Effect of site quality on self-thinning dynamics in silver birch stands on abandoned farmlands

Paper discusses the influence of site quality on self−thinning process in silver birch stands growing on abandoned farmlands in Mazowieckie region (central Poland). Number of trees in a stand decreases with increasing age. The better the site (the higher site index value), the higher number of trees can be observed. However at the age of 10 difference between sites of various quality (site index) become insignificant. There is no need to include site index into the self−thinning models for young silver birch stands

Characteristics of body and antlers mass of red deer stags (Cervus elaphus L.) inhabiting Spalskie Forest and Gostyninsko-Wloclawskie Forest in Central Poland

The aim of the study was to demonstrate how the trophy quality of antlers of the red deer stags living in two large forest complexes in the Mazowsze region (central Poland) differs from those inhabiting other regions of the country. The study used the data describing the body and antlers weight of 272 stags shot in 2005−2014 in two large, separated from each other, forest complexes of Spała and Gostynin. The stags from both forest complexes do not differ from each other in body weight and antler forms. The average body weight of the stags at the age of 12 is approximately 120−140 kg. The characteristics of antler forms of the stags harvested by hunters may not reflect the actual state because of the use, in practice, of the selection criteria instead of random killing. The most frequently harvested antler forms of the selection stags in the age classes of 3−5 years and 6−8 years are regular eight−pointers and irregular twelve−pointers, respectively. However, the small sample size used and the specific rules of harvesting the older stags do not allow to characterize the antler forms of the stags older than 9 years. In the autumn−winter period, a decrease in the body weight of the rutting stags at the age of over 6 years, as well as of the young, 2−5−year−old, stags is observed. The loss in body weight in young stags is approximately 20%, while in older stags – 35%. The decrease in body weight in the autumn−winter period is not stable. The largest, representing nearly 50% of the total weight loss, was recorded after the rut. In the period between November and December even a slight increase in body weight was noted followed again by a decline by the end of the winter

Preferences of disabled on wheelchairs in relation to forest recreation in Poland and Czech Republic

The article presents the results of the survey on the preferences of disabled people on wheelchairs for selected features of recreation in forests. The study was conducted in 2015, including a sample of 108 people over the age of 18 interviewed simultaneously in the Poland and Czech Republic (52 interviews in Poland, 56 in the Czech Republic). Respondents were questioned both at the premises of the activation organizations as well as activation by email. The questions in the survey were designed to determine the preferences of the respondents in terms of the frequency and duration of the rest in the forests, the size of forest users groups, the choice of means of transport and certain equipment of forest recreation management. The results show that there is quite a lot of differences between the preferences of respondents from both of the analyzed countries. The statistic differences relate mainly to the choice of the means of transport enabling the rest of the forest, the frequency of recreation visits in the forests and the scope of necessary recreational infrastructure in the forests. The results indicate also significant differences in the profile of the respondents. They were associated with the place of residence, time of moving on a wheelchair and the use of a particular type of wheelchair

The dynamics of sprouts generation and colonization by macrofungi of black cherry Prunus serotina Ehrh. eliminated mechanically in the Kampinos National Park

The experiment conducted in the Kampinos National Park since 2015 is aimed at investigating the relationship between the dynamics of black cherry sprouting response and the type and term of implementation of the mechanical elimination procedure. It also identifies macrofungi colonizing trees undergoing eradication. Three treatments, basal cut-stump, cutting (height: ca. 1 m) and girdling, were performed on 4 terms: early and late spring, summer and winter. Each variant was conducted within two plots, and applied to 25 trees, to 600 trees in total. For two consecutive vegetation seasons, sprouts were removed approximately every 8 weeks with the exception of winter-treated trees. Qualitative data were analysed, that is, the number of trees with and without sprouts at subsequent controls, and at the end of the second season, except winter-treated trees. Initially, almost 100% of the trees cut at the base and cut high responded by sprouting. The share of trees without sprouts gradually increased during the following vegetation season, from 3rd to 5th repetition of the sprouts removal, depending on the variant of experiment. Girdling contributed to a delay in sprouting. The effectiveness of procedures, expressed as share of trees without sprouts at the end of the second vegetation season, ranged widely (12%–84%), and depended statistically significantly on the date of the treatment. The effectiveness was higher for treatments done in early (average 68%) and late spring (average 74%), as compared to those done in summer (average 35%). Mycological research concerned 600 trees, including those treated in winter, without sprouts removal. Occurrence of 26 taxa of macrofungi was confirmed on 25% of trees; most of them having wood-decaying properties. Chondrostereum purpureum was most frequent, colonizing 9% of trees. Impact of plots varying soil moisture on succession and rate of fungi colonization, and on sprouting response dynamics requires further research