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a b s t r a c tWe studied the changes in the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and phytoplankton community in a hard water lake during different meteorological conditions. We hypothesized that variations in climatic conditions (precipitation and temperature) can influence the physicochemical parameters of water and, in turn, affect SAV and phytoplankton development. The investigations were performed in Lake Rogóźno (the West Polesie region, Eastern Poland) over 10 years from 2003 to 2013. The physicochemical parameters, the structure of macrophytes and the phytoplankton community in the dry (2003( -2006 and wet periods (2007-2013, WP) were analyzed. Between the dry and wet periods, the water color and the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased considerably, whereas water conductivity decreased. Other parameters (concentration of nutrients, water reaction and transparency) were comparable during both periods. When the precipitation and water level were low (DP), charophytes dominated the SAV and cyanobacteria dominated the phytoplankton community. After the precipitation and water level increased (WP), the charophyte population declined and the vascular plants and bryophytes dominated. Furthermore, flagellated algae belonging to the dinophytes and cryptophytes were the most numerous in the phytoplankton community. These changes in the SAV and phytoplankton were linked with the variations of physicochemical parameters determined by the total precipitation and mean air temperature in March.

Abstract:The structure and demographic processes were compared in shrub communities to test the effects of vegetation succession on population growth, fecundity and abundance of the dwarf birch (Betula nana L.), which is a rare and endangered plant species in Poland and a glacial relict in Central Europe. The effects of Ledum palustre L. and Vaccinium uliginosum L. were studied in the Linje nature reserve in Che lmińskie Lake District (northern Poland), in three permanent plots on a peat bog. Vegetative growth and reproduction of B. nana were lower in plant communities dominated by L. palustre and V. uliginosum, than in a reference site. Fecundity was also lower, despite the fact that the percentage share of potentially fertile age groups was similar in all study sites. Mortality of ramets was independent of vegetation, both for juvenile and mature stages. The results confirm that B. nana is intolerant of shade, and it is more abundant in vegetation without competitors. Light limitation can lead to its decline, primarily by a decrease in vegetative growth. Sexual reproduction may be negatively affected by shade, but it plays only small role in population growth. Butterfly larvae can destroy inflorescences, and thus contribute to low effectiveness of sexual reproduction. Increasing density of shrubs and trees in peat bogs can reduce the abundance of dwarf birch, and can lead to the extinction of its local populations.

According to the general classifi cation of shallow eutrophic lakes, two alternative types are distinguished: phytoplankton-dominated and macrophyte-dominated lakes. The latter type is rare and currently endangered by human activity. In order to determine the effect of reduced infl ow of surface water by an earth dyke on the lake trophic state, certain biological and physico-chemical parameters were evaluated. This work focuses on two lakes of similar morphometric characteristics situated in the agricultural landscape. The effect of the earth dyke on the trophic state was positively verifi ed. The lake situated in the catchment basin, in which the infl ow of surface water was reduced, was defi ned as meso-eutrophic, with a small amount of phytoplankton and high water transparency. The reference lake was highly eutrophic, with low water transparency and a large amount of phytoplankton. The water body surrounded by the earth dyke was macrophytes dominated (65% of the lake area), whereas the reference lake was a phytoplankton-macrophyte type (42% of the lake area). The trophic evaluation of a lake can be underestimated because of a signifi cant amount of biogenic compounds accumulated in plant tissues. Thus, the values of Carlson's indices in macrophyte-dominated lakes may not account for the total amount of nutrients in the water body.

It is well-known that recent climatic changes have strongly affected aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we examined the complex factors determining the development of phytoplankton communities during the vegetative growth season in eutrophic lakes located in a temperate zone in eastern Poland. Our analysis enabled us to divide the data into two different periods: years with a cold winter and low total precipitation, and those with a mild winter and high total precipitation. The analysis showed that the soluble and total nitrogen content, concentration of chlorophyll a, total phytoplankton biomass, and biomasses of Cyanobacteria and Cryptophyceae were significantly higher in the vegetative growth season in the year after a mild winter, whereas the soluble and total phosphorus content and phytoplankton biodiversity were significantly lower in these years. Hence, climate warming indirectly led to the loss of biodiversity in the phytoplankton communities in the studied lakes of temperate zone. During this study, we also tested the effects of increases in air temperature and total precipitation on phytoplankton communities over short time periods (14 and 28 days). The results showed that the total phytoplankton biomass and the chlorophyll a concentration were only positively correlated with the air temperature. All of the features described in this study showed how sensitive lake ecosystems are to climatic fluctuations.