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BackgroundPublished sources document a loss of biodiversity at an extreme rate, mainly because natural and semi-natural ecosystems are becoming fragmented and isolated, thus losing their biological functions. These changes significantly influence biological diversity, which is a complex phenomenon that changes over time. Contemporary ecologists must therefore draw attention to anthropogenic replacement habitats and increase their conservation status. In our studies we show the positive role of soda ash dumping grounds as an alternative habitat for digger wasps, especially the thermophilic species.Methodology/Principal findingsIn the years 2007–2010 we carried out investigations in postindustrial soda ash dumping grounds located in Central Poland. We demonstrated that these areas serve as replacement habitats for thermophilic species of Spheciformes and, indirectly, for their potential prey. The studies were conducted in three microhabitat types, varying in soil moisture, salinity and alkalinity, that were changing in the course of ecological succession. We trapped 2571 specimens belonging to 64 species of digger wasps. Species typical of open sunny spaces comprised 73% of the whole inventory. The obtained results suggest that the stage of succession determines the richness, abundance and diversity of Spheciformes. The most favorable conditions for digger wasps were observed in habitats at late successional stages.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results clearly showed that these habitats were replacement habitats for thermophilous Spheciformes, including rare taxa that require genetic, species and ecosystem protection, according to the Biodiversity Convention. We showed that some types of industry might play a positive role in the preservation of taxa in the landscape, and that even degraded industrial wasteland can replace habitats under anthropopressure, serving as refugia of biological diversity, especially for disturbance-dependent species.

First records of Diodontus medius Dahlbom, 1844 and D. insidiosus Spooner, 1938 from Poland, and of D. handlirschi Kohl, 1888 from Bulgaria and Montenegro are provided. An illustrated key for the identification of Central and Eastern European species of the genus Diodontus is given.

This study found that extracts containing ionically bound proteins, isolated from potato pulp and brewers' spent grain, were characterized by high peroxidase activities. The kinetic parameters, namely K m and V max values, were typical for plant peroxidases. Seven peroxidase isoenzymes in potato pulp and two isoenzymes in brewers' spent grain were obtained from their respective ionically bound fractions. Peroxidases from both potato pulp and brewers' spent grain displayed high storage stability, over a 90-day-long storage period, if stored at 2208C with glycerol added to a concentration of 50% or as unsupplemented extracts at 48C. Peroxidase activity was present in the covalently bound fraction of potato pulp, whereas it was absent in the respective fraction of brewers' spent grain. Covalently bound peroxidases from potato pulp displayed high activity, but low stability. Peroxidases extracted from brewers' spent grain and potato pulp, followed the pingpong mechanism and the sequence mechanism, respectively. Practical applicationsPlant peroxidases are widely applicable in various fields of biotechnology and diagnostics. These enzymes are used for biosensor and glucometer construction and in conjugation with antibodies for the purpose of enzyme immunoassays. Using waste products as a peroxidase source provides a cost-friendly alternative to commercially available horseradish peroxidase and gives an opportunity to recycle waste from the food industry-processed plant biomass. Here, the properties of peroxidases from food waste products, namely potato pulp and brewers' spent grain are analyzed. The extracts were characterized by high storage stability and high enzymatic activity, which are two key traits necessary for the practical use of enzyme preparations. K E Y W O R D Sbrewers' spent grain, enzyme storage stability, kinetic studies, peroxidase, potato pulp

An updated checklist of 16 Ceraphronoidea (Hymenoptera, Parasitica) species from Poland is given together with information on deposition, sampling, and, if possible, host associations. We also present a complete reference list regarding work on Polish Ceraphronoidea.