ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Water on the Fen Mire as a Problem
in the Protection of Globally Threatened
Species: Long-Term Changes
in Aquatic Warbler Numbers
Grzegorz Grzywaczewski1, Andrzej Bochniak2, Jarosław Wiącek3,
Paweł Łapiński4, Federico Morelli5,6
1University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Department of Zoology, Animal Ecology, and Wildlife Management,
Akademicka 13, PL-20-950 Lublin, Poland
2University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science,
Głęboka 28, PL-20-950 Lublin, Poland
3Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Biology and Biochemistry Institute, Department of Nature Conservation,
Akademicka 19, PL-20-033 Lublin, Poland
4The State School of Higher Education in Chełm, Pocztowa 54, PL-22-100 Chełm, Poland
5Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Institute of Biotechnology and Environmental
Protection, Prof. Szafran St. 1, PL 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
6Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences,
Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial Planning,
Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Akademicka 13, PL-20-950 Lublin, Poland
2University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science,
Głęboka 28, PL-20-950 Lublin, Poland
3Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Biology and Biochemistry Institute, Department of Nature Conservation,
Akademicka 19, PL-20-033 Lublin, Poland
4The State School of Higher Education in Chełm, Pocztowa 54, PL-22-100 Chełm, Poland
5Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Institute of Biotechnology and Environmental
Protection, Prof. Szafran St. 1, PL 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
6Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences,
Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial Planning,
Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Online publication date: 2017-03-22
Publication date: 2017-03-22
Submission date: 2016-06-06
Final revision date: 2016-07-04
Acceptance date: 2016-09-20
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2017;26(2):613–618
KEYWORDS
water levelaquatic warblerAcrocephalus paludicolafen miresecology of wetlands birdsecology of wetland birds
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the results of 11 years study of aquatic warblers in the Roskosz Nature Reserve in
eastern Poland. The study was carried out in fen mires near Chełm, in the proximity of the Polish-Ukrainian
boundary. The number of aquatic warblers was correlated with the mean water level and with the mean
groundwater level. We found that the higher the surface water level, the smaller the number of singing
males. The largest number of males (density 10.9 singing males per 10 ha) was found when the mean water
level was 23.7 cm, and the smallest number (density 2.1 singing males per 10 ha) when the mean water level
was 35.7 cm. These results can be useful in studies that focus on the optimal habitat conditions for breeding
of aquatic warblers. This is the first systematic study in calcareous Cladium mariscus fen mires.
