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Intra- and interspecific pollen morphology variation of invasive Reynoutria taxa (Polygonaceae) in their response to different habitat conditions
Although understanding the relationship between the reproductive mode and mass-dispersal potential of plants is crucial for studying invasion phenomena, the morphological features of invasive species’ pollen are not well understood. This study examined the pollen morphology and variability of three Reynoutria (knotweed) taxa (R. japonica, R. sachalinensis, R. × bohemica) invasive in Europe, and their reaction to different habitat conditions within seven distinguished habitat types. The pollen was sourced from 95 sites from the taxa’s invasive range in Central Europe. In total, 2850 pollen grains were measured and analysed for 11 quantitative and qualitative features. The pollen of R. sachalinensis was distinguished from that of the other two taxa (reticulate perforate) based on its rugulate and fossulate perforate exine ornamentation. The pollen’s response to various habitat conditions, which was most marked in R. × bohemica, was reflected by pollen size and exine thickness. Our research indicates that pollen availability is not a limiting factor for the sexual reproduction of knotweeds in Central Europe, including Reynoutria japonica, long considered male sterile. The observed presence of male-fertile specimens of R. japonica may enhance the efficiency of generative reproduction in this species throughout its invaded ranges. This finding should be considered when planning actions to control the population of these transformer plant species.
Nowe stanowiska roślin naczyniowych Polski, 5
W pracy przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 18 rzadkich (lub regionalnie rzadkich) roślin naczyniowych w Polsce, tj. <i>Abutilon theophrasti, Aquilegia vulgaris, Carex bohemica, C. tomentosa, Crocus speciosus, Erechtites hieraciifolia, Lathyrus nissolia, Lunaria annua subsp. annua, Lycopodiella inundata, Myricaria germanica, Nymphaea candida, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Potentilla indica, Pulicaria dysenterica, Rubus kaznowskii, Scilla sardensis, Solidago ×niederederi</i> oraz <i>Veratrum lobelianum</i>.
Nowe stanowisko Goodyera repens (Orchidaceae) w borze sosnowym na Wyżynie Częstochowskiej
Goodyera repens inhabits mainly Scots pine-dominated and mixed forests. It also occurs in young monocultures of Scots pine with poorly developed undergrowth dominated by moss. Two localities of this species are currently described in the Częstochowa Upland, from the vicinity of Bystrzanowice (Fojcik 2005) and from Podlesice near Kroczyce (this study). At the described locality (Fig. 1), Goodyera repens occurs in Pinus sylvestris forest aged 85–110 years with an admixture of Populus tremula and Betula pendula. There is also patchy distributed renewal of Fagus sylvatica which in some places forms the lower floor of the canopy. There is also a rich undergrowth with rare flora elements typical for Scots pine forests: Orthilia secunda, Moneses uniflora, Pyrola chlorantha, Chimaphila umbellata, Monotropa hypopitys, as well as Lycopodium annotinum, L. clavatum and Diphasiastrum complanatum. The Scots pine forests common to the Częstochowa Upland suggest that there may be other locations of G. repens in this area, although this species has not been reported in studies of the flora of this region.
Linear scaling – negative effects of invasive Spiraea tomentosa (Rosaceae) on wetland plants and pollinator communities
Invasive plants directly and indirectly disrupt the ecosystem functioning, of which indirect effects, for example, through trophic cascades, are particularly difficult to predict. It is frequently assumed that the impact of an invading species on the ecosystem is proportional (linearly related) to its density or abundance in a habitat, but this assumption has rarely been tested. We hypothesised that abundance and richness of plants and potentially pollinators of wet meadows change as a result of invasion of steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa and that these changes are proportional to the density of the shrub. We selected 27 sites amongst wet meadows habitats invaded by S. tomentosa with coverage ranging from 0% to 100% and examined the diversity of plants, as well as the abundance and diversity of flower visitors (bees, butterflies with moths and flies). Our results showed that the richness of plants, as well as the richness and number of individuals of flower visitors, decrease significantly and linearly with an increase of the S. tomentosa cover. This finding supports the hypothesis that the impact of an invasive species can be proportional to their population density, especially if this species is limiting the available resources without supplying others. Our study is the first to show such an unequivocal negative, linear effect of an invasive shrub on the abundance and richness of potential pollinators. It proves that the negative impact of S. tomentosa on the wetland ecosystem appears even with a minor coverage of the invader, which should be taken into account when planning activities aimed at controlling the population of this transformer species. The simultaneously detected linear dependence allows us to assume that the benefits of controlling secondary populations of the shrub can be proportional to the incurred effort.
Consequences of Spiraea tomentosa invasion in Uropodina mite (Acari: Mesostigmata) communities in wet meadows
AbstractVegetation cover has been consistently reported to be a factor influencing soil biota. Massive spreading of invasive plants may transform native plant communities, changing the quality of habitats as a result of modification of soil properties, most often having a directional effect on soil microorganisms and soil fauna. One of the most numerous microarthropods in the litter and soil is Acari. It has been shown that invasive plants usually have a negative effect on mites. We hypothesized that invasive Spiraea tomentosa affects the structure of the Uropodina community and that the abundance and species richness of Uropodina are lower in stands monodominated by S. tomentosa than in wet meadows free of this alien species. The research was carried out in wet meadows, where permanent plots were established in an invaded and uninvaded area of each meadow, soil samples were collected, soil moisture was determined and the mites were extracted. We found that Uropodina mite communities differed in the abundance of individual species but that the abundance and richness of species in their communities were similar. S. tomentosa invasion led primarily to changes in the quality of Uropodina communities, due to an increase in the shares of species from forest and hygrophilous habitats. Our results suggest that alien plant invasion does not always induce directional changes in mite assemblages, and conclude that the impact of an alien species on Uropodina may cause significant changes in the abundance and richness of individual species without causing significant changes in the abundance and diversity of their community.
The effect of soil physicochemical properties on intraspecific variability of pollen morphology in Staphylea pinnata L.
Nowe stanowiska roślin naczyniowych Polski, 4
W pracy przedstawiono nowe stanowiska 15 rzadkich w skali kraju lub regionu roślin naczyniowych, tj. <i>Allium scorodoprasum</i>, <i>Ambrosia artemisiifolia</i>, <i>Blechnum spicant</i>, <i>Carex bohemica</i>, <i>Dactylorhiza incarnata</i> subsp. <i>incarnata</i>, <i>Dianthus superbus</i>, <i>Epipactis albensis</i>, <i>E. purpurata</i>, <i>Fritillaria meleagris</i>, <i>Lycopodiella inundata</i>, <i>Ophioglossum vulgatum</i>, <i>Oxytropis pilosa</i>, <i>Rubus laciniatus</i>, <i>R. praecox</i>, <i>Trapa natans</i> oraz pierwsze stanowisko <i>Verbena bonariensis</i> w Polsce.
Genetic and biometric patterns of rangewide divergence of iconic, Neogene relic broadleaved shrub species Staphylea pinnata L.– post-glacial expansion and human impact
Abstract Integrative phylogeographic studies supported by morphometric analysis and genetic data provide significant insights into the postglacial recolonization history and other factors shaping current distributions of plant species, including major forest-forming trees in Europe. However, genomic resources and phylogeographic knowledge of shrub species remain limited. Staphylea pinnata L. (European bladdernut) is a shrub native to thermophilous broadleaf forests and is the only representative of the Staphyleaceae in Central Europe. Given its historical associations with human and religious beliefs dating back to pre-Christian cultures, the current distribution of this iconic, Neogene relic species has been hypothesized to be influenced by human-assisted migration. This study aims to address this hypothesis by uncovering the genetic and morphometric relationships among S. pinnata populations across its wide distribution range in Europe, Caucasus and the Anatolian Peninsula, linking these findings with existing archaeobotanical and ethnobotanical data. We sampled 87 populations (979 individuals), genotyped them with the applications of newly developed genetic markers, and conducted morphological leafs’ measurements to estimate the postglacial expansion and human impact on the current distribution of S. pinnata. Both genetic and morphometric results indicate primarily natural post-glacial recolonization from two Pleistocene glacial refugia in the Apennines and Balkans. Additionally, we identified “suture zones” of increased genetic diversity in middle latitudes, resulting from secondary contact due to postglacial recolonization from different sources. Significant human contributions were observed towards the northernmost edge of the species’ range, including regions such as Eastern France, Lower Silesia in Poland, and Northern Podolia in Ukraine.
Pająki potencjalnymi zapylaczami gatunków inwazyjnych? Wpływ aktywnie polujących i sieciowych pająków na sukces reprodukcyjny inwazyjnej tawuły kutnerowatej (Spiraea tomentosa)
Phenological gap in fruiting period and dispersal of seeds from alien fleshy-fruited plants by medium-sized carnivores in temperate forests of Central Europe
Some biological differences between native and alien plants are relevant to their dispersal mechanisms. One of them is the fruiting period: it is shifted in time, peaking later than in natives. Here we report the case study showing the temporal distance in fruiting phenology between native and alien plants and their seed dispersal via carnivorous mammals. From 2009 to 2011, scats of badgers Meles meles, foxes Vulpes vulpes, martens Martes spp. (M. martes and M. foina) and possibly also raccoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides (N = 820) were collected along transects totaling 30.4 km in length each month from June to November. We analyzed the frequency of occurrence of seeds (FO%) and the seed load in sampled scats; 61.7% of the sampled feces contained seeds of 18 fleshy-fruited native and alien plant taxa, and the most abundant seeds were from species with multi-seeded fruits such as Vaccinium myrtillus (94.6%), Rubus sp. (2.0%), and drupes of Prunus serotina (1.0%). The structure of dominance was characterized by seeds of Vaccinium myrtillus (15.0%), Pyrus sp. (14.8%) and Prunus serotina (13.0%) with aliens reaching high frequency of occurrence (FO%). The shares of seed FO% in the samples differed between alien and native plants. For seed load there were also significant interactions between the status of the seeds (alien or native) and the month of the vegetation period. Our data show the coincidence of two factors – the late fruiting period of alien plants and the decreasing availability of native fruits during the vegetation period. Such a set of factors may promote the dispersal of alien plant seeds by carnivorous mammals, which, unlike migrating birds, are constantly present in autumn. The limited availability of native fruits after their fruiting period, creating a phenological gap, makes alien plants the main source of fleshy-fruits at the end of vegetation period in forest ecosystems; this is expressed in high proportion of alien plants in seed FO%, and in significant interactions in the seed load in carnivore scats.
Low Rate of Pre-Dispersal Acorn Predation by Eurasian Jays Garrulus glandarius during Non-Mast Years
Comparison of Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients values for selected traits of Pinus sylvestris L.
The Spearman rank correlation coefficient is a non-parametric (distribution-free) rank statistic proposed by Charles Spearman as a measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables. It is a measure of a monotonic relationship that is used when the distribution of the data makes Pearson's correlation coefficient undesirable or misleading. The Spearman coefficient is not a measure of the linear relationship between two variables. It assesses how well an arbitrary monotonic function can describe the relationship between two variables, without making any assumptions about the frequency distribution of the variables. Unlike Pearson's product-moment (linear) correlation coefficient, it does not require the assumption that the relationship between variables is linear, nor does it require that the variables be measured on interval scales; it can be applied to variables measured at the ordinal level. The purpose of this study is to compare the values of Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient (treating the data in a quantitative way) and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (treating the same data in a somewhat "qualitative" way) and their statistical significance for six Pinus sylvestris L. traits (original – for Pearson's coefficient and ranked – for Spearman's coefficient) estimated from all observations, object means (for trees) and medians. The results show that the linear and rank correlation coefficients are consistent (as to direction and strength). In cases of divergence in the direction of correlation, the correlation coefficients were not statistically significant, which does not imply consistency in decision-making. Estimation of correlation coefficients based on medians is robust to outlier observations and factors that linear correlation is then very similar to rank correlation.
How Do Pollen Grains of Convallaria majalis L. Respond to Different Habitat Conditions?
To date, the effect of habitat conditions on the characteristics of pollen has not been extensively investigated; however, it needs to be remembered that it may be highly significant for the quality of their generative reproduction success. It was decided to conduct the analyses on Convallaria majalis as a common species, naturally found in many different forest habitats. Moreover, the investigations covered pollen morphology and for the first time also the variability of pollen grains in this species. The plant material came from 98 natural sites located in Poland, in nine differing forest habitats. In total, 2940 pollen grains were analyzed in terms of five quantitative features (i.e., the length of the longest and shortest polar axes–LA and SA, exine thickness–Ex, the LA/SA and Ex/LA ratios) as well as the following qualitative ones: pollen outline and shape, sulcus type and exine ornamentation. Our studies revealed that the most important pollen characteristics in C. majalis included sulcus type, exine ornamentation, distribution and size of perforations, LA and pollen shape. The study showed the response of pollen to different habitat conditions found in the nine investigated habitats. The Ex/LA ratio and Ex were these pollen characteristics, which exhibited the most marked response to the different habitat conditions. Pollen from two habitats, moist mixed coniferous forest and upland mesic broadleaved forest, exhibited the most distinct characteristics.
Setts of European badger Meles meles in open habitats: trend or exception?
AbstractReports on the location of badger setts generally focussed on woodland habitats and paid little attention to open areas. There was a negative correlation between the number of setts in open landscape and the proportion of forest cover with an inflection point at 25–35%. A higher proportion of badger setts in open habitats is observed when forest cover is below the inflection point. The location of setts in the open landscape results from the dominance of these habitats and the low availability of woodland and that is a permanent aspect of badger behaviour and not a short‐term trend.
Comparison of Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients for selected traits of Pinus sylvestris L.
Abstract The Spearman rank correlation coefficient is a non-parametric (distribution-free) rank statistic proposed by Charles Spearman as a measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables. It is a measure of a monotonic relationship that is used when the distribution of the data makes Pearson’s correlation coefficient undesirable or misleading. The Spearman coefficient is not a measure of the linear relationship between two variables. It assesses how well an arbitrary monotonic function can describe the relationship between two variables, without making any assumptions about the frequency distribution of the variables. Unlike Pearson’s product-moment (linear) correlation coefficient, it does not require the assumption that the relationship between variables is linear, nor does it require that the variables be measured on interval scales; it can be applied to variables measured at the ordinal level. The purpose of this study is to compare the values of Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and their statistical significance for six morpho-anatomical traits of Pinus sylvestris L. (original – for Pearson’s coefficient, and ranked – for Spearman’s coefficient) estimated from all observations, object means (for trees), and medians. The results show that the linear and rank correlation coefficients are consistent (as to direction and strength). In cases of divergence in the direction of correlation, the correlation coefficients were not statistically significant, which does not imply consistency in decision-making. Estimation of correlation coefficients based on medians is robust to outlier observations and factors that linear correlation is then very similar to rank correlation.
New record of Rangia cuneata (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Mactridae) on southern coast of Baltic Sea (N Poland)
In February 2021 a valve of Rangia cuneata – a clam native to North America, was found in a new location on the Polish coast in Ustka Bay. After first records of this clam in Europe in 2005 in Belgium and then in 2010 in the Baltic Sea (Russian part of the Vistula Lagoon), an increasing number of new observations have been reported since. This indicates an effective dispersal of this alien species in the Baltic waters.