Polish Journal of Ecology 

About: Polish Journal of Ecology is an academic journal published by Polish Academy of Sciences. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Species richness. It has an ISSN identifier of 1505-2249. Over the lifetime, 1265 publications have been published receiving 11760 citations.

Mites (acari) as indicators of soil biodiversity and land use monitoring: a review

Abstract: Soil is an important compo- nent for monitoring of sustainability of land use in relation to both the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity of ecosystems. Re- cently research has focused on the role of mites (Acari) in biomonitoring and their importance as soil bioindicators. Mite communities are ex- tremely sensitive to all types of soil disturbance. This article presents a review of some studies on mite communities in order to discuss whether the diversity and numbers of mites present in the soil can reflect human impact on ecosystems and landscape, and whether mites can be used in monitoring systems. Limited data available about mite communities in agricultural ecosys- tems (in use and abandoned) in SW Norway from author's own studies (published and in prep.) are compared with data from ca. 55 pa- pers (mostly concerning Europe).

The use of stable isotope analyses in freshwater ecology:current awareness

Abstract: Ecological research using stable isotopes has progressed rapidly during the last 20 years and although more studies are including the addition of isotopically labelled compounds at tracer levels, the overwhelming majority rely on measurements of natural abundance ratios. Access to isotope ratio mass spectrometry has increased, spurred on by awareness of the techniques and increasing demand, and consequently cost of sample analysis has dropped. Today stable isotopes of carbon (13C/12C), nitrogen (15N/14N), sulphur (34S/32S), oxygen (18O/16O), and hydrogen (2H/1H) can be determined routinely. Perhaps one of the most appealing attributes of isotopic signatures is their potential use to find patterns and determine mechanisms across a range of scales from the molecular level through to characterising whole food webs, reconstructing palaeoenvironments, tracing nutrient fluxes between ecosystems and identifying subsidies, or migrations of organisms. Ecologists from every discipline who are unlikely to have been trained as isotope chemists have added stable isotope analysis (SIA) to their “toolbox”, but often increasing use leads to increasing abuse. The usefulness of SIA arises from predictable physical and enzymatic-based discrimination between biological and non-biological materials leading to different isotopic compositions. Without some ecological understanding of these, interpretation of isotope-derived data can often be flawed. Here, I explore how SIA recently has been used for research in aquatic ecology, reviewing how some of these techniques have allowed elucidation of key processes in aquatic systems such as the contribution of allochthony to lake food webs, and discuss the “state of the art”. Included are some thoughts on where our knowledge in aquatic ecology remains deficient and how continued development and future application of SIA and interdisciplinary methodologies may be applied.

Riparian zones: where biogeochemistry meets biodiversity in management practice

Abstract: Riparian zones are well known for their inherent ecological properties related to biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity, and catchment management. The international MAB/UNESCO programme which was running between 1988 and 1998 was related to the land/water ecotones, mainly riparian zones. This article, inspired by this programme – seeks to highlight the role of riparian processes on biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity under different climatic conditions. Their role is investigated by focusing on: i) the lateral ecotone between land and water systems, ii) their longitudinal corridor structure and, iii) the drywet cycles. This information is then used to suggest the value of riparian zones in landscape management. We emphasize the key roles of the ecotonal structure, longitudinal connectivity and timing of the occurrence of wet-dry cycles for riparian zones to process nitrate fluxes and to maintain high levels of biodiversity at the landscape scale. In the context of the worldwide transformations of flow regimes, the deterioration of water quality and loss of biodiversity, restoring riparian zones is both a key objective and a formidable challenge that implies envisioning the consequences of management actions on the long term, considering entire river basins, and paying attention to other environmental, regional and global changes.