Together but separate: decoupled Variscan (late Carboniferous) and Alpine (Late Cretaceous – Paleogene) inversion tectonics in NW Poland

In Europe, formation of the Palaeozoic Variscan orogenic belt, and then the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Alpine-Carpathian orogenic belt led to a widespread inversion events within forelands of both orogenic domains. We used legacy 2D seismic data together with the newly acquired 3D seismic data that for the first time precisely imaged sub-Zechstein (i.e. sub-evaporitic) upper Palaeozoic succession in NW Poland in order to develop quantitative, balanced 2D model of the late Palaeozoic – recent evolution of this area, characterised by a complex pattern of repeated extension and inversion. Four main tectonic phases have been determined: (1) Late Devonian – early Carboniferous extension related to extensional reactivation of Caledonian thrusts, (2) late Carboniferous inversion caused by Variscan orogeny, (3) Permo-Mesozoic subsidence related to the development of the Polish Basin, and (4) its Late Cretaceous – Paleogene inversion. Variscan and Alpine structures form superimposed multilayer inversion system, mechanically decoupled along the Zechstein evaporites.

Bioaccumulation of Macronutrients in Edible Mushrooms in Various Habitat Conditions of NW Poland—Role in the Human Diet

Recently, the interest in mushroom consumption has been growing, since their taste and low calorific value are appreciated, but also due to their nutritional value. In determining the usefulness of mushrooms in the human diet, it is important to consider the conditions of their occurrence to perform the assessment of bioaccumulation of minerals. The aim of the study was: (a) to determine the content of selected macronutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na) in fruiting bodies of Boletus edulis, Imleria badia, Leccinum scabrum and the soils, (b) to determine their bioaccumulation potential taking into account the habitat conditions, and (c) an attempt to estimate their role in covering the requirement for macronutrients of the human organism. The research material was obtained in the NW of Poland: Uznam and Wolin, the Drawa Plain and the Ińsko Lakeland. In the soil, we determined the content of organic matter, pH, salinity and the content of absorbable and general forms of macronutrients. The content of macronutrients in mushrooms was also determined. Chemical analyses were performed using the generally accepted test methods. The study showed that in NW Poland, B. edulis grew on the acidic soils of Arenosols, and I. badia and L. scabrum grew on Podzols. The uptake of K, Mg and Ca by the tested mushrooms was positively, and P and Na negatively correlated with the content of these elements in the soil. The acidity of the soil affected the uptake of K and Mg by mushrooms. There was no effect of the amount of organic matter in the soil noticed on the content of macronutrients (except sodium) in mushrooms. Among the studied macronutrients, none of the mushrooms accumulated Ca, while P and K were generally accumulated in the highest amounts, regardless of the species. Each of the other elements was usually accumulated at a similar level in the fruiting bodies of the species we studied. The exception was I. badia, which accumulated higher amounts of Mg compared to B. edulis and L. scabrum. Mushrooms can enrich the diet with some macronutrients, especially in P and K.

The first Cretaceous ophiopluteus skeleton (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

Larvae of sea urchins, brittle stars, and allies are common, ecologically important, and diverse members of marine ecosystems in all of the world's oceans today. In contrast to modern representatives, the fossil record of echinoderm larvae is poorly known. This study reports the first ophiopluteus skeleton from Cretaceous sediments worldwide, obtained from chalky sediment of the Isle of Wolin, NW Poland. The evidence presented here, that it is possible to isolate fossil echinoderm larval skeletons from rocks, indicates a hidden diversity of such fragile fossils and thus the possibility of direct geological recording.

A record of deglaciation-related shifting of the proximal zone of a sandur — a case study from the Gwda sandur, NW Poland (MIS 2)

The study analyses a 7.5-m-thick sedimentary succession deposited in the largest sandur (the Gwda sandur, a glacial outwash plain) in NW Poland, during the late Weichselian (MIS 2). Although the study site is located in the distal zone of the sandur, its sedimentological features and palaeohydrological parameters reflect the presence of an energetic, powerful environment typical of the proximal zone. Three sedimentary units were recognized in the studied sedimentary succession: (1) lower unit — fine-grained sands with ripple cross-lamination and horizontal lamination; (2) middle unit — gravelly coarse-grained sands and sandy gravels with planar cross-stratification; and, (3) upper unit — sands and gravelly sands with trough cross-stratification. Although the age of deposition of the sandur is accepted to be convergent with that of end-moraines of the same phase, the sediments in the distal zone of the Gwda sandur correlate with an earlier glaciation phase/subphase. Our findings hint at a complex problem: large sandurs such as the Gwda sandur were probably deposited over a long time, and their successions might record the textural and structural features of the proximal subenvironment, even in their distal parts due to deglaciation-related shifting of the proximal zone of a sandur. This paper presents a new approach to analysing the depositional processes in large sandurs, shows a new light on glaciofluvial water supply dynamics of distal parts of sandurs, and may solve several fundamental problems related to the sandur deposition.

The structure of precipitation and rainfall erosivity in the upper Parsęta catchment (Drawskie Lakeland, NW Poland) in 1987-2020 as an indicator of climate change

<p>The impact of climate change observed in recent decades can be noticed in the structure of precipitation. The increasing amount of periods without rainfall, decreasing annual snowfall totals, and shortening the duration of snow cover significantly affect water resources and the intensity of a number of environmental processes, such as soil erosion by water.</p><p>The main aim of this paper is to determine the structure of rainfall in years 1987-2020, based on series of meteorological measurements in the Parsęta Base Station of Integrated Monitoring of Natural Environment at Storkowo in Drawskie Lakeland (NW Poland). The analyzes included precipitation amounts, number of days with precipitation, rainfall intensity, kinetic energy and erosivity and several rainfall indices. During this period, there is observed a significant increase of air temperature, which equals 0.47°C for 10 years. In the case of precipitation, a small increasing trend is marked statistically insignificant. The average annual precipitation was 698.6 mm, whilst precipitation in the winter half-year equalled 41.2% of total and 58.8% in the summer half-year. The annual rainfall erosivity, calculated according to Wishmeier and Smith’s formula, changed from 144.7 to 782.1 MJmm/ha/h, while Modified Fournier Index (MFI) ranged from 53.8 mm to 119.0 mm and was not statistically significant.</p><p>The analysis of precipitation with different daily totals did not show a significant increase in the share of precipitation with higher values. The relative precipitation index (RPI) showed no increase in the number of dry months of a year. Moreover, the analysis of occurrence of periods of light droughts, dry spells and droughts does not indicate any significant increase in the number and frequency of such events. On the other hand, a similar analysis of vegetation period (April-September) shows statistically insignificant trend of decrease in the number and frequency of precipitation less series. Another indicator important for the assessment of water conditions, the Sielianinov hydrothermal coefficient was calculated for period April-October, and showed lack of long-term trend changes in the observed period.</p><p>The water shortages in the upper Parsęta catchment observed in recent years are probably the result of decrease in the contribution of snow in the precipitation structure and a significant reduction in the number of days with snow cover. This limits the underground retention and surface outflow and has an impact on the functioning of biotic environment and agriculture.</p>

Tree-Ring Analysis of Intermediate Hawthorn (Crataegus media Bechst.) in NW Poland

Intermediate hawthorn (Crataegus × media Bechst.) is broadly distributed in Europe but very rarely examined by dendrochronologists. In NW Poland, it is one of three naturally occurring hawthorn species, growing mainly at forest margins, along roads, in mid-field woodlots, and on uncultivated land. Biocenotically, it is a very valuable species. This study aimed to determine the age of trees, tree-ring dynamics, and growth–climate relationship for intermediate hawthorn. Signature years were also determined. Samples for analysis were collected from 22 trees growing in a typical agricultural landscape in a monospecific mid-field woodlot comprised of several hundred specimens of various ages and forms (shrubs and trees). Using classic methods of dendrochronological dating, a 40-year long chronology spanning 1981–2020 was constructed. The radial growth rate of intermediate hawthorn is comparable to other tree species forming stands in NW Poland and equals 2.41 mm/year. Considerable intersubject variability is noted, from 1.48 to 4.44 mm/year. The chronology was also used for dendroclimatological analyses, including correlation and response function and signature years. Of the meteorological parameters analyzed, annual incremental growth in hawthorn is the most strongly shaped by precipitation totals from May to August of the current vegetation year: high rainfall favors the formation of wide tree-rings. Statistically significant growth–climate relationships were also obtained for winter months (December of the preceding vegetation year, January and February), for which period negative correlation and regression values are noted for air temperature and insolation. Furthermore, high precipitation, low-temperature and low insolation late in the preceding vegetation year (especially in August) make a positive influence on the condition of trees in the upcoming growing season. Signature year analysis clearly pointed to precipitation as the dominant factor in shaping tree-rings in the studied hawthorn population. As there are no dendrochronological papers concerning indigenous hawthorn species, future studies should be expanded to include diverse geographic locations and habitat conditions and should include all three species of hawthorn occurring in Poland.