Initial populations of club mosses were investigated in pine forests of southern Lithuania (ass. Cladonio-Pinetum and Vaccinio vitis-idaeae-Pinetum). Results show that populations of lycophyta gametophytes in some forest sites can be abundant (up to 500 individuals in a square meter). All juvenile populations were found in localities where recorded tree canopy cover was 30% or less. Localization of subterranean gametophyte populations was determined by juvenile club mosses. We mapped locations of all Lycopodium L. and Diphasiastrum Holub. juvenile sporophytes and gametophytes that occurred within three randomly selected and excavated 0.25 m² sample plots at four pine forest sites in different localities in southern Lithuania. The developmental stage of each individual was recorded. Eight out of twelve soil samples from four research localities contained subterranean gametophytes. In total 277 gametophytes and 124 juvenile sporophytes were recorded. The developmental stage and size of the gametophytes varied. Gametophytes were divided into six categories on the basis of external features. Spatial distribution of gametophytes and juvenile sporophytes were evaluated using a nearest neighbor analysis (NNA). Our results suggest that initial populations of gametophytes in pine forests are multi-aged and display a relatively stable degree of spatial aggregation. Greater aggregation occurred among juvenile sporophytes.

The most numerous limestone caves are in the smallest national park in Poland (the Ojców National Park). A total of 50 algal samples were collected from ten caves, each having different environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature and humidity. The morphological and ecological variability of cyanobacteria and algae were studied using fresh samples, cultures grown on agar plates, and documented with TEM, SEM and LM. Light microscopic observations showed that aerophytic cyanobacteria were the most important component of the cave′s photosynthetic microflora. Among cyanobacteria, the following genera were frequently encountered: Aphanocapsa, Chroococcus, Gloeocapsa, Leptolyngbya, and Synechocystis. Whereas the green algal genera, Apatococcus and Klebsormidium, often occurred with Chlorella, Muriella, Neocystis and the diatoms, Orthoseira and Pinnularia. Most of the algal species appeared to be cosmopolitan, ubiquitous, had simple nutrition requirements and wide ecological tolerance (they reproduced rapidly and were easily adaptable to new conditions). The cave′s microhabitats offered relatively stable microclimatic conditions and they seemed to be responsible for the observed distribution of aerophytic algae and cyanobacteria. The Shannon-Wiener index (H′) ranged between 4.9 and 3.9, and the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that these differences were statistically significant.

Three sites with both degraded alpine Kobresia meadow (DM) and adjacent mix-seeded perennial grasses pastures (MSP) in the headwater region of the Yellow River, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, were selected to investigate plant and soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and their isotope composition. The SOC and TN in the top soil layer to a depth of 10 cm were significantly affected by ploughing and planting mix-seeded perennial grasses. The SOC content in 0–10 cm soil layer of MSPs was 25.6%, 5.5% and 12.9% lower than those of DMs at the I-III sites, respectively, and the rate of OC density loss was 23.8, 14.5 and 18.2%, respectively. The soil TN content in 0–10 cm soil layer of MSPs was 16.6%, 2.2% and 9.4% lower than those of the DMs at three sites, respectively, and the TN density was 15.6, 10.6 and 15.3% lower than those of DMs, respectively. The plant and soil ¹³C values (-27.03‰, -25.16‰, respectively) suggest that the vegetation of both DMs and MSPs are C₃ plant communities. The 15 N value in the soil (>4‰) was significantly greater than in plants (<2‰). No differences of either ¹³C or ¹⁵N abundance between MSPs and DMs at Site I and II, but were found at Site III, indicating that the effects were site specific. The rehabilitation of a degraded Kobresia meadow has a significant influence on the soil properties, SOC and TN. Caution should be taken in site selection before performing conversion.

Leaf carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) of both vascular and non-vascular plants were investigated in order to assess their variability along an altitude gradient (414, 620, 850, 1086, 1286 and 1462 m) from a subtropical monsoon forest located at Mt. Tianmu Reserve, eastern China. Leaf δ¹³C values of all plant species ranged from -34.4 to -26.6‰, with an average of -29.8‰. There is no significant difference in leaf δ¹³C between vascular plants and mosses, however, trees had significantly higher δ¹³C values than herbs. For pooled data, leaf δ¹³C was positively correlated with altitude. Leaf δ¹³C was significantly and negatively correlated with annual mean temperature and atmospheric pressure, while it was significantly and positively correlated with soil water content. Furthermore, there was no relationship between leaf δ¹³C and soil nitrogen content or soil phosphorus content. The altitudinal trend in leaf δ¹³C is the consequence of the interaction between temperature, atmospheric pressure and soil water content.

The montane glades in the Polish Carpathians were created centuries ago and have lasted mainly as a result of mowing and grazing. The observed abandonment of traditional methods of tillage in the last century led to adverse changes in vegetation cover, including a decrease in floristic diversity and the disappearance of many plant species and associations. One of a rare mountain taxa in Poland is the alpine globeflower Trollius altissimus Crantz. The investigations were carried out between June and September 2014 in the Hala Długa glade (Gorce Mts.) at two 36 m² plots: extensively grazed (P1) and unmanaged (P2). Light intensity, abundance and density of individuals and ramet clusters were significantly greater in the extensively grazed plot, whereas height of plant canopy, length of basal leaf petioles, width of leaf lamina, number and length of generative stems, number of flowers and follicles achieved higher values in the unmanaged plot. The structure of developmental stages and number of basal leaves did not differ remarkably between the studied sites. Also, the soil properties in both plots were very similar.

The studies show that extensive sheep grazing has a positive influence on Trollius altissimus. In the studied locality such management contributes to the gradual spreading of this species. However, too intensive pasturage might eliminate this species as it has never been observed in any of the permanently grazed patches in the vicinity.

The influence of the shrub canopy on the spatial distribution of above and below ground arthropod communities in desertified ecosystems is largely unknown. Using the shrubs Hedysarum scoparium (H. scoparium) and Artemisia ordosica (A. ordosica) as model systems, the above and belowground arthropod communities were sampled by using pitfall trapping and hand-sorting, in order to examine the linkage between above and belowground arthropods across shrub microhabitats. Different profile layers harboured mostly distinct arthropod taxon and trophic groups that preferred specific microhabitats. Even the common taxa, including the Carabidae and Formicidae families, were found to have different abundance distributions in above and belowground soil layers across shrub microhabitats. Total abundance distribution was found to differ, while taxon-richness and Shannon-index distributions were similar in above and belowground parts across the shrub microhabitats. Markedly higher taxon-richness and Shannon-index values were found beneath the shrub canopy compared to the open spaces, particularly beneath the A. ordosica shrub canopy. The abundance distribution in above and below ground arthropod communities were affected by the shrub microhabitats along vertical and horizontal axes more than the richness and diversity of these communities. The A. ordosica shrub canopy (compared with the H. scoparium shrub) was found to have greater ecological implications on the spatial distribution of the arthropod communities. All these findings were expected to be helpful for the conservation of biodiversity, shrub plantation management, and desertification control.

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.

Natural river-floodplain systems are heterogenous mosaics of lotic and lentic habitats subjected to dynamic temporal changes connected with hydrological regime, which promote high biological diversity. Mollusc assemblages of three habitat types within 10 km section of the lower course of the Liwiec River (East Poland) — the main river channel (MC), the secondary channel (SC) and remnants of the former river channel (FC), were compared to find if they were structured by heterogeneity resulting from hydrological connectivity and disturbance intensity related to it. The influence of selected qualitative environmental variables was also analysed. The investigations were carried out at 19 sites during late spring and late summer in the years 2012–2014, molluscs were sampled from approximately 1 m² of the bottom with a hand net, and from macrophytes with a frame. Rich aquatic malacofauna (36 species including 22 gastropods and 14 bivalves) was found within the study area including three species of special interest: Anisus vorticulus (Troschel), Unio crassus Phillipsson and Anodonta cygnea (L.). Bivalves Sphaerium corneum (L.) and Pisidium spp dominated within MC, in SC a few common and ubiquitous species (mainly snails) prevailed, pulmonate snails and some small bivalves of the genus Pisidium were the most numerous molluscs within FC. Principal Component Analysis revealed that current velocity, channel width, bottom sediments and macrophyte abundance were important environmental factors structuring mollusc assemblages. Considerable variation in species composition (β diversity), especially between the main river channel and two other habitat types (β²) was found. The highest values of mean species richness, Shannon true diversity and Shannon index found in the secondary channel were in accordance with intermediate disturbance hypothesis.

We tested the influence of nest concealment (vegetation type, density and height), water depth and nest distance from the bank on predation rates upon simulated nests of the water rail (Rallus aquaticus) and the little crake (Porzana parva). Broods of both rallids were simulated by real and wax-filled quail (Coturnix coturnix) eggs coloured typically for each species. Three grades of nest concealment were used: uncovered nests located on wooden floating boards, nests hidden in littoral vegetation and nests hidden under a plastic mesh covered with plants, which made them invisible from the air. Concealment proved to have a stronger impact on the fate of artificial nests than water depth; 95% of the nests on boards were depredated after one week of exposure. Nests attached to a peg at water level and hidden in vegetation had survival rates of 18 and 22%, after three weeks of exposure in two experiment repetitions. In 2012, we found significant differences between survival rates of nests located in different types of vegetation after the first week of the experiment: nests in bulrush (Typha spp.) had a higher survival rate than nests in sedge (Carex spp.) and common reed (Phragmites australis), and nests in sedge had a better survival rate than nests in reed. Those differences disappeared after the end of the experiment. In 2013, nests located in sedge (Carex spp.) had a better survival rate than nests located in bulrush (Typha spp.) or the common reed (Phragmites australis). Covering nests with plastic mesh and plants increased nest survival up to 38% after a three-week-long exposure period. Potential nest predators were monitored: mammals (mustelids and rodents) using live traps and birds by observation of their hunting activity. Filling quail eggshells with wax allowed us to identify the marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) as the main nest predator — in 67% of depredated nests, wax eggs carried marks of a raptor beak. American mink (Neovison vison) and the water vole (Arvicola amhibius), though abundant in the study area, were not important nest predators, as only a few bite marks of these mammals were recorded.

This paper analysed the influence of the gradient of water levels (-54–120 cm) on Acorus calamus (A. calamus) young shoots in terms of their growth characteristics (germination rate, basal stem, height and biomass), leaf characteristics (number, area and moisture content), chlorophyll (chl) fluorescence parameters (Fv/ Fm, ETR, qP and qN) and other indicators. Based on a Gaussian model, we determined and quantified the response relationship between A. calamus young shoots and water level. The results showed that the ecological amplitude of water level for A. calamus young shoots was -52.3−141.8 cm, and the optimum range was -3.5−69.3 cm; a variety of indicators suggested that the optimum depth for A. calamus young shoots was from18.8 cm to 49.6 cm. The A. calamus seedling growth characteristics which were sensitive to changes in the water level were the germination rate and biomass. The germination rate was more sensitive to the submergence water depth, but the biomass was obviously influenced by the groundwater depth. Therefore, the A. calamus could be a suitable species for ecological restoration of land/inland water ecotones in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

The aim of this study was to explore ecological adaptation of seed microsculptures of Saussurea from different altitudes. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the cypselae surface of 10 taxa of Saussurea collected from the eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China. The results indicated that the microsculptures had clear and consistent variations in some samples collected from high (4200 m a.s.l.) and low-altitude sites (2200 m a.s.l.). The thickness of stripes and distance between stripes are increasing while sulcus depth is increasing from a low to a high altitude (P < 0.01). The seed-coat surface was becoming rougher from low to high altitude. The surviving rate of seeds was lower at high altitude than that at low altitude in all the species. The surviving rate of the seeds collected from the high altitudes was higher than that of the seeds collected from low altitudes when sown at the same altitude. All the results suggested that there is selection pressure of the altitude on the development of the microsculpture patterns, which increases absorbed sunlight, the residence time of soil water and nutrition. The changes can make the seeds survive better at extreme environments (cold and dry). The cypselae microsculpture patterns should be used as potential adaptation biomarkers for the species of Saussurea from low- to high-altitude.

We examined the variation in the date of the onset of egg laying and clutch size in three peripheral populations of the Afrocanarian Blue Tits Cyanistes teneriffae ultramarinus at the edge of the species and subspecies geographic range. This study was carried out in three study sites, 130–290 km apart, in similar geographic conditions of the South Border Range of the Saharan Atlas in Algeria. Mean altitudes of nesting territories were between 1327 and 1437 m a.s.l. Habitats of the study sites were covered by the secondary, human-modified vegetation, ranging from a maquis shrubland, with the Holm oak Quercus ilex shrubs to woodlands dominated by the Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica or by the Aleppo pine Pinus halepensis. 169 wooden nest-boxes were monitored for breeding parameters (laying dates and clutch sizes) during the breeding seasons 2007–2009 and 2011–2013. The timing of egg laying was relatively late for the latitude of the study sites, with overall mean laying dates varying between the study sites from 4 to 13 May. The laying date was influenced by the altitude of nesting sites, with the dates being delayed with increasing altitude. Overall mean clutch size differed between the study sites from 5.91 at Djelfa to 8.43 at Aflou. Clutch size tended to decrease with the advance of the breeding season. Because the study populations inhabit areas of similar physical conditions (climate and altitude), the main inter-population source of variation in the breeding parameters studied was probably variation in habitat quality.

Farmland bird populations declining rapidly all over Europe. Most of the knowledge is, however, from the breeding season, and much less is known about the winter period, especially from Central and Eastern Europe. We censused wintering farmland bird assemblages in West Hungary, in 2011/2012. The censuses covered semi-natural and seeded grasslands, plough fields and wheat fields. The available winter seed food was estimated for each field from the top soil and from the vegetation. We recorded 25 species with 844 individuals on the fields. Semi-natural grasslands were the most important habitats for species richness of all, granivorous, and resident species, with seeded grasslands as the second best habitat. Abundance showed similar pattern, although with no significant effect for granivorous species and for short-range migrants. Seed mass was significantly different among the habitat types, higher on seeded grasslands and seminatural grasslands than on ploughed sites and winter wheat fields. Date had a significant effect on species richness and abundance with highest values in December. There was a positive significant correlation between bird species richness and seed mass only in December. Our results strengthen former findings that changes and drivers of wintering farmland bird populations may differ between Central and West Europe, and highlight the need for further, large scale studies to provide evidence base to guide agrienvironmental programs.

The knowledge about the awakening of hibernating bats is not sufficient. Unknown are also factors affecting the cyclical nature of this process. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of changes of phases of the moon, and thus changes in the Earth's magnetic field on the behaviour of wintering common noctules Nyctalus noctula Schreber. Hibernation of 336 common noctules placed in the hibernation shed was investigated. The shed was equipped with loggers which measured temperature. Based on the temperature changes inside the shed, a drop or an increase in bat activity was determined. Periodicity of temperature increase was observed and it correlated with the current moon phases. The moon phase regarded as the bright referred to more than 70% of moon face illuminated (MFI). The significant temperature increase inside the shed was observed at 70% MFI. This is also when the bats demonstrated an increased activity. The observed differences in the temperature inside the shed during bright nights were statistically significant. The results of the research indicate that moon phases have influence on awakenings coordination in the wintering colony of noctule bat. This phenomenon causes difficulties in interpretation. If bats are in fact able to distinguish moon phases the moon appears to be the perfect tool to control their internal biological clock.

Black garden ants Lasius niger (L.) were observed to invade a web of an agelenid funnel spider (Agelena labyrinthica Clerck or Allagelena gracilens C. L. Koch) and to take the entangled prey away, probably after driving the resident spider out of the web. The observation adds to a few examples of ants invading spider webs and suggests complex interactions between ants and funnel spiders which are known to feed on rather than being ousted by ants.