In late summer (August-September) 2024, plants growing along the PL-BY border in Białowieża Forest were inventoried. We sampled in dry, mesic and wet habitats in two locations each along the border for a total of 6 sample sites. Non-forest, thermophilic, pioneer, alien and invasive species were recorded. Transects were 800 meters long made up of 8 100m-long segments. In addition to sampling along the border, we also sampled plants along parallel 800m-long transects inside the forest 50m from the border to understand which species detected on the border may be colonizing the forest. On transects directly along the border, we recorded if plants occur on the forest edge, within the secondary barriers (forest net and concertina), along the border road—forest side, and/or along the border road—main barrier side. On transects both along the border and 50m inside the forest, we recorded abundance on a scale of 1-8 representing 1 individual, up to 10 individuals, 10, more than 10, up to 100, more than 100, up to 1000, more than 1000. Data analysis and publication are pending. A subset of these data have been included in a report to the The Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute; the report is available at: https://ios.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ekspertyza-oddzialywanie-zapory-granicznej.pdf and addresses the effects of border fortification on the Białowieża Forest World Heritage site. Note: the secondary barriers were constructed in December 2023 while the main barrier was constructed by July 2022.

In late summer (August-September) 2024, plants growing along the PL-BY border in Białowieża Forest were inventoried. We sampled in dry, mesic and wet habitats in two locations each along the border for a total of 6 sample sites. Non-forest, thermophilic, pioneer, alien and invasive species were recorded. Transects were 800 meters long made up of 8 100m-long segments. In addition to sampling along the border, we also sampled plants along parallel 800m-long transects inside the forest 50m from the border to understand which species detected on the border may be colonizing the forest. On transects directly along the border, we recorded if plants occur on the forest edge, within the secondary barriers (forest net and concertina), along the border road—forest side, and/or along the border road—main barrier side. On transects both along the border and 50m inside the forest, we recorded abundance on a scale of 1-8 representing 1 individual, up to 10 individuals, 10, more than 10, up to 100, more than 100, up to 1000, more than 1000. Data analysis and publication are pending. A subset of these data have been included in a report to the The Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute; the report is available at: https://ios.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ekspertyza-oddzialywanie-zapory-granicznej.pdf and addresses the effects of border fortification on the Białowieża Forest World Heritage site. Note: the secondary barriers were constructed in December 2023 while the main barrier was constructed by July 2022.

Data collected in 2022 and 2023 to monitor vehicle traffic, roadside tree damage, and roadkill along the 5.4km Browska Road in Białowieża Forest, Poland, following heightened border security measures including barrier construction. Vehicle traffic data was collected with the use of a camera trap. Roadkill and roadside tree damage data were collected on 50 surveys. All roadside trees were enumerated over a period of two weeks in 2022.

Data collected in 2022 and 2023 to monitor vehicle traffic, roadside tree damage, and roadkill along the 5.4km Browska Road in Białowieża Forest, Poland, following heightened border security measures including barrier construction. Vehicle traffic data was collected with the use of a camera trap. Roadkill and roadside tree damage data were collected on 50 surveys. All roadside trees were enumerated over a period of two weeks in 2022.

Participatory approaches, such as community photography, can engage the public in questions of societal and scientific interest while helping advance understanding of ecological patterns and processes. We combined data extracted from community-sourced, spatially-explicit photographs with research findings from 2018 fieldwork in the Yukon, Canada, to evaluate winter coat molt patterns and phenology in mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), a cold-adapted, alpine mammal. Leveraging the community science portals iNaturalist and CitSci, in less than a year we amassed a database of almost seven hundred unique photographs spanning some 4500 kms between latitudes 37.6°N and 61.1°N from 0m to 4333m elevation. Using statistical methods accounting for incomplete data, a common issue in community science data sets, we identified the effects of intrinsic (sex and presence of offspring) and broad environmental (latitude and elevation) factors on molt onset and rate and compared our findings with published data. Shedding occurred over a 3-month period between May 29 and September 6. Effects of sex and offspring on the timing of molt were consistent between the community-sourced and our Yukon data and with findings on wild mountain goats at a long-term research site in west-central Alberta, Canada. Males molted first, followed by females without offspring (4.4 days later in the coarse-grained, geographically-wide community science sample; 29.2 days later in our fine-grained Yukon sample) and lastly females with new kids (6.2; 21.2 days later, respectively). Shedding was later at higher elevations and faster at northern latitudes. Our findings establish a basis for employing community photography to examine broad-scale questions about the timing of ecological events, as well as sex differences in response to possible climate drivers. In addition, community photography can help inspire public participation in environmental and outdoor activities specifically with reference to iconic wildlife.