Communities with Galega orientalis Lam. in Kursk Region

. Plant communities dominated by the invasive species Galega orientalis, common in natural and anthropogenic habitats, have been identified in Kursk Region. On anthropogenic ecotopes (wastelands, roadsides), phytocoenoses of the ass. Galigetum orientalis are formed as a result of introduction of Galega orientalis into communities of the order Agropyretalia intermedio–repentis (class Artemisietea vulgaris). In natural habitats, Galega orientalis spreads in mesophylous meadow communities (order Arrhenatheretalia, class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea), while derivative communities Galega orientalis [Arrhenatheretalia] are formed. Galega orientalis is unevenly present in derivative communities, forming separate loci, as a result, its cover is less intensive than in anthropogenic communities. It may be due to a more intensive distribution of this species in disturbed habitats. Comparison of ranges of values of environmental factors showed that derivative communities are formed in wetter habitats. Phytocoenoses of the association are characterized by wider variation in values of acidity and richness of soils in mineral nitrogen.

The vascular flora of Mt Svilaja (Outer Dinarides, South Croatia)

Based on our own research carried out from 2013 to 2019 and literature data, this study presents for the first time a comprehensive floristic list of Mt Svilaja (max. 1508 m a.s.l.). It contains 1285 taxa classified within 502 genera and 109 families. Of these, 552 taxa are listed for the first time for Svilaja. Out of 733 taxa recorded previously, the presence of 128 taxa has not been confirmed. Poaceae (8.79%), Asteraceae and Fabaceae (8.72% each) had the highest number of taxa, with the largest number of taxa within the genera Trifolium (23 taxa), Carex (20) and Centaurea (17). Hemicryptophytes (43.35%) and therophytes (25.45%) prevailed, and Mediterranean (23.27%), southern European (20.83%) and Eurasian (17.43%) plant taxa dominated. Altogether, there were 76 endemics (5.91%), mostly of Illyrian-Adriatic origin, 34 endangered (CR, EN, VU) taxa (2.65%), and 155 strictly protected taxa according to Croatian law (12.06%). Among the endemics, the presence of Scabiosa delminiana Abadžić must be stressed. Mt Svilaja is characterized by rich orchid flora (51 taxa, 3.97%), and features Epipactis placentina Bongiorni & Grünanger, the only site found in Croatia that does. Although as many as 34 invasive taxa have been recorded, their presence is mostly limited to anthropogenic habitats.

Habitat-Related Differences in Winter Presence and Spring–Summer Activity of Roe Deer in Warsaw

Preliminary research conducted in Warsaw in the 1970s and 2000s showed that roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) stayed in forest habitat and avoided anthropogenic areas. Activity and exploration patterns of animals are shaped by indices of anthropogenic disturbances, elevated in large cities. The aims of the study were (1) to compare the presence of roe deer in natural and anthropogenic habitats of Warsaw during three periods: 1976–1978, 2005–2008 and 2017–2021, based on snow tracking on transect routes (681.2 km in total), and (2) to describe the presence and activity of roe deer in relation to human disturbances in selected urban forests in its reproductive period (March–August), based on camera trap survey (2019–2020, 859 observations, 5317 trap-days in total). The number of tracks was higher in natural habitat during all three periods, with the highest value in 2017–2021 (9.85/km/24h). The peak of roe deer activity was recorded at dusk, and it changed with moon phases between spring and summer. Landscape connectivity and level of light pollution did not affect the activity pattern of roe deer. Our research showed that roe deer inhabiting urban areas avoided human presence by using well-covered habitats and being active in periods when the level of human disturbance was lower.

MALDI-TOF MS as a method for rapid identification of Phytophthora de Bary, 1876

The number of described species of the oomycete genus Phytophthora is growing rapidly, highlighting the need for low-cost, rapid tools for species identification. Here, a collection of 24 Phytophthora species (42 samples) from natural as well as anthropogenic habitats were genetically identified using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) regions. Because genetic identification is time consuming, we have created a complementary method based on by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Both methods were compared and hypothesis that the MALDI-TOF MS method can be a fast and reliable method for the identification of oomycetes was confirmed. Over 3500 mass spectra were acquired, manually reviewed for quality control, and consolidated into a single reference library using the Bruker MALDI Biotyper platform. Finally, a database containing 144 main spectra (MSPs) was created and published in repository. The method presented in this study will facilitate the use of MALDI-TOF MS as a complement to existing approaches for fast, reliable identification of Phytophthora isolates.

The selection of anthropogenic habitat by wildlife as an ecological consequence of rural exodus: empirical examples from Spain

The increasing urbanization of the landscape is a major component of global change worldwide. However, it is puzzling that wildlife is selecting anthropogenic habitats despite the availability of apparently high–quality semi–natural (i.e. less intensively modified) habitats. Definitive explanations for this process are still lacking. We have previously suggested that colonization of the urban habitat is initially triggered by ecological processes that take place outside urban areas as a consequence of past rural exodus. Here we present a diverse array of examples of selection of several types of anthropogenic habitat by wildlife in Spain (including transportation infrastructure, human–exclusion areas, urban areas under construction, cities, reservoirs, quarries and landfills) in support of this idea. Wildlife is moving out of its historical ecological refuges and losing fear of harmless urban humans. Mesopredators are rebounding by mesopredator release, due to ceased human persecution, and shrubs and trees are claiming former agricultural habitats. Together, these factors force many species to move to urbanized areas where they find open habitats, food associated with these habitats, and protection against predation. Hence, the classical balance of costs and benefits that takes place once inside urban areas, would actually be a second step of the process of colonization of urban areas. A better understanding of the initial triggers of urban colonization could help us increase the biological value of human–made habitats for wildlife in the future.

Selection of Urbanized Areas by Magpie Pica pica in a Medium Size City in Poland

The Magpie Pica pica occurs all over open agricultural areas in Poland, especially near human settlements (particularly in western Poland). The aim of this study was to estimate the size of the local Magpie population and characterize, in detail, nest site selection in a medium size city Górzów Wlkp. in the XXI century. For this study, the whole city was divided into a total of 114 squares of 1 × 1 km. Data were collected in spring 2014. A total of 474 Magpie pairs were recorded. The average density was 5.5 pairs/km2 (min = 0, max = 22 nests/square), in the non-urbanized habitat type—3.7 p/km2, and in the urbanized habitat type—13.5 p/km2. Magpie nests were found most often on Spruces Picea sp. and Poplars Populus sp. The mean height of the nest site was 11.5 m, while the mean height of trees used for nesting was 13.4 m. The type of tree arrangement most frequently used for nesting was tree rows (26.3%), followed by single trees (24.6%) and clusters of 4–10 trees (20.1%). The results for the Magpie’s environmental preferences do not differ from the general patterns described earlier. The study shows that magpies can adapt to changing urbanization factors, and changes in the choice of conifers help the species to adapt to highly anthropogenic habitats.

Data on the Orthoptera fauna of characteristic agricultural landscape in the Carpathian Lowland

Orthoptera fauna and assemblages of natural and semi-natural grasslands of the Hungarian Lowland are well-known, however, little is known about assemblages living in agricultural and anthropogenic habitats such as arable lands, roadsides, hedges, and riverbanks. Due to climate change, intensification of agriculture, and change of habitat use, these habitat types become increasingly important. To collect data on these mainly unknown habitat types, a three-year study was carried out on the Orthoptera fauna and assemblages of the firth region of the Tisza and Sajó rivers. This area was mainly unknown, and our research contributes to increasing knowledge and provides a base for further investigations. In the 40 sampling sites of the studied region, an occurrence of 30 Orthoptera species was recorded based on 2241 sampled individuals. In this study, we provide 540 new distribution data records of orthopterans that means an almost eightfold increase of the known data. Orthoptera assemblages of different agricultural habitat types showed significant differences considering both species richness and composition. Data suggested that non-cultivated habitat patches of dirt-roads, roadsides and stubble fields and even extensively used pastures, hayfields and alfalfa, red clover, and even wheat fields can preserve relatively species-rich Orthoptera assemblages. Contrary weedy sites of these cultivars and intensively used arable lands (maize, sunflower and rape fields) showed extremely low species diversity.

Lindernia crustacea (Malaysian false pimpernel).

L. crustacea is an herb including in the Global Compendium of Weeds where it is listed as environmental and agricultural weed (Randall, 2012). It has a wide distribution across tropical and subtropical regions of the world where it occurs in a wide range of wetland and some non-wetland habitats and is able to exploit anthropogenic habitats such as rice fields. Once established, this species has the potential to grow forming a mat up to 30 cm high. Currently, L. crustacea is listed as invasive in Hawaii, French Polynesia and Singapore (Wagner, 1999; Chong et al., 2009; Lansdown, 2011).

Self-Renewal of Invasive Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) as a Result of Different Mechanical Management of Fallow

The spread of invasive plants is one of the most significant causes of biodiversity loss in natural, semi-natural, and anthropogenic habitats in Poland. This two-year study aimed to assess the rate of self-renewal of Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) and giant goldenrod (S. gigantea Aiton), and the possibility of achieving full generative development on fallow land restored to agricultural use with mechanical treatments. The following research objects were examined: the control (no mechanical treatments); one-time mowing; two-time mowing; one-time mowing plus one-time rotary tilling; and one-time mowing plus two-time rotary tilling. The phenological development of Solidago spp. was observed every 14 days from June to September each year. In October of each growing season, the aboveground parts of goldenrods’ biomass were measured, and selected morphological parameters were assessed. Two-time mowing and one-time mowing with two-time rotary tilling resulted in the highest reductions in the share of goldenrods in the generative stages of development, of 64.0% and 51.7% compared to the control, respectively. The two-time mowing treatment was the most effective at inhibiting goldenrods’ biomass accumulation, with a 57.7–77.0% decrease in biomass compared to the control. This treatment also reduced the number of flowering shoots and inflorescence lengths of both Solidago species.

Analysis of the adventitious fauna of terrestrial molluscs in the centre of the Russian Plain

The terrestrial mollusc fauna of the central part of the Russian Plain has been analysed with respect to its species composition and the proportion of adventitious species. The classification of adventitious species follows that accepted in Russia. Considerable changes in the fauna took place in the period 2016–2020. Helix lucorum Linnaeus and Cornu aspersum (O. F. Müller) were added to the terrestrial malacofauna of the area. Within the last four years, Arion vulgaris Moquin-Tandon colonised anthropogenic habitats and its spread continues. Krynickillus melanocephalus Kaleniczenko, Arianta arbustorum (Linnaeus), and Helix pomatia Linnaeus are now firmly established in natural ecosystems. Populations of A. vulgaris, K. melanocephalus, and A. arbustorum have become so abundant that now they cause significant damage to agricultural crops. In both natural and anthropogenic habitats K. melanocephalus and A. arbustorum displace Succinea putris (Linnaeus), Deroceras laeve (O. F. Müller), D. sturanyi (Simroth), D. invadens Reise, Hutchinson, Schunack et Schlitt, 2011, D. agreste (Linnaeus), D. reticulatum (O. F. Müller), Fruticicola fruticum (O. F. Müller) and Euomphalia strigella (Draparnaud). Interactions between invasive species are discussed. The proportion of alien species in several European countries and in Central Asia is compared.