ESMI: a macrophyte index for assessing the ecological status of lakes

Ciecierska, Hanna; Kolada, Agnieszka

doi:10.1007/s10661-014-3799-1

Cited by 67 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Within the catchment, 15 river stretches, each with a watershed area exceeding 10 km 2 , and all 10 lakes which had a surface area greater than 0.5 km 2 , were studied ( Figure 1). Macrophyte surveys were carried out in the peak of the vegetation season 2009 (June-August) using standard Polish monitoring methodologies for rivers (Szoszkiewicz et al, 2010a) and lakes ( Ciecierska and Kolada, 2014). Eighteen representative sites were selected within the 15 river water bodies.…”

Section: > Vegetation Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Parameters structuring macrophyte communities in rivers and lakes – results from a case study in North-Central Poland

Szoszkiewicz

Ciecierska

Kolada

et al. 2014

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

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Key-words: macrophytes, lakes, rivers, plant ecology, ecological assessmentWe analysed macrophyte species composition and abundance, water chemistry and hydromorphological parameters of all major river stretches and lakes in the catchment of the lowland river Wel, Poland. We studied (i) which hydromorphological and physico-chemical factors best explained macrophyte species composition, (ii) if environmental factors structuring macrophyte communities were different between rivers and lakes; and (iii) if macrophyte indices developed to indicate eutrophication correlated with nutrient concentrations. Based on two-way indicator species analysis, correlation analysis and canonical correspondence analysis, we found that river substrate was most important in structuring macrophyte species composition and abundance in rivers, while water quality parameters were most important in lakes; species richness and diversity were correlated with river size and substrate type in rivers, but not in lakes; the relative abundance of macrophyte growth forms was best explained by total organic carbon and Secchi depth in lakes, but it was not correlated with any of the water chemical or hydromorphological parameters in rivers. Irrespective of which factors best explained macrophyte community composition, macrophyte metrics developed to indicate ecological status responded most strongly to total phosphorus concentrations, both in rivers and lakes. We conclude that macrophyte metrics are valuable tools for ecological status assessment also in ecosystems where parameters other than nutrients shape macrophyte community composition. RÉSUMÉParamètres structurant les communautés de macrophytes dans les rivières et les lacsrésultats d'une étude de cas dans le Centre-Nord de la Pologne Mots-clés :macrophytes, lacs, rivières, Nous avons analysé la composition spécifique et l'abondance de macrophytes, la chimie de l'eau et les paramètres hydromorphologiques de tous les principaux tronçons des rivières et les lacs du bassin versant de la rivière de plaine Wel, en Pologne. Nous avons étudié, (i) les facteurs hydromorphologiques et physicochimiques qui expliquent le mieux la composition des espèces de macrophytes, (ii) si les facteurs environnementaux structurant les communautés de macrophytes étaient différents entre les rivières et les lacs, et (iii) si les indices macrophytiques développés pour indiquer l'eutrophisation sont corrélés avec les concentrations de nutriments. Basée sur l'analyse des espèces indicatrices, l'analyse de corrélation et l'analyse de correspondance canonique, nous avons trouvé que le substrat de la rivière était plus important dans la structuration de la composition des espèces de macrophytes et leur abondance dans les rivières, tandis que les paramètres de qualité de l'eau étaient les plus importants dans les lacs ; la richesse en espèces et la diversité sont corrélées avec la taille de la rivière et le type de substrat dans les rivières, mais pas dans les lacs ; l'abondance relative des formes de croissance de m...

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Section: > Vegetation Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Parameters structuring macrophyte communities in rivers and lakes – results from a case study in North-Central Poland

Szoszkiewicz

Ciecierska

Kolada

et al. 2014

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

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“…In addition, an increase of human pressure on the littoral zone is observed, when the number of people staying at the lake expands. The phytolittoral zone plays a key role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and vegetation reflects its ecological conditions (Søndergaard et al, 2013;Ciecierska and Kolada, 2014). Changes in the range and composition of vegetation, especially its disappearance, cause that nutrients from the catchment area migrate easier to the water, accelerating eutrophication of lake.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aquatic plants integrate the temporal, spatial, chemical, physical and biological features of the ecosystem. Their distribution and abundance reflect changing conditions in the lake (Penning et al, 2008;Lombardo et al, 2013;Ciecierska and Kolada, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of vegetation to growing recreational pressure in the shallow Raczyńskie Lake

Rosińska

Gołdyn

2018

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

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-Strong human impact accelerates eutrophication which deteriorates water quality and consequently prevents recreational use. Increasing trophy and low transparency induce macrophyte rebuilding. A gradual transformation of the land use of the direct catchment area of Raczyń skie Lake from agricultural to recreational has been observed over the last 45 years. In built-up areas sewage facilities were inadequate and septic tanks did not work properly and as a consequence most wastewater was able to infiltrate through the ground into the lake. The lake ecosystem became unstable and water blooms intensified. The aim of the study was to assess the changes in the composition of the lake vegetation over the last 45 years, during which the use of the direct catchment has changed and recreational pressure increased. A reduction of the number of plant communities from 24 to 15 and the disappearance of almost all the submerged vegetation was observed. The dominant reed beds (Phragmitetum communis, Typhetum angustifoliae) were unable to provide a sufficient barrier to the flow of pollution from the catchment because of the numerous gaps made for angling piers, bathing sites, jetties, etc. The macrophyte index indicated a bad ecological status. To improve the ecological status of Raczyń skie Lake it is necessary to introduce intensive protection and restoration treatments.Keywords: macrophyte community / submerged macrophyte / human impact / recreation / WFD Résumé -Réponse de la végétation à la pression récréative croissante dans le lac peu profond Raczyń ski. Un fort impact humain accélère l'eutrophisation, ce qui détériore la qualité de l'eau et, par conséquent, empêche l'utilisation récréative. L'augmentation de trophie et la faible transparence induisent la dégradation des macrophytes. Au cours des 45 dernières années, on a observé une transformation graduelle de l'utilisation des terres du bassin versant proche du lac Raczynskie, qui est passé de l'agriculture aux loisirs. Dans les zones bâties, les installations d'égouts étaient inadéquates et les fosses septiques ne fonctionnaient pas correctement, de sorte que la plupart des eaux usées pouvaient s'infiltrer dans le lac par le sol. L'écosystème du lac est devenu instable et la prolifération d'algues s'est intensifiée. L'objectif de l'étude était d'évaluer les changements dans la composition de la végétation lacustre pendant les 45 dernières années, au cours desquelles l'utilisation du bassin versant a changé et la pression récréative a augmenté. On a observé une réduction du nombre de communautés végétales de 24 à 15 et la disparition de presque toute la végétation submergée. Les roselières dominantes (Phragmitetum communis, Typhetum angustifoliae) n'ont pas été en mesure de fournir une barrière suffisante à l'écoulement de la pollution du bassin versant en raison des nombreuses brèches faites pour les pontons de pêche, les sites de baignade, les jetées, etc. L'indice des macrophytes indique un mauvais état écologique. Pour améliorer l'état écologique du lac R...

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“…In Poland, there are over nine thousands of lakes, and most of them are from glacial origin (Soszka and Cydzik, 2003) as is the case of our study area. ESMI is also considerably not so sensitive to the human pressures that can accelerate the eutrophication, and it should not be applied in lakes where the natural forms can negatively affect the expression of the vegetation (i.e., deepness, slope steepness) limiting the macrophyte communities' expansion (Ciecierska et al, 2006;Ciecierska, 2008;Ciecierska and Kolada, 2014). As example, the ESMI is not successfully applicable to the Polesie region lakes , because their particular morphology and small water surface: as pointed out by Ciecierska et al (2006).…”

Section: Ecological Assessment Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new multi-criteria method for the ecological assessment of lakes: A case study from the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve ‘West Polesie’ (Poland)

et al. 2017

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A new multi-criteria method of evaluation and assessment of the ecological status of lakes is proposed. It is based on macrophytes analysis integrated with geomorphological, landscape and catchment sources of threats. A total of 22 lakes in the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve 'West Polesie' (Poland) were investigated along trophic (available nutrients) and human pressure gradients, testing the proposed method with ESMI and TRS indices. Therefore, the present indexation included 22 criteria (i.e., catchment land use, phytolittoral area, number of plant species) concerning three different assessing zones (lakeshore, littoral and surrounding area), and provided a five-class ecological classification. The proposed index, in addition to the general ecological conditions assessment of lakes, allows to point out a zonal evaluation, identifying the most critic zones in terms of ecological status. The proposed method can be universally adapted for any type of lakes, regardless of their geographical characteristics. It can be applied to system monitoring, and to support lakes biodiversity, functionality, conservation, restoration, water protection and uses, as well as water, territory and landscape management actions.

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ESMI: a macrophyte index for assessing the ecological status of lakes

Cited by 67 publications

References 45 publications

Parameters structuring macrophyte communities in rivers and lakes – results from a case study in North-Central Poland

Parameters structuring macrophyte communities in rivers and lakes – results from a case study in North-Central Poland

Response of vegetation to growing recreational pressure in the shallow Raczyńskie Lake

A new multi-criteria method for the ecological assessment of lakes: A case study from the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve ‘West Polesie’ (Poland)

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