This paper evaluates the influence of the use of methods of Molinia meadows in eastern Poland on changes in its biodiversity and species composition. Research was carried out in 2006-10 on Molinia meadows near Uściwierz lake, located in the Pojezierze Łęczyńsko-Włodawskie (Lake District). The studied complex was classified to [Selino carvifoliae-Molinietum] meadows. Meadows were used in a specific method: 1. 1-cut meadow (June), 2. 1-cut meadow (June) + grazing (August), 3. abandoned meadow (since 2000). The above-mentioned methods of use caused the transformation of the typical structure of Selino-Molinietum meadow. I observed the initial succession of forest associations with a large share of Salix rosmarinifolia and Betula pubescens on unused meadow. The highest share of the characteristic species of the Selino-Molinietum association was characterized by abandoned meadow.
A preliminary survey on earthworm species from north Karnataka region, Gulbarga district, Karnataka state, India, has been conducted from January 2012 to December 2013. Survey was conducted in three regions of Gulbarga district i.e. Afzalpur, Chittapur, and Sedam taluk. Six species of earthworms were identified belonging to four families namely lumbricidae, Octochaetidae, Megascolecidae and Eudrilidae. Eisenia fetida belonging to family lumbricidae, Dichogaster bolaui belong to family Octochaetidae, Polypheretima elongate, Perionyx sansibaricus and Perionyx excavates belong to family Megascolecidae and Eudrilus eugeniae belonging to family Eudrilidae. Among the species, Eudrilus eugeniae does not occur naturally and are produced from external sources for vermicomposting units.
In this study, eight forest associations in Szczecin Landscape Park and in the vicinity were examined for the presence of ant species. The only species present in all the associations was Myrmica ruginodis. Habitat conditions in the beech forest (Galio odorati-Fagetum), which grows on post-glacial hills, was diversified enough to enable occurrence of as many as 16 ant species. There was no substantial difference in ant species composition between beech and mixed forests. Alder swamps and riparian forests seemed to provide unfavourable living conditions for ants and only 3 ant species were recorded in these environments. Results show that indicating the type of plant association alone may be insufficient to characterize the environmental conditions that affect ant occurrence.
The aim of this study was to describe the ichthyofauna composition of the Goczałkowice Dam Reservoir based on records in fisheries logs of commercial catches conducted in this basin over a 16-year period (1986-2001). The results indicate that the Goczałkowice Reservoir was managed appropriately during this period. The dominant species in the reservoir was bream at 49.74% of the overall biomass of all the fish caught. The second most common fish was a mix of small fish (31.62%). Evidence of the rational management of this basin is that 17% of the ichthyofauna are predacious fish, with pikeperch comprising 56% of all the predacious fish caught.
Nestedness describes patterns of species composition within continental biotas and among isolated habitats such as islands and landscape fragments. In a nested pattern, the species composition of small assemblages is an ordered subset (a true sample) of the species composition of large assemblages. Nested subsets of species are generated by environmental and ecological gradients, such as habitat quality, carrying capacities of sites, isolation, or fragmentation, that cause ordered sequences of species extinctions and colonization. Therefore nestedness analysis can be used to identify gradients that influence species composition and richness among sites and to identify species that run counter to these gradients (idiosyncratic species). Here I review the use of nestedness analysis to identify such gradients. I also describe how to perform the analysis and which metrics and null models to use for statistical inference.
Too intensive management by mowing or grazing or cessation of management both lead to the floristic impoverishment of meadow communities. Soil seed bank can play an essential role in the ecological restoration of species-rich semi-natural grasslands. In Poland, little research has been conducted in this area, particularly refers to Arrhenatherion meadows. The aim of the studies was to determine the density and species composition of the soil seed bank of Arrhenatheretum elatioris meadows as well as the distribution of seeds across four soil levels. The studies were carried out in two habitats: Arrhenatheretum elatioris (code 6510-1) and Poa pratensis – Festuca rubra (code 6510-2). Soil samples were collected up to a depth of 20 cm, divided into four levels: 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm 15-20 cm. The size and species composition of the seed bank was determined by extracting seeds from the soil samples. The number of diaspores (seeds and fruits) in the topsoil (0-20 cm) layer was 56,430 seeds·mˉ² (Arrhenatheretum elatioris) and 118,510 seeds·mˉ² (Poa pratensis – Festuca rubra). The soil seed banks were dominated by diaspores of annual dicotyledonous species (above 80%) which were mainly seeds of arable weeds or ruderal plants. The assessed soil seed banks were dominated by Chenopodium album and Stellaria media. In both grasslands, the quantity of Poaceae and Fabaceae diaspores were very low. These results confirmed that most mesic grassland species did not form persistent seed banks and reintroduction of target species seeds is necessary in order to restore the species-rich Arrhenatherion elatioris meadows.
Phytoplankton composition was analysed in the Maltański Reservoir and the inlet and outlet of the Cybina River. Samples were collected from three sampling stations in November 2007, February, May and August 2008. Considerable changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the phytoplankton in the infl owing and outfl owing water and in the central part of the reservoir were noted. Among 142 taxa chlorophytes were the most numerous group. There were also groups represented by the large values of phytoplankton abundance and biomass such as Cyanobacteria in autumn, chrysophytes in winter, diatoms and cryptophytes in spring and chlorophytes in summer. The diff erences in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the phytoplankton among the analysed sampling stations were noticed. The species composition of the potamoplankton was changing as it passed through the reservoir along the course of the river. With regard to all seasons the lowest number of taxa were noticed in samples from the inlet. The most diversifi ed was phytoplankton composition in the reservoir. The highest similarity between the analysed stations was observed in the phytoplankton composition in the reservoir and outlet of the river from this reservoir.
The studies were carried out on the maize crops grown in monoculture in 2004-2005 on two experimental fields at Łosiów and Wronów in Opole region, Poland. From the aphid mummies collected at both sites secondary parasitoids of the families Pteromalidae, Cynipidae, Megaspilidae, and Encyrtidae were reared. In spring and early summer of 2004, the most abundant were the species of Pteromalidae, with the eudominating species Asaphes suspensus NEES. At the same time of the next year the dominant species were Dendrocerus carpenteri (CURTIS) (Megaspilidae) and Phaenoglyphis villosa (HARTIG) (Charipidae: Alloxistinae). In autumn, the secondary parasitoids occurred only in the second year of the study, 2005. The dominant species at both sites was Phaenoglyphis xanthochroa (FÖRSTER) (Charipidae: Alloxistinae). In the literature available so far there are no data on secondary parasitoids incidence on maize crop in autumn.