Relationship between litter produced by Calamagrostis epigejos and seedling recruitment of mesic meadow species in mountain conditions

Calamagrostis epigejos produces a large amount of litter in patches dominated by this expansive species in degraded meadows. Two studies were carried out in the area of the Central Sudetes Mountains (SW Poland). The goals of these surveys were to address the following questions: How do active manipulations regarding the removal of necromass and C. epigejos tillers, as well as seeding of additional species, influence the meadow species seedling recruitment? How is the organic matter decomposed in the consecutive stages of mountain grassland degradation caused by C. epigejos expansion? How do environmental factors influence litter decomposition? The results of the research showed a significant influence of C. epigejos necromass on the recruitment of mesic meadow species. The influence is connected with the emergence of a mechanical barrier to seedlings, which impedes their sprouting. No relation was found between the degradation stage and the rate of necromass decomposition. The study showed the influence of some environmental factors on the rate of necromass decomposition – in the case of C. epigejos there was a negative impact of exchangeable magnesium forms, whereas in the case of mixed meadow plant litter there was a positive effect of nitrogen and C:N ratio, and negative correlations with Ellenberg’s light and soil humidity indices

Influence of the edge effect on the vegetation of forest glades in the Middle Sudety Mts. (SW Poland)

The influence of the edge effect on the meadow vegetation pattern was studied in the forest glades in the central part of the Middle Sudety Mts. (SW Poland). The spectacular edge effect is seen in the range of 4 m from the forest border towards the center of the glades. Within that belt we observed decrease in tree and bush species number, increase in share of graminoids and Fabaceae species, as well as increase in share of species generally related to grassland communities. A significant increase in species number and values of Shannon−Wiener diversity index was noticed within the distance of eight meters from the edges of glades

New distributional data on bryophytes of Poland and Slovakia, 13

This work presents a list of localities for the following species: Didymodon fallax var. brevifolius, Fissidens exilis, Nowellia curvifolia, Orthocaulis atlanticus, Orthotrichum lyellii, Ptilium crista-castrensis, and Syntrichia virescens

Some aspects of IR temperature measurements of a disc during experimental investigations of disc brakes

Przedstawiono wybrane wyniki badań hamulca tarczowego na stanowisku laboratoryjnym. W trakcie doświadczeń mierzone były główne parametry procesu hamowania oraz rozkłady temperatury w klocku i na powierzchni tarczy hamulcowej za pomocą kamery termowizyjnej. Zebrane dane pomiarowe stanowią materiał do weryfikacji modeli matematycznych przy numerycznej symulacji działania tego typu hamulców. Głównym tematem tej pracy jest analiza zmian współczynnika emisyjności powierzchni tarczy w warunkach prowadzenia eksperymentów. Znajomość stwierdzonych prawidłowości jest przydatna przy planowaniu i prowadzeniu tego typu badań.Selected results of testing a disc brake on the laboratory stand, Fig. 1, are presented. There were measured the parameters of braking mechanics as well as the temperature distribution in a brake block and on the disc surface. The temperature distribution was determined with use of an infrared camera. The obtained measurement data were used for verification of the mathematical models for numerical simulations of brakes operation. The problems in determination of the disc surface emissivity coefficient and the character of its changeability during experiments at different braking parameters, Figs. 58, were the objectives of the project. The measurements of the emissivity coefficient on the entire disc surface were taken repeatedly, Figs. 2, 3. A correlation between the disc emissivity coefficient and the mechanical parameters of braking was found. Despite the fact that these correlations are qualitative rather than quantitative, they are interesting from the point of view of identification of the braking process as well as of planning such experiments. During the measurements, some interesting practical experience in the field of infrared measurements of temperature of the surface of not high emissivity coefficient was gained. In the project an isothermal protective screen was applied to normalize the radiation impact of the environment on the measurements, Figs 1, 4

Ladder spleenwort (Asplenium adulterinum Milde) in Poland–distribution, population state and conservation plan framework

<p>Ladder spleenwort Asplenium adulterinum Milde (Aspleniaceae) is the rare fern, since long time believed to be one of species which determine distinctive character of Lower Silesian flora (e.g. Pax 1915, Szafer 1972). A. adulterinum was considered as a European endemic species (Reichstein 1984) but it has been found also on the Vancouver Island at the west coast of Canada Käsermann (1999), Klinkenberg (2008). Its European sites are concentrated in the Alpine area and in the Middle European mountain ranges of the Hercynian orogeny. The species range comprises also isolated sites scattered through the Fennoscandia as well as on the Balkan Peninsula (Jalas and Suominen 1972). The species is almost strictly related to serpentine rocks and only exceptionally occurs on the other substrata. Lower Silesia is the only region in Poland with the serpentine outcrops and therefore is also only area of A. adulterinum occurrence in the country. The species is regarded as seriously threatened with the IUCN category from EN – endangered (Żołnierz 2001; Fabiszewski, Kwiatkowski 2002) to CR – critically endangered (Świerkosz, Szczęśniak 2003). The category CR is also attributed to A. adulterinum in Czech Republic and Slovakia (Čeřovský, Klaudisová 1999). Ladder spleenwort was included in the list of species, which has been proposed by Poland to expand the appendix II of the Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC Directive) as Species of Community Interest whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation. It also listed in Annex IV between plans species need of strict protection in all European Union country. From this reason in Poland law Asplenium adulterinum is listed as species which not only need protection, but also establishing of special protection zone around the each locality is necessary.</p

In vitro propagation and ex situ preservation of endangered ferns from Lower Silesia

<p>Cite this:</p> <p>Kromer K., Marszał-Jagacka J., Kempińska K., Nowak T., Żołnierz L., Poturała D., Świerkosz K. 2006. In vitro propagation and ex situ preservation of endangered ferns from Lower Silesia. [in:] H. Piękoś-Mirkowa & E. Zenkteler [eds.] Conservation-related problems of pteridophytes in Poland. - Botanical Guidebooks 29: 143-155. W Szafer Institute of Botany, Kraków.</p