Culturally modified trees or wasted timber: Different approaches to marked trees in Poland’s Białowieża Forest

Studies of past forest use traditions are crucial in both understanding the present state of the oldest European forests, and in guiding decisions on future forest conservation and management. Current management of Poland’s Białowieża Forest (BF), one of the best-preserved forests of the European lowlands, is heavily influenced by anecdotal knowledge on forest history. Therefore, it is important to gain knowledge of the forest’s past in order to answer questions about its historical administration, utilisation, and associated anthropogenic changes. Such understanding can then inform future management. This study, based on surveys in Belarussian and Russian archives and a preliminary field survey in ten forest compartments of Białowieża National Park, focuses on culturally-modified trees (CMTs), which in this case are by-products of different forms of traditional forest use. Information about the formation of the CMTs can then be used to provide insight into former forest usage. Two types of CMTs were discovered to be still present in the contemporary BF. One type found in two forms was of 1) pine trees scorched and chopped in the bottom part of the trunk and 2) pine trees with carved beehives. A second type based on written accounts, and therefore known to be present in the past (what we call a ‘ghost CMT’), was of 3) lime-trees with strips of bark peeled from the trunk. Written accounts cover the period of transition between the traditional forest management (BF as a Polish royal hunting ground, until the end of the eighteenth century) and modern, “scientific” forestry (in most European countries introduced in the second half of the nineteenth century). These accounts document that both types of CMTs and the traditional forest uses responsible for their creation were considered harmful to “rational forestry” by the nineteenth-century forest administration. Thus the practices which created CMTs were banned and the trees gradually removed from the forest. Indeed, these activities drew the attention of forest administrators for several decades, and in our view delayed the introduction of new, timber-oriented, forest management in the BF

THE QUESTIONNAIRE «DIAGNOSTICS OF THE PERSONALITY’S PROFESSIONAL AND VALUE ORIENTATIONS»: A TECHNOLOGY OF ITS DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS

В статье представлены результаты работы, целью которой явилась разработка и психометрическая проверка опросника «Диагностика профессионально-ценностных ориентаций личности». Необходимость разработки методики диагностики профессионально-ценностных ориентаций личности обусловлена практической значимостью изучения данного феномена, значительно влияющего на профессиональную самореализацию личности.Методы исследования. Психодиагностическое тестирование, методы математической статистики обработки результатов.Результаты работы. В статье показано, что в ходе разработки и проверки психодиагностического потенциала опросника была выявлена высокая пригодность пунктов для изучения профессионально-ценностных ориентаций личности. В ходе проверки на внутреннюю гомогенность определена высокая согласованность пунктов опросника. Для изучения практической пригодности опросника разработанной методики осуществлялась проверка критериальной валидности и ее разновидностей (консенсусная и эмпирическая). Результаты данной работы продемонстрировали наличие взаимосвязей с другими методиками, что позволило утверждать диагностическую адекватность разработанного психологического конструкта, позволяющего детально изучать профессионально-ценностные ориентации личности. На основании кластерного анализа выделены типы и содержательные единицы профессионально-ценностных ориентаций личности. Полученные результаты дали возможность построить репрезентативные нормы по половой принадлежности респондентов, что значительно увеличивает диагностическую точность опросника.Область применения результатов. Комплексный подход к изучению профессионально-ценностных ориентаций даст возможность своевременно диагностировать рассогласование содержательной стороны и является необходимым условием понимания механизма формирования профессионально-ценностных ориентаций личности на разных этапах профессионализации.The article presents the results of the work, the aim of which was to develop a questionnaire and psychometric test « Diagnostics of the personality’s professional and value orientations». The need of the development of the technique intended to diagnose the personality’s professional and value orientations is determined by the practical significance of the study of this phenomenon that significantly affects the person’s professional self-realization.Research methods. Psychodiagnostic testing, statistical methods of data reduction.The results. The article tells that high availability of items for the study of the personality’s professional and value orientations was identified during the development and testing of the psychodiagnostic questionnaire potential. The high consistency of the questionnaire items was determined in the course of the inner homogeneity test. To study the practical suitability of the questionnaire of the developed technique the verification of criterion validity and its varieties (consensus and empirical) was carried out. The results of this study demonstrate the relevance with other techniques that allowed asserting the adequacy of the developed diagnostic psychological construct that gives an opportunity to study in depth the person’s professional and value orientations. With reference to the cluster analysis the types and substantial units of the personality’s professional and value orientations were allocated. The results made it possible to build representative norms of respondents according to their sex attribute that significantly increases the diagnostic accuracy of the questionnaire.Application results. The integrated approach to the study of professional and value orientations will give the chance to diagnose a mismatch of the substantial party in due time and it becomes a necessary condition of understanding the mechanism of formation of the personality’s professional and value orientations at different stages of his professionalization

Influence of Bacillus subtilis on soil microbiocenosis

The peculiarities of the formation and functioning of the microbial coenosis of podzolized chernozem soil and the intensity of soil-biological processes when using probiotic preparations in different concentrations containing Bacillus subtilis were studied. Probiotic preparations were applied to the soil in different concentrations and doses in separate areas, and the viability of the soil microbial coenosis of agricultural land was assessed in the spring and autumn periods on the 15th and 30th days after the application of the mixtures. The soil without any substances was considered a control option. The analysis of the coefficients of mineralization - immobilization, oligotrophicity and pedotrophicity determined that the use of probiotics helps to increase the content of nutrients in the soil for various ecological and trophic groups of microorganisms, showed that the best result for the functioning of the microbial coenosis of podzolic chernozem soil is observed when using a probiotic in a dilution of 1:10 in a dose of 100 l ha-1. Thus, the use of probiotics in a dilution of 1:10 at a dose of 100 l ha-1 can be used as an environmentally friendly fertilizer in organic farming, which will improve the biological parameters of the soi

Agroecological characteristics of the effect of a mixture of probiotic preparations with concomitant formation water on soil microorganisms

In the context of energy and environmental crisis, the search for new substances ensuring the formation of microbial cenosis with a rich composition of agronomically valuable groups of bacteria, the optimal level of humification, and the increase of organic matter in the soil will allow to substantiate innovative environmentally safe types of fertilizers and plant protection under specific soil and climatic conditions. Therefore, the aim of the research was to study the peculiarities of the formation and functioning of microbial cenosis of podzolic chernozem soil and the intensity of soil-biological processes upon application of a mixture of probiotic preparations and concomitant formation water in different concentrations. Different concentrations of concomitant formation water (СFW) and probiotic preparations were applied to the soil in the selected plots, and the soil microbial cenoses of farmland were evaluated in the spring and autumn periods on days 15, 30, and 60 after application of the mixtures. Soil without the application of any substances was considered a control variant. The most effective impact is observed on day 30 after application, there is an activation of microbiological processes on day 15, and a significant decrease is observed on day 60, although higher than the control due to the prolonged action of СFW. It was determined that the best variant of the experiment in both spring and autumn periods to improve the viability of soil microbial cenosis is the option of joint use of СFW at a concentration of 900 L ha-1 and probiotic Sviteco-Agrobiotic-01 diluted in a ratio of 1:10 (dose 100 L ha-1). In particular, the total number of all groups of bacteria in the soil increases with the use of probiotics diluted in a ratio of 1:10 (15-31% compared to control) and is the maximum when using a mixture of СFW at a dose of 900 L ha-1 and 10% probiotic (by 82-102% compared to control). Based on the analysis of the coefficients of mineralization-immobilization, oligotrophy, and pedotrophy, it was found that the application of СFW mixture and probiotic increases the soil nutrient content for different ecological and trophic groups of bacteria, reduces the rate of humus decomposition and creates favorable conditions for the development of soil bacteria

The Landscape Archaeology of Knettishall Heath, Suffolk and its Implications

This paper briefly describes the results of archaeological fieldwork carried out in an area of heathland, currently managed as a nature reserve, in East Anglia. Although the earthworks recorded are for the most part unremarkable, they demonstrate the variety and intensity of human exploitation which shaped this ‘traditionally managed’ habitat. They also serve to emphasise the extent to which modern conservation management can radically change the long-term character of individual places

Odkrywanie tajemnicy Zamku Książ jako proces samopoznania (kilka uwag o powieści Joanny Bator Ciemno, prawie noc)

Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach19320

Microbial remediation of petroleum polluted soil

Saabunud / Received 10.05.2022 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 28.07.2022 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 28.07.2022 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Anna Taranenko ; [email protected] issues of land pollution, restoration, and return of land to agricultural cultivation are today. Especially, this is gaining new relevance in modern conditions of military action on the territory of Ukraine and other countries, which causes the reduction of cultivation areas. Therefore, there is a need for maximum cleaning and restoration of polluted soils to ensure environmental and food security. Petroleum hydrocarbons are classified as major environmental pollutants due to their stability and durability in the environment. The influence of petroleum hydrocarbons is caused by direct toxic activity and by the soil environment transformation. The research aimed: to study the effectiveness of probiotics in the technology of soil cleaning and remediation; evaluate the phytotoxic effect of oil-contaminated soil before and after the application of probiotics; to find the optimal concentration of probiotics for the effective cleaning and remediation of soil. The seedling method was used to evaluate the phytotoxic effect of contaminated soil before and after the application of probiotics. Research results showed an ambiguous impact on Pisum sativum and Avéna satíva at different times after pollution. In the initial phase, polluted soil has no significant influence on Pisum sativum. For Avéna satíva soil, become toxic right away after pollution. Phytotoxic effect of Pisum sativum and Avéna sativa decrease by the indexes of seed emergence, roots length, roots weight, underground part length and ground part weight due to probiotics treatment. The high efficiency of biological remediation by probiotics in comparison with soil cleaning in natural conditions is determined in the experiment. Probiotic concentration 1:10 is the most effective of all studied initial concentrations of pollutants. Reducing probiotic concentration leads to a decrease in the efficiency of soil cleaning from petroleum products

Ecotoxicological assessment of mineralized stratum water as an environmentally friendly substitute for agrochemicals

Received: May 2nd, 2022 ; Accepted: July 17th, 2022 ; Published: July 28th, 2022 ; Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected] a result of military operations on the territory of Ukraine, sown areas are reduced, the cost of plant protection products and fertilizers increases which emphasizes the problem of obtaining maximum yields from a smaller area of farmland. Given that a shortage of food grains can cause a global food crisis, research on the use of MSW as an environmentally friendly substitute for agrochemicals is relevant today. The aim of the research was to assess the ecotoxicological properties of MSW as an environmentally friendly substitute for synthetic agrochemicals. The impact of MSW as a fertilizer on soil chemical properties and assessment of MSW phytotoxicity as an herbicide for weeds and productivity of winter wheat were studied under field conditions. Toxicological assessment of MSW under laboratory conditions was carried out according to the following parameters: acute oral toxicity and resorptive-toxic effect of MSW. As a result of the assessment of MSW impact on soil chemical properties, it was found that significant soil acidification occurs only when MSW dose of more than 2,400 L ha-1 is used. The content of nitrates and oil products did not increase and there was no soil salinity when the MSW was used in doses of 300–1,200 L ha-1 . It was determined that the greatest decrease in weed plant biomass (85.5%) was observed when 100% concentration of MSW was used in a dose of 350 L ha-1 . As a consequence, with reduced weed infestation, there was a 21.5% increase in winter wheat yield if 100% MSW was used and a 19.1% increase if 75% MSW was used. As a result of the toxicological assessment of MSW, it was found that it belongs to low-toxic compounds. These results of ecotoxicological investigation of MSW make it possible to assert that its use is safe in agriculture, in particular as an environmentally safe organomineral fertilizer and herbicide

Evolution of European bison image and its implications for current species conservation

Funding Information: Research conducted in the frames of the project “Perception of European bison and primeval forest in the 18th-19th century: shared cultural and natural heritage of Poland and Lithuania” (UMO-2017/27/L/HS3/031870) financed by National Science Centre, Poland (https://www. ncn.gov.pl/en) and grant S-LL-18-6 financed by the Research Council of Lithuania (https://www.lmt.lt/ en). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Authors wish to thank the group of European bison specialists that agreed to evaluate the anatomical accuracy of historical depictions of European bison (prof. dr hab. Małgorzata Krasińska and dr hab. Rafał Kowalczyk from Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża, dr Katarzyna Daleszczyk and dr Zbigniew Krasiński from the Białowieża National Park, and doctor of veterinary medicine Jarosław Tomana from Pszczyna). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Samojlik et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Visual media are one of the fastest and most effective tools informing the public about conservation goals and convincing societies to support conservation actions. Similar mechanisms functioned in the past, only within a much longer time scale and different communication channels. We analyse the evolution of European bison’s depictions between 1500 and 1900 in the context of building public awareness of the species and its conservation needs. Experts evaluated the anatomical accuracy of thirty eight images of the species from the period analysed, and their conservation appeal was assessed by using an online survey of the general public. Existing knowledge and previous publications allowed authors to describe the development of the scientific knowledge about European bison in 1500–1900. By juxtaposing this with anatomical accuracy of depictions, a conclusion was reached that the accuracy of depictions was not directly linked to the state of knowledge about the species. In the survey, the public reception of the accuracy of historical pictures of European bison, as well as their potential to be used in conservation campaigns, was connected with subjective appeal of depicted animals. This lesson can be translated to modern conservation campaigns using mass media and global communication channels: popularization of knowledge on species of concern should be accompanied by appealing depictions of these species to strengthen public reception.Peer reviewe