Diatoms in the biological assessment of the ecological state of waters using the Czarna Staszowska River as an example

Abstract

I n t e r n a t i o n a l J o u r n a l o f O c e a n o g r a p h y a n d H y d r o b i o l o g y by The Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies is online at oandhs.ocean.ug.edu.pl pages (254-266) AbstractThe object of the present research was the Czarna Staszowska River, which is located in south-eastern Poland and which is a left tributary of the upper Vistula River. The length of the river is 61 km and its sources are situated in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. The river flows across an area covered by Mesozoic rocks, mostly carbonate and sulfate ones. The upper and middle course of the river is of natural character, while increased pollution occurs downstream of the Chańcza Reservoir.In the present study, the water quality of the Czarna Staszowska is investigated in the pure and polluted sections using diatom indices, such as IO − Diatom Index, IPS − Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index, GDI − Generic Diatom Index and TDI − Trophic Diatom Index. In the four river sections distinguished on the basis of the hydrology and the degree of water pollution, the occurrence of different indicator species was determined in the respective diatom assemblages. Indicator species were determined, i.e. characteristic of oligosaprobic and mesosaprobic, limestone and silicon-rich waters. Also taxa indicating an increased trophic status of the river (occurring in its polluted sections) were identified.

Deceptive ecological status of urban streams and rivers—evidence from diatom indices

“…Polish biomonitoring studies most commonly use the IO index; however, it does not allow water quality to be differentiated in streams at individual sites, as it exhibits a low sensitivity to changes caused by pollutant inflows (Szczepocka et al. , Szczepocka and Rakowska ). Conversely, the IPS index allowed the most precise assessment to be performed, with its values varying in accordance with the physical and chemical parameters of the stream.…”

Gomphonema Vibrio Var. Subcapitatum (Bacillariophyceae), New for Poland

“…s.str. In Poland the latter has been reported from both mountain (e.g., Gutwiński 1898Gutwiński , 1914Filarszky 1899Filarszky , 1900 and lowland regions (e.g., Wołoszyńska 1922;Pliński 1973;Zakryś 1980;Szymańska 1983;Ligowski 1986;Witkowski et al 2011;Szczepocka & Rakowska 2015;Siwek & Pociask-Karteczka 2017). However, due to the lack of original materials or photographs it is difficult to state which morphological forms were observed.…”

Taxonomic and Ecological Observations on Some Algal and Cyanobacterial Morphospecies New for or Rarely Recorded in Either Egypt or Africa

“…Potapova & Charles (2007) reported it as a proxy of low nitrogen conditions. Szczepocka & Rakowska (2015) also highlighted that it usually prefers silica-rich waters.…”