The amount of research and publications related to microplastic pollution has been steadily increasing in recent years, but at the same time, our current knowledge on the topic is still based on occasional point measurements. As a result of these point measurements, it becomes obvious that new research areas and disciplines are also connected to the topic of microplastics. Various biotic and abiotic processes can cause microplastics to enter the environment and spread within it. All of these mechanisms can arise from the moisture conditions of the tested medium, temperature differences, or even from the decomposing and transforming activities of microorganisms. The rise of biodegradable and compostable plastic bags can also be considered a source of this kind since polymer products labelled as environmentally friendly can be identified as secondary sources during their decomposition processes. Therefore, both industrial and household compost can contain microscopic polymer residues, the application of which involves a potential risk of environmental pollution. In recent years, several international studies have dealt with various aspects of the degradation of these products, including the use of problems caused by residual microplastics and their environmental effects. The focus of our paper is not on the development of a new scientific methodology but a summary of the current situation formed through research results dealing with the current environmental safety and environmental health risks of microplastic pollution caused by biodegradable polymers.

Nowadays, more information is available about the activities of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) as an ecosystem engineer species and the resulting ecosystem services. The environment-shaping activity of beavers not only affects the bed conditions of a given body of water but also affects the degree of diversity of the vegetation and fauna surrounding it. The research published in connection with this topic has only in recent years begun to deal more intensively with the condition characterisation and function analysis of the flooded areas under constant beaver influence, called beaver meadows. The focus of this paper is the investigation of beaver meadows directly connected to the dam system consisting of 19 beaver dams located along the Ablánc stream. The research examines the effect of the activity of the beaver colony, which has been continuously monitored for almost two years, on the soil moisture conditions of the beaver meadows in the Natura 2000 nature conservation area and to what extent this is reflected in the characteristics of the plant community. The focus of the analysis is the vertical distribution of soil moisture in the upper soil layer. During the vegetation mapping, 10 squares were designated to determine plant community parameters. High soil moisture values were detected in the examined quadrates, which varied between 39.0 φ% and a maximum of 50.0 φ%. A significant number of taxa could be identified - such as Myosoton aquaticum and Petasites hybridus - whose primary ecological requirements are a permanent wet environment and continuous water impact.

The paper aims to examine the connection between environmental conditions during seed maturation and the ability of seeds to compressive stress, supported by statistically significant findings. The study involves using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analysis on red clover seeds under varying pressure levels, specific tensions, and selected quality parameters. The methodology relies on a general FT-IR spectroscopic approach, with spectral comparisons made against results from pressure-induced rupture. Through this research, new methods for seed testing are intended to be informed by differential and correlation results across technical parameters and different measurement settings. The analyses indicated a noticeable difference of several 10 N in visible features between seed maturation stages and compressive tolerance. Given the novelty of the aspects being explored, one primary influencing factor is identified as the scarcity of available literature, which also serves as a limitation of this research. The obtained results have potential applications for analysts, agricultural specialists, consultants, and experts involved in seed management and distribution.