Grzegorz J. Wolski

Abiotic Determinants of the Historical Buildings Biodeterioration in the Former Auschwitz II – Birkenau Concentration and Extermination Camp

The paper presents the results of a study conducted at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim on the occurrence of biodeterioration. Visual assessment of the buildings revealed signs of deterioration of the buildings in the form of dampness, bulging and crumbling plaster, and wood fiber splitting. The external surfaces, and especially the concrete strips and ground immediately adjoining the buildings, were colonized by bryophytes, lichens, and algae. These organisms developed most intensively close to the ground on the northern sides of the buildings. Inside the buildings, molds and bacteria were not found to develop actively, while algae and wood-decaying fungi occurred locally. The factors conducive to biological corrosion in the studied buildings were excessive dampness of structural partitions close to the ground and a relative air humidity of above 70%, which was connected to ineffective moisture insulation. The influence of temperature was smaller, as it mostly affected the quantitative composition of the microorganisms and the qualitative composition of the algae. Also the impact of light was not very strong, but it was conducive to algae growth.

Ecological Diversity of Bryophytes on Tree Trunks in Protected Forests (A Case Study from Central Poland)

Abstract: Fudali, E. & Wolski, G. J. 2015. Ecological diversity of bryophytes on tree trunks in protected forests (a case study from Central Poland). — Herzogia 28: 87–103. The flora and number of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) colonizing tree trunks in ten forest nature reserves established between 1954 and 1996 and previously subjected to forest management, were analysed with regard to species ecological preferences, vertical distribution and life history strategies. The study aimed to identify ecological characters of bryophytes occurring on tree trunks in forests where intensive exploitation ceased many years ago. The question whether the current corticolous bryoflora continues to reflect past disturbances in the forest environment due to previous forest management is discussed. With respect to the species richness and diversity of their substratum requirements, the bryoflora occurring on tree trunks more closely resembled that of natural than of managed forests. However, obligate epiphytes (including relicts of ancient forests, such as: Dicranum viride, Neckera complanata and Ulota crispa) occurred rarely and most of them tended to occupy only tree bases.

Restoration of floodplain meadows: Effects on the re-establishment of mosses

Vascular plants serve as target species for the evaluation of restoration success as they account for most of the plant species diversity and vegetation cover. Although bryophytes contribute considerably to the species diversity of meadows, they are rarely addressed in restoration projects. This project is a first step toward making recommendations for including mosses in alluvial floodplain restoration projects. The opportunity to assess the diversity and ecological requirements of mosses on floodplain meadows presented itself within the framework of a vegetation monitoring that took place in 2014 on meadows located along the northern Upper Rhine. In this area, large-scale meadow restoration projects have taken place since 1997 in both the functional and fossil floodplains. Other studies have shown that bryophytes are generally present in green hay used in restoration, providing inadvertent bryophyte introduction. We compared bryophyte communities in donor and restored communities and correlated these communities with environmental variables—taking into account that the mosses on the restoration sites possibly developed from green hay. This analysis provided insights as to which species of bryophytes should be included in future restoration projects, what diaspores should be used, and how they should be transferred. Data on bryophyte occurrence were gathered from old meadows, and from restoration sites. We found distinct differences in bryophyte composition (based on frequency) in restored communities in functional flood plains compared to donor communities. Generally, restoration sites are still characterized by a lower species-richness, with a significantly lower occurrence of rare and red listed species and a lower species-heterogeneity. In conclusion, our research establishes what mosses predominate in donor and restored alluvial meadows along the northern Upper River, and what microsite conditions favour particular species. This points the way to deliberate introduction of moss diaspores for more complete alluvial meadow restoration.

Morphological and Anatomical Variability of Plagiothecium nemorale in Central Poland

Abstract: Wolski, G. J. 2017. Morphological and anatomical variability of Plagiothecium nemorale in Central Poland. — Herzogia 30: 36–50. Species in the genus Plagiothecium are highly variable, and one of them, Plagiothecium nemorale, is often described as a complex of species. The main aim of this study is to describe intraspecific variability of this taxon based on specimens collected in central Poland. The results suggest that specimens can be separated into two groups that differ in terms of the width of the leaf at the widest point, the length of the leaf cells and the diameter of the stem.