The influence of human impact on the diversity of species on the example of the landscape conservation protected area

Przedstawiono problem zróżnicowania gatunkowego na obszarze o różnej intensywności antro-pogenicznej w czasie i przestrzeni. Główne źródła antropopresji pochodzą z obszarów przyległych do analizowanego. Zmiany antropogeniczne obejmują tu głównie stosunki wodne, wydeptywanie i utwardzenie gleby oraz zanieczyszcze-nie środowiska. W takich warunkach formowały się różne typy siedlisk, które zostały skolonizowanie przez różne eko-logicznie i geograficznie grupy roślin o zróżnicowanych wymaganiach siedliskowych. Na obszarze tym stwierdzono wy-stępowanie 149 gatunków roślin naczyniowych. Badana flora składa się z gatunków leśnych, muraw kserotermicznych, apofitów, antropofitów oraz z gatunków o szerokiej amplitudzie ekologicznej. Większość gatunków jest związana ze zbiorowiskami muraw kserotermicznych. Wyniki badań wskazują, iż w niektórych przypadkach wpływ antropopresji doprowadził do wzbogacenia gatunkowego na terenach o wyższej intensywności ludzkich działań

Relationships Between Heavy Metal Concentrations in Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria Japonica Houtt.) Tissues and Soil in Urban Parks in Southern Poland

This study focuses on the concentrations of trace elements and macroelements in soils, leaves, stems, rhizome and seed of Reynoutria japonica in 5 urban parks with different levels of disturbance (high, medium, low). The sampling locations within each park were chosen along river banks or forest edges. The soil samples were taken only in the humus horizon which averaged about 15 cm in thickness. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Al, Zn, Cd, Pb, P, S, Cr, Cu and Ni in plant material and soil were analyzed. The orders of average heavy-metal abundances found are Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cd in leaves and Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd in a park soils showing a high levels of disturbance. In cases of low disturbance levels, the orders of average abundances for leaves are Zn>Cu>Cd>Ni>Pb>Cr and, for soil, Zn>Cr>Ni>Pb>Cu>Cd. The highest enrichments noted for Zn in topsoil was about 581.2 mg/kg in soil and, in leaves, 594 mg/kg. On all of the sites, both in the case of soil and plant materials, Zn was a dominant element and its concentration ranged from 44.6 to 581.2 mg/kg in soils and from 38.6 to 541.7, leafs (38-594 mg/kg), stems (115.8 -178.4mg/kg). The lowest concentrations of Cd (0.14-0.21 mg/kg, Cu (5.9-6.9 mg/kg) and Ni (4.6-14.5 mg/kg) in soil were observed in a parks with low levels of disturbance. Similar patterns of regularity were also observed in leaves, stems and rhizome. Different concentrations of metals in each park result from the degree of diversity of the parent rocks on which soil was formed. In the case of soil material transported from elsewhere, the concentrations of heavy metals are higher than in soils formed from local rocks. In a park located near a road, the concentrations of metals found also reflect traffic emissions and other sources of pollution. The results showed that R. japonica has a high capability to accumulate heavy metals. The stems contain more accumulated Zn than leaves, seed and rhizome

Floristic diversity in selected city parks in southern Poland

Ecosystems of city parks are one of the most important refuges of biodiversity in urbanized areas. Recently, naturalists have had an increased interest in floristic diversity in regions that have been drastically modified by human activity, particularly in urban spaces. Investigations were conducted at various levels of the biological organization, to protect the environment and to promote floristic diversity. The aim of this study is to present floristic diversity in urban parks in southern Poland. The research was conducted in 10 parks located in 3 cities (Dąbrowa Górnicza, Sosnowiec and Będzin). These parks have been formed at different times, on various parent rocks. They are both natural and anthropogenic in origin and have different sizes (the smallest being 6 ha and the largest 67 ha). Their common features are way of use and management. The results of this investigation have confirmed 426 vascular plants belonging to 83 families and 247 genera. The highest number of species belongs to Asteraceae and Poaceae. Grabek Park is the most species rich (288) in comparison to the other parks investigated. Research on urban parks shows important links between floral diversity and biodiversity within highly urbanized areas in city centres and in urban spaces in general. This variety includes both native species and alien species, which are often called ‘park species’ with a decorative origin

The vascular plants (Tracheophyta) of cementaries in Czeladź

The paper presents the evaluation of natural resources of vascular plant species in the are of 3 cemeteries and their neighborhood in limits of Czeladź city. The investigation showed the occurrences of 371 vascular plants along with subordinate vascular plants. Among the total number of flora has been noticed 84 anthropophytes (within them: 4 domesticated species and 3 ephemerous). Within the classes dominated species represented Molinio-Arrhenetheretea (30 species) and Artemisietea vulgaris (27 taksons). In the paper also showed the differentiation of flora in term of life forms and frequencies occurrences of species. In floristic composition of cemeteries are dominated species belonged mainly to synanthropics with ruderal character. The biodiversity in sacred objects also connected with decorative species with different biogeographically origin

Floristic diversity in selected city parks in southern Poland

Ecosystems of city parks are one of the most important refuges of biodiversity in urbanized areas. Recently, naturalists have had an increased interest in floristic diversity in regions that have been drastically modified by human activity, particularly in urban spaces. Investigations were conducted at various levels of the biological organization, to protect the environment and to promote floristic diversity. The aim of this study is to present floristic diversity in urban parks in southern Poland. The research was conducted in 10 parks located in 3 cities (Dąbrowa Górnicza, Sosnowiec and Będzin). These parks have been formed at different times, on various parent rocks. They are both natural and anthropogenic in origin and have different sizes (the smallest being 6 ha and the largest 67 ha). Their common features are way of use and management. The results of this investigation have confirmed 426 vascular plants belonging to 83 families and 247 genera. The highest number of species belongs to Asteraceae and Poaceae. Grabek Park is the most species rich (288) in comparison to the other parks investigated. Research on urban parks shows important links between floral diversity and biodiversity within highly urbanized areas in city centres and in urban spaces in general. This variety includes both native species and alien species, which are often called ‘park species’ with a decorative origin

Metabolic syndrome is associated with similar long-term prognosis in non-obese and obese patients. An analysis of 45 615 patients from the nationwide LIPIDOGRAM 2004-2015 cohort studies

Aims We aimed to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and long-term all-cause mortality. Methods The LIPIDOGRAM studies were carried out in the primary care in Poland in 2004, 2006 and 2015. MetS was diagnosed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. The cohort was divided into four groups: non-obese patients without MetS, obese patients without MetS, non-obese patients with MetS and obese patients with MetS. Differences in all-cause mortality was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results 45,615 participants were enrolled (mean age 56.3, standard deviation: 11.8 years; 61.7% female). MetS was diagnosed in 14,202 (31%) by NCEP/ATP III criteria, and 17,216 (37.7%) by JIS criteria. Follow-up was available for 44,620 (97.8%, median duration 15.3 years) patients. MetS was associated with increased mortality risk among the obese (hazard ratio, HR: 1.88 [95% CI, 1.79-1.99] and HR: 1.93 [95% CI 1.82-2.04], according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria, respectively) and non-obese individuals (HR: 2.11 [95% CI 1.85-2.40] and 1.7 [95% CI, 1.56-1.85] according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria respectively). Obese patients without MetS had a higher mortality risk than non-obese patients without MetS (HR: 1.16 [95% CI 1.10-1.23] and HR: 1.22 [95%CI 1.15-1.30], respectively in subgroups with NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria applied). Conclusions MetS is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk in non-obese and obese patients. In patients without MetS obesity remains significantly associated with mortality. The concept of metabolically healthy obesity should be revised