The phenotypic structure of the population of Archips podana in the region of the town of Skierniewice is typical for this species in the central part of Poland. Males of phenotype "A" prevail. The index of the relation in the abundance of males of pheno- type "B" to the individuals of phenotype "A" is 0.01. Forty percent of males caught by sticky traps did not copulate previously. In order to increase the catching of non-copulative males, the knowledge of the phenotype composition of the population and the use of multi-component attractants are necessary.
The recent stratigraphical and paleontological research in the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary sequence in central Poland confirmed a validity of the hitherto accepted local ostracod zonation. Six ostracod zones have been compared with the zones distinguished in England, France and Germany. From 51 ostracod species and subspecies recorded in the sequence of superposing marine-brackish and brackish-fresh-water sediments the author describes the following new species and subspecies: Limnocythere biverrucosa, Timiriasevia polonica, Cypridea aleksandrowiensis, C. wandae, C. binodosa polonica, C. dunkeri spinosa, C. granulosa polonica, C. lata polonica, C. obliqua polonica, C. prealta iuvencula and C. tumescens granulosa.
The paper presents the actual vascular flora of the “Dębowiec” nature reserve identifi ed in 2004-2009 and supplemented on the basis of literature data. The vascular flora consists of 306 vascular species, including the following mountain species: Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus, Anthriscus nitida, Chaerophyllum hirsutum, Huperzia selago, Polygonatum vericillatum, Ribes alpinum, Sambucus racemosa and Valeriana sambucifolia. It must be stressed that there are 29 rare species in the regional scale of Central Poland.
In a small lowland streamlet (width – 1.7 m, discharge ≤ 0.15 m³ s⁻¹, Central Poland) movements of six fish species were investigated in autumn, on three sampling occasions (2002–2004). The subject of the study were predominantly facultative riverine species (loach Barbatula barbatula (L.), gudgeon Gobio gobio (L.), perch Perca fluviatilis L., roach Rutilus rutilus (L.), giebel Carassius auratus (L.), tench Tinca tinca (L.)). For a few species the calculated median displacements (MD) were close or smaller than the home section lengths (HSL =100 m) with exception of giebel on one sampling occasion. These results were concise with estimated low turnover rate (TR) for the investigated species, which was significantly correlated with MD, and congruent with the Gerking’s restrictedmovement paradigm (RMP).
Freshwater red algae Hildenbrandia rivularis has been noted for the first time in central Poland near the Lodz agglomeration. Until now, this alga was recorded only in mountain and Polish Lowland areas. The wide range of habitat conditions influencing the occurrence for this protected species has been determined in the spring niche. The possible threat to habitat where H. rivularis occurs, is connected with construction and exploitation of the A2 highway
Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) is one of the most important fruit crops in Poland. There are many varieties cultivated in orchards, but only a few of them play an important role in commercial production. These few varieties have been the object of numerous studies focused on practical aspects like growth performance, yielding, or resistance to diseases. Recently more belowground research has been carried out in pomological plants using the minirhizotron research allowing to observe roots in short and long term experiments. There have been very few studies concerning root growth dynamics of sour cherry cultivars. Here we studied the influence of four major factors on root growth: the cultivar, root diameter, soil depth, and season on the survivorship of fine roots. We used the minirhizotron technique (MR) to examine fine roots dynamics of four sour cherry cultivars grafted on the Mahaleb rootstock, grown in an experimental orchard in Central Poland. The results revealed that the greatest impact on root survivorship was exerted by root diameter, depth of root formation and the season, whereas cultivars had no obvious influence. The finest roots (with a diameter <0.2 mm) and roots formed at a depth of down to 10 cm below the soil surface had the shortest survivorship. On the other hand, thicker roots (>0.75mm) and roots formed at a depth of more than 50 cm below the soil surface have the longest survivorship. The season of root growth has little impact on root survivorship, but has a big influence on the number of the roots formed. There is no impact of the cultivar on the differences in observed roots survivorship.
Studies carried out in the vicinity of Rogów in central Poland showed a 47% rise in the population density of the Common Buzzard, inasmuch as the average number of breeding pairs in the study area of 105 km² increased from 18.2 in the years 1982-1991 to 26.7 in the years 2001-2003. Furthermore, an upward trend was observed for each separately investigated forest complex. Possible mechanisms underpinning this increase in density are discussed.
We describe the results of our research on population dynamics among brown hares reared in enclosures and then released into suitable natural habitat. Radio-tracking was used to follow the fate of 60 released brown hares over a 4-year period, extending between November 2005 and November 2009. The survival rate among these animals after 12 months was estimated to be 37 %, with 22 tagged individuals surviving beyond 1 year post-release. The highest (40 %) level of mortality characterised the first month after release, while a second period of enhanced mortality coincided with the breeding season (altogether accounting for a 20 % mortality rate). There was no significant relationship between body mass and mortality rate in the first month following release. A natural cause of death was predation by mammals, which accounted for some 31 % of all losses. Remaining causes were poaching (13 %), hits by vehicles (7 %) and unidentified causes (9 %). However, in at least 40 % of cases, it was not possible to determine the date when a released animal died, to say nothing of the cause of death.
Searching for spraints (excrements) and tracks is widely used for monitoring of European populations of otters Lutra lutra. Data collected in Central and Eastern Poland were analysed in order to evaluate the environmental factors affecting the detection of otter signs during field surveys. At each out of 1111 sites studied from 1996–1998 numbers of otter spraints and tracks as well as distance searched to detect first sign were noted. At each site several environmental variables were recorded to identify factors that may have affected the survey results. The variation in numbers of spraints and tracks found at each positive site was not related to the habitat quality and any other habitat features (including tree and shrub cover, presence of potential shelters) analysed, except the number of tracks was positively related to bridge potential. The distance searched was the most variable indicator of otter occurrence. It increased with the width of river and at sites with few potential sprainting sites, with bridges of poor potential or with no bridges at all, and where many signs of human and domesticated animals activity were noted. The results indicate that detection of otter signs is partially affected by specific elements unrelated to habitat potential and therefore numbers of spraints should not be used as an indicator of otter habitat preference. At a regional scale variation in number of spraints and tracks, as well as distance searched was related to otter occupancy expressed in the form of percentage of positive sites at three study areas. This study shows that measuring the distance searched provides additional indication of otter status at a regional scale and could be used to identify specific habitats where detection of otter signs during surveys is difficult.
The paper presents socio-ecological and ecological characterisation of 72 bryophyte species found in the years 2008-2012 on midforest roads passing through nine nature reserves situated in the Łódź region. Nine species occurred excl usively in this habitat. Most of the species noted (63%) were forest bryophytes occurring also inside the forest phytocoenoses studied, they constituted 95.5% of all the records. The non-forest species show diff erent socio-ecological relations: some of them occur typically on meadows or in grassy forest ecotones, others – in fens or bogs but there are also some pioneer bryophytes colonizing initial sites, both of natural and anthropogenic character. They diff er from the forest species occurring on midforest roads in their ecological demands regarding the habitat reaction (presence of subneutral species) and light (higher participation of heliophytes). Nine of them (13%) are considered to be synanthropic bryophytes. Details of the species occurrence are provided.