The polypore fungus Spongipellis spumeus is red-listed in Poland and in several other European countries. On the basis of published data and seven new locations, we have presented its distribution in Poland. In the country, S. spumeus was recorded primarily in anthropogenic habitats (tree lines along streets and roads, old orchards, parks), and rarely in forest communities. Two tree species (Acer platanoides, Populus alba) is reported here as a new host of S. spumeus in Poland. The declining acreage of alluvial forests and removal of old trees from substitute habitats (e.g. parks or avenues in cities) seem to be major threat factors for this fungus. Based on the new distribution data for S. spumeus in Poland, it should be rather classified as vulnerable (VU) according to IUCN red-listed criteria, than endangered (E) as it currently is. One beetle species i.e. Tetrotoma fungorum was found on the basidiomata of S. spumeus during the study, that may imply the role of the beetle in spreading of this fungus.

The presence in wood of saprotrophic fungi is crucial for xylophagous insects, as they modify its chemical composition, moisture content and structure, and thus govern the survival and growth rate of larvae. Little is known about the mycobiota colonising the breeding material of saproxylic species. This paper focuses on the mycobiota of dead wych elms Ulmus glabra as breeding material for the endangered Rosalia alpina. Fungal isolates from wood fragments of the breeding material were identified using molecular techniques. A total of 24 taxa of wood-decay fungi were found (16 Ascomycota, 6 Basidiomycota, 1 Zygomycota, 1 unidentified) – saprotrophs and facultative parasites, saprotrophic fungi, fungal parasites and tree parasites. Six taxa were isolated from both the surface and deeper layers of the wood, and also from the wood dust and frass left in R. alpina foraging sites: Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium sp., Hypoxylon macrocarpum, Phaeoacremonium fraxinopennsylvanicum, Sistotrema brinkmannii and Stereum hirsutum. These fungi may be crucial in enabling R. alpina to colonise dead or dying trees and affect its larval development. Ph. fraxinopennsylvanicum, H. macrocarpum and Daldinia childiae are reported for the first time from Poland.

The investigations of trait variability in Arum alpinum were conducted in 2016–2017 in two Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum patches (Chełm Mountain Reserve, Western Carpathians). Patch I (510 m a.s.l.) was located on a sharp steep slope and dominated by plant species with oblong leaves, whereas Patch II (400 m a.s.l.) was situated at the bottom of a wide ravine densely overgrown by species forming broad leaves. The height of plants growing in vicinity of A. alpinum in both study sites was rather similar, whereas the soil reaction and humidity were much higher in Patch II. Despite the different habitat conditions, the abundance of both A. alpinum populations was similar. The length of leaf petioles, dimensions of leaf blades, as well as the number of leaves per rosette were significantly greater in Patch I. The dimensions of leaves and flowering stems of individuals growing in Patch I were greater in 2016 than in 2017. The length of infructescences and number of fruits in both populations did not show either spatial or temporal variability. Moreover, the positive correlations between length of the highest leaf petiole and the dimensions of leaf blade, as well as between the height of the flowering stems and number of fruits and length of infructescence were noticed. Our results providing interesting data about of the spatio-temporal variability in A. alpinum traits in Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum patches reveal the need for this type of research in other plant communities.

This study aims to (i) evaluate the phenology of Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis), (ii) investigate the effects of climate variability (temperature and precipitation) on the phenology of Prosopis, and (iii) assess the critical months of seed dispersal for the species management. Monthly data for phenology events: leafing, flowering, green and mature pods were collected from 8 stems of Prosopis trees at each of two localities in Ethiopia during 2016/2017. In Amibara district we found that relative abundances of green leaves, flowering, green pods, and mature pods were 91, 15, 9, and 2% in order. However, these were less than by 8, 53, 91, and 90%, respectively in Awash Fenatle district. The lowest proportions of mature and green pods were recorded in the dry season and the highest in the spring season. We recorded the highest and lowest relative abundances of flowering between November and December, and January and February, respectively. In this study, both temperature (F = 2.01, P = 0.04) and precipitation (F = 2.85, P = 0.01) had shown significant effects on the relative abundances of green leaves but insignificant effects on other phenology stages. Higher green leaf abundances were recorded during high rainfall, whereas lower abundances of leaves were recorded in high temperatures. But, the relative abundances of Prosopis leaves showed inconsistent with the variations of precipitation. Thus, awareness creation for stake holders about the phenology calendar of Prosopis should be given to abandon the invasiveness of the species towards the prime grazing lands in the region.

The aim of the research was to study 20-year changes in the floristic richness of the vegetation and soil diaspore bank of agroceonoses and adjacent midfield woodlots, as a result of the intensification of agricultural production, and the role of the ecotone in the preservation of field weeds. The studies were conducted in two periods, the first between 1996 and 1998 and the second between 2016 and 2018, on 12 permanent plots located in a transition zone between agroceonoses and woodlots. The width of the ecotone zone was determined with a linear transect that crossed both communities. The study of vegetation was conducted using the Braun-Blanquet method. During each period, soil diaspore reserves were determined. A large decrease of approximately 30% in the number of species was noted in the agroceonoses, while there were minor changes in the wood communities. With only slight variation during the research, floristic diversity of the soil diaspore bank in those habitats was poorer than vegetation diversity. The ecotone phytoceonoses had the highest species richness. They showed greater floristic similarity to the wood phytoceonoses than to agroceonoses. In the transition zone a clear boundary was observed, dividing those two communities. The ecotone was a refuge for field species, including rare and endangered ones. The species composition of the ecotone soil diaspore bank was poorer than the composition of the flora and showed greater similarity to the species diversity of the agroceonoses. Additionally, a significant relationship between species richness and habitat conditions was noted.

Species richness-biomass relationship has become a primary focus in plant community ecology. The most commonly reported pattern of species richness and biomass is the humped relationship with a peak in richness at moderate biomass, although negative, positive, or no relationships exited in some cases. However, the richness-biomass relationship in the temperate deserts of Central Asia, where herbaceous species with different life forms are abundant, remains unclear. In this study, 21–214 plots with herbaceous richness and aboveground biomass for each of four plot sizes (0.25, 25, 100, and 400 m²) were surveyed in early summer and early autumn in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China. Linear and quadratic regressions were employed to examine the richness-biomass relationship and the location of the richness peak. Significantly unimodal species richness-biomass relationships were observed in all plot sizes and seasons (except for 0.25 m² plot in summer). In most cases (9/11), the biomass at the richness peak was higher than half of the biomass range. Meanwhile, the percent of sampling plots where the biomass was less than the peak was considerably greater than 50% (72.7 to 100%) in all cases, and nine of them were more than 95%, indicating strong interspecific coexistence and weak interspecific competition. In conclusion, under the background of increasing precipitation and nitrogen deposition, the humped richness-biomass relationship and the high percent of sampling plots with low biomass jointly revealed a huge potential for increasing productivity, which is crucial for the carbon fixation and ecosystem stability in deserts of Central Asia.

Fine roots play an important role in productivity and dynamics of carbon and nutrient in forest ecosystems. The objective of this study is to reveal the elevational distribution patterns of fine-root (≤ 2 mm in diameter) biomass and its carbon and nitrogen stoichiometry, and the relationship between fine-root biomass and soil organic carbon storage in mature Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations (40-45 year old) in Mt. Dabie, eastern China. A field survey was conducted at five different sites along an elevation gradient from 360 m to 1200 m a.s.l. At each site, the sampling stands had similar density (from 1039 to 1238 stems ha^–1) with three replicates. The fine-root biomass was ranged from 264.3 to 331.9 g m^–2, with marginal significant correlation to elevation (P = 0.052). However, fine-root necromass was significantly decreased with elevation (P = 0.010). The C:N ratios ranged from 52.9 to 56.4 for living fine-roots and from 47.3 to 51.2 for dead ones, and showed an increasing trend over elevation gradient. Soil organic carbon (SOC) storages in the surface 50-cm soil layer ranged from 59.7 to 97.9 Mg ha^–1 and significantly increased with elevation (P < 0.001). Positive correlations were observed between fine-root biomass and SOC density across this elevation gradient. These results indicate that fine-root turnover might be an important regulation of SOC in the Chinese fir plantation.

Defensive strategies of prey species constitute a key element to survive and maximise biological fitness in natural environments. However, some of the mechanisms underlaying antipredator behaviours are not clear. Despite previous studies had attempted to unravel the relationship between aggressiveness and glucocorticoids (GC), this association remains uncertain. Our study aimed to find an explicit link between the aggressive behaviour in the wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and the GC release. For this, a live-trapping study was conducted in the Montes do Invernadeiro Natural Park (NW Spain). We collected faecal samples from 76 captures to measured free-ranging mice baseline faecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) levels using an enzyme immunoassay. Moreover, we determined the aggressive behaviour of each mice by measuring the number of bites perpetrated upon the researcher while handling. Results of the statistical model showed that aggressive behaviour in mice was not explained by FCM concentrations. On the other hand, a better body condition was associated with the individual's aggressiveness. Moreover, it seems that recaptured individuals tended to be more aggressive, probably because previous experience with this life-threatening event improved the individual's defensive performance in order to successfully escape again.

Dental enamel is the hardest tissue of the mammalian body, consisting of 96–98% inorganic compound. As the dentition is functionally adapted to diet and feeding behaviour, relative differences in enamel thickness can reflect dietary adaptations. We hypothesize that differences in enamel thickness are related to adaptation for diet associated with habitat quality dwelling of European roe deer Capreolus capreolus. To test this hypothesis, 49 first permanent left lower molars were extracted from the mandible of roe deer (from Lithuania – 28 and Poland – 21 molars) inhabiting two type of habitats: field and forest. The linear thickness of total enamel (mean value of enamel thickness measured at three different points) was found to differ between the roe deer from the field and forest habitats, irrespective of age, with the animals of field ecotype tend to have thinner enamel (F_(1,26) = 6.845, P = 0.025). This suggests that there is an adaptation in enamel thickness to various types of diet in the field and forest habitat. On the other hand, roe deer from the field habitat can be also more exposed to stress, due to the lower possibility to hide or are more vulnerable to potential threats. More frequent exposure to stress can significantly disrupt ameloblasts secretion and thus affect the thickness of the enamel.