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Abstract:Here we report a photo−documented record of a barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) from the South Shetland Islands. We also review previous records of passerine vagrants in the Antarctic (south of the Antarctic Convergence Zone). This barn swallow is the first re− corded member of the Hirundinidae family on King George Island and is only the second passerine recorded in the South Shetland Islands. This sighting, along with previous records of austral negrito and austral trush represent the southernmost sightings of any passerine bird anywhere in the world.

The diversity and abundance of bumblebees (Bombus Latr.) in eight parks of Warsaw city and the impact of park size (range from 1.9 to 73 ha) as well as other selected characteristics (the percentage of the area covered by tree and the quality of park surroundings) on the bumblebee community were evaluated. In each park, bumblebees were observed along designated paths for 30 minutes. In total, 12 species of bumblebees were recorded, of which four belonged to cuckoo bumblebees (Psithyrus subgenus

Long-term data on carabid beetles assemblages on differently managed study sites in forests and open areas were analysed to study the impact of selected environmental factors on the carabid assemblages of both the individual study sites over the years and the set of all study sites in selected years.Ordination separated forest stands from open areas along with the first, and samples of 2011 from those of 2015 along the second axis. For study sites in forest stands in most cases, precipitation was a significant factor, especially precipitation in the year before the inventory. However, for the youngest forest site, the year of the study was most important, indicating a succession process. For study sites in open areas, both precipitation and temperature showed most often significant results. Analysing the impact of environmental factors on carabid assemblages in the full set of study sites in 2011 and 2015 revealed carbon content in the organic layer and distance from the nearest forest as significant factors. The results of the study extend our knowledge on the impact of environmental factors on the formation of carabid beetle assemblages in rural landscapes, which is essential in the framework of developing biodiversity conservation strategies.