Wetland meadows of carex acutiformis as a source of bioelectricity of agglomeration atmospheric air pollution and environmental safety of the practices

The article presents the assessment of bioelectroproductivity of wetland sedge ecosystems of Carex acutiformis in situ. It was found that it is possible to obtain a bioelectric potential at the level of 864.2-1114.8 mV, depending on external conditions using a pair of electrodes graphite/zinc-galvanized steel and graphite/aluminum. The increase in soil moisture had a positive effect on bioelectric potential parameters. Widespread in Polissya biotopes of sedge have prospects as sources of green plant-microbial energy.

Use of a marsh dominated by the introduced European Lake Sedge, Carex acutiformis, by highly localized native butterflies

To determine whether native butterflies had colonized a marsh in Ottawa that was entirely dominated by the invasive alien European Lake Sedge (Carex acutiformis), we surveyed two adjacent stands of the sedge and surrounding habitats. Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion), Mulberry Wing (Poanes massasoit), Broad-winged Skipper (P. viator), and browns (Lethe spp.) were all abundant in the introduced sedge, but absent from surrounding habitats. This is the first report of the use of invasive-dominated wetland by native Canadian butterflies. Reduced nectar resources because of dominance of the invasive species over native nectar-producing plants did not prevent significant colonization. The known restriction of the butterflies to native Lakebank Sedge (Carex lacustris) as a larval host plant, but its absence in the area, coupled with dominance of its close relative, European Lake Sedge, provides strong circumstantial evidence of the use of the latter as larval food. This report doubles the number of recently localized native butterflies that have been able to increase their distribution by switching to habitat dominated by invasive plants.

Studies on phytopathogenic and saprotrophic fungi in rush associations of Lake Glinno (NW Poland)

During the vegetation seasons in years 2004-2005 the health state of rush plant species from <em>Phragmition</em> and <em>Magnocaricion</em> alliances around the Lake Glinno was investigated. From 13 plant species with disease symptoms 94 species of fungi and FLO were isolated. The highest mycological biodiversity was stated in <em>Phragmitetum australis</em> (24 species) and <em>Thelypteridi-Phragmitetum</em> (27 species) plant associations. The host species in which the biggest number of fungi and FLO species was observed were: <em>Phragmites australis</em> (37 species) and <em>Carex acutiformis</em> (25 species). The highest mycological similarity based on the Jaccard-Sörensen coefficient occurred between <em>Caricetum acutiformis</em> and <em>Glycerietum maximae</em> plant associations (50%) whereas the lowest value of the coefficient represented <em>Glycerietum maximae</em> and <em>Phalaridetum arundinaceae</em> associations (7%).

Patterns of seedling recruitment in experimental gaps on mosaic vegetation of abandoned meadows

The paper presents results of a study on the response of species growing in experimental gaps in the patches dominated by <em>Carex acutiformis</em>, <em>C. cespitosa</em> and <em>Salix cinerea</em>. The study was performed in a meadow area subjected to the process of succession in the Reski Range in the Białowieski National Park. Four patterns of seedlings recruitment in the experimental gaps were distinguished: pattern I - great number of seedlings with high richness of species, pattern II - great number of seedlings with low richness of species, pattern III - low number of seedlings with great richness of species and pattern IV - low number of seedlings with low richness of species.

New eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from sedges in Poland and supplement description of Eriophyes lentiginosus Mitrofanov, Sharonov et Sekerskaja, 1983

Cupacarus acutivagrans n. sp. is described from Carex acutiformis in Poland. Six eriophyoid mites (Epitrimerus carexis Petanovi , Eriophyes altisonorae (Keifer), Novophytoptus rostratae Roivainen, Phytoptus aquatilis Roivainen, Phytoptus hirtae Roivainen, Eriophyes lentiginosus Mitrofanov, Sharonov et Sekerskaja) are recorded new to the Polish fauna and their host plants are also presented. The male, nymph and larva of E. lentiginosus are described for the first time.