The taphonomy of three Middle Triassic (Muschelkalk) monospecific ophiuroid taphocoenoses, comprising Aspiduriella similis (Eck), from different regions in Poland (Holy Cross Mountains, Upper Silesia and North‐Sudetic Basin) has been investigated. The majority of specimens (88.5% of a total of 428 individuals) are partially disarticulated, having only proximal and median portions of their arms preserved (Taphonomic Group 2). Pristine specimens, with only faint traces of disarticulation (Taphonomic Group 1), as well as those that preserve the disc only, or which have only proximal stumps of arms preserved (Taphonomic Group 3), are much rarer (6.5% and 5%, respectively). Moreover, most specimens (76.4%) are oral side up. Only 19.2% of specimens are preserved in life position, and a small fraction (4.4%) are preserved oblique to bedding. All ophiuroids studied occur in thin, pelitic layers devoid of any trace fossils. Associated body fossils, such as bivalves, gastropods or crinoids, are very rare. Taking into account ophiuroid taphonomy, as well as sedimentological characteristics of the thin layer (burial layer), it is clear that all assemblages were transported prior to burial. The predominance of articulated skeletons indicates that the burial event (obrution event) was not only rapid, but also single – subsequent events would have destroyed the previously buried ophiuroids. Storm‐related resuspension of fine‐grained material from nearshore environments which covered the ophiuroids is the most likely burial agent. The fact that in all regions the ophiuroid taphofacies studied is identical suggests that the three assemblages underwent the same burial history, and that a single event might have been responsible. Muschelkalk, ophiuroids, Poland, taphonomy, Triassic.

Brownfields are remnants of the functional and spatial transformations of urban areas in Poland. They are particularly abundant in old industrial districts, based on coal mining and metallurgy. The aim of this study is to identify the transformation directions and functional changes of brownfields in the former Upper Silesian Industrial Region in southern Poland, which has evolved into the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis (GZM) through the process of socio-economic transformation. The study makes use of the χ2 test of independence and Cramer’s V as a post-test, and the method of in-depth interviews. The results indicate that the most popular new functions of post-industrial sites are production and services. When we consider large brownfields such as, in particular, disused mine dumps, dumping sites, settling ponds and workings, the most popular new form of land use is green spaces. Moreover, the study shows that the size of brownfields impacts their new forms of land use.

AbstractRegional identity is a significant element of contemporary scientific discourse. It is justified in the era of progressing globalisation, which, by unifying traditional cultural patterns, forces regional communities to redefine their traditional values. Today, the Silesian identity is subject to such transformations. The distinctiveness thereof was shaped by many political, social and economic factors. Contemporarily, globalisation is a factor in socio-cultural transformations. The essence of the study of Silesian identity in the face of globalisation is to indicate the most important changes thereof reflected in the perception of the inhabitants of Katowice. The research goal is to analyse changes in the perception of globalisation and modern attitudes towards Silesian values (work and family).

Increased geopolitical competition and growing economic nationalism after 2014 have gradually started to slow the trend of liberalization of international trade. Relations among certain national states have turned into trade wars – a hybrid phenomenon shaped at the intersection of geopolitics and geoeconomics. The paper explores global and regional trends in trade regulations introduced by the world's largest economies and, at the same time, its major military powers. The G20 countries’ role in these processes was illustrated through references to empirical data on the dynamics of the introduced trade regulations in 2009–2018. The effectiveness of the regulations index is proposed. Apart from the harm that deepening such negative trends in the global geostrategic balance does to broader bilateral relations, the role of trade wars in re-shaping globalization's established conditions is also discussed.

The purpose of this article is to try to classify labour markets of the Silesian Province on the municipality level. The proposed solution of grouping labour markets is based on three criteria: the size of the labour market measured by a number of jobs, the weight of the labour market expressed with a proportion of the number of jobs to the size of the population and that scale of the impact that is a proportion of the commuters to the ones leaving for work. As a result of the assumed criteria the municipalities have been grouped according to their meaning on the labour market, at the same time identifying weaker and stronger labour markets. The first stage of the research was to divide the municipal labour markets according to the number of the employed. As a result territorial units were grouped into 4 classes (small, medium, big and huge) including in total 9 subclasses. Then the municipal labour markets were sorted according to their weight and the scale of their impact, verifying their position in this way. The research pointed out that a lot of labour markets in the Katowice conurbation showed lower levels than the assumptions. Consequently, it suggests polarization of the labour market of this urban unit that is mainly focused on Katowice and Gliwice. Higher parameters than the assumed ones were reached by several municipalities that are small or medium labour markets. In many cases these are municipalities where there are huge businesses connected with coal mining. A beneficial situation was noted in the southern part of the province that has a relatively steady situation on the labour market. The presented classification of labour markets can support the management process of local and regional development.