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.

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.

The goal of this work is to present the valorisation of national park based on the criteria resulting from standard data forms (SDF). The analysis covered a number of areas protected under the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive with the A, B or C category. Habitats and species marked as D in the SDF are not protected in the Nature 2000 areas, which is why they were not taken into account in the analysis. The presented characteristics made it possible to determine the hierarchy of national parks amongst the most valuable natural objects that deserve protection in the first place and also to verify the views on most valuable areas.

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.

Coal accumulation is closely related to stages of succession.With time, each natural system is subjected to succession processes, i.e. enriched with organic substances as measured by organic coal [Szyszko 2010]. Each natural system in a specific phase of the succession has specific species and a specific content of the organic substances. Obviously, these processes occur with varied intensity, varying with time. The natural system becomes enriched with the progress of succession and creates conditions promoting the occurrence of different species. A stage of succession is closely correlated with the economic activity.Humans stimulate the development of succession processes through their use of natural resources. The occurrence of birds also changes with the change of succession processes. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPEThe objective of this work was to determine the occurrence of birds depending on the use of the area and the content of organic coal in field-and-forest systems as well as to indicate whether the biodiversity of species changes with the change of coal content in natural systems. The above-mentioned issue was analysed from the holistic perspective. The analysis, among other things, involved the evaluation of the natural environment using a single indicator selected to ascertain the condition of the ecosystem and its changes, i.e. organic coal in this case. From the determinist perspective, analysis of bird species occurring in an area, also including indicators and parameters characterizing these species, was done [Dymitryszyn et al. 2011]. MATERIALS AND RESEARCH METHODSThe research area covered the "Martew" forest areas belonging to the Tuczno Forest District located in the Zachodniopomorskie voivodship and the "Krzywda" field-and-forest area of the D&B research studio in Tuczno. Observation areas represented a specific type of the environment or a mosaic of habitats. The observations involved the comparison of a few areas both as regards changes in the content of organic coal and the content of avifauna species. The "Krzywda" research area was established in early 1990s. Observations were carried out in over 172 ha of the fallow land, pastures, wasteland and marshes. These areas formed as a result of the cessation of agricultural production 25 years ago.Observations in the forest took place in three types of habitats: in a 94-year-old beech forest stand formed from the underbrushes after the removal of a 130-year-old pine stand planted in the place of a natural stand; in a 110-year-old pine stand with a beech underbrush planted 47 years ago and in a young pine stand with an addition of birch.