Aureoboletus projectellus is an American Boletaceae fungus that appeared on the shores of the Baltic Sea at the beginning of the 21^st century. The mushroom was soon gathered by local communities, and fungi enthusiasts travelled from all over Poland to gather this new food item. The aim of our study was to investigate the spread of the invasive Aureoboletus projectellus and its use in mycophylic Poland through an interview-based ethnomycological survey (carried out in the field and online). We gathered 274 questionnaires, and recorded many new localities of the species inland, all over the country, far from the original sites of introduction along the Baltic Sea. We have not found any clear correlation between the origin of the collectors coming to hunt it by the Baltic Sea and its localities inland. On the other hand, the interviews conducted as part of the project revealed 56 new localities of A. projectellus in Poland. This demonstrates that citizen science initiatives can yield valuable biogeographical and ethnobiological data, even for complex and poorly understood groups of organisms such as fungi. It seems that the species is already well-established in Poland, and used in dishes similarly to other Boletaceae species. Its local names often contain the word ‘American’ or ‘heather’ due to its origin and preferred habitat.

Mistletoe (Viscum album) shrubs exhibit a yellowish hue during host dormancy, a trait that is more pronounced in male individuals. Moreover, in populations of this hemiparasite, a female-biased sex ratio is commonly observed. In the present study, we raised the question of the physiological basis and consequences of these between-sex differences. We hypothesized that males might be more impacted by host dormancy and restricted resource acquisition. Furthermore, we considered the possibility that females could be more efficient at acquiring resources from host tissues compared to males. The population of V. album subsp. album growing on Malus sp. within the collection of the Institute of Den­drology, Polish Academy of Sciences in Kórnik, was studied during the host’s (Malus sp.) dormant period. Measurements included number, location and size of shrubs, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, water contents, leaf morphology, and the content of selected elements. We observed a female-biased sex ratio in the mistletoe population, and females were larger than males. The females had a lower chlorophyll a / b ratio due to the greater concentration of chlorophyll b, higher chlo­rophyll to carotenoid (chl / car) ratio and potassium concentration in leaves. Moreover, a slightly stronger correlation was observed between the nitrogen concentration and the chl / car ratio in females than in males. No significant differences between sexes were observed in other parameters, including specific leaf area, relative water content, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium concentrations, or chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Our results showed that V. album males were more yellowish during host dormancy than fe­males because they had a lower chl / car ratio. The disparities in pigment concentrations, coupled with the smaller size and fewer male individuals in populations, suggest that male individuals are in an overall weaker condition than females.

In plants, Spatial Genetic Structure (SGS) is shaped by gene dispersal and effective population density and is further modulated by life-history traits such as clonality and dioecy. However, the combined effects of these factors on SGS remain unclear, particularly in tree species. Here, we examined how clonal reproduction shapes SGS and whether dioecy compounds this pattern in Populus alba (white poplar), a key component of riparian forests. Using 15 nuclear microsatellite markers and population genetic analyses of 1,068 individuals, we investigated sex-specific patterns in semi-natural and urban stands. In the studied stands, clonal growth predominated, with compact clonal architecture and occasional long-distance spread. Our results indicate that clonality intensifies SGS, with a nearly twofold stronger effect at the ramet level than at the genet level. Our results support the assumption that differences in clonal architecture between female and male individuals can generate sex-specific spatial patterns and thereby influence population genetic structure, with stronger SGS in female ramets (Sp = 0.129 and 0.177 in the semi-natural and urban stands, respectively) than in male ramets (Sp = 0.115 and 0.066). A comparison of semi-natural and urban stands indicates that the intensity of spatial genetic structure reflects the combined effects of clonal structure and habitat-specific factors. Spatio-temporal variation in resource availability and disturbance regimes may contribute to these patterns by influencing population dynamics. Given the degradation of Europe’s riparian forests and the limited knowledge of genetic resources of white poplar, understanding these spatial processes is crucial for informing restoration efforts and the sustainable management of genetic resources of the species. Our study revealed that the observed SGS patterns are strongly habitat-dependent; therefore, the protection and restoration of dynamic riparian forests should adopt an integrated genetic–environmental approach to ensure their long-term adaptive potential under ongoing climate change.

Leaf teeth are marginal structures that play an important role in early-season gas exchange and have significance for both functional ecology and paleobotanical reconstructions. This study examined the dynamics of leaf margin development during early leaf expansion in six temperate tree species (Acer platanoides, Betula pendula, Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Salix caprea, and Sorbus aucuparia). Leaf sampling was conducted in a temperate mixed forest near Zielona Góra, Poland. Leaves were collected from sun-exposed and shaded conditions over a 50-day spring period and analyzed using image-based software. Primary traits such as leaf area, perimeter, width, length, and the height and width of each tooth were recorded. From these, five derived variables were calculated: 1) leaf blade irregularity index (perimeter/area), 2) relative irregularity index (based on consecutive measurements), 3) compactness index (perimeter²/area), 4) shape index (width/length), and 5) simplified tooth area (tooth height × tooth width / 2). The results demonstrated a rapid decline in leaf margin irregularity during the first 20–30 days of development, after which it stabilized. This pattern was consistent across all species, regardless of their ecological preferences, indicating a universal developmental trend in analyzed woody plants. Among the tested variables, the leaf blade irregularity index (perimeter-to-area ratio) correlated most strongly with actual tooth area and was selected for further analysis. While shade leaves generally exhibited slightly higher irregularity values, no significant differences were detected after adjusting for leaf size. The findings support the hypothesis that margin serration enhances early photosynthetic efficiency, with its relative contribution diminishing as leaves expand. This study contributes to our understanding of species-independent developmental plasticity in leaf morphology and underscores the importance of standardized sampling in ecological and paleobotanical research.

In the context of intensifying climate change, dendroclimatic research provides insight into tree responses to environmental variability. This study assessed relationships between temperature, precipitation, and radial growth of four major forest species in Central Europe: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst), pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.), and black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.). Analyses were conducted at three independent sites to account for local variability and enhance robustness. We tested three hypotheses: (1) replication improves reliability in dendrochronological studies, (2) multi-species analysis strengthens interpretation of climate–growth relationships, and (3) black alder exhibits distinct precipitation sensitivity. Results showed species- and site-specific responses. The first hypothesis was supported, as replication enhanced the robustness of climate–growth signals in Scots pine, Norway spruce, and pedunculate oak showed broadly consistent responses, while black alder maintained its distinct pattern. Scots pine responded strongly to summer rainfall (June–August, including July of the previous year), Norway spruce to summer rainfall (June–July of the current and previous year), and pedunculate oak to summer rainfall (June–July, with additional effects in August). Black alder exhibited positive correlations with winter precipitation (December–January of the previous year) and negative with summer rainfall (May, June, August; September–November of the previous year), suggesting moisture-related stress. Temperature sensitivity occurred in winter and early spring (December–April, especially February–March) for most species, except black alder, which also responded positively to summer temperatures (May, July–September). These findings highlight the importance of species traits and site conditions in dendroclimatic studies and support replicated multi-species approaches to guide adaptive forest management under climate change.