Water Quality of Freshwater Ecosystems in a Temperate Climate

Abstract

Water is the substance that made life on Earth possible. It plays a key role in both the individual and population development of all species. Water is also a critical resource for humans as populations continue to grow and climate change affects global and local water cycles. Water is a factor limiting economic development in many regions of the world. Under these conditions, good water quality becomes an extremely important factor that determines its economic utility, including water supply, recreation, and agriculture. Proper water quality maintenance of freshwater ecosystems is also very important for preserving biodiversity. The quality of water depends on many factors, the most important of which are related to human impact on water ecosystems, especially the impact of various pollutants from municipal economy, industry and agriculture. Hydrotechnical changes, such as river damming, drainage processes and water transport between catchments also have a significant impact. Water quality is also dependent on the impact of natural conditions connected, e.g., with climate, catchment, water organisms and their interactions within the food-webs, etc. This Special Issue consists of fourteen original scientific papers concerning different problems associated with the water quality of freshwater ecosystems in a temperate climate. Most of the articles deal with the relations between water quality and the structure of ecosystem biocenoses. The conclusion of these articles confirms the fact that the deterioration of water quality has a direct impact on the quantitative and qualitative structure of biocenoses. This is accompanied by a decline in biodiversity and the disappearance of rare plant and animal species. They also draw attention to the particular importance of internal physical and chemical differentiation within the aquatic ecosystem, both in horizontal and vertical dimensions. The problem of ensuring proper ecological conditions and good quality of water in freshwater aquatic ecosystems is also raised, and methods for the restoration of water bodies are presented. The majority of the research presented in this Special Issue was carried out in Central Europe, and one of the papers concerns the area of West Africa—the edge of temperate climate zone.

Phytoplankton succession in the anthropogenic and climate ecological transformation of freshwater ecosystems

“…Extensive soil reclamation in the region, regulation of Polissia rivers, anthropogenic pollution, including the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, have caused significant environmental consequences in the last century. In the recent decades, the impact of climate change on aquatic organisms has increased (Klimaszyk & Gołdyn, 2020). According to the data from experts, in recent years, it is the territory of Polissia that is undergoing the most noticeable temperature rise, even compared with the southern regions (Tuz, 2012), which may lead to the disappearance of this zone with time.…”

Hydrocharis laevigata in Europe

“…The range expansion of H. laevigata within Europe underscores the deterioration of the continent’s inland aquatic ecosystems. Such is, above all, the result of eutrophication, but other causal factors include changes to hydrological regimes (i.e., reduced levels of water flow), decreasing degrees of water transparency, and global warming, which are simultaneously transforming natural aquatic environments [ 5 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. These ecological shifts are harmful to native aquatic plant populations while promoting the establishment of invasive species such as H. laevigata , leading to profound transformations in European ecosystems [ 12 , 14 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

“…The major decline in freshwater species biodiversity has become one of the most important alterations in ecosystems around the world [ 1 , 2 ]. Pollution, water flow restrictions, and climate change are transforming conditions in freshwater habitats, favouring the establishment of invasive species [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”

Iron overload consequences for submerged plants stoichiometry, homeostasis and performance

“…Despite ongoing efforts to reduce anthropogenic nutrient inputs, eutrophication remains one of the most serious threats to the sustainable functioning of lake ecosystems (Klimaszyk and Gołdyn 2020;Woolway et al 2021), with far-reaching consequences manifested as biogeochemical and trophic disturbances to the lacustrine reservoirs themselves as well as the adjacent terrestrial ecosystems (Sardans et al 2012;Le Moal et al 2019;Su et al 2019). These in turn impact negatively on the provision of ecosystem goods and services, as well as human health and economic activity (Pretty et al 2003;Von Blottnitz et al 2006).…”