Entomological Summer Camp in Bialowieza

Białowieża Goebotanical Fieldstation of the University of Warsaw

Bialowieza (Poland) 29 July – 8 August 2023

NOTE: The activity was co-organised by the Lodz University, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology (Lodz Branch of the Polish Entomological Society) and by the Lodz Student Biology Science Club: Invertebrate Zoology

Bialowieza forest is a natural European forest and the meadows nearby are one of the major insect
diversity spots. The area is partially protected within Bialowieza National Park and many natural
reserves. On the other hand it is not free from invasive species, including many plants such as
Solidago canadensis, that impacts insect community structure. The aim of this summer camp was to
collect and identify insect species from Bialowieza to enlarge the reference sequence library within
Polish Barcode of Life and BGE project, as well as to test how insect diversity changes with presence
of invasive Solidago canadensis. Bachelor and master students from UniLodz Student Biology Science
Club: Invertebrate Zoology participated in the activity.

During this ten day summer camp we collected insects from 40 plots (10×10 m). Then, they were
sorted and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. These samples will be included in the
dataset that is used for building the reference sequence library for Poland within Polish Barcode of
Life and BGE project.

The sampling was very successful. The students got much involved and they got familiar with
sampling and identification of many terrestrial taxa of insects, including many rare species. They
studied 40 plots and collected very rich material that will significantly enlarge the collection of species that will be represented in the Polish Barcode of life database with records on distribution and reference barcode sequences.

Want to know more? Contact our BGE colleagues:

Aleksandra Jablonska (aleksandra.jablonska@biol.uni.lodz.pl)

Karolina Bacela-Spychalska (karolina.bacela@biol.uni.lodz.pl)