Urban greenery in the context of the spread of Viscum album L. subsp. album. A case study of the Nicolaus Copernicus University campus and its surroundings in Torun, Poland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/bgss-2026-0026Keywords
urban studies, suburban forests, urban trees, European mistletoe, plant parasite, hemiparasitism, landscape factors, university campusAbstract
The species composition, spatial distribution and infestation rate by common mistletoe in its typical form, Viscum album subsp. album, were investigated in the Bielany district in the north-western part of the city of Toruń. The study area covered the campus of Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU campus) and its immediate surroundings. Observations of mistletoe hosts were conducted in a network of 143 squares, each measuring 100x100 m, delineated according to the principles used in monitoring for the Distribution Atlas of Vascular Plants in Poland (ATPOL). The number of trees infected with mistletoe was recorded in each ATPOL square. Based on data collected during field studies, a list of 1,140 hosts, representing 31 tree taxa, was compiled. It was found that of the 10 landscape structure parameters and biological and ecological traits of hosts considered, the proportion of green space developed around educational facilities and the DBH have ...
References
Ahmed, Z., & Dutt, H.C. (2015). Restriction of Viscum album to few phorophytes in a habitat with diverse type of tree species. Austin Journal of Plant Biology, 1(2): 101–105.
Antczak, M., Hromada, M., Grzybek, J., & Tryjanowski, P. (2004). Breeding biology of the Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor in W Poland. Acta Ornithologica, 39(1): 9–14. https://doi.org/10.3161/0001645044214018
Atlas województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego. (2015). Red. Nacz. Zenon Kozieł. Wydawnictwo Naukowe UMK.
Baltazar, T., Pejchal, M., & Varga I. (2013). Evaluation of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) infection in the Castle Park in Lednice. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, LXI 172(6): 1565–1574.
Baltazar, T, Pejchal, M., & Varga, I. (2015). Modelling of the distribution of European mistletoe (Viscum album) with dependence on local factors in the Castle Park in Lednice. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 63(5): 1441–1452. https://doi.org/10.11118/actaun201563051441
Bilonozhko, Y.O., Ponomarenko, L.O., Rabokon, A.M., Postovoitovа, A.S., Kalafat, L.O., Privаlikhin, S.M., Blume, Y.B., & Pirko, Y.V. (2019). Distribution of mistletoe (Viscum album L.), which parasitizes different woody plants species, in Kyiv and its genetic characteristics. Factors in Experimental Evolution of Organisms, 25: 106–110. https://doi.org/10.7124/ FEEO.v25.1148
Bilonozhko, Y.O., Rabokon, A.M., Postovoitova, A.S., Kalafat, L.O., Pryvalikhin, S.M., Demkovych, A.Y, Blume, Y.B., & Pirko Y.V. (2021). Intraspecific differentiation in white mistletoe (Viscum album L.) using the analysis of intron length polymorphism of β-tubulin genes and the SSR analysis. Cytology of Genetics, 55(1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3103/S0095452721010035
Bilonozhko, Y.O., Kalafat, L.O., Rabokon, A.M., Postovoitova, A.S., Privalikhin, S.M., Demkovych, A.E., & Pirko, Y.V. (2022). Some characteristics of woody plants inhabited by Viscum album (Santalaceae) in the city of Kyiv. Ukrainian Botanical Journal, 79(6): 388–396. https://doi.org/10.15407/ukrbotj79.06.388
Bilonozhko, Y., Tokarieva, O., Heinze, B., Feichter, J., & Kodym, A. (2025). Mistletoe on urban trees in the city of Vienna, Austria. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 107: 128740.
Boltenko, A.V., Urmanova, H.V., & Tomarovshchenko, O.N. (2021). The problem of the spread of the semi-parasite mistletoe on trees in the city of Shebekino (in Russian). Safety, Protection and Conservation of the Natural Environment: Fundamental and Applied Research: Collection of Reports of the All-Russian Scientific Conference. Belgorod: Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov.
Boratyński, A., & Piórkowska, M. (2003). Characteristics of white-berried mistletoe (Viscum album L. subsp. album) population in Grudziądz. Roczniki Dendrologiczne, 51: 113–130.
Bulíř, P. (2017). Extent of infection by Viscum album L. and changes in its occurrence on ornamental woody species in the locality of Lednice (Czech Republic). Folia Horticulturae, 29/2: 123–134.
Chojnacki, W. (2019). Jemioła w Gdańsku. Część I: dzielnice Oliwa, VII Dwór i Strzyża (Mistletoe in Gdańsk. Part I: The Oliwa, VII Dwór, and Strzyża Districts – in Polish). Gdańsk.
Chojnacki, W. (2020). Jemioła w Gdańsku. Część II: Żabianka, Jelitkowo, Przymorze Małe, Przymorze Wielkie i Zaspa Młyniec (Mistletoe in Gdańsk. Part II: Żabianka, Jelitkowo, Przymorze Małe, Przymorze Wielkie, and Zaspa Młyniec – in Polish). Gdańsk.
Ciaciura, M., Trypuć, M., & Więcław, H. (2008). Viscum album subsp. album in Stargard Szczeciński city and municipality. Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego, 537. Acta Biologica, 15: 69–76.
Downey, P.O. (2004). A regional examination of the mistletoe host species inventory. Cunninghamia, 8(3): 354–361.
Ertuğrul, M.H., & Komut, O. (2020). Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) damage and its economic effects in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) natural regeneration and afforestation areas. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 18(1): 549–559.
Galkin, S.I., Dragan, N.V., Doyko, N.M., & Pidorich, Y.V. (2017). Mistletoe in the relations system of „Host-Parasite”. Introdukcjia roslin, 3: 71–78.
Glogov, P., & Bogdanov, S. (2024). Hosts of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) among tree and shrub species on the territory of Nessebar and Sunny Beach. Forest Science, 2: 63–76.
Gołąbek, E., & Sławiński, J. (2017). The infestation degree of trees with common mistletoe Viscum album L and their health status (on the example of Praszka city). Journal of Ecological Engineering, 18(6): 80–85.
Hammer, Ø., Harper, D.A.T., & Ryan, P.D. (2001). Past: Paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica 4(1): 9 pp. Available at: http://palaeo-electronica.org/2001_1/past/issue1_01.htm
Hódar, J.A., Lázaro-González, A., & Zamora, R. (2018). Beneath the mistletoe: parasitized trees host a more diverse herbaceous vegetation and are more visited by rabbits. Annals of Forest Science, 75 (3): 77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-018-0761-3
Issakainen, J., Pihlaja, K., & Kasvi, A. (2019). Misteli on vakiintumassa Suomeen (Mistletoe (Viscum album) is gaining a foothold in Finland - in Finnish). Lutukka, 35: 8–23.
Kartoolinejad, D., Hosseini, S.M., Mirnia, S.K., Akbarinia, M., & Shayanmehr F. (2007). The Relationship among Infection Intensity of Viscum album with some Ecological Parameters of Host Trees. International Journal of Environmental Research, 1(2): 143–149.
Kavun, E.M., Berezovskiy, I.V., & Panko, V.V. (2021). Invasive cycle and assessment of the depth of invasion of representatives of dendroflora of Ukraine in the some ecosystems by european mistletoe (Víscum álbum L.)(in Ukrainian). Biology and Ecology, 7(2): 27–36. https://doi.org/10.33989/2021.7.2.261543
Klуmenko, M.O., Borshchevska, I.M., Klymenko, L.V., Turchуna, K.P., & Mykhalchuk, M.A. (2020). Ecological features of white mistletoe spreading on the territory of Rivne (in Ukrainian). Bulletin of the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering, Rivne, Ukraine; Agricultural Sciences Series, 2(90): 38–49.
Kołodziejek, J., Patykowski, J., & Kołodziejek, R. (2013). Distribution, frequency and host patterns of European mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. album) in the major city of Lodz, Poland. Biologia, 68/1: 55–64. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-012-0128-4
Krasylenko, Y., Sosnovsky, Y., Atamas, N., Popov, G., Leonenko, V., Janoˇsíkov´a, K., Sytschak, N., Rydlo, K., & Sytnyk, D. (2020). The European mistletoe (Viscum album L.): distribution, host range, biotic interactions, and management worldwide with special emphasis on Ukraine. Botany, 98(9): 499–516. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2020-0037
Luguza, S., Dregiša, N., Miezīte, O., & Dubrovskis, E. (2023). White mistletoe Viscum album L. distribution and impact on host tree in eastern part of Latvia. In: J. Černuskienė (ed.), Proceedings of the 11th International Scientific Conference Rural Development 2023. Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy: 198–203. https://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2023.024
Mandziuk, A., Weremczuk, A., & Spólny, A. (2024). Ekonomiczne konsekwencje występowania jemioły w drzewostanach sosnowych (The economic consequences of mistletoe occurrence in pine stands – in Polish). Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria, 23(1): 25–33.
Matusiak, M.V. (2019). Biological and environmental characteristics of distribution of Viscum album in the conditions of Vinnytsia (in Ukrainian). Scientific Bulletin of UNFU, 29(8): 66–69. https://doi.org/10.36930/40290810
Mellado, A., & Zamora, R. (2014). Linking safe sites for recruitment with host-canopy heterogeneity: The case of a parasitic plant, Viscum album subsp. austriacum (Viscaceae). American Journal of Botany, 101: 957–964.
Mellado, A., Morillas, L., Gallardo, A., & Zamora, R. (2016). Temporal dynamic of parasite-mediated linkages between the forest canopy and soil processes and the microbial community. New Phytologist, 211: 1382–1392.
Nienartowicz, A., Rutkowski, L., Kamiński, D., & Kunz, M. (2022). Occurrence of Viscum album subsp. album L. on Laburnum anagyroides Medik. in Toruń, Poland. Ecological Questions, 33(1): 33–37. https://doi.org/10.12775/EQ.2022.005
Panasenko, N.N., & Anishchenko, L.N. (2025). Distribution of Viscum album L. in Bryansk Oblast. Contemporary Problems of Ecology, 18(4): 558–571. https://doi.org/10.1134/S199542552570012X
Petrović, K., Zachwatowicz, M., & Sudnik-Wójcikowska, B. (2007). Do Anthropogenic Changes to the Environmental Influence the Distribution of the European Mistletoe in Warsaw, Poland? Conference Book of the 32nd Annual Conference of Ecological Society of Australia, 26–30 November 2007, Perth – Australia, 205–206.
Piętka, J., Małecki, M., Niewiński, K., & Kędziora, W. (2023). How wrong are we in estimating the abundance of mistletoe occurring on Scots pine? – a case study from Central Europe. Baltic Forestry, 29(2): 717. https://doi.org/10.46490/BF717
Pischalenko, M.A., Barabolia, O.V., & Chaika, T.O. (2020). The influence of biotope dendroflora species composition in the town of Poltava on mistletoe (Viscum album L.) spreading. Bulletin of Poltava State Agrarian Academy, (2): 99–109. https://doi.org/10.31210/visnyk2020.02.12
Prochazka, F. (2004). A centre of occurrence of Viscum album subsp. album in eastern Bohemia and an overview of the diversity of its host plants in the Czech Republic. Preslia, 76: 349–359.
Razanov, S.F., Kavun, E.M., & Gnatyuk, O.M. (2017). Centers of distribution of white mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and its impact on species of economic importance (in Ukrainian). Agriculture and Forestry, 5:193–203.
Roura-Pascual, N., Brotons, L., García, D., Zamora, R., & de Càceres, M. (2012). Local and landscape-scale biotic correlates of mistletoe distribution in Mediterraean pine forests. Forest Systems, 21(2): 179–188.
Rutkowski, L., Nienartowicz, A., & Kunz, M. (2023). Oak and other, new to Poland, hosts of mistletoe Viscum album subsp. album in the city of Toruń and its immediate vicinity. Ecological Questions, 34(2): 71–79. https://doi.org/10.12775/EQ.2023.019
Rybalka, I.O. (2016). The applied aspects of Environmental management of the white mistletoe (Viscum album L.) population in urban areas (In case of the city of Kharkiv). Studia Biologica, 10(3–4): 141–154. http://dx.doi.org/10.30970/sbi.1003.505
Rybalka, I.O. (2017). Economic efficiency of the technology of protection of green plantings from the influence of the white mistletoe (Viscum album L.) (in Ukrainian). Komunalne gospodarstvo mist, 138: 42–47.
Rybalka, I.O., & Vergeles, Yu I. (2012). Influence of Environmental factors on the distribution of white mistletoe (Viscum album L.) in urbanized landscapes in the city of Kharkiv (in Russian). Bulletin of KhNAU, 11: 153–161.
Rybalka, I., & Vergeles, Y. (2024). The effects of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) on urban tree health. Studia Biologica, 18(4): 191–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.30970/sbi.1804.800
Sayad, E., Boshkar, E., & Gholami, S. (2017). Different role of host and habitat features in determining spatial distribution of mistletoe infection. Forest Ecology and Management, 384: 323–330.
Sharma, P., Steckel, H., Koschinsky, A., & Schnug, E. (2009). Potential correlation of heavy metals in surface soils with infestation of Viscum album in poplar trees. Landbauforschung Volkenrode, 59: 11–18.
Skonieczny, A. (2009). Bielany, Toruń. Available at: https://www.turystyka.torun.pl/art/138/bielany.html
Skórka, P., & Wójcik, J.D. (2005). Population dynamics and social behavior of the Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus during winter. Acta Ornithologica, 40(1): 35–42. https://doi.org/10.3161/068.040.0109
Skrylnyk, Y.Y., Shvydenko, I.M., Shvydenko, M.V., & Kharchenko, P.P. (2025). Features of Viscum album L. infection on representatives of the genus Acer L. plantings in Kharkiv. Scientific Bulletin of UNFU, 35(1): 40–45.
Skrypnik, L., Maslennikov, P., Feduraev, P., Pungin, A., & Belov, N. (2020). Ecological and landscape factors affecting the spread of european mistletoe (Viscum album L.) in urban areas (A Case Study of the Kaliningrad City, Russia). Plants, 9: 394. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9030394
Skrypnik, L., Feduraev, P., Golovin, A., Maslennikov, P., Belov, N., Matveev, M., & Pungin, A. (2022). Biotechnological potential of different organs of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) collected from various host tree species in an urban area. Plants, 11: 2686. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11202686
Sobolewski, R.K., Szopińska, E.M., Jaworek-Jakubska, J., & Łakomy, P. (2026). Occurrence of common mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. album) on alien tree species in the urban green areas of Wrocław (Poland). Urban Ecosystems, 29: 48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-026-01918-4
Staszewski, J. (1973). Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu 1945–1973 (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 1945–1973 – in Polish). UMK, Toruń.
Stypiński, P.T. (1997). Biologia i ekologia jemioły pospolitej (Viscum album, Viscaceae) w Polsce (The biology and ecology of common mistletoe (Viscum album, Viscaceae) in Poland – in Polish). Inst. Botaniki im. W. Szafera, Polska Akad. Nauk.
ter Braak, C.J.F., & Šmilauer, P. (2012). Canoco reference manual and user’s guide: software for ordination, version 5.0. Microcomputer Power, Ithaca, USA.
Těšitel, J., Li, A.R., Knotková, K., McLellan, R., Bandaranayake, P.C.G., & Watson, D.M. (2021). The bright side of parasitic plants: what are they good for? Plant Physiology, 185(4):1309–1324. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiaa069
Thomas, P.A., Dering, M., Giertych, M.J., Iszkuło, G., Tomaszewski, D., & Briggs, J. (2023). Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Viscum album. Journal of Ecology, 111: 701–739. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14036
Tomaszewska, K., Kozioł, M., & Iwanowska, A. (2004). Występowanie jemioły poapolitej (Viscum album L.) w niektórych dzielnicach Wrocławia. (The occurrence of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) in some quarters of Wrocław). Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Rolniczej we Wrocławiu, Rolnictwo, LXXXV 487: 171–178.
Varga, I., Poczai, P., Tiborcz, V., Aranyi, N.R., Baltazar, T., & Bartha, D. (2014). Changes in the distribution of European mistletoe (Viscum album) in Hungary during the last hundred years. Folia Geobotanica, 49(4): 559–577. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-014-9193-5
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: 17972. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21532-6
Watson, D.M., & Herring, M. (2012). Mistletoe as a keystone resource: an experimental test. Proceedings of The Royal Society, 278(1743): 3853–3860.
Watson, D.M., McLellan, R.C., & Fontúrbel, F.E. (2022). Functional roles of parasitic plants in a warming world. Annal Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 53: 25–45.
Więcław, H., & Ciaciura, M. (1997). The range of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) in City of Szczecin. Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego 218, Acta Biologica, 4: 25–37.
Winiarska, M. (2023). Drzewa bez jemioły. Miasto. Zielone aktualności. Wydział Środowiska i Ekologii, Toruń. Available at: https://torun.pl/pl/aktualnosc/drzewa-bez-jemioly
Yakimenko, O.V., Grigor’yevskaya, A.Ya., & Ternovets, M.A. (2019). Mistletoe Viscum album L. (Loranthaceae) and witch’s broom (proliferation) in the Voronezh region (in Russian). Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Series: Geography. Geoecology, 2: 82–85.
Yurel, V. (2019). Distribution of white mistletoe (Viscum album L.) in the central part of the Republic of Belarus. In: S.A. Maskevitch, N.A. Lysukha (eds) Actual Environmental Problems: Proceedings of the IX International Scientific Conference of young scientists, graduates, master and PhD students, November 21–22, 2019, Minsk, Republic of Belarus. ISEI BSU, Minsk, pp. 233–234. Available at: http://elib.bsu.by/handle/123456789/237177
Zachwatowicz, M., Petrović, K., & Studnik-Wójcikowska, B. (2008). The occurrence of European mistletoe under the conditions of high human impact in the central part of Warsaw, Poland. Problemy Ekologii Krajobrazu, XXII: 101–114.
Zając, A., & Zając, M. (eds) (2001). Atlas rozmieszczenia roślin naczyniowych w Polsce (Distribution atlas of vascular plants in Poland – in Polish). Edited by Laboratory of Computer Chorology, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University and Fundation of Jagiellonian University, Cracow.
Zemskova, L.A., Nesterenko, V.M., & Anishchenko, L.N. (2025). Limiting factors of Viscum album L. spread and bioindication characteristics of alien species biomass in the Bryansk region (in Russian). RUDN Journal of Ecology and Life Safety, 33(3): 268–283. https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-2310-2025-33-3-268-283
Zieliński, J. (1997). The mistletoe Viscum album L on the left bank of the river in Szczecin. Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Rolniczej w Szczecinie, 178(66): 69–87.
Zhytova, O., Kotyuk, L., & Andreieva, O. (2024). Current status of the distribution of European Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) in Zhytomyr Polissia. Studia Biologica, 18(1): 111–124. https://doi.org/10.30970/sbi.1801.757
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mieczysław Kunz, Andrzej Nienartowicz, Sanjana Dutt, Anna Wojciechowska, Dariusz Kamiński, Lucjan Rutkowski

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Title, logo and layout of journal Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series are reserved trademarks of Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series.Stats
Number of views and downloads: 82
Number of citations: 0