Edyta Regulska

Landscape Patch Pattern Effect on Relationships between Soil Properties and Earthworm Assemblages: A Comparison of two Farmlands of Different Spatial Structure

ABSTRACT Our survey was carried out in two study sites of approximately 3.3 ha each located in the Suwałki Lake District in NE Poland in the year 2008. Earthworms and soil samples were collected during two campaigns (spring and autumn) from 25 × 25 cm and 30 cm deep sampling points. The complex arable landscape (CAL) supported higher earthworm diversity, density and biomass than the similarly managed but homogeneous arable landscape (HAL). The spring and autumn earthworm sampling campaigns revealed very different patterns, and we conclude that autumn sampling is the most adequate for biomonitoring. On the other hand, the spring collections were significantly correlated to soil physical parameters, thus spring sampling is more suitable for studying such correlations. Significant correlations occurred almost exclusively for CAL and the soil parameters significantly relating with earthworm community were: soil moisture, nitrogen and organic carbon contents. The possible reason for it is the presence of numerous refuges for lumbricids offered by field margins, balks, woodlots and meadows in the CAL and lack of them in the HAL.

„Warmińska Jerozolima” – Głotowo

Głotowo zlokalizowane jest w województwie warmińsko-mazurskim, ok. 4 km na południowy zachód od Dobrego Miasta. Według podziału fizyczno-geograficznego J. Kondrackiego należy do Pojezierza Olsztyńskiego, zachodniej części mezoregionu Pojezierza Mazurskiego. Wieś położona jest w otoczonej pagórkowatym terenem dolinie, ze szczególnie ciekawym widokowo wąwozem rzeczki Kwiela. Znaczna jej część osady znajduje się w Obszarze Chronionego Krajobrazu Doliny Środkowej Łyny. Z okolicznego wzgórza dostrzec można całą sylwetę miejscowości z wyraźną dominantą w postaci kościoła oraz pięknie zachowany i widoczny w krajobrazie historyczny układ ruralistyczny.

The role of habitat heterogeneity in the relationships between soil properties and earthworm assemblages: A case study in Pomerania (Northern Poland)

The vastness of the research on earthworm assemblages in agricultural lands focus on the comparison of agricultural treatments of different intensity. Consequently, spatial complexity of the landscape is less emphasised. Our study addresses this knowledge gap. The field study taken in West Pomeranian Lake District in Poland during four campaigns (spring and autumn) revealed that the mosaic of fields (MF) supported higher earthworm abundance than the similarly managed but homogeneous field (HF). Number and biomass of earthworm individuals both reflect the relationships with electrical conductivity, pH and in some situations also soil organic carbon and soil moisture effectively. We argue that autumn sampling is more preferable for biomonitoring.