Patterns of Effective Pollen Dispersal in Larch: Linking Levels of Background Pollination with Pollen Dispersal Kernels

Monitoring patterns of mating and pollen dispersal in forest tree populations subjected to nature conservation is essential to understanding the dynamics of their reproductive processes and might be helpful in making management decisions aimed at conserving genetic diversity and integrity over the long term. However, little is known about effective pollen dispersal in natural populations of conifers, particularly in subdominant species such as larch. We investigated patterns of pollen dispersal in the Polish larch population of Świętokrzyski National Park. The studied population was located on Chełmowa Mountain in a forest complex 160 ha in size, which is relatively isolated from other forest stands. We assessed if local pollen dispersal inferred from pollen dispersal kernels could provide indications of the level of background pollination from sources located outside of the forest complex. The analysis focused on two plots, each encompassing 126 adult trees, and seed samples (n = 600) collected from 20 trees. Using 11 nuclear microsatellites and spatially explicit mating models, we identified details of mating patterns. The rate of self-fertilization was low (0.0268). Background pollination was moderate (0.4058), and the mean pollen dispersal was found to be 167 m and 111 m, based on exponential-power and Weibull dispersal kernels, respectively. Specific simulations performed based on the estimated pollen dispersal kernels provided background pollination levels comparable to those observed for real data, suggesting that the pollen contributing to background pollination likely originated from the studied forest complex and not from other surrounding populations. These results confirm the high potential for maintaining the genetic integrity of the larch population and support efforts aimed at promoting regeneration of the stands, either natural or through the artificial planting of seedlings derived from trees growing in the core larch population of the protected area.

Protected areas of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship

The Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship is one of the smallest provinces in Poland, but it clearly stands out with a very well-preserved natural environment. Because of exceptional features of animate and inanimate nature, large parts of the province are covered by various forms of nature protection. There is 1 national park (NP), 72 nature reserves (NRs), 9 landscape parks, 21 protected landscape areas and 40 Natura 2000 sites within the administrative borders of the province. The most unique natural features are found in the Świętokrzyski National Park (ŚNP), but the largest surface of the province is covered by protected landscape areas. Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship is the first in Poland in terms of the share of protected areas (as much as 65.2%), strongly outdistancing other Voivodeships. Small natural objects are much more numerous than large protected areas. At present, the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship has 705 natural monuments (NMs), 114 ecological sites (ESs), 20 documentation sites (DSs) and 17 nature and landscape complexes (NLCs). Moreover, new protected areas and sites may still be established within its borders.

Radial growth trends of fir (Abies alba Mill.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park (Poland)

The objectives of this study are to determine a trend of the radial growth at breast height (b.h.) and to compare the radial growth of trees of younger and older generations in the XX century for fir (Abies alba Mill.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park. In the investigated area fir, 41 to 200–300 years of age at breast height, gradually regenerated its radial growth after a very strong decline during 1971–1990, and most likely the process of vitality reduction and death of its stands of various age is slowly coming to an end. Pine showed a systematic decrease in the radial increment during 1885–1994, and there were no distinct symptoms indicating a change of this unfavourable trend. Beech showed no significant decrease in the radial increment during 1885–1994. In the Świętokrzyski National Park the differences in the radial growth between younger and older generations were noticeable only in the case of beech. The radial growth of trees of different ages was very similar in the case of fir and pine.

Relationship between crown characteristics and the radial increment of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park (Poland)

The objectives of this study are to determine the relationship between crown characteristics and the radial increment of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and to specify the characteristics of beech trees with the radial increment above the average in the Świętokrzyski National Park. The following relationships have been found: the radial increment of beech increases as the degree of the freedom of the light part of the crown from neighbouring trees increases, and the increase in the relative crown length causes a significant increase in the radial increment. Most of the best growing beech trees are characterized by the light part of the crown confined in an area of up to about 55%, and the relative crown length spanning the range of 55% (trees 61 to 80 years of age at b.h.) to 76% (trees 21 to 40 years of age at b.h).

Caddisflies (Trichoptera) of the Świętokrzyski National Park

This faunistic study was carried out in the period 2008–2014 in the Natura 2000 Łysogóry (PLH260002) area, which is situated entirely in the Świętokrzyski National Park (ŚPN). The study revealed the occurrence of 82 caddisfly species (Trichoptera). The insects were caught by light-trapping at 10 sites in the National Park and at one locality on its boundary. Five caddisfly species from the Polish Red List were found. Stenophylax vibex (Curtis, 1834), a rare species in Poland, has so far been found only in the ŚPN. Fifty-three species of caddisflies were found for the first time in the Świętokrzyski National Park, 19 of which are new to the Świętokrzyskie Mountains area. The study did not confirm the presence of sixteen species recorded previously but it has raised the total number of caddisfly species recorded in the Świetokrzyski National Park to 98.

Morphological and Soil Determinants of Forest Cover Changes in Świętokrzyski National Park and Its Buffer Zone in the last 200 Years

The research described in the paper utilized GIS methods and comparative cartography in order to analyze changes in forest cover in the period 1800-2011 in the Świętokrzyski National Park (76.26 km²) and its buffer zone (207.86 km²). The research was done for predefined elevation intervals, slope gradients, and genetic soil types. Source materials included historical maps as well as a digital elevation model. Changes in forest cover were noted in spatial and temporal terms and were usually linked to morphology and soil type. While the 19th century was characterized by intense deforestation, this process reversed starting in the early 20th century. Nevertheless, forest cover in the study area has still not returned to its state from 1800.

Macromycetes in forest associations of the Świętokrzyski National Park

The investigations on the role of macromycetes in various forest communities of the Świętokrzyski National ark were performed in the years 1964-1968. Fruit bodies growing on the soil, in the litter and on wood were studied on 13 permanent plots. Attention was paid to effects of atmospheric conditions on the fruiting of fungi and to the seasonal aspects of macromycetes.