The segetal flora of the Mazowiecki Landscape Park

The paper presents the results of research of plant macrofossils from the grain deposit deriving from the 18th/19th centuries. The analysed material included 24760 diaspores representing 73 taxa. The majority were cultivated cereal crop species, and there was also abundance of accompanying segetal weed species. About 95% of the gathered crop material was Secale cereale. Another important crop was Hordeum vulgare and there were also some remains of Avena sativa, Triticum aestivum, Fagopyrum esculentum. Cannabis sativa and Linum usitatissimum were found as well. Weeds competing with these crops were, among others, the following species: Agrostemma githago, Raphanus raphanistrum, Apera spica-venti, Bromus secalinus, Centaurea cyanus, Spergula arvensis, Thlaspi arvense, Viola arvensis/tricolor, Fallopia convolvulus, Polygonum persicaria, Mentha arvensis, Anthemis arvensis, Papaver rhoeas, Rumex acetosella, Scleranthus annuus, Aphanes arvensis, Setaria pumila, Setaria viridis/verticilata. Extremely large presence of wild plant diaspores in the material allowed conducting economic and environmental interpretations. Reconstruction methods applied, used primarily in the case of macroremains from granaries, were fully applicable to the analysed plant residues. Weed species composition in the analysed material showed that they were mostly typical for the main winter crop. Some amount of species typical for other habitats were also found and they probably came from the near-by rye field. The presence of perennial diaspores indicated that the field was probably set aside

Segetal flora of cereal crop agrocenoses in the Suwałki Landscape Park was studied in between the years 2012 and 2013. One hundred phytosociological Braun-Blanquet releves were taken, documenting the occurrence of 152 species of vascular plants that represented 29 botanic families. Analysis of the contributions of geographic-historical groups revealed the dominance of the native species, apophytes (87 species, making 57.2%), over anthropophytes (65 species, 42.8%). The number of short-lived species was twice greater (103 species, 67.8%) than the perennial ones (49 species, 32.2%). As regards the lifeforms, the therophytes were dominant (96 species, 63.2%) over hemicryptophytes (44 species, 28.9%) and geophytes (12 species, 7.9%). Among the species of segetal flora in the area studied, 23 valuable species classified to different categories of protection, were identified. The presence of Consolida regalis, Centaurea cyanus and Bromus secalinus, belonging to threatened species in other regions of Poland, was abundant. Also the species: Anthemis tinctoria, Echium vulgare and Anchusa officinalis were met with high frequency. The species: Agrostemma githago, Papaver argemone and Papaver dubium were represented by single plants, which can suggest their dying out. In the Park area, expansive species, threatening the biodiversity, such as Myosotis arvensis, Viola arvensis, Galeopsis tetraehit, Stellaria media, Artemisia vulgaris, Galinsoga parviflora, Elymus repens, Capsella bursa pastoris, Erodium cicutarium, Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora, Convolvulus arvensis, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. pallidum and Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. lapathifolium, were commonly seen in the crop land.

The paper analyses the presence of invasive alien species and rare taxons among crop weeds in the Ułęż commune. The study is based on phytosociological relevés taken according to the Braun-Blanquet method. In total, 99 phytosociological relevés were taken. The research was conducted in 2016 and 2017. Ten rare regional and cross-regional species were found among weeds in cultivated crops. These were: Agrostemma githago, Arnoseris minima, Avena strigosa, Chenopodium polyspermum, Consolida regalis, Veronica opaca, Veronica polita, Veronica agrestis, Bromus secalinus, and Centaurea cyanus. Some of the most common species in that area included Centaurea cyanus and Bromus secalinus, while Avena strigosa also belonged to frequent components of the local flora. Other species were recorded rarely or very rarely. Additionally, in the crops, there was a group of 16 invasive alien species. Setaria pumila had the largest vegetal cover and the largest number of positions. There were some more frequently recorded species like Echinochloa crus-galli, Galinsoga parviflora and Conyza canadensis, with Avena fatua being quite common as well. Other species quite often found were: Amaranthus retroflexus, Galinsoga ciliata, Veronica persica and Oxalis fontana. However, species such as Setaria viridis, Solidago canadensis, Bidens frondosa, Epilobium ciliatum, Alopecurus myosuroides, Bromus sterilis and Parthenocissus inserta were rarely or very rarely found in the crops.

Segetal flora of the Wigry National Park (Poland) was studied in the period 2008-2010 within an area occupied by 33 villages. The analysis was based on 195 phytosociological relevés taken in fields of cereal crops, root plants and in stubble fields. The total number of species recorded in agrocenoses was 181 and they represented 36 botanical families. The most numerous families were Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Brasicaceae. The segetal flora of the Wigry National Park included mostly native species of apophytes (53.6%) that predominated over anthropophytes. Among apophytes, meadow apophytes (35 species) and those from waterside habitats (26 species) were noted most often, archaeophytes (74 species) were predominant among anthropophytes, while epecophytes (9 species) and ergasiophytes (1 species) were much less abundant. Among the life forms analysed, therophytes (61.9%) predominated over hemicryptophytes (27.1%) and geophytes (11%). The number of short-lived species in the flora of this Park was much greater (68.5%) than that of perennial ones (31.5%). The flora of the Park included 31 rare species classified in different categories of threat. Among them, <i>Centaurium pulchellum</i> and <i>Centaurium erythraea</i> belong to fully protected species (Dz.U. (Polish Journal of Laws) 2004 No. 168, item 1764).

The paper presents 1593 current chorological data of 584 taxa (species, subspe­cies, varietas, hybrids) from Hungary, collected during the last few years. All of these connec­ted also to a total of 184 CEU quadrats. Among the species characteristic to the natural habi­tats, we high­lighted the records of several species protected in Hungary (Adoxa moschatelina, Althaea canna­bina, Cardamine parviflora, Centaurium pulchellum, Gagea pusilla, Orobanche reticulata, Potentilla patula, Rosa zagrabiensis, Spergula pentandra, Trifolium diffusum, Vale­rianella dentata, V. rimosa, Veronica officinalis, Viola collina and V. pumila). In the Northern part of Hungary, we observed the establishment of Cerastium dubium and Ranunculus peda­tus at several places along road­sides, which species have been known from the surrounding saline areas for a long time, but their appearance at roadsides is relatively new phenomenon. In addition, Aegilops cylindrica, Crypsis schoenoides, and Fumaria vaillantii subsp. vaillantii were found in one location – each species on roadsides. Along the railway tracks, we found disturbance-tolerant pioneers of rocky grasslands, open sandy and loess grasslands, e.g. many population of the native Androsace elon­gata, Anthemis ruthenica, Centaurea arenaria, Draba nemorosa, Erodium ciconium, Medicago monspeliaca, Microrrhinum minus, Saxifraga tridactylites and Vulpia myuros were found, as well as numerous ruderalia and the archae­ophyt such as Aegilops cylindrica. In addition to the more common species from the urban flora, we present some new data on the occurrence of the rarer Amaranthus blitum subsp. emarginatus, Chenopodium glaucum, Ch. murale, Ch. opulifolium, Ch. vulvaria and Euphorbia peplus. We have also listed some of the rarer field weeds and species that can establish in younger and older old-fields. Bromus secalinus has been found in several places in the north­eastern part of Hungary. We also observed Calepina irregularis, Centaurea solstitialis, Centau­rium pulchellum, Erysimum cheiranthoides, Filago lutescens, Fumaria officinalis subsp. of­ficinalis, Geranium dissectum, Misopates orontium, Myagrum perfoliatum, Reseda phyteuma, Sper­gularia salina and Veronica anagalloides populations. Erodium hoefftianum is a member of the natural flora, but is now found only in old-fields. We found some pasture weeds in re­gions where they are not common (e.g. Bupleurum tenuissimum, Cerastium dubium and Tri­folium striatum). The study also presents some species that are data deficient for taxonomic reasons, but not very rare ones (or we don’t know that). This group includes Arabis sagittata, Bolboschoenus glaucus, Bromus commutatus, B. racemosus, B. ramosus, Fumaria vaillantii subsp. schrammii, Ononis spi­nosiformis subsp. semihircina, Potentilla collina and Viola suavis “white morfotype”. We have drawn attention to the effect of ecological-botanical works on flora-influencing. We found An­themis ruthenica (species of sandy grasslands) in a moun­tain meadow, which is probably the result of seeds accidentally introduced by researchers. Finally, the paper provides data on the current distribution of hybrid taxa. A new individual of Betula ×rhombifolia was established in the Mátra Mts. We found some Euphorbia individuals that appeared to be a transitional form between E. esila and E. virgata (E. ×intercedens; Eu. esula subsp. saratoi). We also present some Verbascum and Viola hybrids. Hybrids were determined on a macromorphological basis.

The objective for the study is to present the current threats of arable weeds in Poland. The analysis was conducted on the Polish red lists of arable species (3 national and 22 regional and local) prepared in the period 1994-2008. A total of 105 weeds have been considered as weeds threatened in Poland. All regional and local red lists included a joint total of 184 taxa. The particular regions have between 13 and 95 threatened taxa. The species most frequently appearing in the listings are: Agrostemma githago, Bromus secalinus and Camelina microcarpa. Five taxa (Bromus arvensis, Camelina alyssum, C. sativa, Cuscuta epilinum, Spergula arvensis subsp. maxima) are considered extinct on the national scale, while in the individual regions this number ranges from 1 to 15. A relatively high share is allocated on many regional and local red lists to taxa with an indeterminate level of threat. The conducted comparison shows that there is an urgent need to compile similar listings for the remaining areas of Poland, making it possible to create an updated and real listing of threatened weeds. At the same time, it is necessary to update the existing red lists and to adopt more precise quantitative criteria for the threat estimation, in accordance with the estimation parameters introduced by the IUCN and currently in force...

Revisiting the species–area relationship in a semi-natural habitat: floral richness in agricultural buffer zones in Finland

Scenario-based simulation of runoff-related pesticide entries into small streams on a landscape level

Effect of a cold-climate buffer zone on minimising diffuse pollution from agriculture

Habitat use of field voles ( Microtus agrestis) in wide and narrow buffer zones

In an age of invasions, it is critical to design and test management strategies to more efficiently control foreign species. Spatially explicit individual based models (SEIBMs) are a powerful tool to explore different management scenarios to control invaders, but we rarely have enough data to parameterize these models, particularly for relatively long-lived species. Here we take advantage of our previous work estimating demographic rates of invasive beavers in Patagonia, and develop an SEIBM to model the spread of beavers in Patagonia. We used our SEIBM both to estimate dispersal distances by fitting their observed rate of spread and to test how placing a buffer zone (a longitudinal strip of land perpendicular to the direction of spread within which a fraction of beavers are culled) beyond the invasion front would work as a control strategy. Specifically, we explored six different scenarios with two different culling rates and two buffer zone widths. We found that beavers in Patagonia must disperse long distances on average to account for the observed rate of spread, and thus our model predicts that a 100 km buffer zone will be needed to slow (but likely not halt) the spread of beavers. Interestingly, culling a higher proportion of beavers within a 100 km buffer zone (90 vs. 60%) did not improve buffer zone performance. Our study shows that wide buffer zones can slow (but likely not halt) continental spread of beavers in Patagonia and potentially pave the way for beaver eradication.

Delineation of core terrestrial habitat for conservation of a tropical salamander: The Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis)

Buffer zones as a sink for sediment and phosphorus between the field and stream: Danish field experiences

BackgroundThe prevalence of smoking is higher among Pakistani and Bangladeshi males than among the general population. Smokers who receive behavioural support and medication quadruple their chances of stopping smoking, but evidence suggests that these populations do not use National Health Service run stop smoking clinics as frequently as would be expected given their high prevalence of smoking. This study aims to tackle some of the main barriers to use of stop smoking services and adherence to treatment programmes by redesigning service delivery to be more acceptable to these adult male populations. The study compares the effectiveness of trained Pakistani and Bangladeshi smoking cessation workers operating in an outreach capacity ('clinic + outreach') with standard care ('clinic only') to improve access to and success of National Health Service smoking cessation services.Methods/designThis is a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial based in Birmingham, UK. Super output areas of Birmingham will be identified in which more than 10% of the population are of Pakistani and/or Bangladeshi origin. From these areas, 'natural geographical communities' will be identified. Sixteen aggregated agglomerations of super output areas will be identified, separating areas from each other using buffer regions in order to reduce potential contamination. These natural communities will be randomised to 'clinic + outreach' (intervention) or 'clinic only' (control) arms. The use of stop smoking services and the numbers of people quitting smoking (defined as prolonged self-reported abstinence at four weeks, three months and six months) will be assessed in each area. In addition, we will assess the impact of the intervention on adherence to smoking cessation treatments and patient satisfaction.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN 82127540.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the management of buffer zones around protected areas does not often take into serious account the needs of resource exploitation by the local populations or the conservation needs of these areas. We described the ecological characteristics and management issues affecting the buffer zone around the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park; a 192,000-ha protected area in central-western Togo of utmost conservation importance within the Dahomey Gap region. Within the buffer zone (10 km radius, 334,800 ha), we focussed on four high conservation value areas totalling 65,594 ha (20% of the total buffer zone area). Using 2015 sentinel-2 images we analyzed land cover patterns and described existing ecological zones. We complemented these with field surveys and interviews with 300 people living in 22 villages within the buffer zone to describe the conditions affecting the resident human population. Although over 60% of the total buffer zone area is degraded, we identified four areas of high conservation value (total area = 65,594 ha). Interviewees recognized that slash-and-burn was the most common form of land use, followed by agroforestry practices. Agriculture, charcoal, and firewood production were the main drivers affecting habitats, and land conflicts were recurrent due to the rise in human population. The decline in agriculture, reported by interviewees in some sectors, was attributable to ravages of crops by elephants. Three independent diversity indices showed that, in preserved zones, a greater diversity of animals (with similar utilization frequencies) were hunted than in degraded sites (where grasscutters were the dominant hunted species). There were also significant differences between degraded and preserved zones in terms of plants used for charcoal production and for non-timber forest products. We advocate the development of community-controlled hunting areas to enhance the conservation value of the four well-preserved zones. Instead, promoting sustainable agricultural production systems in the degraded areas can help to further stabilize the agricultural front and reduce land pressure on the park.