Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska

Dr. Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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11 October 2023 in Sustainability
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KSKatarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
IDIzabela Dymitryszyn
Izabela Dymitryszyn
MKMarek Kondras
Marek Kondras
The aim of the study was to determine the influence of differentiated landscape management on the distribution and abundance of butterfly species. The question was raised with regard to which land use type benefited butterflies, and which affected them, that is: under which management type does biodiversity increase, and under which is it depleted? The spatial and abundance distributions of the examined butterfly species diverged considerably. The observed differences between the abundance distributions may be due to diverse conditions in the small-scale environments or specific food preferences of individual species. The diversified management of the “Krzywda” landscape fosters the abundance of mesophilic and ubiquitous butterfly species, whereas xerotermophilic and hygrophilous species are not fostered. The transects established on the fallow land with harvested biomass as well as that with unharvested biomass and in the forest ecotone showed that the fallows were characterized by the highest abundance of butterflies, and the greatest number of plant species was recorded there. Mown fallow lands with not harvested biomass as well as forested areas fostered polyphagous and monophagous butterfly species. Oligophagous butterfly species were fostered by mown fallow lands with not harvested biomass. Unmown meadows, the ecotone marshland and fallow, as well as unmown fallow lands did not foster butterfly abundance. This most likely means that land management can influence the food base of butterflies, and consequently, their abundance. The stage of succession as well as the homogeneity of the area in terms of vegetation had the strongest filtering effect on the occurrence and distribution of butterflies among the analyzed variables. The number of species as well as their abundance was higher on transects classified as young successional stages on which successional processes were artificially inhibited by mowing and biomass removal. Advanced environmental engineering enables humans to influence species composition in a given ecosystem to achieve a desired result. There is no doubt that human activity will be successful when the needs of individual species in a given environment are accurately understood.

24 December 2021 in Land
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KSKatarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
IDIzabela Dymitryszyn
Izabela Dymitryszyn
UJUrszula Jankiewicz
Urszula Jankiewicz
MKMarek Kondras
Marek Kondras
EŻEwa Żyfka-Zagrodzińska
Ewa Żyfka-Zagrodzińska
Axel SchwerkAxel Schwerk
Axel Schwerk
A drastic decline in insect fauna on a large scale has been reported. We assume that this is a multifactorial problem involving biotope types and plant diversity, soil characteristics and human activity (management of areas). The aim of our study was to analyze diversity patterns of carabid beetles and butterflies as predatory and phytophagous arthropod groups in response to soil characteristics and plant diversity in different types of ecosystems and ecotones with diverse management situated in a heterogeneous landscape composed of different forests, agricultural and post-agricultural areas of different stages of succession and watercourses and mires in north-western Poland. Three different forests, three fallows, two meadows and two ecotones, differing with respect to the involved ecosystems, were included in the study. Our results showed that the study site types differed with respect to soil characteristics and plant diversity, but ecotones were not characterized by explicitly higher diversity in these parameters. For both carabid beetles and butterflies, characteristic assemblages for individual study sites could be demonstrated. We could also show differences in the most important factors between these two taxonomic groups. We assume that management type is important regarding ecosystem characteristics and biodiversity. Large-scale management strategies are necessary in order to maintain or create landscapes with high natural qualities.

1 December 2018 in Environmental Protection and Natural Resources
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KSKatarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
MKMarek Kondras
Marek Kondras
IDIzabel Dymitryszyn
Izabel Dymitryszyn
AMAnita Matracka
Anita Matracka
MCMirosław Cimoch
Mirosław Cimoch
EŻEwa Żyfka-Zagrodzińska
Ewa Żyfka-Zagrodzińska
Macrofauna plays a very important role in the functioning of the natural environment. It plays an important role in the decomposition of organic matter by mixing and crushing organic matter in soil. Invertebrate faeces influence the development of microorganisms and their dead bodies stimulate mineralization in the soil. They also influence the humification processes. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of macrofauna and litter distribution and the accumulation of organic carbon in soil. The study showed a significant influence of this thick animal on the processes taking place in the soil. Significant correlations were observed between the organic carbon content in the litter and the organic carbon content in the soil, macrofauna activity with litter decomposition and its influence on the organic carbon accumulation.

23 May 2024 in Sustainability
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KSKatarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
ŻSŻaneta Szweda
Żaneta Szweda
MŚMarcin Świątek
Marcin Świątek
JUJoanna Ukalska
Joanna Ukalska
KPKrzysztof Pietrasz
Krzysztof Pietrasz
RNRoman Niżnikowski
Roman Niżnikowski
This study, conducted in 2020–2022, was designed to determine the impact of livestock grazing on habitat biodiversity and Carabidae beetles. Two research plots (a meadow and a pasture) were established on a farm in the village of Otapy, located in the agricultural catchment area of the Nurzec River in Eastern Poland. They were located next to each other so that they would possess the same set of atmospheric phenomena and processes shaped by the physical and geographical characteristics of the area. The study showed that the pasture was the richest in terms of the magnesium and calcium contents, while the meadow had significantly higher levels of phosphorus and zinc. The study also showed some differences in the abundance and species composition of plants and animals. The meadow had higher biodiversity, while the pasture was dominated by grasses. A disparity in the abundance of individual species was also presented. The study indicated the preference of individual species for particular forms of land use. Anisodactylus binotatus, Harpalus rufipes and Poecilus cupreus were most abundant in the meadow, while Carabus granulatus and Pterostichus melanarius were mostly represented in the pasture. The number of species, on the other hand, was the same. Our research concluded that proper landscape management through different uses affects plant and beetle diversity and soil element content.

30 September 2019 in Environmental Protection and Natural Resources
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KSKatarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
The purpose of the work was to identify the occurrence of butterflies depending on landform uses and human influence on the population domination structure. The research was conducted in the ‘Krzywda’ field-and-forest Site occupying 172 ha. The area consists of the land leaving in fallow, meadows and wasteland including about 68 ha of swamps that are strongly eutrophic due to human economic activity. The area is subjected to artificial succession inhibition processes in the form of mowing and cutting of trees and shrubs. 32 species of butterflies were recorded during the research, that is, 20% of all species within this group occurring in Poland. The research has approved the great spatial and quantitative diversification of the occurring area of butterflies depending on the form of the land uses. The greatest number of species and their greatest populations were found in the land laying in fallow without the removal of the biomass. The least number of species and their specimens were collected in the unmown laying fallow land. Lycaena virgaureae was the most numerous species collected. The correct domination structure characterized by a small number of numerous species and a large number of species consisting of a low number of specimens. Processes observed in the studied Site subjected to various types of land use influence the occurrence diversity of this group of insects.

16 June 2025 in Global Ecology and Conservation
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Journal Article
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KSKatarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
Katarzyna Szyszko-Podgórska
JUJoanna Ukalska
Joanna Ukalska
KUKrzysztof Ukalski
Krzysztof Ukalski
MKMarek Kondras
Marek Kondras