Algal mats transport diaspores and carpological remains in shallow lakes

Algal mats in lakes and reservoirs can transport diaspores and carpological remains of plants, and thus may influence the creation of taphocoenoses. In 2012, I quantified carpological remains in two types of algal mats from a small reservoir in southern Poland. Mats formed by filamentous algae participate primarily in the original transport of diaspores, and can influence their concentration and facilitate their migration, mainly between the shores of the reservoir. Diatom mats partake primarily in diaspore redeposition, but can also cause their dispersal between the shore zone and the central part of the reservoir. This research demonstrates that mats built by diatoms contain far more remains and are more biologically diverse than filamentous algal mats. Movement of carpological remains observed in both types of algal mats points to their role in the formation of taphocoenoses and suggests that algal mats must be considered when interpreting macrofossil records

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

Comprehensive Palaeobotanical Studies of Lacustrine-Peat Bog Sediments from the Mazovian/ Holsteinian Interglacial at the Site of Nowiny Żukowskie (Se Poland) – Preliminary Study

The environmental variability during the Mazovian/Holsteinian interglacial is better understood thanks to the results of multidisciplinary palaeobotanical studies. The perfectly preserved and abundant material from Nowiny Żukowskie in SE Poland has been the subject of numerous palaeobotanical analyses. The results both of initial pollen analysis and of the examination of plant macroremains provide a detailed view of changes in the palaeoenvironment of this area during the Mazovian/Holsteinian interglacial. Originally, the water basin was mostly the habitat of plants indicative of low trophy. The frequent occurence of swamp plants evidences a change in hydrological and climatic conditions consistent with the intra-interglacial climatic oscillation. In the subsequent part of the optimum, an expansion of swamps with Aracites interglacialis and Dulichium arundinaceum was recorded. The development of a peat bog overgrown by i.a. Sphagnum sp., Eriophorum vaginatum, and Andromeda polifolia was also observed. The growth of swamp and peat vegetation resulted in the nearly complete disappearance of aquatic vegetation, apart from species typical of the climatic optimum of the Mazovian/Holsteinian interglacial: Brasenia borysthenica and Aldrovanda dokturovskyi. The close of the interglacial was marked by the intensive development of peat bog and swamp communities with Carex rostrata, Menyanthes trifoliata, and A. interglacialis. The intensive increase in the number of A. interglacialis during the period described as the “birch oscillation” supports the hypothesis of noticeable changes in hydrological conditions at that time. The end of the described period is typified by a deterioration of climatic conditions, indicated by the increase in values for Betula humilis, B. nana, and Juniperus communis

Relacje między zespołami szczątków karpologicznych a współczesną roślinnością małych, płytkich zbiorników wodnych : reprezentacja współczesnej roślinności i rozmieszczenie makroszczątków w osadach wybranych zbiorników Wyżyny Śląskiej

Analiza makroszczątków roślinnych, w tym głównie dobrze zachowujących się w osadach jeziornych szczątków karpologicznych, należy do najważniejszych metod stosowanych w odtwarzaniu przemian zachodzących w fitocenozach i środowisku. Metody rekonstrukcji paleośrodowisk wykorzystujące makroszczątki roślin polegają jednak na zastosowaniu wiedzy o złożonych, zbyt słabo jeszcze poznanych relacjach między zgrupowaniami makrofosyliów a współczesną roślinnością. Zagadnienia te porusza niniejsza monografia, prezentująca wyniki badań nad relacją analiz zespołów makroszczątków w odniesieniu do rzeczywistego rozmieszczenia roślinności w kilku niewielkich, płytkich zbiornikach wodnych i ich najbliższym otoczeniu. Praca adresowana jest do badaczy z kręgu nauk przyrodniczych, archeologów, ale przede wszystkim do specjalistów zajmujących się przeszłością środowiska i jej odtwarzaniem za pomocą szczątków makroskopowych. Przedstawione w niej rezultaty mogą przyczynić się do zwiększenia możliwości i wiarygodności interpretacyjnej badań paleoekologicznych. Czytelnik znajdzie tu odpowiedzi między innymi na następujące pytania: W jakim stopniu zespoły makroszczątków karpologicznych odzwierciedlają skład gatunkowy współczesnej roślinności, czy liczebność odnajdywanych w próbach osadów diaspor poszczególnych gatunków odzwierciedla proporcje w ich liczebności/pokryciu we współczesnych fitocenozach, a także jakie czynniki decydują o rozmieszczeniu i liczebności szczątków karpologicznych w małych i płytkich zbiornikach wodnych

Reprezentacja współczesnej roślinności wodnej w makroszczątkach stropowej części osadów niewielkiego płytkiego zbiornika

The study presents results of investigations on relations between associations of carpological remains of aquatic plants preserved in the roof layer (2 cm) of deposits and the contemporary vegetation of small shallow reservoir. Carried out analy-ses of 40 samples of capacity of about 100 cm3 proved that associations of macrofossils generally well reflect the species com-position of parent phytocenoses. In deposits 60% of presently occurring species were represented. It was also stated that among many factors influencing the distribution of diaspores of aquatic plants in the environment investigated both distribution of patches of emerged vegetation and shape of its bowl are of crucial importance

Maty glonowe jako ważny czynnik w formowaniu zespołów szczątków karpologicznych w płytkich zbiornikach wodnych (badania wstępne)

The presented paper contains the results of preliminary studies, which were suppose to verify whether forming in reservoirs algal mats may transport the diaspores and carpological remains plants and sig-nificantly influence formation of taphocenosis. The study was conducted in 2012 in a small reservoir created in a sand pit "Siemonia". In studied reservoir was found a formation of two types of algae mats: built mainly by filamentous algae or diatoms. In both cases, it proved that the scale identified in the studied reservoir transport of diaspores and redepo-sition of carpological remains with the participation of algal mats suggests that the possibility of their appearance should be taken into account in the interpretation of the macrofossil analysis

Relationship Between Compositions of Grey Hair-Grass (Corynephorus Canescens (L.) P. Beauv.) Tissues and Soil Properties During Primary Vegetation Succession

This study focuses on the concentration of trace-, microelement- and organic components in initial horizons of sandy soil (Arenosole) and of the tissues of Corynephorus canescens, a pioneer species typical of unstable environments that initiates pedogenic processes by enriching poor quartz sand in organic- and mineral matter from its own tissues. Soil samples were taken from a root-zone humus horizon (A) averaging ~15 cm in thickness and from parent rock. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Si, Al, Zn, Mn, Co, Cd, Pb, Sr, Mo, C, N and P in plant material and soil were analyzed. High concentrations of Si (6368±16.3 mg·kg-1), K (2310±165.2), Ca (302±24.6 mg·kg-1), Fe (2196±316.3) are found in the aboveground part of the plant whereas Si (9150±20), Fe (5948± 43), K 3752±3.21) and Al (2370±52.6 mg·kg-1) dominate in the roots. Soil organic carbon (OC) contents in the humus horizon and in parent rock are 0.276±0.041 and 0.206±0.041%, respectively. The concentration of nitrogen in the humus horizon shows a high (0.92) correlation with OC. The soil shows both acid (4.2±0.51 in KCl) and low-acid (5.1±0.23 in H2O) characteristics. Heavy-metal contents differ significantly among the study sites. Organic compounds of Corynephorus canescens and of soil organic matter (SOM) were investigated by pyrolysis-GC/MS (Py-GC/MS). In the organic content of the grey hair-grass tissues, typical compounds such as normal chain aliphatics (29%), and furane- and pyrane derivatives (12%), dominate. Nitrogen-containing substances such as amines, nitro compounds, heterocycles and amines are also important (27%). The main ecopedological role of C. canescens involves the fixing of loose sand thanks to its well-developed root system. The xeromorphic structure of stems and leaves allows it to function in such extreme open areas of unstable ground and high insolation. The initial stage of the formation of a humus horizon involving Corynephores canescens is documented

Environmental Transformations in the Area of the Kuźnica Warężyńska Sand Mine, Southern Poland

On the basis of the analysis and interpretation of maps, published literature, and environmental reconnaissance, this article discusses environmental transformations in the area of the Kuz´nicaWare˛z˙yn´ ska sandmine in southern Poland over the years 1944–2015. A comprehensive ecological analysis was carried out concerning spatial development, mining activity, hydrogeological and hydrological conditions as well as the biotic environment. Among the unfavourable changes found were a drastic reduction in the agricultural function of the area (from 7.03 to 0.47 km2), mainly due to periodic activity of sand mine in 1967–2002, covering an area of about 5.80 km2, the destruction of the original biocenoses, the depletion and deterioration in quality of the groundwater resources, and man-made transformations of the hydrographic network (during the mine’s activity its length reached over 103 km). Vegetation changes during the 70-year period examined were closely related to human mining activity. The greatest changes occurred at the end of the 1960s when large areas of pine forest were cut down. The analysis of vegetation in the former workings demonstrated that the diversity of habitats within the workings results in a significant increase in species (367 plant species, 2002 birds) and community diversity (Molinion caeruleae, Molinion caeruleae, three Natura habitats) there compared to the adjacent areas. On the other hand, favourable changes included the construction of a flood control reservoir, with an area of 560 ha and a volume of 51 million m3, created in 2003–2005, making the area more attractive for tourism and recreation, and an increase in biodiversity, including the establishment of a Natura 2000 site

Is the Vegetation Succession a Threat for Rare and Protected Species in a Sand Quarry? Case Study of the Kuźnica Warężyńska Sand Quarry (Southern Poland)

The work focuses on analyzing and reason of occurrences of rare and protected species by European and Polish low. These species are growing in the areas of former sand exploitations quarry and have different ecological requirements. The origin of such quarries is strictly connected strictly connection with development of coal mining in the Silesian Upland (Southern Poland). From the end of exploitation the processes of spontaneous vegetation ecosystems have been observed. The research was conducted in Southern Poland in the area of the Kuźnica Warężyńska sand quarry with an area of approximately 8 km2, exploited in the years 1972 - 2003. In results of work has been confirmed by 2 types of habitats which are included in I Annex Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora forms in zone of groundwater outflow. They are 7140-transition mires and quaking bogs and 7230 – alkaline fens. In these communities, numerous population of 22 protects spiecies as Dactylorhiza maculata, D. majalis, Epipactis atrorubens, E. helleborine, E. palustris, Malaxis monophyllos, Lycopodiella inundata, Pinguicula vulgaris, including Liparis loeselii found in Annex II of the Habitats Directive occur. These are early-successional species, whose numbers in next successions phases decrease or after several years completely disappear. The analyzed flora differs in terms of life forms, ecological requirements related to the habitat mosaics. The fragments of sand quarry that were where are not reclaimed can play important role in nature conservation not only in local level but even on supra-regional scale. Hence, this object is a place for many rare, threatened with extinction species and plant communities as substitute habitats. The conservation of such species and plant communities in sand quarry needed active protection. It consists in maintaining the initial stages of succession and preventing the formation of the forest