Mateusz Stelmaszczyk

Assessing restoration effects on hydromorphology in European mid-sized rivers by key hydromorphological parameters

The effects of river restoration on hydromorphological conditions and variability are often documented immediately following the restoration, but rarely properly monitored in the long term. This study assesses outcomes of 20 restoration projects undertaken across central and northern Europe for a comprehensive set of hydromorphological parameters, quantified at both larger and smaller spatial scales. For each project, we compared a restored river section to an upstream degraded section. Ten pairs of large projects were contrasted to ten similar but less extensive projects, to address the importance of restoration extent for the success of each project. Overall, river restoration increased habitat diversity through changes in channel morphology. Our results indicated that restoration particularly improved macro- and mesohabitat diversity, but had a limited effect on microhabitat conditions, including the diversity of substrates. We found no significant difference in effects between large and small restoration projects. Our results reveal the need to assess hydromorphological parameters which reflect processes occurring at different spatial scales, including indicators of larger-scale hydromorphological processes such as bank erosion, to monitor restoration effects effectively and accurately. Additionally, our results demonstrate the importance of developing terrestrial parameters, to assess the lateral dimension of river restoration.

Water regime as a key factor differentiating habitats of spotted eagles Aquila clanga and Aquila pomarina in Biebrza Valley (NE Poland)

Capsule Foraging sites of Aquila clanga compared to Aquila pomarina are characterized by a considerably longer duration of flooding within the year and higher mean and maximum depths of flooding. A. clanga is particularly associated with shallow (approx. 20 cm) spring flooding, lasting at least up to the beginning of May (on average up to 90 days per year). Variation in habitat selection with respect to water regime might be due to different food preferences and adaptation to landscape differences in the ranges of these two species.

Nutrients availability and hydrological conditions of selected wetland ecosystems in the Biebrza river valley

Abstract: Nutrients availability and hydrological conditions of selected wetland ecosystems in the Biebrza river valley. Paper presents results of investigation of hydrological conditions and nutrients limitation and availability for wetland vegetation in selected sites within Biebrza river valley. Analysed sites were overgrown by tall sedge Magnocaricion vegetation (Caricetum gracilis and Caricetum elatae), wet meadow Molinio-Arrhenatheretea vegetation (Molinietum caeruleae), and sedge-moss Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae vegetation (Caricetum lasiocarpae). There were noted a close relationship between vegetation types, hydrological regimes and kind of nutrient limitation. Low productive Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae vegetations fed mainly by groundwater were limited by phosphorus, while highly productive Magnocaricion vegetation, fed by river water, was subjected to nitrogen limitation. We have found big diversification of groundwater and surface water levels within habitats of different vegetation types along the Biebrza river valley. Magnocaricion vegetation present on flooded areas is characterized by significant water level fluctuations and long-lasting inundations. On areas covered by Molinio-Arrhenatheretea vegetation we noted majority of water levels not exceeding the level of the ground surface. Whereas Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae vegetation, fed by groundwater, is characterized by low variation of groundwater levels.

Assessing Restoration Effects on River Hydromorphology Using the Process-based Morphological Quality Index in Eight European River Reaches

The Morphological Quality Index (MQI) and the Morphological Quality Index for monitoring (MQIm) have been applied to eight case studies across Europe with the objective of analyzing the hydromorphological response to various restoration measures and of comparing the results of the MQI and MQIm as a morphological assessment applied at the reach scale, with a conventional site scale physical-habitat assessment method. For each restored reach, the two indices were applied to the pre-restoration and post-restoration conditions. The restored reach was also compared to an adjacent, degraded reach. Results show that in all cases the restoration measures improved the morphological quality of the reach, but that the degree of improvement depends on many factors, including the initial morphological conditions, the length of the restored portion in relation to the reach length, and on the type of intervention. The comparison with a conventional site scale physical-habitat assessment method shows that the MQI and MQIm are best suited for the evaluation of restoration effects on river hydromorphology at the geomorphologically-relevant scale of the river reach.

Soil Fauna of Peat-Forming Wetlands in a Natural River Floodplain

We assessed the response of soil fauna to natural environmental gradients triggered by different dynamics of hydrological conditions. Four sites differing in the dynamics of groundwater-surface water interactions, type of soil and type of wetland vegetation were selected along a transect running from a river channel to the margin of the valley in the floodplain. Soil macrofauna, represented by millipedes, terrestrial isopods and earthworms, and soil mesofauna (collembolans) were investigated along that transect. Our results demonstrate that soil macrofauna and mesofauna variability differ across examined peat-forming wetlands. The effect of hydrological conditions associated with flooding emerged as a significant predictor of the variability in soil macrofauna with regard to millipedes and terrestrial isopods, but not earthworms. We concluded that the interactive processes reflected in the landscape mosaic, complex spatio-temporal environmental gradients and biogeochemical factors determine the distribution of soil macro and mesofauna within peat-filled river floodplains, although soil fauna components differ in the response across the examined sites.

The Narew River Basin Management Problems – Integrated Approach

An integrated approach to river basin management seems to be the most appropriate and promising way to achieve sustainable development of the large river catchment. Such approach is especially essential in the areas where economical activities are occurring together with great needs for nature protection due to its unique values and, local and global importance for ecological completeness. The Narew River Basin is a perfect example of such area. The main water management problems (key pressures and impacts) of the basin were identified. The present state of components of the integrated water management was recognized. Finally, the main directions for achieving integrated management, with their strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities, were elaborated.