In the future these areas may provide a number of important ecosystem services.

Babczyńska-Sendek B., Sierka E. (2018). Problemy i perspektywy ochrony warzuchy polskiej Cochlearia polonica Frohl. In: XXVIII Sympozjum Jurajskie: CZŁOWIEK I PRZYRODA WYŻYNY KRAKOWSKO-WIELUŃSKIEJ, Będzin, 18-34.

Woźniak G., Sierka E., Wheeler A. (2018). Urban and Industrial Habitats: How Important They Are for Ecosystem Services. Ecosystem Services and Global Ecology, http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75723.

The sustainable management of natural resources can make human survival possible. Sustainable management is based on a deep understanding of the complex mechanisms of the Earth’s natural ecosystems and of how those resources can be managed without compromising future benefits and availability. The sustainable management of natural resources becomes much more complicated when there is severe and constant anthropogenic impact, and therefore, an interdisciplinary approach has to be undertaken to improve the understanding, assessment, and maintenance of the natural capital, and the related ecosystem services, in urban-industrial areas. In ecological restoration, the biggest challenge is to find a general consensus of suitable biodiversity indicators and economically viable measures, which will produce multiple socially and ecologically guided environmental benefits. There is difficulty in reaching such consensus because of the complexity, and differing understanding, of the biodiversity concept. In an effort to restore sites disturbed by industrial (mining) activities, restoration projects should involve ecologically based methods and approaches, which will be able to fulfill many stakeholders’ expectations for sustainable development and human well-being. The integrated natural and human models for sustainable management can used to understand the dynamics of ecosystems, including biodiversity and trophic levels (including midtrophic consumer influences), in order to simulate and evaluate different management scenarios in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem services. There is still a need for the increasing understanding of the role of biodiversity and ecosystem service identification as important factors influencing the dynamics of ecosystem and sustainable management scenarios.

This paper presents an attempt to assess the potential use of Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth. as a renewable energy source. Abandonment of human management is often followed by a decrease in species richness in semi-natural grasslands, mainly due to the increased dominance of clonal grasses such as Calamagrostis epigejos which were formerly repressed by management. The biomass resource of this, and its accompanying, species, i.e. species of the Solidago genus and others e.g. Cirsium rivulare, Deschampsia caespitosa, Molinia coerulea and Filipendula ulmaria, was evaluated in the green wastelands of the River Bytomka valley (Upper Silesia, Poland). It was found that approx. 1.2 t·ha−1 of dry matter can be obtained from approx. 30% of the average share of Calamagrostis epigejos in plant communities of unmown meadows. This is 10 times less than in the case of Miscanthus giganteus, a non-native cultivated grass. An increase in the biomass component of Calamagrostis epigejos reduced that of Solidago sp. (−0.522176, p< 0.05) and other species (−0.465806, p< 0.05). The calorific value of Calamagrostis epigejos biomass is approx. 15.91 MJ·kg−1, which is comparable to the calorific value of coal and close to, inter alia, that of Miscanthus sacchariflorus (19 MJ·kg−1) as an energy crop. The presented research is in its preliminary stages and therefore, it is necessary to investigate the reaction of Calamagrostis epigejos to regular mowing and to removal of the biomass from the studied areas.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Malgorzata_Malecka-Tomala/publication/316990847_Edukacja_ekologiczna_we_wspolczesnej_szkole/links/591c4961aca272bf75c9037f/Edukacja-ekologiczna-we-wspolczesnej-szkole.pdf

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At the end of the prosperity of the coal mining industry in Upper Silesia in Poland, new habitats were created in disturbed areas which, in the case of flooded mine subsidence, led to the formation of a type of ecological niche not encountered before. In the present work the authors describe the diversity of oak-hornbeam forest in the areas of flooded mine subsidence and the thrips communities connected with them. In 2006 and 2007, the thrips fauna of subsidence areas was sampled in biotopes directly associated with depressions (waterside, contact zones between aquatic and terrestrial — forest biotopes). In both ecosystems a total of 118 plant species and 56 thrips species were found. Disturbance of land resulting in flooded mine subsidence contributes to increased species diversity of both plants and thrips. Other kinds of disturbance such as traffic routes and its direct and indirect impact cause reduce numbers of plants and thrips species.

The visual estimates of tree canopy cover belong to the fundamental measurements of analytical features of forest phytocoenoses. However, it is the subjective method, which results in error difficult to control. The objective of the research was to present a canopyscope and to compare results of canopy cover estimation using it with visual estimates. We conducted several experiments in oak−hornbeam, pine and spruce forest stands in southern Poland. We engaged in fieldwork well− and less−experienced students, i.e. biologists skilled in methods of phytosociology and students of nature engineering as well as three professional phytosociologists. They performed a comparative research in terms of correlation analyses, analysis of coefficients of variation and intra−class correlation (ICC) between−observers and between−methods using both ways of canopy cover estimates. The correlation between canopyscope score and results of visual estimates was highest in the group of phytosociologists (rs=0.82, p, Sylwan 160 (6): 475-481

This paper presents the impact of salinisation on the aquatic mollusc fauna in flooded mine subsidences in the Karvina region (Czech Republic). The results of the previous research on salinity in flooded mine subsidences show that some of them contain a high content of dissolved inorganic substances (above 1000 mg·l-1). These substances can affect the vegetation and animals occurring in the water and the surrounding area. The phylum of Mollusca was selected as a model group for the fieldwork as it includes species with the proven bioindication potential. The occurrence of aquatic mollusc species was studied at 10 sites. The sites were selected based on the content of dissolved substances (the salinity gradient from 1000 mg·l-1. A total of 12 aquatic mollusc species were found, including one species identified as a potential bioindicator of the negative effect of salinisation on aquatic biota. The analysis showed statistically significant positive correlations between the content of dissolved inorganic substances and the presence of alien species Potamopyrgus antipodarum (J.E. Gray, 1843). The gradient of salinity significantly affects the species composition of the mollusc fauna in flooded mine subsidences and may affect the biodiversity of this group.

The article contains information on the scope and effects of environmental and legal audit in the enterprise. The analysis focused on the main environmental issues identified in different types of enterprises. It was pointed out that the identification of discrepancy areas with the environment protection law in force, enables their improvement. The results of the environmental and legal audit aid to minimize the costs of penalties, the amount of which was presented in the article, improve the functioning of the environmental management system and the qualification of market value of enterprise.

Sierka E., Cybulski M. (2013). Optymalizacja gospodarki odpadami w przedsiębiorstwie. In: WYBRANE ZAGADNIENIA INŻYNIERII PRODUKCJI (ed. Kardaś E.), Częstochowa, 55-62.

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Sierka E., Woźniak G. (2010). Czy spontaniczna kolonizacja zawodnionych niecek osiadania i hałd skały płonnej jest innowacyjnym sposobem rewitalizacji? [In:] Innowacyjne rozwiązania. Rewitalizacja terenów zdegradowanych (ed. Skowronek J.), Lędziny - Katowice, 228-235.