Global Litter Invertebrate Decomposition Experiment

Site Manager

Dr. Maria Sterzynska
Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS
00-679 Warsaw, Wilcza 64, Poland
Telephone: (+48) 22 629 32 21
Fax: (+48) 22 629 63 02

Site Description

The Biebrza river is a one of few natural meandering lowland rivers in Europe. The valley includes the largest and best preserved Polish peatland complex. The Biebrza Wetlands are considered to be one of the most important wetland areas in Europe due to the high diversity of open meadow habitats. Since the beginning of the 20th century, some areas of Biebrza ice-marginal valley had been reclaimed and converted into meadows. Now, the best preserved and most naturally valuable areas of Biebrza valley are highly protected and in 1993 were included into Biebrza National Park.

Site Location

The site is located in northeast Poland, extending between latitudes 52°; 21´ and 53°; 41´ N and longitudes 22°; 28´ and 23°; 32´ E.

Site Area

Site area is 66,824 ha.

Site Elevation

Site elevation is 112 m.

Annual Rainfall

Annual rainfall is 1951-1965 (Osowiec) mean annual precipitations or 556 mm.

Annual Temperature

Annual temperature mean maximum temperature (Osowiec) is 11.0° C, mean minimum temperature (Osowiec) is -2.1° C.

Soil

Soil class is paludic, soil type: peat soils, parent rock.

Native Forest/Vegetation Types

Native vegetation is Carici elongatae-alnetum.

Principal Biome/Ecoregion

Ecoregion is nemoral biome.

Photo Gallery

Photo courtesy of Maria Sterzynska

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This webpage is funded by the Soil Science Society of America.

Please contact the GLIDE headquarters (email: glide@nrel.colostate.edu) if you have any comments or questions.

GLIDE was a project of the International Biodiversity Observation Year 2001-2002

This material is based upon work supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 98 06437 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.