Floristic diversity of swamp meadows affected by the process of murshing

Research involved 3 swamp meadows affected by murshing process: Czarnocin III and Lubczyńskie Łęgi located in Goleniowski district and Pucka Island situated within the borders of Szczecin. There were recognized, in total, 42 species of herbaceous plants representing 7 phytosocjological classes. Particular areas differednot only in the number of species (from 8 on Pucka Island to 24 in Czarnocin III), but also in their percentage composition. The species recognized belong to 17 families. The most numerous one proved to be grasses (Poaceae) – including as many as 13 species On the examined meadows there dominate species from Molinio–Arrhenatheretea class. Environmental requirements of these species were quite similar

Application of Shumann and Joosten classification in fen peatland degradation stage assessment – A case study from southern Poland

The aim of this paper was to assess the degradation stage of fen peatland located in the north-western part of the Opolskie voivodeship in accordance with “peatland degradation stages” classification. Understanding of the current state of peatland will be helpful in the future management and possible restoration. Field survey including vegetation and soil research were carried out in May 2013, soil material for laboratory analysis were collected by using “Instorf” peat sampler from four sampling points. Obtained results allowed to classify the study area (located within a larger peatland complex along the Prosna river valley) to minor stage of degrada- tion, with spontaneous changes in vegetation community and soil cover. Only few species of plants typical for fen peatlands were recorded. Moreover, soil cover research did not confirm mursh forming process, typical for strongly degraded peatland areas. Obtained results may indicate that possible future restoration will bring the expected effect. It is very likely, that fen peatland vegetation will regenerate spontaneously, provided that diaspores of the key peat-forming plant species are available in the soil

Seeds and fruits as a source of information about consequences of drainage and utilisation of peatlands

Celem opracowania było sprawdzenie, czy na podstawie nasion i owoców można wykazać zmiany związane z zaburzeniami hydrologicznymi, spowodowanymi odwodnieniem i użytkowaniem łąkowych torfowisk. Badaniom poddano dwa płytkie profile torfowe, pochodzące z łąk bagiennych okolic Milicza. Wstępne analizy wykazały, że w warstwie stropowej profili dominują nasiona i owoce gatunków tzw. nietorfotwórczych, m.in. z klasy Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. Materiał karpologicny odnaleziony w niższych poziomach należy natomiast do przedstawicieli klasy Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae oraz Phragmitetea. Ponadto stwierdzono, że głębokość występowania nasion i owoców roślin łąkowych jest zbieżna z poziomami, w których występuje duża zawartość popiołu, czyli z warstwą murszu.The aim of this work was to analyse a possibility of demonstrating hydrological disturbances caused by the drainage and meadow utilisation of peatlands with fruits and seeds. Two shallow profiles from marsh meadows near Milicz were analysed. Preliminary analyses showed that upper horizon was dominated by seeds and fruits of non peat-forming species of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. Fruits and seeds found in lower peat profiles belonged to the species of Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae and Phragmitetea classes. The depth, where the seeds and fruits of meadow plants were found was associated with horizons of high ash content (moorsh horizons)

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

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

Environmental changes during the MIS 6a–MIS 5e transition : the Parchliny 2016 profile, central Poland

We describe the penultimate glacial – last interglacial transition from the one of the numerous palaeolake successions in central Poland, which have yielded many documented Eemian and Early Weichselian floral records. In the new profile, Parchliny 2016, the lacustrine deposits were analysed lithologically, botanically, zoologically, and geochemically, providing new data that illustrate the environmental transition from the Late Saalian (MIS 6a) to the Eemian interglacial (MIS 5e). Five phases of palaeolake development have been distinguished. The first phase was related to the rapid melting of a dead ice block buried in the tills to form a lake. The second phase documented a Late Saalian initial succession, with the dominance of open steppe communities (Stadial 1), followed by a third phase with gradual increasing density of vegetation, the spread of boreal forests (Zeifen interstadial) and further increase in open communities and the retreat of pine (Kattegat stadial). The fourth phase reflected the beginning of Eemian interglacial by the expansion of pioneering birch-pine and purely birch forests and an increasing proportion of deciduous trees, including oak (Vth phase). Diatom, cladoceran and geochemical studies indicate at least two stages of lake development. The first stage (Late Saalian) was of an open lake (2–4 m deep), in relatively cold conditions and nutrient-poor water with the lowest amounts of organic carbon and nitrogen. The second stage (Eemian interglacial), shows warmer, shallower conditions in which the lake’s primary production increased, the water was well oxygenated, and there were more trophic levels

Urticaria exacerbations and adverse reactions in patients with chronic urticaria receiving COVID-19 vaccination:Results of the UCARE COVAC-CU study

Background: Concern about disease exacerbations and fear of reactions after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations are common in chronic urticaria (CU) patients and may lead to vaccine hesitancy.Objective: We assessed the frequency and risk factors of CU exacerbation and adverse reactions in CU patients after COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: COVAC-CU is an international multicenter study of Urticaria Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCAREs) that retrospectively evaluated the effects of COVID-19 vaccination in CU patients aged ≥18 years and vaccinated with ≥1 dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. We evaluated CU exacerbations and severe allergic reactions as well as other adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccinations and their association with various CU parameters. Results: Across 2769 COVID-19–vaccinated CU patients, most (90%) received at least 2 COVID-19 vaccine doses, and most patients received CU treatment and had well-controlled disease. The rate of COVID-19 vaccination–induced CU exacerbation was 9%. Of 223 patients with CU exacerbation after the first dose, 53.4% experienced recurrence of CU exacerbation after the second dose. CU exacerbation most often started &lt;48 hours after vaccination (59.2%), lasted for a few weeks or less (70%), and was treated mainly with antihistamines (70.3%). Factors that increased the risk for COVID-19 vaccination–induced CU exacerbation included female sex, disease duration shorter than 24 months, having chronic spontaneous versus inducible urticaria, receipt of adenovirus viral vector vaccine, having nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug/aspirin intolerance, and having concerns about getting vaccinated; receiving omalizumab treatment and Latino/Hispanic ethnicity lowered the risk. First-dose vaccine–related adverse effects, most commonly local reactions, fever, fatigue, and muscle pain, were reported by 43.5% of CU patients. Seven patients reported severe allergic reactions. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination leads to disease exacerbation in only a small number of CU patients and is generally well tolerated.</p