Landscape-vegetation interactions in Northern Poland

biologia
geografia
ochrona środowiska

fakultatywne

Not applicable.

The course provides knowledge about the plant cover (vegetation and flora) of northern Poland against the background of geomorphological, habitat, climatic and biotic conditions (including those related to the role of animals and fungi).

The most important topics covered include: 1) vegetation and flora versus geomorphological, climatic and habitat diversity; 2) the formation of the vegetation cover and the post-glacial history of the flora; 3) the diversity of natural forest, mire, aquatic and other natural non-forest ecosystems and their species composition; 4) succession processes in forest, mire, lake and dune ecosystems; 5) the geobotanical regionalization of northern Poland; 6) the role of biotic factors (e.g. the influence of herbivores) in the development of plant communities.

Lectures: introduce the post-glacial history of flora and the diversity of plant communities in northern Poland.

The exercises take the form of an eight-day field trip.

Due to the significant costs of transport and accommodation, participation in classes is payable. Registration requires confirmation with payment (more details in the "Comments" section).

Exercises take place in the field and in the form of seminars in accommodation facilities. The eight-day field trip in June takes place in unique natural areas - national parks and numerous nature reserves, mostly protected as Natura 2000 sites.

The route is approximately 1,750 km and includes, among others: The Biebrza Valley, the Ełk Lakeland, the Romincka Forest, the Wschodniosuwalskie Lakeland, the Iława Lakeland, the Kashubian Coast, the Słowińskie Coast, the Bytów Lakeland, the Charzykowska Plain, the Chełmińskie Lakeland and the Inowrocław Plain.

NOTE (1): The curriculum may change.

NOTE (2): Field exercises are very intensive and take place regardless of the weather.

Bohn, U., Neuhäusl, R., unter Mitarbeit von / with contributions by Gollub, G., Hettwer, C., Neuhäuslová, Z., Raus, Th., Schlüter, H. & Weber, H. (2000/2003): Karte der natürlichen Vegetation Europas / Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe. Maßstab / Scale 1 : 2 500 000. Münster (Landwirtschaftsverlag)

Kornaś J., Medwecka-Kornaś A. 2002. Geografia roślin. PWN, Warszawa.

Lauschner C., Ellenberg H. 2017. Vegetation Ecology of Central Europe. Springer International Publishing AG.

Matuszkiewicz W. 2001. Przewodnik do oznaczania zbiorowisk roślinnych Polski. PWN, Warszawa.

Szafer W., Zarzycki K. (red.) 1972. Szata roślinna Polski. Tom 1 i 2. PWN, Warszawa.

Zarzycki K., Kaźmierczakowa R., Mirek Z.: (red.) 2014. Polska Czerwona Księga Roślin. Paprotniki i rośliny kwiatowe. Wyd. III. uaktualnione i rozszerzone. Instytut Ochrony Przyrody PAN, Kraków.

Websites:

Atlas-roślin: https://www.atlas-roslin.pl/pelna/index.html

FloraVeg.EU: Database of the European Flora and Vegetation. https://floraveg.eu/

During the course, students gain knowledge about the vegetation of the northern part of Poland and its environmental drivers, in particular:

(1) characteristic and important plant communities and their specific habitats: forests (beech forest, oak-hornbeam forest, boreal swamp spruce, Atlantic swamp birch forest, alder forest, riparian forest, pine forest), coastal and inland dunes, cliff, xerothermic grasslands, salt flats, peat bogs, spring waters and vegetation of water reservoirs (including specific lobelia lakes and brackish reservoirs); K_W01 Bl2, K_W06 Bl2

(2) environmental conditions shaping particular types of ecosystems; K_W04 Bl2, K_W10 Bl2, K_W11 Bl2, K_U03 Bl2, K_U08 Bl2, K_U09 Bl2, K_U10 Bl2, K_U11 Bl2

(3) the most important plant species occurring in these communities; K_W01 Bl2, K_U03 Bl2, K_U08 Bl2, K_U09 Bl2, K_U10 Bl2, K_U11 Bl2

(4) the history of the flora of Poland in the post-glacial period; K_W01 Bl2, K_W04 Bl2, K_U03 Bl2, K_U08 Bl2, K_U09 Bl2, K_U10 Bl2, K_U11 Bl2

(5) geobotanical division of northern Poland against the background of the global division;

K_W01 Bl2

In addition, students acquire skills in preparing and delivering oral contributions in Polish and English, in accordance with the requirements for the B2+ level; K_U11 Bi2

orrect and interesting presentation on the given topic; demonstrating understanding of the diversity of flora and vegetation in northern Poland and its relationship with geomorphological, climatic, habitat and biotic conditions, both today and in the period since the end of the last glaciation.

Oral presentation during field exercises and oral exam, for those willing, necessary to obtain a higher grade.