Alder (Alnus glutinosa L.) is often applied in recultivation of technogenous areas for its small seat requirements. It is so called the pioneer species. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the degree of microflora development under alder growing on a heap and on a sand mine excavation. Different groups of microbes as well as the kinetics of bacterial growth were determined. The development of microflora under alder growing on the sand mine excavation was poor but better than on the coal mine spoil.
This paper investigates pollen seasons for Corylus spp. and Alnus spp. for the years 1997-2007 in Sosnowiec, southern Poland. The research was conducted by means of the volumetric method using a Burkard-type spore trap. The duration of pollen seasons was determined by means of the 98% method. The aim of this study was to distinguish the types of the course of hazel and alder pollen seasons using cluster analysis, including non-hierarchical clustering of multi-feature objects – k-means clustering. The pollen seasons were divided into five types because of considerable variations from one year to another. For both taxons one dominant type was found, which was characterized by a very long period of compact pollen release with low values of the pollen count and by the occurrence of several maximums divided by periods of a lower pollen count. This work contains only a preliminary analysis on the types of pollen seasons because of relatively short data set. Future research on a larger series of measurements should be proved.
Research on soil microorganisms associated with plant roots (endophytes) and their outside habitats (rhizosphere, soil) under exposure to high concentrations of heavy metals in the environment may contribute to an increased knowledge about the effects of unfavorable pollutants in the natural ecosystem and improve the efficiency of remediation processes of degraded soils. The main goal of our study was to evaluate properties of microbial populations inhabiting different but spatially closed habitats: interior of the tree roots – endophytes (Betula pendula L. and Alnus glutinosa L.), rhizosphere and soil not influenced by plant roots at two heavy metal polluted areas in southern Poland where the content of cadmium, lead and zinc ranged 9.2–14.9, 26.2–75.1 and 1080–1559 mg∙kg–1 of dried soil, respectively. In our experiment, we analyzed their density as well as determined the total metabolic activity and ability for utilization of different carbon sources. The density of endophytes (5.76–7.16 log10 c.f.u. × g dw–1) was higher than the density of bacteria inhabiting outside habitats – the rhizosphere and soil (5.43–5.91 and 5.08–5.57 log10 c.f.u. × g dw–1, respectively) and was not affected by heavy metal content. However, the total metabolic activity of endophytic populations was strongly influenced by the physicochemical properties of the soil and was significantly lower at more contaminated site. In general, the metabolic activity of endophytes was ~15 times lower than the activity of rhizobacteria and at the same level or lower than the activity of soil microorganisms. Discriminant analysis revealed a higher utilization of α-Cyclodextrin and D-Xylose by microorganisms isolated from more polluted test site. The use of an artificial neural network (ANN) followed by principal component analysis (PCA) allowed the distinguishing of preferences in the utilization of carbon sources by microorganisms due to tree species but not the zone of isolation – endophytes, rhizosphere, soil. Our study revealed no significant impact of the metal concentrations present in the soil on the density of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) inhabiting three analyzed zones (interior of the roots, rhziosphere, soil); however, their total metabolic activity was decreased in more contaminated site. Since the density of endophytes was higher compared to the number of bacteria present in the outside habitats (rhizosphere and soil), and their total metabolic activity was in general lower, we suggest a high specialization of microorganisms associated with the cellular spaces of plant roots compared to other microbial populations.
Alder (Alnus Mill.), as an anemophilous species, produces large quantities of easily dispersed pollen. Annual pollen sums recorded in south-eastern Poland (by the volumetric method – Lanzoni trap) and in the area of the village of Guciów in the Central Roztocze region (pollen deposition in Tauber traps) were compared. The height at which the respective trap sites were located as well as local and regional vegetation and the distance from the nearest alder communities differ in both cases, likewise, the climate of these two regions differ. The analysed pollen data series cover the years 1998-2007 in Roztocze and 2001-2007 in Lublin. Large differences have been noted in Alnus pollen deposition values between particular years. Among them, there were observed years of very high annual sums (2001, 2003, 2006), as well as years of very low pollen deposition values in both regions (2002, 2005, 2007). In the period in question, the mean value of annual Alnus pollen count for Lublin was 5372 alder pollen grains in m3 of air, and in Roztocze 1647 grains per cm2 of area. During the seven-year period of monitoring (2001-2007), very similar trends were noted with respect to airborne alder pollen concentrations at both trap sites. Pollen data have been analysed against meteorological factors affecting alder pollen production and deposition. These are total precipitation and mean monthly air temperature in June, July and August in the year preceding pollen emission and the same weather elements in January and February in the year of pollen emission. In Roztocze a statistically signifi cant negative correlation has been found between Alnus pollen annual sums and total precipitation in August in the year preceding alder pollen emission and in February in the year of pollen emission. In both regions, the Spearman’s correlation coeffi cient does not show any statistically signifi cant values when comparing annual Alnus pollen sums with mean monthly temperatures of both January and February and summer months in the year preceding alder pollen emission.
Processing of A. incana leaves was investigated in the Sucha Woda stream (High Tatra Mts, Poland). The leaf litter (about 1 g dry weight) was placed in plastic boxes with netting of three mesh sizes: fine (0.3 mm), medium (1 mm), and coarse (5 mm). Three replicates were collected from the water after 27, 55, 82, 111, and 139 days. The rate of breakdown was much higher for leaves from the coarse mesh boxes (0.014) than for those from the medium (0.0034) and fine (0.0025) mesh boxes.
The results of phytosociological studies on the diversity of alder-ash and willow communities in the Pogórze Strzyżowskie foothills are presented. These communities, especially Carici remotae-Fraxinetum are increasingly rare in the landscape of the Carpathians. The paper supports new data allowing better understanding of the diversity of the Carici remotae-Fraxinetum in the southern Poland. On the basis of 59 phytosociological releves two sub-associations were identified: C.r.-F. chrysosplenietosum and C. r.-F. equisetetosum maximii and the form with Alnus incana. The association Carici remotae-Fraxinetum belongs to submontane regional form and to East Carpathian variant. The significance of Caltha palustris-Chaerophyllum hirsutum community is also presented, along with the role of Carex pendula and Matteucia struthiopteris. The paper provides also documentary data on sporadic occurrence of Salicetum triandro-viminalis and Salicetum albo-fragilis communities.
In this study we analyzed daily pollen concentrations of Alnus spp. and Betula spp. from Worcester, UK and Wrocław, Poland. We analyzed seasonality, annual pollen index and footprint areas for the observed pollen concentrations by using the trajectory model hybrid single particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT). We examined 10 years of data during the period 2005–2014 and found substantial differences in the seasonality, pollen indices and footprint areas. For both genera, concentrations in Wrocław are in general much higher, the seasons are shorter and therefore more intense than in Worcester. The reasons appear to be related to the differences in overall climate between the two sites and more abundant sources in Poland than in England. The footprint areas suggest that the source of the pollen grains are mainly local trees but appear to be augmented by remote sources, in particular for Betula spp. but only to a small degree for Alnus spp. For Betula spp., both sites appear to get contributions from areas in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, while known Betula spp. rich regions in Russia, Belarus and Scandinavia had a very limited impact on the pollen concentrations in Worcester and Wrocław. Substantial and systematic variations in pollen indices are seen for Betula spp. in Wrocław with high values every second year while a similar pattern is not observed for Worcester. This pattern was not reproduced for Alnus spp.
The aim of the study was to investigate the concentration of Alnus L., Corylus L. and Betula L. pollen in the village of Gudowo (Western Pomerania, Poland) in the years 2012–2014 in order to estimate the threat of allergenic tree pollen in this rural region. Measurements were performed using the volumetric method (VPPS Lanzoni 2000 pollen sampler). The duration of the pollen season was determined by the 98% method, taking days on which, respectively, 1% and 99% of the annual total pollen grains appeared as the beginning and end of the season. Pollen grains from hazel occurred in the air as the first ones, before pollen grains from alder and birch. The earliest beginning of the hazel pollen season was recorded in 2012, whereas alder and birch pollen seasons started the earliest in 2014. Daily maximum pollen concentrations of the investigated taxa were recorded in 2014. Birch pollen allergens posed the largest threat to pollinosis sufferers. In the years 2012–2014, pollen concentrations equal or higher than threshold values, at which people with pollinosis show allergic symptoms, were recorded most frequently for birch, hazel, and alder (25, 19, and 14 days, respectively). The highest hourly alder pollen concentration was recorded at 16:00 and in the case of hazel at 15:00. The diurnal distribution of birch pollen concentrations does not show any distinct peaks.
The start and rate of fl orescence of Alnus, Corylus and Betula are dependent on meteorological conditions. In the present paper we have analysed the effect of mean, maximum and minimum temperature, relative air humidity and precipitation on the onset of the pollen season as well as on its length and annual count of pollen grains in alder, hazel and birch. The measurement of pollen fall was done by the gravimetric methods with the use of Durham sampler. Correlation coeffi cients were calculated between the determined characteristics of the pollen season and weather conditions. In the six-year research period 2001-2006 it was observed that low temperatures in January produced a delayed start of the pollen season in alder, hazel and birch. The beginning of fl owering in these taxa was also infl uenced by thermal conditions prevailing directly before the season (ca. 10 days). The pollen season of the trees in question tended to be prolonged alongside with the increase in relative air humidity, but it was shortened due to higher temperatures. The volume of alder and hazel pollen release increased together with the rise in relative air humidity and precipitation. The annual counts of birch pollen increased along with rising temperature and decreasing relative air humidity and precipitation in the season.
To assess the inter- and intrapopulation genetic variation in the filial generation (F1) of alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), 11 naturally regenerated populations were analysed. Their parental populations (P), represent the whole Polish territory and belong to three phytosociological associations with alder: typical alder swamp forest Carici elongatae-Alnetum (Ce-A); alder riparian forest Circaeo-Alnetum (C-A); and ash-elm riparian forest Fraxino-Ulmetum (F-U). F1 populations are grown in a common-garden experiment (provenance trial). Genotyping of individual trees has been carried out by analysis in a bud tissue allele frequency in the 21 isozyme putative loci of 10 enzymes. Differences between populations in respect to the level of genetic diversity were not high. Genetic diversity measured as the number of effective alleles per locus was the highest (Ne = 1.65) in population Wińsko originating from F-U (where also the inbreeding coefficient was the highest, F = 0.429), and the lowest (Ne = 1.48) in population Sławki from Ce-A. In all investigated populations, observed heterozygosity (Ho = 20%) was lower than expected from H-W equilibrium (He = 29%). The highest genetic variation expressed as percentage of polymorphic loci (77.3%) was observed in the offspring populations from Ce-A, and the smallest (69.9%) in the populations originating from F-U. It seems that the low genetic differentiation between populations is probably connected with long-distance seed dispersal via river systems. Alder seed can be transported over long distances thanks to periodical flooding. There is some gene flow between alder populations, with about 2.5 immigrants successfully entering a population per generation (Nm = 2.55). The level of population subdivision within A. glutinosa was low (Fst = 0.089). There was no significant genetic differentiation between populations from different phytosociological associations. Mantel test exhibited no significant correlation (r = 0.077) between genetic and geographic distance. In the dendrogram constructed according to Nei (1972) on the basis of interpopulation genetic distances, many small groups can be observed.
The aim of the study was to determine seasonal variations in concentrations of hazel and alder pollen count due to meteorological parameters. Measurements were performed using the volumetric method. The analysed meteorological parameters were the maximum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed. The beginning and end of a season were established by the 95 % method. During seven years of study, the highest concentration of hazel pollen in the air was noted in 2003 (the total number was two - three times higher than in the other years), with the pollen season starting in most years in the beginning of January and lasting till the end of March or beginning of April. The highest concentration of alder pollen in the air was noted in 2003, similarly as hazel pollen. The pollen season started in the beginning of January (in 2003 and 2006 in the beginning of March) and lasted till the turn of the March and April. The highest pollen count of 674 grains ×m⁻³ was observed in the end of March. A positive and statistically significant correlation (Pearson's coefficient and multiple regression) was found between the hazel and alder pollen concentration and air temperature and wind speed. A negative correlation was found in case of the relative humidity. A lot of analysed correlations were significant (significance level of p=0.05), although the percentage of explained variation (R²) was very low. Besides the individual rhythm of pollination, the meteorological conditions are the most important factors (mainly air temperature and wind speed) influencing the analysed pollen concentration in the air.