Southern Poland Research Articles

The Occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected from Nature-Educational and Tourist Trails in the Poprad Landscape Park

Throughout Europe, including Poland, Ixodes ricinus ticks are the main vector of numerous pathogenic agents that pose a serious threat to public health. Southern Poland attracts many tourists with its scenic landscapes and abundant recreational opportunities. These areas are ideal habitats for wild fauna, which serve as the main reservoirs and hosts for these pathogens and ticks. The large population and biodiversity of these hosts facilitate the proliferation of ticks. The aim of this study was to determine the potential exposure of humans to ticks and tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia spp., along the nature-educational and tourist trails of the Poprad Landscape Park. From 2020 to 2021, ticks were collected using the flagging method on three tourist trails and nature-educational paths within the Poprad Landscape Park. DNA was isolated from 213 I. ricinus ticks using the ammonia method. To detect pathogens in ticks, PCR and nested PCR methods were used. To detect B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum, two pairs of primers specific to the flaB gene fragment and 16S rRNA gene fragment were used, respectively. For Babesia spp. detection, primers specific to the 18S rRNA gene were used. The amplification products were separated electrophoretically and visualized under ultraviolet light. In total, among the 213 examined ticks, B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 31% of the samples. Neither A. phagocytophilum nor Babesia spp. were detected in the studied material. These results indicate a potentially high risk of ticks and tick-borne B. burgdorferi s.l. infections for residents and tourists in the recreational areas of the Poprad Landscape Park.

Establishing Reference Values in the Neuromuscular Ultrasound Laboratory Using the e-Norms Method: A Feasibility Study.

The standard procedure to establish reference values in a neuromuscular laboratory involves examining healthy controls, as nerve size varies with the population and muscle echo intensity (EI) is device-specific. We aimed to derive these reference values by extrapolation from a studied sample (the e-norms method), compare them with published reference values, and determine their diagnostic accuracy. We retrospectively analyzed data from consecutive patients who underwent nerve and/or muscle ultrasound in our ultrasound laboratory, which is a tertiary referral center for neuromuscular diseases in Southern Poland in the years 2018-2023. We plotted the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the nerve segments and EI of the individual muscles and derived descriptive statistics from the plateau of the e-norms curve. We compared the mean difference of the nerve size to other studies and determined the ability of the muscle EI to discriminate myopathic versus healthy subjects using receiver operator characteristics curves. We analyzed 1124 nerves and 1154 muscles from 109 and 99 subjects, respectively. The derived reference values for nerve CSA were mostly concordant with other studies, including all nerve segments in the legs and with the exception of compression sites and the most proximal nerve segments in the arms. Using the reference values for muscle EI established with the e-norms method, we were able to discriminate myopathic from healthy subjects with 85% sensitivity and 92% specificity. The e-norms is a feasible method to establish reference values in the neuromuscular ultrasound laboratory.

Use of spatial analysis in the mining field in the Udorka Valley. Introduction to geoarchaeological search for flint workshops at site 24 in Poręba Dzierżna (Małopolska Province, southern Poland)

The prehistoric chocolate flint mine in the Udorka Valley (site 24 in Poręba Dzierżna, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland) has been under excavation since 2018. It is the first mine of this raw material discovered outside the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. The currently available dating indicates that the mine was used in the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods.Spatial analysis of artifacts from the fill of the mine shaft allowed for the reconstruction of individual phases of its formation. It also questioned the issue of homogeneity of the assemblage of artifacts from this mining facility and from the overlying layers. Although they are of the workshop type, their simultaneity should be doubted. In order to establish the chronological and cultural framework of flint production in the mining field, it seems necessary to determine the original location of the workshop, which was destroyed and washed out as a result of some kind of runoff. This flow created the sediment that now lies above the shafts, and which is extremely rich in flint artifacts.

Biomonitoring of Environmental Pollution Using Forest Tree Foliage Chemistry at Extremely Contaminated, Post-Industrial Sites

Biomonitoring based on foliage chemistry was used to study the effects of environmental sulfur (S) pollution on forest stands. The foliage samples were collected in two forest ecosystems exposed to industrial emissions: a zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) smelter plant in Silesia (HCM) and a reclaimed forest on the site of the former borehole S mine Jeziórko (FJSM), in the Tarnobrzeg S deposit region (southern Poland). Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) foliage chemistry was analyzed: S (using a TruMac CNS analyzer, Leco Corporation, Saint Joseph, MI, USA), N, P, K Ca, and Mg, and trace elements (Zn, Cd, Pb, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu) using an ICP OES ICAP 6000 spectrometer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA),. At the HCM site, 20 monitoring points were located in the forest at different directions and at varying distances from the smelter plant. At the FJSM site, 16 sampling points were distributed depending on vegetation type and tree species abudance. The S content in foliage was generally high at both sites. However, at the HCM site, the highest S content was found in areas close to the smelter plant (1664 mg kg−1) and decreased linearly according to the direction of the dominant wind to the east (; 1098 mg kg−1). S was correlated with Zn, Cd, and Pb (the main elements produced in the smelter plant). At the FJSM site, high S concentrations were observed in degraded soil areas (4816 mg kg−1 in birch, 1563 mg kg−1 in pine). These areas were hot spots that had the highest amount of S in the soil. These results indicate high biosorption of the pollutant by trees. The S concentration was also higher in birch (B) than in pine (P) foliage (regular forest: 1954 mg kg−1 in B, 1272 mg kg−1 in P; degraded area: 4816 mg kg−1 in B, 1563 mg kg−1 in P), and the differences were significant in the degraded areas. At the FJSM site, S was also correlated with Zn and, to a lesser extent, with Cd and Pb. S also influenced nutrient element supply status, in particular Mg. We confirmed that tree foliage chemistry reflects the state of the environment in highly polluted areas, so biomonitoring should be used to assessment of environmental pollution.

Biochronology and geochemistry of the Submediterranean Lower Oxfordian (Upper Jurassic) in southern Poland: palaeoenvironmental causes of ammonite bioevents

Biochronology and geochemistry of the Submediterranean Lower Oxfordian (Upper Jurassic) in southern Poland: palaeoenvironmental causes of ammonite bioevents

Automated Tree Detection Using Image Processing and Multisource Data

This paper presents a method for the automatic detection and assessment of trees and tree-covered areas in Katowice, the capital of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region in southern Poland. The proposed approach utilizes satellite imagery and height maps, employing image-processing techniques and integrating data from various sources. We developed a data pipeline for gathering and pre-processing information, including vegetation data and numerical land-cover models, which were used to derive a new method for tree detection. Our findings confirm that automatic tree detection can significantly enhance the efficiency of urban tree management processes, contributing to the creation of greener and more resident-friendly cities.

Turawa reservoir in southern Poland - an example of the threat to dammed reservoir ecosystems

Turawa reservoir in southern Poland - an example of the threat to dammed reservoir ecosystems

The Role of Artificial Lakes Located in Forests in the Context of Small Retention, Biodiversity and Climatic Changes-Evidence From Southern Poland.

Drought has an effect on hydrologic conditions and water quality under climate change. Small water retention in forests is one of the priority investment programs implemented in recent years, supported by the European Union. This study aimed to assess the ecological conditions of forest lakes using macrophytes and benthos organisms diversity as an ecological indicator of ecosystem conditions under climatic changes. The study was carried out in forest artificial lakes serving as surface water retention in the context of biodiversity in climatic changes and its role in the retention of water. Despite systematic maintenance activities, a long period of lake existence significantly determines the natural biological processes occurring in lakes and riparian habitats. The analysis showed low values of salinity indicators and the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus. The pH ranged from 6.2 to 7.6; showing slightly acidic conditions or within the limits of neutral. The model of plant associations showed the occurrence of 24 species of plants within nine plant assemblages in the Phragmitetea and Potametea classes of associations (Biocenotic index 1.007-1.692). Despite human activities, lake condition, as assessed by the ESMI index or the biocenotic diversity indices, is good (0.416-0.648). Climate change, expressed by an increase in the frequency of dry years, creates a situation of changes in filling lakes with water, which, taking into account their small depth, results in dynamically changing conditions for the development of phytolittoral. Along with the phytolittoral changes, benthos communities change, their density and the number of taxa also fluctuate. It should be assumed that with ongoing climate change, these phenomena will probably intensify, which will lead to changes in entire ecosystems at plant and animal levels.

Wood-degrading fungal origin of perylene in peatlands of southern Poland: A molecular and statistical approach

Wood-degrading fungal origin of perylene in peatlands of southern Poland: A molecular and statistical approach

INFLUENCE OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY AND SLUDGE STABILIZATION ON THE SORPTION CAPACITY OF SEWAGE SLUDGE

This article investigates the influence of sewage sludge treatment processes and stabilizationmethods on metal-binding capacity and susceptibility to metal remobilization from sewagesludge. The materials (stabilized sewage sludge) were collected from two mechanical-biologicalsewage treatment plants located in an industrial area in southern Poland (Silesian Province):1) one with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) and anaerobic sludge digestion (WWTPIII),and 2) a facility without nutrient removal and with aerobic sludge stabilization (WWTP-II).Concentrations of PTEs in sewage sludge samples were measured using the inductively coupledplasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Sewage sludge from WWTP-III showeda significantly higher sorption capacity for Cu ions (20–50%) and Ni ions (50% to 2.5-fold) ascompared to sewage sludge from WWTP-II. However, sewage sludge from WWTP-II exhibiteda higher sorption capacity for Cd ions. The studied potentially toxic elements (PTEs), irrespectiveof anion type, formed unstable bonds with sewage sludge, which may lead to their desorption intothe environment. The high mobility of Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn ions in chloride and sulphate system, aswell as the low susceptibility to Cr ion release, should be considered in various applications of thetested sewage sludge.

Myrmecophilous Aphid Species (Hemiptera, Aphididae) Feeding on Mycoheterotrophic Monotropa hypophegea (Ericales, Ericaceae).

The paper presents the first report and morphological description of aphids feeding on the mycoheterotrophic plant Monotropa hypophegea Wallr. of the family Ericaceae. This is the first known case of aphids feeding on a mycoheterotrophic plant, additionally involved in mutualistic relation with ants Lasius niger (Hymenoptera, Formicinae). This observation took place on an overgrown, postmining spoil tip in southern Poland (Europe). Barcode COI sequencing and morphological examination indicated that the collected specimens of aphids belong to A. fabae s. lat., a group of closely related species. The discussion focuses on taxonomic issues concerning the species identity of the collected aphids and the ecological interactions between insects, plants, and fungi involved in the observed association. The presence of ants attending aphids indicates the possibility of ants serving as pollinators of M. hypophegea.

A Multicultural Archaeological Site on Bukowa Góra Hill in the Town of Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland

There is a multicultural archaeological site on Bukowa Góra Hill in Dąbrowa Górnicza in Southern Poland. The chronology of megalith-type stone structures, barrow burial grounds and traces of ore mining extends from the Stone Age to the early Middle Ages.

Phytosociological and Abiotic Factors Influencing the Coverage and Morphological Traits of the Invasive Alien Potentilla indica (Rosaceae) in Riparian Forests and Other Urban Habitats: A Case Study from Kraków, Southern Poland

Biological invasions are considered one of the most important threats to biodiversity worldwide, and their intensity increases with urbanization. Potentilla indica, a perennial stoloniferous plant of Asian origin, is a newly emerging invasive alien species in European cities and other areas. Due to its wide ecological range, it may threaten many native species, especially in urban riparian forests which are particularly susceptible to plant invasions. Although it shows high phenotypic plasticity, its coverage and morphological variability depending on the type of vegetation and abiotic factors in natural conditions have not been studied so far. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to explore this issue, using phytosociological relevés and measurements of selected environmental factors and morphological features of P. indica in Kraków, the second largest city in Poland, central Europe. We demonstrated that the coverage and morphological traits of P. indica can be significantly affected by the type of plant community, and the presence and abundance of the species in urban habitats are strongly related to soil moisture, electrical conductivity, and fertility. We also found that the coverage of P. indica is positively correlated with the Evenness index, height of herbaceous layer, soil electrical conductivity and moisture, and negatively with the number of species, soil compactness, and phosphorus content in the soil. We further revealed that the size of the leaves and the length of the pedicels and stolons in P. indica can be positively influenced by its coverage. To prevent the invasion of P. indica in riparian forests and other urban habitats, we suggest controlling its cultivation and disposal, removing new appearances, and maintaining high species diversity with a dominance of one or a few native species in plant communities.

The Black Triangle—Commoning Borderland Coal Ecologies

Turów is an active open-pit brown coal mine located in the ‘Black Triangle’—a once sensationally polluted industrial region in Central Europe roughly contiguous with the brown-coal belt of Southern Poland, former East Germany and the Czech Republic. The mine, which fell into Polish jurisdiction after the fall of the Soviet Union, epitomises a transnational environmental conflict. Despite the encroaching effects of the Turów mine on its neighbouring European states and its inhabitants, the Polish government refuses to stop coal extraction. The dispute has generated a lot of media and activist attention in past years, but also raises eminent questions about how to make sense of the complexities and contradictions entangled with various regimes of energy. As the human faculties are poorly trained to register and to think meaningfully about the timescales of extraction and its distributed effects, this contribution comes as an invitation to experience energy entanglements otherwise. Challenging the flatness of the common dispute as portrayed in the media, we focus attention on the undercurrents flowing beneath the logics of public discourses about ‘clean’ and ‘green’ transitions and open pathways to sense metabolic flows of energy that permeate and shapeshift in environmental media—over time and space—and ultimately become us. To help us on the way, we ferment vegetables and drink nettle tea sourced from the mining region as a collective, metabolic practice. We add salt to slow down the passing of time. We conserve, observe and finally ingest to highlight the porosity and intimacy of geo-social relations and viscerally process their toxic commonalities.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of highly virulent cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains in Southern Poland.

Assessment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) prevalence in Southern Poland, focusing on highly virulent cagA-positive strains associated with gastric cancer risk, along with analysis of antimicrobial resistance and its molecular mechanisms. A total of 130 dyspeptic patients, who underwent endoscopy, were enrolled in the study. Presence of H. pylori in gastric mucosa biopsy specimens was confirmed by rapid urease tests, histological examination, culture, and molecular assays. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the E-test, while the cagA gene (virulence marker) was identified by PCR. The GenoType HelicoDR detected mutations for resistance to clarithromycin (23S rRNA) and levofloxacin (gyrA). Resistance to rifampicin and levofloxacin was investigated by sequencing the rpoB and gyrA genes. H. pylori prevalence in Southern Poland was 30.8%, with 60% of infections involving cagA-positive strains. Susceptibility testing revealed resistance rates of 22.9% for metronidazole, 14.3% for clarithromycin, 11.4% for levofloxacin and 25.7% for rifampicin. Among the 24 cagA-positive strains, 45.8% were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Clarithromycin resistance was caused by A2143G mutation. The gyrA gene sequence showed the N87K mutation linked to fluoroquinolone resistance. No mutations were found in the rpoB gene. Infections with multidrug-resistant CagA-positive strains require recommended treatment strategies due to the high risk of progression of infection to gastric cancer.

Influence of road surface type on the magnetic susceptibility and elemental composition of road dust

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the type of road surface (asphalt and concrete) and the presence of noise barriers (acoustic screens) on the magnetic susceptibility and chemical composition of road dust collected from national roads and motorways in central and southern Poland. Four roads with asphalt surfaces and four with concrete surfaces were selected for the study. Samples were taken at three control points: in the space between noise barriers, in the space without barriers and at road exits. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and elemental composition analysis (using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer) were carried out. The results showed high variability with no clear differences between samples taken from asphalt and concrete roads. Magnetic susceptibility values were higher for road dust taken from asphalt pavements near noise barriers and motorway exits, while for open space samples the susceptibility values were about 1.3 times higher for dust from concrete pavements. A similar relationship was observed for the elemental composition. The results showed no clear differences between samples taken from asphalt and concrete roads. The location of the sampling point had a greater influence on the results: the surface of noise barriers, open spaces or motorway exits. Calculated enrichment factors indicated an extremely high enrichment of dust in elements such as Cr, Cu and Zn, a very high enrichment in Pb only for dust collected at motorway exits, and a significant and moderate enrichment in other elements.

A Retrospective Epidemiological Analysis of Microscopically Detected Babesiosis in Dogs of Southern Poland (2018–2022)

Babesia canis is the parasite responsible for a life-threatening disease for dogs in Central Europe, of which the main vector is the ornate dog tick—Dermacentor reticulatus. The objective of the presented study was to assess the prevalence of Babesia infection in dogs with clinical suspicion of babesiosis, which tested positive for B. canis from locations where there is no or very limited information about dog exposure to this pathogen. In order to confirm the presence of this protozoan, blood samples were collected from dogs treated in veterinary clinics with suspicion of canine babesiosis. The samples were sent for microscopic analysis to Vetlab, a commercial veterinary diagnostic laboratory, to confirm the diagnosis. Overall, 3032 dog blood samples from Southern Poland were examined between 1 August 2018 and 31 December 2022 at the Vetlab laboratory. A total of 282 (9.3%) samples were found to be Babesia-positive using Wright–Giemsa stain peripheral blood smears, with an increase in two periods per year—April and October. Among the five voivodships, from which the laboratory analyzed blood samples, the highest number of Babesia-positive samples came from Częstochowa (Silesia) and its surroundings. Moreover, Babesia protozoans occurred more frequently in blood smears of pure-breed rather than mixed-breed dogs. The obtained results showed that infections with large Babesia in dogs from Southern Poland (with a special indication for the Śląskie Voivodship) should be taken into consideration during the differential diagnosis of tick-borne diseases at veterinary clinics. The presented study increases the vigilance and awareness of veterinarians and dog owners in this region, where babesiosis was very rarely diagnosed until date.

First record of two invasive aquatic weeds Ludwigia repens (Onagraceae) and Myriophyllum aquaticum (Haloragaceae) in Poland

AbstractThe aquarium trade has contributed to the introduction of many invasive alien plant species that threaten the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems around the world. In this study, I present the first Polish record of Ludwigia repens (Onagraceae) and Myriophyllum aquaticum (Haloragaceae), two invasive alien aquatic plants cultivated in aquaria. The plants were found on the shores and in the waters of an artificial pond in Kraków, southern Poland, in 2024. The location and abundance of both species are documented, and their introduction pathway and naturalization potential are discussed. Moreover, since M. aquaticum belongs to the invasive alien species of European Union concern and requires rapid eradication, its occurrence was reported to the Kraków City Office, following Polish law.

Weather conditions in southern Poland at the turn of the 20th century — Insights from archived observational records

This study examines weather conditions in Małopolska (Lesser Poland, southern Poland) from 1861 to 1919, utilizing historical meteorological materials stored in the Archives of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management — National Research Institute, Poland. The region developed an extensive meteorological network in the latter half of the nineteenth century, preserving daily and sub-daily measurements of air temperature and precipitation, along with notes on socio-economic events and environmental issues. Despite the loss of many early records, the study focuses on 14 measurement points, including the Kraków–Observatory, which has been in operation since 1792 and served as the reference station. Data were digitized through the HISTKLIM project. Analysis revealed that air temperatures in the late 1800s and early 1900s were lower than present-day values, with varied rainfall patterns. The study highlights the substantial value of these historical records, despite gaps and the absence of metadata. Comparing historical weather conditions to current climate normals (1991–2020), the findings contribute to understanding regional climate variability and underscore the importance of preserving archival meteorological data for future research.

The volume of stones stack calculated by different methods -a case study

Abstract Paper presents methods for calculating the volume of a stones stack located on an area of mining plant in southern Poland, used by modern engineering programs (the C-Geo program, the WinKalk program, the Geolisp program). The volume of the solid was calculated with the relative error in relation to the initial volume obtained in the Geolisp program (97 064.91 m3) and amounted to 97 207.22 m3 + 0.15% (the C-Geo program) and 97 001.00 m3 – 0.07% (the WinKalk program). The WinKalk program allowed for volume calculation with less than twice the relative error compared to the C-Geo program, however, both programs meet the accuracy requirements specified in the polish law.