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.

Recolonization of experimental gaps by the mussels Brachidontes darwinianus and B. solisianus in a subtropical rocky shore

In this study, the recolonization speed of the mussels Brachidontes darwinianus and B. solisianus was compared to evaluate their responses to gaps opened by disturbances in the rocky shore. B. darwinianus was much faster than B. solisianus, rapidly closing gaps in the mussel bed. When they co-occurred, distribution patterns of these species were related not only with distinct physiological tolerances but also with responses to disturbance. B. darwinianus was more tolerant to low salinities, dominated estuarine zones generally occuring lower in the midlittoral, and presented a faster response to opened gaps.