Damian Chmura

Enzymatic activities and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Plantago lanceolata and Plantago major in a soil root zone under heavy metal stress

The objectives of the present field study were to examine the soil enzyme activities in the soil root zones of Plantago lanceolata and Plantago major in different heavy metal contaminated stands. Moreover, the investigations concerned the intensity of root endophytic colonization and metal bioaccumulation in roots and shoots. The investigated Plantago species exhibited an excluder strategy, accumulating higher metal content in the roots than in the shoots. The heavy metal accumulation levels found in the two plantain species in this study were comparable to other plants suggested as phytostabilizers; therefore, the selected Plantago species may be applied in the phytostabilization of heavy metal contaminated areas. The lower level of soil enzymes (dehydrogenase, urease, acid, and alkaline phosphatase) as well as the higher bioavailability of metals in the root zone soil of the two plantain species were found in an area affected by smelting activity, where organic matter content in the soil was also the smallest. Mycorrhizal colonization on both species in the contaminated area was similar to colonization in non-contaminated stands. However, the lowest arbuscule occurrence and an absence of dark septate endophytes were found in the area affected by the smelting activity. It corresponded with the lowest plant cover observed in this stand. The assessment of enzyme activity, mycorrhizal colonization, and the chemical and physical properties of soils proved to be sensitive to differences between sites and between Plantago species.

The relationship between successional vascular plant assemblages and associated microbial communities on coal mine spoil heaps

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between the vascular plant species and the associated soil microbial properties at various stages of vegetation development on unclaimed hard coal mine spoil heaps in Upper Silesia (south Poland). The spontaneous vegetation, soil chemistry as well as the activity and structure of microbial communities were recorded on this specific habitat. The colliery heaps were divided into four age classes and the plant species composition and cover abundance were recorded on established plots (2 m × 2 m). The soil microbial activity under the vegetation patches was assessed using fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (FDHA) and the soil microbial biomass and community composition were determined by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarkers. Total microbial biomass in soils from the older vegetation plots was significantly higher than those in soils from the younger plots. In all studied samples, microbial communities consisted primarily of bacteria with the dominance of Gram negative bacteria over Gram positive and aerobic microorganisms were more dominant than anaerobic ones. Statistical analysis revealed a correlation between the type of vegetation and microbial community structure.

The vascular plant colonization on decaying Picea abies logs in Karkonosze mountain forest belts: the effects of forest community type, cryptogam cover, log decomposition and forest management

Among the vascular plants there is a lack of the typical epixylous species but they are a constant component on decaying wood. Their distribution patterns on this kind of substrate seem to be the least known among phototrophs. A total of 454 dead logs of Picea abies were analyzed with regard to cover of vascular plants and the independent morphometric features of logs and altitude. Four types of forest were compared, and the frequency and cover of the most frequent species were analyzed across the forest communities along the decomposition stage. Among the logs that were studied, 292 were colonized by vascular plants. The highest number of colonized logs was recorded in Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum and the lowest in a deciduous beech forest of the Fagetalia order. Detrended correspondence analysis revealed that the dead logs occurring in the four forest communities differed significantly in species composition. Constrained correspondence analysis showed that six variables significantly explained the species variation, i.e., altitude, shade, moisture, decomposition stage, cover of bryophytes and status of forest (protected vs. managed). The results of the indicator value method indicated that of the 34 found species, ten could be treated as indicator species for the forest communities that were analyzed. The statistical analysis did not confirm significant role of coarse woody debris as a secondary habitat for rare and protected vascular plants.

Environmental repercussion of subsidence reservoirs reclamation

Environmental repercussion of subsidence reservoirs reclamation Subsidence basins filled with water are being formed above exploitation fields also in woodland areas leading to changes in water relations simultaneously affecting creation of environmental islands characterized by higher biodiversity in comparison with adjacent areas. Unfortunately, these types of water reservoirs from the legal point of view are considered mining damage and should thus be reclaimed. Reclamation usually consists in gravitational drainage and filling up with barren rock, appropriate relief forming and afforestation. So performed reclamation practices lead to negative effects both within the subsidence and in adjacent areas. The objective of this work was to determine the impact of reclamation based on filling subsidence with barren rock on changes in hydrology and biodiversity of nearby forest communities. For the purpose of the study two objects were selected: the existing water body and former water reservoir - at present filled with barren rock. Both are situated in Ślαskie voivodship (the territory of Mysłowice and Katowice). Within the two objects, hydrological studies at two sampling points in each of the objects and vegetation sampling were performed. The DCA of 12 transects (6 in each object) and statistical analyses of vegetation showed differences between two objects in species composition, especially due to higher abundance and coverage of invasive and expansive species in reclaimed areas. Chemical analyses showed high contamination of surface waters (by e.g. SO42-, Cl-, Na+) caused by waste deposition in barren rock and the negative effect of coal mine waters supplying the area of reclaimed reservoir. Środowiskowe skutki rekultywacji zbiorników powstałych w nieckach osiadań Niecki osiadania wypełnione wodα tworzα się nad polami eksploatacyjnymi równieł na terenach leśnych, zmieniajαc poważnie warunki hydrologiczne a równocześnie przyczyniajαc się do powstania wysp środowiskowych o znacznie większej różnorodności biologicznej niż tereny sαsiadujαce. Niestety tego typu zbiorniki wodne z punktu widzenia prawa sα szkodami górniczymi i podlegajα procesom naprawczym, polegajαcym najczęściej na grawitacyjnym odwodnieniu niecki a następnie jej wypełnieniu skałami płonnymi, odpowiednim ukształtowaniu rzeźby terenu i najczęściej posadzeniu lasu. Tak prowadzone prace rekultywacyjne pociαgajα za sobα (paradoksalnie) szereg negatywnych skutków, zarówno w obrębie samej niecki jak i obszarach przyległych. Celem prezentowanej pracy jest określenie wpływu rekultywacji zbiornika, powstałego w niecce osiadań, przez zasypanie skałα płonnα na zmiany warunków hydrologicznych oraz różnorodność biologicznα sαsiadujαcych zbiorowisk leśnych. W prezentowanej pracy dane florystyczne gromadzono na terenie zasypanego zbiornika, zlokalizowanego na terenie miasta Mysłowice (woj. ślαskie) i zbiorowiska leśnego w jego sαsiedztwie. W obrębie zbiornika szczegółowo scharakteryzowano warunki hydrologiczne. Wykonano spisy gatunków roślin naczyniowych z ich procentowα wycenα w skali 0%, 10%, 20%, …, 100% w obrębie wyznaczonych reprezentaty wnych powierzchni badawczych, zarówno na terenie byłego zbiornika, jak i w sαsiadujαcym zbiorowisku leśnym. Różnice w różnorodności gatunkowej, udziale grup ekologicznych gatunków roślin przeanalizowano testem nieparametrycznym Kruskalla- Walisa i post-hoc Conovera, natomiast zwiαzek z warunkami siedliskowymi sprawdzono analizα korelacji sumy rang Spearmana i metodami analizy gradientowej (DCA). Wyniki badań wskazujα na negatywny wpływ procesów rekultywacji technicznej zbiorników powstałych w nieckach osiadań na różnorodność biologicznα, majαcy wyraz w składzie gatunkowym - obecność gatunków obcego pochodzenia. Również z punktu widzenia hydrologii zasypanego skałα płonnα zbiornika ten typ rekultywacji prowadzi do wysokiego stopnia zmineralizowania oraz podwyższonego stężenia siarczanów, chlorków oraz jonów sodu.

An invertebrate harmfulness scale for research on plant pest diversity and impacts

ABSTRACT Traditional methods of quantifying the harmful effects of invertebrates on plants require time-consuming identification of large numbers of individuals at species level. Collected specimens usually are killed; this may be unacceptable for some strictly protected species and may bias the results of subsequent surveys at the same site. We developed a “harmfulness scale” for quick, non-invasive assessment of invertebrate impacts on plants, and used the scale to test differences in invertebrate attack on species of Balsaminaceae, Polygonaceae and Asteraceae growing in lowland and mountains in Poland. In 2010–2011, we recorded 9190 invertebrates and identified them in situ to family or superfamily level. Among them were 7593 pests, accounting for 82.6% of all recorded organisms. Pests were three times more numerous in the mountains than in the lowland. Balsaminaceae were most heavily attacked by pests (92.9% of all organisms detected on them). Aphidoideae were the most numerous pests. This method can help reduce the costs and labour required for this type of research, facilitating progress in theoretical biology and in the development of practical phytosanitary measures.

New Stand of Invasive Neophyte Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Its Potential Reproduction

ABSTRACT A new stand, formed by some fifty individuals of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., an invasive plant of alien origin, was discovered at the Katowice railway station (southern Poland), in 2011. Two years later, the stand (increased to more than 160 individuals in the meantime) was re-visited, phytosociological survey was made, and four soil cores (5 cm deep and 80 cm2 surface area, each) were taken for seed bank studies. The phytosociological sampling revealed 28 co-occurring vascular species, most of them representing hemicryptophyte and geophyte life forms. According to Ellenbergs values, the species pool indicated sunny (L7 and L8 species dominating) and semi-dry (mainly F4 species) habitat for the common ragweed population, whereas Zarzyckis soil granulometric data reflected coarse-grained soil. Albedo of the soil was lower than that of the vegetation thus sparsely vegetated sites were considered as heat accumulating microhabitats that might support establishment of the thermophilic A. artemisiifolia. During soil seed bank analysis a high number of naturally opened fruits (dehiscent achenes) were found (718.75 per m2) most probably indicating frequent germination in previous years. Greenhouse germination tests proved successful germination of 125 individuals per m2, which was considered enough to maintain the A. artemisiifolia stand at the station. The results call attention to a newly discovered, established population with increasing demography of A. artemisiifolia, a highly allergenic introduced weed of Poland.

Spatiotemporal aspects of the occurrence of clonal steppe plant Adonis vernalis L. in the southern Poland

Abstract The research was carried out in three steppe nature reserves in the Nida Basin (southern Poland) aiming at determine an impact of geomorphological conditions and spatial arrangement on selected parameters of life history of Adonis vernalis in the year 2007-2008. In each reserve 10 1-m2 permanent plots, using stratified-random sampling method, were established and frequency of particular developmental phases were noted in April and May. In 2007 and 2008 total 1145 and 1132 ramets were counted respectively. We observed negative relationships between density of clumps per 1 m2 and number of specific developmental phases and height of clumps. Phenology of Adonis vernalis shows distinct year-to-year changes what is probably connected with sensitivity of plants to weather fluctuations. Our study revealed that relations between ramets and density of clumps are similar independently on local biotopic conditions, relief structure, differences in abundance of population, and type of vegetation in neighbourhood.

Magtömeg vizsgálatok az Impatiens parviflora DC. különbözo{double acute} növényföldrajzi régiókban élo{double acute} populációiban

Abstract Agroforestry farming system comprises considerable cultivated land area in the tropics. Despite the economic and social benefits of the system for farmers, it is also known to have an important role in the conservation of tree species. This study aims to evaluate the composition and distribution of tree species in coffee based agroforestry system to determine the potential for biodiversity conservation. To address the objective of this study, 57 sample plots in farmers’ coffee field and 12 sample plots in forest reserve were surveyed in Eastern Uganda. The result shows that the number of indigenous tree species in coffee farms was lower than that of forest reserve. Similarly, tree species richness per plot, Shannon and Simpson diversity indexes of forest reserve were significantly (p≤0.05) higher than that of coffee farms. However, with the inclusion of exotic tree species, coffee farms were found to be significantly higher than that of forest reserve for the above diversity indexes. On the other hand, the distribution of tree species in the coffee farms were mainly dominated by few tree species indicating the need for measures that ensure the sustainability of those less represented tree species.

The Errors in Visual Estimation of Plants Cover in the Context of Education of Phytosociology

Abstract In vegetation science including phytosociology, visual estimates of plant cover and point method belong to the common field method to record species composition and their abundance. Two methods were compared: Braun-Blanquet scale and point method using Levy bridge. A group of students performed measurements in five plots belonged to an oak-hornbeam forest Tilio-Carpinetum. It was revealed that there is a very high discrepancy in a observed number of species. Total mean numbers obtained are 13.4 and 31.2 for point method and Braun-Blanquet method respectively. However, there is the significant positive and medium correlation between two methods in terms of estimation of abundance of species. It can be concluded that point-method is not suitable for study of forest floor vegetation. It can be merged with other methods. Due to many repetitive measures, it can be helpful in learning of recognition of species.

Invasion of alien Solidago taxa into urban habitats: A study of selected towns in southern Poland

Abstract In Poland there are three invasive species of the genus Solidago native to North America. In the years 2010-2015 field survey in five tows in Oswiecim Basin and its vicinity was performed which aimed to examine frequency, habitat preferences and basic parameters of populations of these species. Amongst invasive goldenrods S. canadensis (79 localities) and S. gigantea (74) prevailed in the study area and are much more frequent than S. graminifolia (8). Populations of goldenrods were not very abundant and did not occupy large area, however, there were populations exceeding 500 m2 and that had more than 500 ramets except for S. graminifolia which occur at low densities. The Canadian goldenrod S. canadensis tended to occur more frequently in ruderal and segetal habitats than S. gigantea whereas S. graminifolia was encountered only at fallows. Both S. gigantea and S. canadensis were reported to occur in wetland habitats and sometimes formed monospecific stands what prove negative influence on biodiversity.