Open questions about the farmlands’ biodiversity preservation in the cities’ peripheries – a Wrocław case (Poland)

One of the necessary conditions for sustainable development is maintaining and developing environmental resources. The paper presents and discusses the idea that the field woods in the cities’ agricultural periphery, understood as habitats and not only a collection of trees, should be preserved and managed as a formal element of urban green infrastructure (GI). According to the authors, they should be seen as a great connecting element between urban green and the semi-natural areas outside. Even assuming the future land use transformation, it is worth preserving them from degradation just now. They play a role in protecting natural resources and the functions of ecosystems, expected from elements of GI, as they are a source of dispersion of various species of plants and animals benefit both for agricultural areas located further and for greenery in built-up areas. Using the authors’ own research on the farmland area situated within Wrocław administrative borders, and available literature, the following issues were considered: 1) the geographic and topographic characteristics of field woods, 2) evaluation of the role of field woods studied for the local biodiversity, 3) the risk factors for the degradation or disappearance of field woods and their biodiversity, 4) the legal regulations concerning the protection of field woods in Poland. Some legal and practical solutions are suggested

Succession of abandoned peatland meadows in Dolny Śląsk

Abstract: Mires as well as meadows resulted in the drainage of mires are ecosystems very sensitive to the environmental changes. Abandonment of these meadows leads to their degradation. Such meadows situated in the area of Dolny Śląsk are not used or used extensively. Research showed that succession of abandoned meadows depends on habitat characters, especially on the moisture. There were observed some separated paths of succession from very dry habitats in which peat was completely decomposed and cultivated, through well-drained habitats overgrown with ruderal or alien invasive species to wet biotops in which regeneration of mire vegetation is possible.Zusammenfassung: Moore und aus diesen nach Entwässerung entstandene Moorwiesen sind Ökosysteme, die sehr empfindlich gegen alle Veränderungen reagieren. Die Aufgabe solcher Wiesen führt zu deren Degradation. In Dolny Śląsk werden die meisten Moorwiesen nicht mehr oder nur extensiv genutzt. Trotz ähnlichem Ausgangszustand ist die Sukzession auf den Moorwiesen unterschiedlich, abhängig von den Standortseigenschaften. Der Wasserhaushalt reicht von sehr trocken, mit schon völligem Torfverlust und Ackerbau, über feucht, mit dem Auftreten von Ruderal- und invasiven Arten, bis hin zu nass, mit möglicher Moorrenaturierung.DFG, SUB Göttingen, DGMTresearc

Holocen history of vegetation at “Uroczysko Mokradła” (SW Poland) – paleobotanical research

Two peat bogs were studied in the Bory Dolnośląskie, the forest complex in Lower Silesia (Poland). An Instorf drill was used to collect two peat profiles from the deepest places. The macroremains analysis showed that after the initiation of peat-forming processes phytocoenoses responsible for the deposition of transition sphagnum peat were developed at both locations. Later on, the development of both peat bogs differed. The smaller peat bog continued to develop, whereas the big bog was shifted to ombrotrophic water regime. Therefore, phytocoenoses accumulated 1.3 m of Sphagnum peat. The peat-forming process was initiated at different times in both sites. For the smaller peat bog, it took place during the Atlantic period, while in the case of the larger peat bog – several thousand years later. The first identified forest phytocoenoses in the Atlantic period are mesophilic multi-species deciduous forests. Dry coniferous forests and mixed birch-pine forests grew in dry habitats. Riparian forests occupied lower grounds. In the Subboreal period, the oak–hazel communities initially developed and mixed coniferous forests were partially replaced by light oak forests. The encroachment of spruce, fir, hornbeam, and beech resulted in the development of dry ground forests, including beech–fir woods. The importance of riparian forests increased, whereas in dry grounds pine and mixed coniferous forests continued to occur. In the Subatlantic period, the transformations in forest communities were associated with the spread of hornbeam, beech, and fir and thereby vast fertile habitats were colonized by dry ground communities and beech woods. Pine and mixed forests as well as riparian forests were of lesser importance. Pollen records from the last 500 years showed the clear presence of humans. It was evident from the presence of cereal and weed pollen and from the disturbances in the pollen records caused by peat extraction in the Middle Ages

Wpływ stymulacji laserowej nasion na polepszenie właściwości fitoremediacyjnych wybranych ekotypów Silene vulgaris

The aim of the paper is to improve the phytoremediation features of the metallophyte Silene vulgaris through photo-stimulation of seeds using a semi-conductive laser. Seeds of two Silene vulgaris ecotypes were used in the experiment. One type of seeds – “Wiry” ecotype – originated from a site contaminated with heavy metals (a serpentinite waste heap), and the other ecotype – “Gajków” – was collected on a site with naturally low heavy metal content. The seeds of both types were preconditioned with laser light with previously fixed doses: C(D0), D1, D3, D5, D7, D9. The basic radiation dose was 2.5·10-1 J∙cm-2. The soil for the experiment was serpentinite weathering waste. The seeds and plants were cultivated in the controlled conditions of a climatic chamber. Laser light indeed stimulated seed germinative capacity but better effects were obtained in “Wiry” ecotype, originating from a location contaminated with heavy metals. In the case of morphological features, a significant differentiation of stem length was found for different ecotypes, dosages and the interactions of these factors. The study showed a strong influence of laser radiation on selected element concentrations in above-ground parts of Silene vulgaris, though “Wiry” ecotype clearly accumulated more heavy metals and magnesium than the “Gajków” ecotype.Celem pracy doświadczalnej była próba polepszenia właściwości fitoremediacyjnych metalofitu Silene vulgaris poprzez fotostymulację nasion przy użyciu lasera półprzewodnikowego. Badaniom eksperymentalnym poddano nasiona dwóch ekotypów Silene vulgaris. Nasiona pierwszego, ekotyp – „Wiry”, pochodziły z obszaru zanieczyszczonego metalami ciężkimi (hałda odpadów serpentynitowych) a nasiona drugiego, ekotyp – „Gajków”, zebrano z obszaru o naturalnie niskiej zawartości metali ciężkich. Nasiona obu ekotypów, przedsiewnie kondycjonowano promieniami światła laserowego odpowiednio wcześniej ustalonymi dawkami: D0, D3, D5, D7, D9. Dawka podstawowa promieniowania wynosiła 2,5·10-1 J∙cm-2. Podłożem eksperymentalnym, w które wysiano napromieniowane i kontrolne nasiona była zwietrzelina pochodząca z hałdy odpadów serpentynitowych. Nasiona i wyrosłe z nich rośliny uprawiano w warunkach kontrolowanych fitotronu. Światło laserowe istotnie poprawiało energię i zdolność kiełkowania nasion, z tym jednak że lepsze efekty laserowej biostymulacji obserwowano u ekotypu Wiry, pochodzącego z obszaru zanieczyszczonego metalami ciężkimi. W przypadku badanych cech morfologicznych wykazano istotne zróżnicowanie długości łodyg dla ekotypów, dawek jak i interakcję badanych czynników. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych obliczeń wykazano istotny wpływ promieniowana laserowego na zmianę koncentracji wybranych pierwiastków w częściach nadziemnych Silene vulgaris, z tym jednak że rośliny ekotypu Wiry kumulowały wyraźnie więcej metali ciężkich i magnezu, niż ekotyp Gajków

Plant communities, properties, and age of organic soils in the post-extraction sites of the Trzcińskie Mokradła Peatland (Sudetes Mts., SW Poland)

The aim of the study was to show the impact of the peat extraction on the development and properties of organic soils and plant habitat in post-extraction sites. The study was conducted in the complex of the Trzcińskie Mokradła Peatlands (Sudetes Mts., SW Poland). The Trzcińskie Mokradła Peatlands began to form in Preboreal (10960–9330 ±50BP) so that they are one of the oldest peatlands in the Sudetes. We analyzed 8 soil profiles (42 samples). Peat forming process there is still active in the moderate or strong degree (PtII-PtIII). The floristic composition of the studied areas was typical of transition peatlands. Successive dry and moist periods were observed in the developed of organic soils. The time gaps in peat profiles covering hundreds of years prove their extraction in the past

Soil Properties of Fallow Land Invaded by Black Cherry (<i>Padus serotina</i> (Ehrh.) Borkh.)

The extensive spread of the invasive black cherry, Padus serotina, has been observed on abandoned agricultural land in Central and Eastern Europe. However, the impact of this species on invaded agroecosystems is still unknown, including the possibility of returning these ecosystems to agricultural production. In order to evaluate the selected soil properties of fallows invaded by P. serotina, their texture, field water capacity, reaction, and content of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available forms of potassium and phosphorus were determined for 100 study plots. Taking into account the influence of soil conditions on floristic composition, the area covered by individual plant species in the study plots was also included in the analysis. A relationship was found between the presence of all the developmental stages of P. serotina and an increase in the phosphorus content in the soil. With the growth of a black cherry shrub layer, the content of soil nitrogen and potassium increased. An increasing proportion of P. serotina in the herb layer contributed to soil acidification and reduced the water content available for plants in the arable layer at 20–40 cm. The possible impact of P. serotina on soil properties may be an additional premise when considering the possibilities and benefits of the recultivation of fallow land invaded by this species