Natalia Kochman-Kędziora

THE EFFECT OF ANTHROPOGENIC CHANGE IN THE STRUCTURE OF DIATOMS AND WATER QUALITY OF THE ŻOŁYNIANKA AND JAGIELNIA STREAMS

The studies on bentic diatoms were conducted in 2009–2011 at eight samplings sites over the Żołynianka stream and its tributary, the Jagielnia. 427 diatom taxa were recorded in total. Achnanthidium minutissimum var. minutissimum, Aulacoseira ambigua, Fragilaria capucina var. capucina, Gomphonema parvlum, Navicula gregaria, Nitzschia palea and Planothidium lanceolatum were dominant taxa in both watercourses. Chemical analysis of water showed high chemical status of water at most of sampling sites. The results of diatomaceous analysis conducted with OMNIDIA software revealed moderate and poor condition of water. The best water quality was recorded in the Jagielnia stream (good or moderate status). The values of the analyzed indices showed the worst water quality on the Żołynianka at site four, showing bad ecological status. TDI index deviated the most from the other two indices (IPS and GDI), always indicating poorer water quality.

The inside of a dam as an unusual habitat for two rare species of Gomphosphenia – G. fontinalis and G. holmquistii

Studies were conducted on two rivers in SE Poland, the San River and the Wisłoka River, and inside the Solina Dam. Two rare species of Gomphosphenia, G. fontinalis Lange-Bertalot, Ector & Werum and G. holmquistii (Foged) Lange-Bertalot were noted. Gomphosphenia fontinalis was recorded only inside the Solina Dam. Before now, both G. fontinalis and G. holmquistii had only been reported from cold, natural, unpolluted and alkaline waters. Morphological details (light microscope and scanning electron microscope) and ecological characteristics of both species are described and briefly discussed.

Luticola frequentissima Levkov, Metzeltin & Pavlov – morphological and ecological characteristics of a population from Southern Poland

Abstract This paper presents first polish site of Luticola frequentissima Levkov, Metzeltin & Pavlov, with morphological and ecological characteristics. The species was found in samples collected from flowing waters and soils within the area of the Bieszczady National Park and the Magura National Park. In south-eastern Poland a low number of Luticola frequentissima cells occurred in small shaded streams. It was most frequently observed in aerophitic places (shallow and drying watercourses) and in soils. In the studied samples, apart from those cells with typical dimensions, much smaller and narrower cells with a higher number of striae were found in comparison to those in the currently available literature.

Morphology of Reimeria ovata (Hust.) Levkov & Ector in comparison with similar Reimeria species

Abstract Reimeria ovata (Hust.) Levkov & Ector was found during field research conducted from 2013 to 2015 on the Wołosaty stream and its selected tributaries. Valves measured in the studied material are narrower than valves described in the currently available literature and have more striae per 10 µm. Specimens of R. ovata observed under a light microscope were morphologically very similar to those of R. sinuata, particularly in the case of small individuals. The precise distinction between these two species was only possible under SEM. R. ovata has been found in cold, oligotrophic waters, highly saturated with oxygen, with alkaline or circumneutral pH, but never in large numbers. The aim of this work was to identify the new locations of R. ovata and to determine morphological and ecological characteristics of this species.

DIVERSITY OF DIATOMS IN THE NATURAL, MID-FOREST TEREBOWIEC STREAM – BIESZCZADY NATIONAL PARK

The Terebowiec stream is an 8 km long watercourse which flows through the strictly protected Bieszczady National Park. The studies on bentic diatoms were conducted between 2013–2015 at three sampling sites along the Terebowiec stream and its unnamed tributary. 260 diatom taxa were identified in the streams, of which 13 taxa were considered as frequent. Chemical analysis showed good and high status of the water. In the studied samples, 27 taxa from the Polish Red List of Algae were determined.

DIATOM ASSEMBLAGES GROWING ON CROPPING SOIL IN POGÓRSKA WOLA NEAR TARNÓW

Studies were conducted on a farmland located in the Pogórska Wola near Tarnów. The aim of the studies was to examine the species richness of diatoms growing on soil under wheat cropping in the Pogórska Wola and characteristic of diatoms assemblages based on selected physico-chemical parameters of soil. Studies were conducted in vegetation season (from April to November 2011). Samples were collected once a month. Soil reaction in each month was acid or slightly acid. Humidity was low and balanced between 6% in April and October down to 1.93% in June. 47 diatom taxa were recorded in total. The biggest species richness occurred in genus Luticola, Navicula and Mayamea. Eight taxa were considered as dominant from which the most was aerophytic and soli species. The biggest populations were created by: Hantzschia amphioxys (Ehrenb.) Grunow, Luticola nivalis (Ehrenb.) D.G. Mann, Pinnularia borealis Ehrenb. var. borealis and Stauroneis borrichii (Petersen) Lund.

Diatom diversity and water quality of a suburban stream: a case study of the Rzeszów city in SE Poland

Abstract The aim of this work was to investigate the diversity of diatom assemblages developed in the Przyrwa stream, to assess water quality based on benthic diatoms and to make an attempt at the identification of physicochemical factors having the greatest impact on the differentiation of diatom assemblages. Studies were conducted in 2011-2012 on the Przyrwa stream, a left-side tributary of the Wisłok River flowing through the city of Rzeszów and with its spring section located on the borders of the city. A total of 259 diatom taxa were identified in the Przyrwa stream during three studied seasons. At all investigated sites, the most abundant population consisted of Ulnaria ulna (Nitzsch) Compère, Cocconeis pediculus Ehrenb., Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kütz.) Czarnecki var. minutissimum, Navicula gregaria Donkin, Planothidium frequentissimum (Lange-Bert.) Lange-Bert., P. lanceolatum (Brébisson) Lange-Bert., Navicula lanceolata (C. Agardh) Ehrenb., Amphora pediculus (Kütz.) Grunow, Eolimna minima, (Grunow) Lange-Bert., Melosira varians C. Agardh and Cyclotella meneghiniana Kütz. Based on IPS (Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index) and GDI (Generic Diatom Index) indices, the ecological status of the Przyrwa stream was assessed as moderate to poor (mostly III-IV class of water quality), while the TDI (Trophic Diatom Index) index indicated a poor to bad ecological status (mainly IV-V class of water quality).

THE USE OF DIATOMS (BACILLARIOPHYTA) TO ASSESS WATER QUALITY OF BIAŁA TARNOWSKA RIVER

The Biala Tarnowska River is a right-bank tributary of Dunajec. It flows from the Low Beskid Mountains, flowing on the border of Ciezkowickie and Roznowskie foothills and then flows into the Dunajec on the territory of Vistula Lowland (Nizina Nadwiślanska). The aim of this work was to investigate the diatoms diversity at the individual sites and attempt to evaluate pollution of the river with the use diatoms as water quality indicators. The waters of Biala Tarnowska River were characterized by alkaline or circumneutral pH. Values of nitrates concentration indicated II water quality class, only at the last site (5) corresponded to the standards for the I class. At the studied sites located along river course 205 diatom taxa were identified. The riches in species were genera: Nitzschia (29), Navicula (21) and Gomphonema (15). The most popular dominant was Achnanthidium pyrenaicum (Hust.) Kobayasi. Very numerous communities were created by Navicula lanceolata (Agardh) Kutz, at the lower current of river, on two last sites. In order to determine the ecological status of Biala Tarnowska River the analysis of the diatom assemblages structure was performed. The results of the analysis were shown by the selected diatomaceous indices. According to IPS index Biala Tarnowska has a good ecological status (II class) at the most of study sites. Values of TDI index were the worst and indicated poor and bad water quality (IV and V class) especially in middle and lower current.