I focus my research activity on changes taking place in the forest environment in the 21st century, under the influence of global and local factors such as climate change, atmospheric nitrogen pollution, invasions of alien species and forest management. Currently, I conduct my research on semi-permanent plots which in Polish conditions are the only available method that allows monitoring of the herb layer in forests, taking into account its response to changes occurring in nature. The analysis of data collected within semi-permanent plots allowed to demonstrate:
- the increase in the proportion of invasive and nitrophilic species in the forests of Poland (1-3) and Europe (4) in recent years caused by the rapid eutrophication of forest habitats over the last 50 years e.g., (5);
- changes in the undergrowth as a result of changes in global temperatures (6,7);
- negative impact of the above mentioned changes on protected areas of national or international importance (Natura 2000 sites), impairing their ability to effectively protect ecosystems (2).
References:
1. K. Reczyńska, et al., Forests. 13, 2022
2. K. Reczyńska, K. Świerkosz, Diversity. 12, 6, 2020
3. K. Reczyńska, et al. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. 84, 401–411, 2015
4. I. R. Staude et al., Nat Ecol Evol. 4, 802–808, 2020
5. M. P. Perring et al., Environ. Pollut. 242, 1787–1799, 2018
6. K. Reczyńska, K. Świerkosz, Appl. Veg. Sci. 20, 293–303, 2017
7. F. Zellweger et al., Science. 368, 772–775, 2020

Botanics
Conservation Biology
Ecology

I am particularly interested in joining the project which is being prepared for the latest call: Launch of the Biodiversa+ BiodivMon Call for Research Proposals on “Improved transnational monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem change for science and society”. I am also interested in any kind of project focusing on vegetation changes.
I am a researcher with many years of experience in field work. Since 2006 I have been actively participated in the monitoring of species and habitat types targeted by the Habitats Directive. I have skills in data analysis (CANOCO, PC-ORD, R) and synthesis. Due to many years of research I have an extensive database of data collected in various types of natural habitats over the last 12 years.

vegetation, monitoring, plant communities, plant traits, forest communities, non-forest communities, invasive plants, plant diversity, vegetation ecology, databases

31st European Vegetation Survey Conference - Roma, Spring 2023
65th IAVS Annual Symposium - Coffs Harbour, Summer 2023