Structure of bryozoan communities in an Antarctic glacial fjord (Admiralty Bay, South Shetlands)

Bryozoans are among the most important groups of the Southern Ocean benthic macrofauna, both in terms of species richness and abundance. However, there is a considerable lack of ecological research focused on their distribution patterns and species richness on smaller scale, especially in the soft bottom habitats of Antarctic glacial fjords. The aim of this study was to describe those patterns in the Admiralty Bay. Forty-nine Van Veen grab samples were collected at the depth range from 15 to 265 m, in the summer season of 1979/1980, at three sites distributed along the main axis of the fjord. Among 53 identified species of bryozoans, 32 were recorded in the Admiralty Bay for the first time. The most common and abundant species were Himantozoum antarcticum, Inversiula nutrix and Nematoflustra flagellata. Genera such as Arachnopusia, Cellarinella and Osthimosia were the most speciose taxa. It was demonstrated that depth was important for the distribution of the bryozoans. More than half of the recorded species were found only below 70 m. An influence of glacial disturbance was reflected in the dominance structure of colony growth-forms. The inner region of the fjord was dominated almost entirely by encrusting species, while the diversity of bryozoan growth-forms in less disturbed areas was much higher. In those sites the highest percentage of branched, tuft like species represented by buguliform and flustriform zoaria was observed.The study was supported by a grant of Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education No. 51/N-IPY/2007/0 as well as Census of Antarctic Marine Life Project. Krzysztof Pabis was also partially supported by University of Lodz internal funds. This research was also supported by the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute during the realization of the project numbered 40.2900.0903.18.0 titled “Bryozoan assemblage of Admiralty Bay—richness, diversity and abundance.” Urszula Hara is deeply grateful to Leszek Giro (Micro-area Analyses Laboratory at the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute, Warsaw), for providing SEM assistance during the project. We also want to thank two anonymous reviewers for their suggestions that helped us improve this article. Thanks are also due to Magdalena Błażewicz-Paszkowycz for language correction and polishing the final version of the manuscript

Genetic Population Structure in the Antarctic Benthos: Insights from the Widespread Amphipod, Orchomenella franklini

Currently there is very limited understanding of genetic population structure in the Antarctic benthos. We conducted one of the first studies of microsatellite variation in an Antarctic benthic invertebrate, using the ubiquitous amphipod Orchomenella franklini (Walker, 1903). Seven microsatellite loci were used to assess genetic structure on three spatial scales: sites (100 s of metres), locations (1–10 kilometres) and regions (1000 s of kilometres) sampled in East Antarctica at Casey and Davis stations. Considerable genetic diversity was revealed, which varied between the two regions and also between polluted and unpolluted sites. Genetic differentiation among all populations was highly significant (FST = 0.086, RST = 0.139, p<0.001) consistent with the brooding mode of development in O. franklini. Hierarchical AMOVA revealed that the majority of the genetic subdivision occurred across the largest geographical scale, with Nem≈1 suggesting insufficient gene flow to prevent independent evolution of the two regions, i.e., Casey and Davis are effectively isolated. Isolation by distance was detected at smaller scales and indicates that gene flow in O. franklini occurs primarily through stepping-stone dispersal. Three of the microsatellite loci showed signs of selection, providing evidence that localised adaptation may occur within the Antarctic benthos. These results provide insights into processes of speciation in Antarctic brooders, and will help inform the design of spatial management initiatives recently endorsed for the Antarctic benthos

Forest service attire in the Prussian partition of Poland at the end of the 19th century

Nearly one and a half century ago, a large territory of Poland became part of the Prussian (since 1871 – German) State. In the territories annexed as a result of the Three Partitions, forest administration structured on the Prussian model was very soon installed. This entailed adoption of the Prussian uniforms by the new forest administration. The forest service uniforms studied in this paper were introduced by virtue of the Regulations of 29 December 1868. Three kinds of uniforms were in use at the end of the 19th century: forest, temporary and state one. These basically consisted of a frock coat, trousers, a hat or a cap, and a coat

Administration of the state-owned forests in the territory of the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Gdansk in years 1815-1867

Administration of the state−owned forests in the territory of the Gdańsk Regional Directorate of the State Forests in years 1815−1867 was an important fragment of functioning of the Prussian State. It's efficiency had an impact on state revenues and, consequently, on its economic situation and, what was of primary importance at that time, on its military condition. In the period under review, a four−tier forest administration system was in place, headed by a director−general. The second tier consisted of forest inspectors responsible for forest inspections, usually acting in the territory of dozen or so forest districts. The last two tiers consisted of forest district managers and forest rangers. Wardens and guards often assisted forest rangers

Administration of the state-owned forests in the territory of the Gdansk Regional Directorate of the State Forests National Forest Holding in years 1868-1914

This article is the second in a series about the state forests administration in the territory of the Gdańsk Regional Directorate of the State Forests National Forest Holding in the time of Poland’s partition. In the period under study (1868−1914), increase in the number of Forest Inspectorates and Forest Districts was observed. This growth was mainly the result of acquisition by the German government of new lands and forests and their transfer to forest administration

Administration of the state-owned forests in the territory of the Gdansk Regional Directorate of the State Forests National Forest Holding in years 1772-1815

The present article is the third in a series on the administration of state−owned forests in the territory of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Gdańsk during Poland’s partition. In the period under review, vast stretches of forests, which formerly belonged to clergy, private owners or royalty, in the majority came under the rule of the Prussian King. To manage the taken−over property efficiently, the conqueror started to build a centralised forest administration structure abolishing the administrative division in place during the Republic of Poland

Forest policy of Prussian state in the contemporary Polish lands in years 1772-1914

Article describes Prussian forest policy according to three kinds of property: state, private and other, i.e. Catholic Church and local communities. In period 1772−1914, in the contemporary western and northern Poland, the Prussian government realized the forest policy that was a response to industrial challenges. It established a stable infrastructure, which lasts until now. However, the consequences of this policy are not unequivocal. Citizens who belonged to the Polish national community very often lost their forest property. Prussian state became the main owner and manager as well as administrator of forests