Represented disciplines:
- Biological sciences
- Forestry sciences
Research focus:
For years, my research has focused on the micromorphology of plant surfaces, with particular emphasis on leaf trichomes and epicuticular waxes on leaves and stems. The primary tool in these studies is the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The data are used to address systematic issues and describe new plant taxa.
An important aspect of my research is the analysis of ecological niches and the distribution ranges of tree and shrub species, such as representatives of the genera Viscum and Rubus. I am also interested in shape analysis using modern morphometric methods and the study of biases in biodiversity and biogeographic data.
I am also engaged in the study of biological collections, particularly their digitisation and the creation and management of databases. As a strong advocate for herbarium data mobilisation, I aim to increase the accessibility of these data and expand their use in research.
Keywords:
epicuticular waxes, micromorphology, digitisation, biological collections, plat systematics, bias
Publications
Publications for the years 2025-2022
- Iszkuło G., Tyrala-Wierucka Z., Thomas P.A., Terlecka M., Walas Ł., Tomaszewski D. 2024. Should the relationship between leaf margin and temperature be re-defined for areas with colder climates? Journal of Biogeography 51: 1842–1851. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14855
- Iszkuło G., Tyrała-Wierucka Ż., Terlecka M., Walas Ł., Tomaszewski D. 2024. What’s the point of toothed leaves? In: Tomaszewski D., Jagodziński A.M. (eds.). Research and Practice in Forest Ecology. International Scientific Conference for Young Scientists. Kórnik, 8-12 May 2024. Book of abstracts. Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań. Pp. 101-105
- Tomaszewski D., Jagodziński A.M. (eds.) 2024. Research and Practice in Forest Ecology. International Scientific Conference for Young Scientists. Kórnik, 8-12 May 2024. Book of abstracts. Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań. Pp. 182. ISBN 978-83-7986-507-9
- Guzicka M., Marek S., Gawlak M., Tomaszewski D. 2023. Micromorphology of pine needle primordia and young needles after bud dormancy breaking. Plants 12(4): 913. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040913
- Zieliński J., Tomaszewski D., Gawlak M., Kosiński P. 2023. Tilia haynaldiana Smonk. (T. plalatyphylllos x T. tomentosa) in Greece. Phytologia Balcanica 29(2): 185-188.
- Zieliński J., Tomaszewski D., Kosiński P. 2023. Salix ×browiczii (Salicaceae) – a new nothospecies from northeastern Greece. Dendrobiology 89: 77-81. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.089.008
- Kosiński P., Tomaszewski D., Zieliński J. 2022. Thuja ×soeegaardii (Cupressaceae) a new name for an old hybrid. Dendrobiology 87: 113-121. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.087.008
- Marek S., Tomaszewski D., Żytkowiak R., Jasińska A., Zadworny M., Boratyńska K., Dering M., Danusevicius D., Oleksyn J., Wyka T.P. 2022. Stomatal density in Pinus sylvestris as an indicator of temperature rather than CO2: Evidence from a pan‐European transect. Plant, Cell & Environment 45(1): 121-132. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14220
- Sękiewicz K., Danelia I., Farzaliyev V., Gholizadeh H., Iszkuło G., Naqinezhad A., Ramezani E., Thomas P.A., Tomaszewski D., Walas Ł., Dering M. 2022. Past climatic refugia and landscape resistance explain spatial genetic structure in Oriental beech in the South Caucasus. Ecology and Evolution 12(9): e9320. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9320
- Thomas P.A., Dering M., Giertych M.J., Iszkuło G., Tomaszewski D., Briggs J. 2022. Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Viscum album. Journal of Ecology 303: 1–39. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14036
- Walas Ł., Kędziora W., Ksepko M., Rabska M., Tomaszewski D., Thomas P.A., Wójcik R., Iszkuło G. 2022. The future of Viscum album L. in Europe will be shaped by temperature and host availability. Scientific Reports 12(1): 17072. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-21532-6
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Represented disciplines:
- Biological sciences
Research focus:
I conduct research into systematics and chorology, molecular phylogenetics and the morphological diversity of trees and shrubs. I am particularly interested in the Robus genus (mainly in respect of chorology and systematics) and Salix genus (patterns of spatial genetic diversity and phylogeography of mountainous species with the use of molecular markers and flow cytometry). I have recently commenced work on studying two related species of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus and C. orientalis) which are a vital component of forests in Europe and West Asia. In my research, I try to assess their susceptibility to climate change, applying several innovative approaches which combine population and landscape genomics with cutting-edge modelling techniques.
Keywords:
phylogenetic analysis, plant anatomy, biometrics, biodiversity, chorology, flow cytometry, ecology, evolution, phytogeography, karyology, molecular markers, morphology, nomenclature, nature conservation, polyploids, woody plants, genetic diversity, systematics, taxonomy
Publications
Publications for the years 2025-2022
- Matzke-Hajek G., Király G., Trávníček B., Hassler M., Jansen W., Gregor T., Rainer Zange, Kosiński P., Velebil J., Lepší P., Hohla M., Ferrez Y., Lepší M., Royer J.-M., Pagitz K., & Sochor M. 2024. (3056) Proposal to conserve the name Rubus canescens against R. aetnicus and R. argenteus (Rosaceae). Taxon 73(6): 1531-1533. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.13272
- Gawrońska B., Marszałek M., Kosiński P., Podsiedlik M., Bednorz L., Zeyland J. 2023. No wonder, it is a hybrid. Natural hybridization between Jacobaea vulgaris and J. erucifolia revealed by molecular marker systems and its potential ecological impact. Ecology and Evolution 13(9): 10467. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10467
- Korbik M., Kosiński P. 2023. Revisiting the taxonomy of Populus lasiocarpa × P. wilsonii hybrids. Dendrobiology 90: 86-94. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.090.007
- van de Beek A., Drenckhahn D., DeVriese H., Gregor T., van den Ham E., Haveman R., Hohla M., Kiraly G., Kosiński P., Matzke-Hajek G., Meijer K., Mercier D.P., de Ronde I., Ryde U., Travnicek B. 2023. Proposal to reject the name Rubus pseudoidaeus (Rosaceae). Taxon 72(3): 672-673. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12971
- Zieliński J., Tomaszewski D., Gawlak M., Kosiński P. 2023. Tilia haynaldiana Smonk. (T. plalatyphylllos x T. tomentosa) in Greece. Phytologia Balcanica 29(2): 185-188.
- Zieliński J., Tomaszewski D., Kosiński P. 2023. Salix ×browiczii (Salicaceae) – a new nothospecies from northeastern Greece. Dendrobiology 89: 77-81. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.089.008
- Kosiński P., Tomaszewski D., Zieliński J. 2022. Thuja ×soeegaardii (Cupressaceae) a new name for an old hybrid. Dendrobiology 87: 113-121. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.087.008
Show more
Represented disciplines:
- Biological sciences
- Forestry sciences
Research focus:
I conduct research into systematics and chorology, molecular phylogenetics and the morphological diversity of trees and shrubs. I am particularly interested in the Robus genus (mainly in respect of chorology and systematics) and Salix genus (patterns of spatial genetic diversity and phylogeography of mountainous species with the use of molecular markers and flow cytometry). I have recently commenced work on studying two related species of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus and C. orientalis) which are a vital component of forests in Europe and West Asia. In my research, I try to assess their susceptibility to climate change, applying several innovative approaches which combine population and landscape genomics with cutting-edge modelling techniques.
Keywords:
phylogenetic analysis, plant anatomy, biometrics, biodiversity, chorology, flow cytometry, ecology, evolution, phytogeography, karyology, molecular markers, morphology, nomenclature, nature conservation, polyploids, woody plants, genetic diversity, systematics, taxonomy
Publications
Publications for the years 2025-2022
- Capblancq T., Sękiewicz K., Dering M. 2024. Forest genomics in the Caucasus through the lens of its dominant tree species - Fagus orientalis. Molecular Ecology 33: 16. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17475
- Sękiewicz K., Salva-Catarineu M., Walas Ł., Romo A., Gholizadeh H., Naqinezhad A., Farzaliyev V., Mazur M., Boratyński A. 2024. Consequence of habitat specificity: a rising risk of habitat loss for endemic and sub-endemic woody species under climate change in the Hyrcanian ecoregion. Regional Environmental Change 24(2): 68. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-024-02222-7
- Walas Ł., Tung D.Q., Sękiewicz K., Pietras M., Bravo F., Kozlowski G., Van Sâm H. 2024. Risk assessment of habitat suitability decline for the endangered riparian tree Pterocarya tonkinensis (Juglandaceae): conservation implications. European Journal of Forest Research 143(4): 1057-1068. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10342-024-01679-9
- Beridze B., Sękiewicz K., Walas Ł., Danelia I., Farzaliyev V., Kvartskhava G., Szmyt J., Dering M. 2023. Niche modelling suggests low feasibility of assisted gene flow for a Neogene relict tree, Castanea sativa Mill. Dendrobiology 90: 58-75. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.090.005
- Beridze B., Sękiewicz K., Walas Ł., Thomas P.A., Danelia I., Farzaliyev V., Kvartskhava G., Sós J., Dering M. 2023. Biodiversity protection against anthropogenic climate change: Conservation prioritization of Castanea sativa in the South Caucasus based on genetic and ecological metrics. Ecology and Evolution 13(5): e10068.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10068
- Beridze B., Sękiewicz K., Walas Ł., Thomas P.A., Danelia I., Kvartskhava G., Farzaliyev V., Bruch A.A., Dering M. 2023. Evolutionary history of Castanea sativa in the Caucasus driven by Middle and Late Pleistocene paleoenvironmental changes. AoB Plants 15(5): plad059. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plad059
- Lewandowska A., Marcysiak K., Gómez D., Jasińska A.K., Romo A., Didukh Y., Sękiewicz K., Boratyńska K., Boratyński A. 2023. Inference of taxonomic relationships between Rhododendron ferrugineum and R. myrtifolium (Ericaceae) from leaf and fruit morphologies. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 201(4): 483-497. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boac060
- Sękiewicz K. 2023. „Gorące punkty” bioróżnorodności. Kórniczanin 9: 14-15.
- Sękiewicz K. 2023. Genomika na ratunek. Academia – Magazyn Polskiej Akademii Nauk 3(75): 26-29.
- Sękiewicz K., Danelia I., Farzaliyev V., Gholizadeh H., Iszkuło G., Naqinezhad A., Ramezani E., Thomas P.A., Tomaszewski D., Walas Ł., Dering M. 2022. Past climatic refugia and landscape resistance explain spatial genetic structure in Oriental beech in the South Caucasus. Ecology and Evolution 12(9): e9320. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9320
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Projects for the years 2025-2022
-
Hybridization as an evolutionary process which reinforces the adaptive potential of tree species in the face of climate changes.(Original title:Hybrydyzacja jako proces ewolucyjny wzmacniający potencjał adaptacyjny gatunków drzewiastych w obliczu zmian klimatycznych). Project funded by the National Science Centre (SONATA, 2020/39/D/NZ8/01522). Project duration: 2021–025. Principal Investigator: Sękiewicz K.
-
Identification of genetic patterns and driving factors in common juniper (Juniperus communis) across Scandinavia. (Original title:Rozpoznanie wzorców zróżnicowania genetycznego skandynawskich populacji jałowca pospolitego (Juniperus communis L.) oraz czynników je kształtujących). Project funded by the Internal Research Fund of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (FBW_3, DEC-2022/03/ZB/FBW/00013). Project duration: 2023. Principal Investigator: Sękiewicz K.
Represented disciplines:
- Biological sciences
- Forestry sciences
Research focus:
The main areas of my research include biogeography, population genetics, phylogenesis, ethnobotany, and demography of woody species, with particular attention to endemic and relic taxons.
My current focus is on studying flora that can be found in biodiversity hotspots (the Mediterranean Sea basin, Caucasus, the Irano-Anatolian region) and within European mountain ranges (the Alps, the Carpathian Mountains, and the Pyrenees).
I analyse spacial data concerning the incidence of specific species and their reaction to environmental factors, which allows me to determine the spatial patterns for plant incidence. The collected information on genetic resources, potential distribution and interactions with the environment facilitate the planning of strategies for the protection of individual species and entire ecosystems.
My research activities also include cooperation with experts specialising in such scientific disciplines as biological sciences, forestry, and medical sciences.
Keywords:
Biogeography, population genetics, relic species, distribution modelling, biodiversity protection
Publications
Publications for the years 2025-2022
- Iszkuło G., Tyrala-Wierucka Z., Thomas P.A., Terlecka M., Walas Ł., Tomaszewski D. 2024. Should the relationship between leaf margin and temperature be re-defined for areas with colder climates? Journal of Biogeography 51: 1842–1851. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14855
- Iszkuło G., Tyrała-Wierucka Ż., Terlecka M., Walas Ł., Tomaszewski D. 2024. What’s the point of toothed leaves? In: Tomaszewski D., Jagodziński A.M. (eds.). Research and Practice in Forest Ecology. International Scientific Conference for Young Scientists. Kórnik, 8-12 May 2024. Book of abstracts. Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań. Pp. 101-105.
- Sękiewicz K., Salva-Catarineu M., Walas Ł., Romo A., Gholizadeh H., Naqinezhad A., Farzaliyev V., Mazur M., Boratyński A. 2024. Consequence of habitat specificity: a rising risk of habitat loss for endemic and sub-endemic woody species under climate change in the Hyrcanian ecoregion. Regional Environmental Change 24(2): 68. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-024-02222-7
- Tylutka A., Morawin B., Walas Ł., Zembron-Lacny A. 2024. Does excess body weight accelerate immune aging? Experimental Gerontology 187: 112377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2024.112377
- Tylutka A., Walas Ł., Zembron-Lacny A. 2024. Level of IL-6, TNF, and IL-1β and age-related diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Immunology 15: 1330386. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1330386
- Tylutka A., Żabiński P., Walas Ł., Zembron-Lacny A. 2024. Neuroinflammation as a link in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases: A systematic review and metaAnalysis. Aging and Disease (early access). http://dx.doi.org/10.14336/AD.2024.1174
- Waheed M., Walas Ł., Alipour S., Arshad F., Jameel M.A., Siddiqui M.H., Alamri S., Haq S.M., Bussmann R.W. 2024. Global climate change increases the risk of invasion and the expansion of paper mulberry in the subtropical region. Global Ecology and Conservation 54: e03088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03088
- Walas Ł., Alipour S., Haq S.M., Alamri S. 2024. The potential range of west Asian apple species Malus orientalis Uglitzk. under climate change. BMC Plant Biology 24(1): 381. https://bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12870-024-05081-w
- Walas Ł., Tung D.Q., Sękiewicz K., Pietras M., Bravo F., Kozlowski G., Van Sâm H. 2024. Risk assessment of habitat suitability decline for the endangered riparian tree Pterocarya tonkinensis (Juglandaceae): conservation implications. European Journal of Forest Research 143(4): 1057-1068. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10342-024-01679-9
- Yousefzadeh H., Walas Ł., Amirchakhmaghi N., Alipour S., Pouramin M., Song Y-G., Kozlowski G. 2024. Potential effects of climate change on future distribution of an endangered tree species, Acer mazandaranicum, in the Hyrcanian forest. Forest Ecology and Management 555: 121654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121654
- Alipour S., Walas Ł. 2023. The influence of climate and population density on Buxus hyrcana potential distribution and habitat connectivity. Journal of Plant Research 136(4): 501-514. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10265-023-01457-5
- Beridze B., Sękiewicz K., Walas Ł., Danelia I., Farzaliyev V., Kvartskhava G., Szmyt J., Dering M. 2023. Niche modelling suggests low feasibility of assisted gene flow for a Neogene relict tree, Castanea sativa Mill. Dendrobiology 90: 58-75. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.090.005
- Beridze B., Sękiewicz K., Walas Ł., Thomas P.A., Danelia I., Farzaliyev V., Kvartskhava G., Sós J., Dering M. 2023. Biodiversity protection against anthropogenic climate change: Conservation prioritization of Castanea sativa in the South Caucasus based on genetic and ecological metrics. Ecology and Evolution 13(5): e10068.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10068
- Beridze B., Sękiewicz K., Walas Ł., Thomas P.A., Danelia I., Kvartskhava G., Farzaliyev V., Bruch A.A., Dering M. 2023. Evolutionary history of Castanea sativa in the Caucasus driven by Middle and Late Pleistocene paleoenvironmental changes. AoB Plants 15(5): plad059. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plad059
- Hematzadeh A., Esmailzadeh O., Jalali S.G. Mirjalili M.H., Walas Ł., Yousefzadeh H. 2023. Genetic diversity and structure of English yew (Taxus baccata L.) as a tertiary relict and endangered tree in the Hyrcanian forests. Biodiversity and Conservation 32(5): 1733–1753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-023-02573-3
- Tasenkevich L., Boratyński A., Skrypec K., Seniv M., Khmil T., Walas Ł. 2023. Biodiversity of high-mountain woody plants in the East Carpathians in Ukraine. Dendrobiology 89: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.089.001
- Tylutka A., Morawin B., Walas Ł., Michałek M., Gwara A., Zembron-Lacny A. 2023. Assessment of metabolic syndrome predictors in relation to inflammation and visceral fat tissue in older adults. Scientific Reports 13(1): 89. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-27269-6
- Walas Ł., Pietras M., Mazur M., Romo Á., Tasenkevich L., Didukh Y., Boratyński A. 2023. The perspective of Arctic-Alpine species in southernmost localities: Kalmia procumbens example in the Pyrenees and Carpathians. Plants 12(19): 3399. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193399.
- Alipour S., Badehian Z., Yousefzadeh H., Asadi F., Espahbodi K., Walas Ł. 2022. Predicting past, current and future suitable habitat for endemic Hyrcanian species Populus caspica Bornm. New Forests. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11056-022-09918-w
- Sękiewicz K., Danelia I., Farzaliyev V., Gholizadeh H., Iszkuło G., Naqinezhad A., Ramezani E., Thomas P.A., Tomaszewski D., Walas Ł., Dering M. 2022. Past climatic refugia and landscape resistance explain spatial genetic structure in Oriental beech in the South Caucasus. Ecology and Evolution 12(9): e9320. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9320
- Walas Ł., Taib A. 2022. Environmental regionalization and endemic plant distribution in the Maghreb. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 194: 100. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-021-09707-6
- Walas Ł., Kędziora W., Ksepko M., Rabska M., Tomaszewski D., Thomas P.A., Wójcik R., Iszkuło G. 2022. The future of Viscum album L. in Europe will be shaped by temperature and host availability. Scientific Reports 12(1): 17072. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-21532-6
- Yousefzadeh H., Amirchakhmaghi N., Naseri B., Shafizadeh F., Kozlowski G., Walas Ł. 2022. The impact of climate change on the future geographical distribution range of the endemic relict tree Gleditsia capsica (Fabaceae) in Hyrcanian forests. Ecological Informatics 71(2022) 101773.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101773.
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Projects for the years 2025-2022
- Utilization of specific microsatellite markers to study the Mating System of Common Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum). (Original title: Wykorzystanie specyficznych markerów mikrosatelitarnych do badania systemu kojarzenia kasztanowca zwyczajnego Aesculus hippocastanum L.). Project funded by the Internal Research Fund of the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences (FBW_2, DEC-2022/02/ZB/FBW/00004). Project duration: 2022. Principal Investigator: Walas Ł.