The negative impact of storage reservoirs on the environment has been well documented, but it appears that under certain circumstances these reservoirs can also help to protect biodiversity. The distribution of adult dragonflies and damselflies was studied in relation to eight environmental variables, in an upland storage reservoir and its feeder rivers located in South-East Poland (East-Central Europe). A total of 25 species were recorded, including 22 in the reservoir. Submerged and floating plants, width of the shallow littoral zone and the water movement/current were found to be the key drivers of the species distribution (pCCA, NMDS). Five species (Ischnura elegans, Sympetrum sanguineum, Platycnemis pennipes, Calopteryx splendens and Erythromma viridulum) were responsible for over 70% of the dissimilarities between the riverine and reservoir sites (SIMPER). In addition, Ischnura elegans, Orthetrum albistylum and Calopteryx virgo were distinguished as the indicator species (IndVal analysis) for the upland river-reservoir hydrological system. Our results highlight some design features of reservoirs that may help to maintain the diversity of odonates, as well as many other groups of aquatic organisms, as the former are well-known indicators of general biodiversity.

The group “Ważki (Odonata) w Polsce” is an excellent example of citizen science, understood as a cooperation between society and professionals in scientific activity. The goal of the present paper is to show the data concerning the very late appearances of dragonflies and damselflies in the years 2013 – 2020, to enrich the knowledge about the phenology of various species in comparison to published data, which is no longer valid, taking into consideration the climatic changes over the last decades. It would not have been possible to gather such a great amount of information, if not for the amateurs engaged into a project like that (ca. 100 people). The data was catalogued according to date, place, and species. The main methods used were: the visual observation and taking photos of adult dragonflies. After thoroughly studying the data collected in early, middle, and late autumn (October, November, December), and analysing it carefully, the records were divided into three groups. The information gathered enables us to show the differences in phenology of some of the species. The project organised as a citizen science action, contributed to the increase of the knowledge concerning the late aspect of Polish odonato fauna.

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In the consumptive world, mysterious things function as magic or superstition, sometimes via tradition, or a relic of a by-gone era. However, we are still afraid to see a black cat, and somebody remembers the celandine (in Polish “jaskółcze ziele”), though nobody knows its connotation with the swallow. The image of birds in folk tales connects the observation of nature, throughout the year and religious holidays, with their consequences for Man. Since the beginning, Man has admired nature, being afraid of its wildness and primeval power. When one joined it with divinity, it aroused fear even more, but also evoked greater fascination. In this article, I present the essence of myths in folk stories, and its function on the example of birds which have lived in proverbs and sayings. I will also show the variety of references to the cult of Christian saints, the love of the land, and the nature that surrounds us. I would like to show how our attitude towards nature has changed, and what is the function of birds as an element of the environment. I would also like to answer the question; does a modern man need myths to discover his sense of life and realise its meaning?

Juicy fruit, healthy vegetables, herbs for all the ailments, delightful flowers, a shelter under the spreading branches of an old tree - can plants be something more for man, and can they be even equal to him? Where is their place in the world, which is dominated by man and his helpers - animals? This article leads the reader through the thoughts and beliefs of ancient peoples, showing their respect for everything that lives until the modern times, when scientists try to relate the definition of intelligence and consciousness to plants. Myths from various parts of the globe, illustrate how important a role plants had in the past, that they were much more than food, medicine, or refuge. Since the beginning of time, without new technologies, people felt the power of nature and respected the otherness of creatures, wandering with them, step by step, with fear and awe. Plants, though “immobilised”, could create, and decided on the world’s fate, and were messengers between men and other organisms, an essential link, unique and holy. Today, when one can analyse plants’ functions and behaviour, observe how they communicate with the world, using all of the senses not located in specific organs, but spread all over the organism, man starts to notice what his ancestors saw a long time ago: that plants remember, decide, learn and give humans a wide range of opportunities. Having far more senses than man, showing humans a different kind of consciousness and intelligence, not centralised, to which one is used to, but dispersed, though not less efficient, plants are becoming very interesting subjects of scientific research.