Małgorzata Stasińska

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of native and non-native Pinus and Quercus species in a common garden of 35-year-old trees

Non-native tree species have been widely planted or have become naturalized in most forested landscapes. It is not clear if native trees species collectively differ in ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) diversity and communities from that of non-native tree species. Alternatively, EMF species community similarity may be more determined by host plant phylogeny than by whether the plant is native or non-native. We examined these unknowns by comparing two genera, native and non-native Quercus robur and Quercus rubra and native and non-native Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra in a 35-year-old common garden in Poland. Using molecular and morphological approaches, we identified EMF species from ectomycorrhizal root tips and sporocarps collected in the monoculture tree plots. A total of 69 EMF species were found, with 38 species collected only as sporocarps, 18 only as ectomycorrhizas, and 13 both as ectomycorrhizas and sporocarps. The EMF species observed were all native and commonly associated with a Holarctic range in distribution. We found that native Q. robur had ca. 120% higher total EMF species richness than the non-native Q. rubra, while native P. sylvestris had ca. 25% lower total EMF species richness than non-native P. nigra. Thus, across genera, there was no evidence that native species have higher EMF species diversity than exotic species. In addition, we found a higher similarity in EMF communities between the two Pinus species than between the two Quercus species. These results support the naturalization of non-native trees by means of mutualistic associations with cosmopolitan and novel fungi.

Species and functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees on three different sites

Abstract• IntroductionIn the present study, we describe the aboveground (epigeous sporocarps) and belowground (ectomycorrhizal root tips and their exploration types) composition of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal species on three 20-year-old Scots pine sites.• ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to relate the composition of ECM species to history of the site, stand density and soil chemistry (pH, toxic metal content, etc.) and to show how variable site condition contribute to above- and belowground ECM community changes.• ResultsECM fungi were identified by combination of morphotyping and direct sequencing of the PCR-amplified internal-transcribed spacer of n-rDNA. By identifying sporocarps and mycorrhizas, we detected a total of 54 taxa of ECM fungi: 28, 30, and 23 species at the Kórnik (control), Luboń (near the chemical plant) and Głogów (near the Copper Smelter, heavy metal influenced) sites, respectively. The sporocarp survey weakly reflected the analysis of ECM tips in terms of species composition, and largely supplemented the belowground view. Wilcoxina rehmii was the belowground-dominating species at all three sites and was found at the highest abundance at the site established after the clear cut of poplars and with the highest tree density (Kórnik). At the Luboń site, subdominant mycorrhizas were formed by Phialophora finlandia. On the site near the Copper Smelter in Głogów, a significant shift in species composition was observed compared with the two other sites and a very large proportion of medium-fringe exploration type belonging to Atheliaceae was found. Despite the partial overlap in the nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling ordination, analysis of similarity revealed significant differences between tested sites.• ConclusionBecause of the number of covarying site properties which may influence ECM communities, it is difficult, if not unfeasible, to separate the precise reasons of the distribution of ECM fungi. Continued research on the biodiversity of ECM fungi in field sites along an environmental gradient would greatly improve our understanding of the effects of ecological conditions on the functional diversity of mycorrhizal fungi.

Synanthropization of the Baltic-type raised bog "Roby" (NW Poland).

Abstract Raised and transitional peat bogs, despite their considerable resistance to synanthropization, as a result of anthropogenic transformations are exposed to the colonisation by alien species. One of them is the peatland “Roby”, where, in the years 2007-2009 and 2014, floristic, phytosociological and soil studies were carried out in order to record the signs of ongoing synanthropization. Conducted observations and analyses indicated that the expansion of willows has taken place and at present they occupy a large part of the bog, encroaching into bog birch forest and successfully competing with Myrica gale. Progressive peat mineralisation and constructed surfaced roads within the bog, contributed to the appearance and wide distribution of synanthropic species, such as: Urtica dioica, Impatiens parviflora and Spiraea salicifolia. Raised bog communities and their characteristic species occur on a few fragments of the bog, in north-western part, where water regime is shaped mainly by precipitation and peat deposit is fairly well-preserved. At the same time, in the patches of these communities, a distinct unfavourable increase in the share of Molinia caerulea is observed.

Natural conditions for the reconstruction of fish ponds and possibilities of their use in ecotourism.

Natural conditions for the reconstruction of fish ponds and possibilities of their use in ecotourism The paper comprises an analysis of the environmental impact of restoring small water retention in the Świergotka River. Hampering water flow due to river damming by 0.5 m and reconstruction of ponds will have a favourable effect on the valleys nature but may result in excessive water eutrophication in case of using these reservoirs for fish-farming. Mała retencja - analiza wpływu na środowisko i możliwości wykorzystania w ekoturystyce Rzeka Świergotka, o długości ok. 5,6 km, uchodzi do kanału ulgi, na krawędzi Polderu Cedyńskiego. W okresie przed II wojną światową została spiętrzona na 9 odcinkach, na których powstały stawy. Na skutek zniszczenia urządzeń piętrzących tylko 3 z nich wypełnione były wodą. W 2007 r. powstał projekt odtworzenia dawnego systemu retencyjnego. Stworzyło to konieczność wykonania badań szaty roślinnej i prognoz jej dynamiki w zmienionych warunkach hydrologicznych. Badania prowadzono od czerwca do października 2007 r. Zlokalizowano zbiorowiska roślinne oraz wykonano spisy florystyczne. Określono także tendencje sukcesyjne roślinności na obszarach dawnych stawów oraz ewentualne zagrożenia dla środowiska przyrodniczego. Ogółem na badanym terenie stwierdzono występowanie 109 gatunków roślin naczyniowych, dwa gatunki mchów torfowców i jeden gatunek wątrobowca. Nie odnotowano taksonów zagrożonych ani podlegających całkowitej ochronie, a jedynie cztery chronione częściowo. Na dnach dawnych stawów wykształciły się głównie olszyny bagienne lub zdegradowane zbiorowiska torfowisk eutroficznych, w których dominują pospolite gatunki wilgotnych łąk. Odtworzone stawy, ze względu na ryzyko znacznej eutrofizacji wód Świergotki w jej dolnym biegu nie mogą być wykorzystane jako hodowlane. Zlokalizowane na obszarze Natura 2000 - Ostoja Cedyńska PLB 320017, w obrębie rozległego kompleksu leśnego, są miejscem bytowania wielu gatunków ptaków. Przywrócony układ hydrologiczny pozytywnie wpłynie na różnorodność fauny, przyczyni się do zwiększenia areałów zbiorowisk związanych ze zbiornikami eutroficznymi oraz do poprawy warunków wilgotnościowych lasów doliny. Obszar ten może być wykorzystany do stosunkowo bezinwazyjnego dla środowiska kontaktu ludzi z przyrodą. Wpływa to na kształtowanie postaw proekologicznych i jest jedną z ważnych metod ochrony przyrody.