Vegetation
of calamine soils
and its importance
for biodiversity and landscape
conservation
in post-mining areas
Events
From the beginning of the project we make notes of important stages of work. Visit this place if you are curious about our progress
May 31, 2011
Scientific conferences
We took part in the international conference on soil microorganisms (Ecology of Soil Microorganisms 2011; March 27 - May 1, Prague) and the conference on recultivation and rehabilitation of degraded areas (April 26-29, Jurata). We were present at the international conference "Planta Europa" (May 23-27, Kraków). In the near future we are going to Portugal (Coimbra), where the international conference on ecology of areas contaminated with heavy metals will take place ("Serpentine Ecology 2011", June 12-16).
April 30, 2011
THE END
The project has been finished. The project results, which were discussed during the meeting of performers (March 22), encourage us to continuation of our research in the ORR. See you in the field!
December 2, 2011
Pine ectomycorrhizae
We have finished the analyses of pine ectomycorrhizae abundance and diversity.
November 16-18, 2010
39th Białowieża Workshop
During the workshop we presented statistical methods used in analyses of the ORR data.
November 10, 2010
Mapping vegetation of the ORR
Classification of the vegetation cover of the ORR was work out. It was used in preparing maps of vegetation types.
October 28-29, 2010
Popular-scientific conference in Bolesław
There were numerous lectures focusing on different aspects of the impact of mining activity on nature and human environment. During the conference promotional materials, calendars and brochures concerning natural values of the ORR, were given out. Photo contest, organized for schoolchildren, were resolved.
September 20-24, 2010
EcoChange summer school 2010
We took part in the 5-day workshop on predictive habitat suitability modelling organized within the EcoChange project at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL.
September 19-23, 2010
15th ICHMET conference
We presented 2 posters during the 15th International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment.
September 6-12, 2010
55th PTB Meeting
We participated in the 55th Meeting of Polish Botanical Society "Planta in vivo, in vitro et in silico". We prepered for this meeting 7 posters and 2 oral presentations.
August 23-27, 2010
Collection of ants
We collected ants from open field study sites to investigate their body size and shape parameters. We expect to find differences between sites of different level of contamination.
July 8, 2010
Species composition of enchytraeid worms
We have collected soil cores from all sample plots in which enchytraeid density (again) and species composition (for the first time) will be determined. At the opportunity we have taken soil samples to estimate soil moisture.
June 30, 2010
Photographical documentation of the study area
In May we started to collect photographical documentation concerning various plant communities as well as valuable and interesting species of plants, lichens and fungi occurring in the OOR. This material will be presented during photo exhibition that will be organized in Bolesław in October 2010.
June 30, 2010
Cartographical documentation of the study area
We have gained current (done in 2009) aerial photographs of the study area, which will be helpful in producing maps of plant communities and landuse.
June 29, 2010
The 9th meeting of performers
During the meeting we discussed about the schedule of the popular scientific session that is going to be organized in Bolesław in autumn 2010. The aim of the session is to present results of the project to local authorities and community.
May 23-27, 2010
SETAC Conference
We presented posters during the SETAC Europe 20th Annual Meeting held in Seville, Spain (23-27 May 2010).
May 4, 2010
The last stage of fieldwork
Our plans for the current growing season comprise the completion of the floristic inventory and mapping types of vegetation in some small parts of the OOR.
March 30, 2010
The 8th meeting of performers
During the meeting we discussed some results of the research concerning the occurring of lichen and fungi species as well as soil microbial activity within the study sites.
February 23, 2010
Lichens
We have finished to identify the lichens collected from study plots. Now the database concering the occurrence of lichens, mosses and vascular plant species is completed.
February 12, 2010
Fungal functional diversity
We have finished the research on soil microbial activity. The last stage of this was determining fungal functional diversity using Biolog plates.
December 4, 2009
The 7th meeting of performers
By the end of November we completed chemical analysis of soil samples. Data obtained were used in statistical analyses to explain plant species distribution and the activity of soil microbes and mesofauna. The results were presented during the meeting of performers.
November 30, 2009
Bibliographic database
We established the database containing bibliographic information about studies done in the Olkusz region.
October 22, 2009
Last work in the field in this season
In October we measured soil temperature and collected specimens of mosses and lichens in the study sites. We finished mapping types of vegetation for a considerable part of the study area. We also recorded species of Basidiomycetous fungi in forest sites.
September 29, 2009
The 6th meeting of performers
This meeting was organizational in nature.
September 28, 2009
Biological activity of soil
In August and September we extracted enchytraeids from soil samples and estimated their mean density. Functional diversity of culturable bacteria was also determined (with Biolog plates).
July 31, 2009
Soil microbial parameters
In June we started laboratory work aiming at determining soil respiration rate, soil microbial biomass and functional diversity of soil bacteria. Microbial respiration and biomass have been already estimated for all study sites.
July 7, 2009
Soil mesofauna density and soil temperature dynamics
In early July soil samples were collected from study plots in order to determine Enchytraeidae density. Within study sites datalogers were placed to obtain data on temperature dynamics in the top soil layer in different habitats during summer.
June 30, 2009
Collection of soil samples
In late June we collected soil from the study plots which were not sampled in May for determining soil physicochemical parameters.
June 29, 2009
The 5th meeting of performers
During the meeting Bachelor's dissertations realized within the frames of the project were presented.
June 12, 2009
Vascular plants inventory
On 12 June the inventory of vascular plants was completed for all 441 sample plots.
May 30, 2009
Conference on thermophilous grasslands
We participated in the conference focused on thermophilous grasslands of the Kujawy-Pomorze region. The conference took place in Bydgoszcz (Poland), May 28-30. We prepared an oral presentation and a poster.
May 22, 2009
Collection of soil samples
In May 18-22 we were visited by professor Rolf Vogt (the University of Oslo). Together, we managed to describe soil profiles of all 49 sites and to collect samples of soil for determining its physicochemical parameters and the microbiological activity in a very short time.
May 13, 2009
Fieldwork season is started
We have resumed our research on the species distribution and mapping types of vegetation in the Olkusz Ore-bearing Region. The next step is to perform scheduled works on study sites.
April 28, 2009
New study sites
We established 6 new study sites. Now, their total and final number is 49 (441 study plots).
April 22-25, 2009
The "Threats to Biotopes" conference
In April we took part in a scientific conference entitled Threats to Biotopes, organized by the Department of Ecology and Nature Conservation, the University of Opole, and focused on the problems concerning the permanent and long-term use of natural resources. During the conference we presented one oral presentation and several posters.
April 16, 2009
Spring exploratory trip
During the first (after the winter break) field trip we were checking the condition of plot markings and searching for suitable places for additional study sites.
March 26, 2009
The 4th meeting of performers
We summed up works carried out in the 4th term of the project. There were presented among other things results of the moss survey and the report from the visit of the University of Oslo (see below) as well as methods of soil collection for the coming season were discussed.
March 10-20, 2009
Visit to the University of Oslo
In March we visited the University of Oslo (our partner in the project), where we took part in a very intensive, 9-day course of gradient analysis.
January 27, 2009
Species identification
Winter is a good time to complete work begun in the vegetative season. Specimens of plants, lichens and fungi collected during the summer and the autumn, which were not identified in the field, are at present indentified to the species level.
January 15, 2009
Lecture for the Polish Botanical Society
We prepared a lecture on research carried out within the project and delivered it for the Polish Botanical Society twice: on December 11, 2008 (in Kraków), and on January 15, 2009 (in Katowice).
December 16, 2008
The 3rd meeting of performers
We finished the 3rd term of the work on the project. During the meeting, we talked over results of statistical analyses of the plant composition described for 387 study plots. The results of dendrochronological analyses were also discussed as well as the progress at the realization of other tasks (mapping of land-use types, the study on pine ectomycorrhizae). Some of the presented reports are accessible in the Publications section.
November 28, 2008
Data analysis (the plant species composition)
We performed preliminary statistical analyses of the plant species composition (without mosses and lichens) found on 387 sample plots (within 43 sites). We used some variables obtained in the field (describing substratum type and features of soil profiles) to explain the variance in the occurrence of plant species. We analyzed also data concerning the structure of forest stands (20 sites).
November 26, 2008
Dendrochronological research
We finished dendrochronological analyses - we estimated annual increments for 200 pines (from 20 sites).
November 7, 2008
Fieldwork ending (in 2008)
During last (in this year) field trips we finished measurement (GPS) of the location of study sites. Besides, we uncovered and photographed the profile of the top soil layer; this will help us to work out the method of taking samples for chemical analyses of soil properties.
October 21, 2008
Completion of field study on plants, lichens and fungi (in 2008)
The study on vegetation (carried out on 387 study plots) has finished for this vegetative season. In the 3rd term we determined the occurrence of mosses and lichens. Besides, in October Basidiomycetous fungi were gathered repetitively from all (20) forest sites. Further work - on the identification of some species - will be continued in the laboratory.
October 2, 2008
Bachelors and Masters theses
Students co-operating with us (within the framework of the project) have an opportunity to earn scientific degrees (B.Sc. and M.Sc). First two theses will concern 1) the dynamics of the grassland vegetation of the ecological site "Pleszczotka górska", which is overgrowed by pines (Pinus sylvestris L.), and 2) inventory and valorization of the remains of former mining-works in the OOR area. Other themes wait for willing - feel free to contact with us.
September 30, 2008
The 2nd meeting of performers
We are at the finish of the consecutive term of the project. There is a pretty big part of work done - before all considerably advanced botanical research. We discussed the progress of works and the first results during the 2. meeting of performers.
September 25, 2008
Soil fauna activity
We have begun the gathering of soil samples, from which Enchytraeids will be extracted. The density of the Enchytraeidae fauna will be one of the indicators showing biological activity of soil (of study plots). In this year we carry out only pilot study, which will help to work out the method of soil sampling.
September 4, 2008
Mosses and lichens
We have begun the fieldwork, which will result in supplementing the list of plant species (found on study plots by now) with species of mosses and lichens.
August 28, 2008
Dendrological study
We have started dendrological work within forest sites. We describe the structure of forest stands (the age, size of trees etc.) and take samples from trunks of trees for dendrochronological analysis.
August 18, 2008
Fungi gathering
We have begun research of forest sites in terms of the species composition of Basidiomycetous fungi. The occurrence of some fungi may be an indicator of the abundance and the diversity of pine ectomycorrhizae.
August 12-14, 2008
Professor Rolf Vogt's visit
In August we were visited by Professor Rolf Vogt from the University of Oslo, who is (in our project) an expert in chemical analyses of soil. During a trip through the study area we discussed methods of soil sampling and analyzing as well took samples from several study sites for a pilot study.
August 7, 2008
Completion of list preparation for flowering plants and pteridophytes occurring on study plots
We have finished the first stage of botanical research on study plots. We have already the complete set of data which will be stored in the project database.
July 29, 2008
Mapping of vegetation types
One of our goals is mapping land-use and vegetation types within the OOR area. We have begun to explore the study area to recognize (before mapping) the spatial variability of vegetation.
July 23-24, 2008
Professor Wilfried Ernst's visit
In the latter part of July we were visited by Professor Wilfried Ernst (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) - an expert in ecology of the flora of metalliferous soils. Professor Ernst got the feel of the theme of our project during a trip through the OOR area.
July 9, 2008
Mapping of land-use types
We have started mapping land-use/vegetation types within the OOR. The map is created on the basis of 1:5000-scale orthophotomaps of high resolution and 1:10000-scale topographical maps. It will be one of the main layers of the GIS database. At present building type is mapped
July 7, 2008
GPS measurements
We measure positions of our study sites - geographical coordinates of the centre of every site are estimated with high accuracy. It may be important in case future investigations are planned in the same places.
June 25, 2008
Project inauguration - the 1st meeting of performers
We organized the inauguration meeting of main performers. We presented project goals, summed up the work done by now and discussed the ways of realization of the project.
June 16, 2008
Species composition determining for study plots
We finish establishing study sites and study plots; there are 43 sites with a grid of 9 study plots each (387 study plots). We have begun botanical research within the study plots - we determine the occurrence and the cover of vascular plants.
June 5, 2008
Study of the ORR flora
We have started botanical research of the OOR. We record the occurrence of plant species within grid squares of 1 km x 1 km. We have already one interesting finding - a stand of a rare species of fern Ophioglossum vulgatum L.
May 19, 2008
Establishing study sites
We established a few study sites within grassland vegetation.
May 12, 2008
Exploratory trips
We have planned several exploratory trips through grasslands, fallows and pine forests of the OOR. Our aim is to find places suitable for establishing study plots.
April 9, 2008
The project has run!
We have started the project from preparing and initiating the management system and acquiring cartographical data concerning the Olkusz Ore-bearing Region.
