Krzysztof Szoszkiewicz

University of Life Sciences in Poznań · Department of Ecology and Environment Protection

The study focuses on the pristine rivers of the Biebrza National Park (BNP), an extensive area of wetlands, which holds significant biodiversity importance on a European scale. The aim of this work was to identify the taxonomic resources of the river network of this area and to compare the biodiversity of various aquatic organisms, and moreover, ev...

This paper analyses various methods of ecological ordering that are often used in modelling the relationship between vegetation and habitat. The results of direct gradient ordination by Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), which is based on correlation, were compared with Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), which is based on rank analys...

This study investigates the intricate and enduring interplay of historical events, human activities, and natural processes shaping the landscape of North European Plain in western Poland over 230 years. Topographic maps serve as reliable historical data sources to quantify changes in forest, grassland, and wetland areas, scrutinizing their fragment...

Hyporheic water exchange driven by groundwater-surface water interactions constitutes habitat conditions for aquatic biota. In our study, we conducted a field-research-based analysis of hyporheic water exchange to reveal whether the hyporheic water exchange differentiates particular Ranunculus sp. habitats. We measured the density of the stream of...

The study focuses on the pristine rivers of the Biebrza National Park (BNP), an extensive area of wetlands, which holds significant biodiversity importance on a European scale. The aim of this work was to identify the taxonomic resources of the river network of this area and to compare the biodiversity of various aquatic organisms, and moreover, ev...

Cities host an increasing share of the human population and are continuously pressured by global change drivers, namely climate change, land-use alterations, and pollution. Among the most important negative pressures are those related to water management, including excess water (e.g., floods), water scarcity (e.g., droughts) and water quality deter...

The study attempted to assess the influence of the filtration stream and hydraulic gradient in the hyporheic zone on the distribution of water crowfoot (Ranunculus sect. Batrachium) in common temperate lowland river type in two European ecoregions: (14) Central Plains and (16) Eastern Plains. A novel filtrometer and a gradient meter were employed f...

Understanding the genetic variability of hybrids provides information on their current and future evolutionary role. In this paper, we focus on the interspecific hybrid Ranunculus circinatus × R. fluitans that forms spontaneously within the group Ranuculus L. sect. Batrachium DC. (Ranunculaceae Juss.). Genome-wide DNA fingerprinting using amplified...

Hyporheic water exchange driven by groundwater-surface water interactions constitutes habitat conditions for aquatic biota. In our study we conducted field-research-based analysis of hyporheic water exchange to reveal whether the hyporheic water exchange differentiates particular Ranunculus sp. habitats. We measured the density of stream filtration...

In this study, we aimed to identify the macrophyte pattern and diversity under exposure to substantial hydromorphological degradation in rivers, taking into account the water quality factor. The study was based on 190 small and medium lowland rivers in Poland that had experienced channel alterations. The number of taxa identified (153 species) was...

Ranunculus species grouped in the section Batrachium (water crowfoots) indicate the most valuable fluvial habitat in Europe under the EU Habitats Directive, and recognition of their environmental preferences plays a crucial role in efficient conservation. Moreover, water crowfoots are used in various monitoring systems throughout Europe. The aim of...

This study focused on the reaction of bivalve molluscs to biogas digestate, which is a waste product of an increasingly developing biogas production in rural areas worldwide. The effects of biogas digestate on aquatic organisms are not fully known, and neither this substance nor any types of manure were tested in the monitoring based on valvometry,...

Biodiversity measures deliver valuable ecological information by reflecting a range of ecosystem processes. However, the accuracy of environmental assessment based on species patterns may often be affected by insufficient survey details. The comprehensive evaluation of plant taxa richness in rivers requires an extensive sampling effort. The use of...

Since 2000, after the Water Framework Directive came into force, aquatic ecosystems' bioassessment has acquired immense practical importance for water management. Currently, due to extensive scientific research and monitoring, we have gathered comprehensive hydrobiological databases. The amount of available data increases with each subsequent year...

The study aimed at estimating the variability of perception of the Wielkopolski National Park (WNP) value among different groups of society. The study was based on questionnaires conducted in 2018. Analyses were carried out on the basis of 1350 records. The results of the survey were subjected to statistical analysis using the canonical corresponde...

The method based on original metric called Hydromorphological Index for Rivers (HIR) was developed in 2017 for the purpose of the monitoring of the hydromorphological status of flowing waters in Poland. It fulfils the re-quirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). It allows the assessment of both lowland rivers as well as mid-altitude and...

The method based on original metric called Hydromorphological Index for Rivers (HIR) was developed in 2017 for the purpose of the monitoring of the hydromorphological status of flowing waters in Poland. It fulfils requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). It allows assessment of both lowland rivers as well as mid-altitude and highland...

The article presents the results of hydromorphological research of the Warta river basing of the Hydromorphological Index for Rivers (HIR). The HIR index considered as well as two components of this mutimetrix: hydromorphological diversity index (WRH) and modification transformation index (WPH).Field surveys were carried out in 2017-2018 on 49 surv...

The pollution of aquatic ecosystems by pharmaceuticals is presently recognized as a serious threat. The drug residues may contaminate surface waters via sewage discharges as well as improper disposal of industrial waste. Very few studies focused on the effects of drug pollutants on behaviour of invertebrates. In this study the effects of ibuprofen...

The Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR) was developed in 2007, and it was one of the first biological methods developed in Poland under the requirements of the Water Framework Directive to assess the ecological status of running waters. It is based on the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of 153 indicator taxa. The aim of this study was to eval...

A pesticide is a chemical substance used for the disposal of pests, such as insects, weeds, invertebrates, or rodents. Pesticides interfere with the normal metabolism of the target species; however, some of them may inadvertently affect organisms other than those targeted. Increased quantities of pesticides in water disturb various ecological proce...

A study was carried out to estimate the effect of trophic degradation on the diversity of aquatic plants in rivers, with the application of rarefaction and extrapolation. The purpose of rarefaction was to standardise the uneven number of samples, while extrapolation enabled prediction of the real diversity considering the expected number of species...

The aim of the study was to develop predictive models of the ecological status of rivers by using artificial neural networks. The relationships between five macrophyte indices and the combined impact of water pollution as well as hydromorphological degradation were examined. The dataset consisted of hydromorphologically modified rivers representing...

Our study presents a low-cost method (no expensive hardware platforms required) of quantified biomonitoring based on computer image analysis. The negative influence of toxins on surface waters was analysed. The method was verified on widespread freshwater macrophyte Lemna minor to test populations treated with non-ionic detergents. We showed that t...

Aquatic plants fulfil a wide range of ecological roles, and make a substantial contribution to the structure, function and service provision of aquatic ecosystems. Given their well-documented importance in aquatic ecosystems, research into aquatic plants continues to blossom. The 14th International Symposium on Aquatic Plants, held in Edinburgh in...

River restoration has become increasingly attractive worldwide as it provides considerable benefits to the environment as well as to the economy. This study focuses on changes of hydromorphological conditions in a small lowland river recorded during an experiment carried out in the Flinta River, central Poland. The proposed solution was a pilot pro...

The aim of the study was to compare the patterns of development of macrophytes and macroinvertebrates in different types of reference mountain rivers. The study is based on reference river sites surveyed throughout the mountains in Poland and Slovakia in two European ecoregions (9—Central Highlands, 10—The Carpathians). A wide range of environmenta...

The research was focused on identification of plant diversity assessment approach which would be suitable for flowing waters. Moreover, the study attempted to estimate the extent of the survey (sampling effort) needed for detection of full plant diversity in river ecosystems. The analysed data were collected in a botanical survey carried out on the...

The main objectives of this work were to investigate the range of habitat conditions (in terms of water chemistry and hydromorphological parameters) at sites colonized by Elodea canadensis and to analyze the species composition of communities with this plant species. We analyzed physicochemical, hydromorphological and biological data from 1135 site...

The proposed method is based on original metric called Hydromorphological Index for Rivers (HIR) and can be used in the hydromorphological assessment of all types of flowing waters in Poland. It allows assessment of both lowland rivers as well as mid-altitude and highland streams. The proposed system can be used to assess the natural and heavily mo...

The analysis of in situ measurements of velocity distribution in the floodplain of the lowland river has been carried out. The survey area was located on a bypass channel of the Warta River (West of Poland) which is filled with water only in case of flood waves. The floodplain is covered by grassland and reed marsh habitats. The velocity measuremen...

Methodology of Hydromorphological Assessment in Poland

Biomonitoring methods based on macrophytes have been used mandatorily in the assessment of freshwaters since the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR) was developed in Poland for the monitoring of running waters under the WFD requirements. This index shows the degree of river degradation under...

With the adoption of the Water Framework Directive, monitoring of surface waters has undergone a reform process. It introduced a new approach to the assessment of surface waters based on biological elements. In the case of water reservoirs, the monitoring is based on phytoplankton, phytobenthos, and macrozoobenthos, as well as chlorophyll concentra...

The most municipal waterworks in Poland utilize surface water resources which requires precise monitoring of its quality. An efficient pollution removal is still a common problem causing delivery of water of inadequate quality parameters. The periodic control of water parameters does not eliminate all of possible risks and only the use of continuou...

The aim of this study was to identify factors determining propensity to incur costs for the Wielkopolska National Park and to accept compensation for the prevention of access to the Park depending on the age and education of respondents. Source materials for the investigation of this problem were collected in the course of a survey in the form of s...

Monitoring of changes in behavioral response of bivalve mollusks can provide a wealth of information on quality of water that could be used in a surveillance system. The aim of this research was to evaluate suitability of Unio tumidus bivalve mollusks as bioindicators of water quality in a surveillance system. The experiment involved a 72-hour obse...

Monitoring of changes in behavioral response of bivalve mollusks can provide a wealth of information on quality of water that could be used in a surveillance system. The aim of this research was to evaluate suitability of Unio tumidus bivalve mollusks as bioindicators of water quality in a surveillance system. The experiment involved a 72-hour obse...

The proposed method is based on original metric called Hydromorphological Index for Rivers (HIR) and can be used in the hydromorphological assessment of all types of flowing waters in Poland. It allows assessment of both lowland rivers as well as mid-altitude and highland streams. The proposed system can be used to assess the natural and heavily mo...

The variation of a number of parameters characterizing aquatic plant assemblages in rivers across a wide trophic gradient was investigated to evaluate their usefulness for a Polish national river monitoring system. Analyses were conducted at 100 sites included in the national river monitoring system, representing a uniform river type, i.e., small-...

The paper presents a study leading to a new acute toxicity test on embryonic and juvenile organisms of the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis Linnaeus). Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and ammonium hydroxide were used as waterborne toxicants in laboratory experiments. The exposure time was 24 h. Tests were conducted in 5–10 replications for each toxic...

The paper presents a study leading to a new acute toxicity test on embryonic and juvenile organisms of the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis Linnaeus). Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and ammonium hydroxide were used as waterborne toxicants in laboratory experiments. The exposure time was 24 h. Tests were conducted in 5–10 replications for each toxic...

The work attempts to determine the impact of small hydrotechnical structures on channel hydromorphology as a measure of river restoration. The experiment was set up in Flinta River in Polish lowland where extensive hydromorphological survey was competed. At the first stage of restoration project containers filled with plant clumps working as sedime...

This paper deals with problems related to the improvement of the hydromorphological conditions of the river Flinta in its sections located in the Natura 2000 area. Based on a comprehensive study of the hydromorphological status of the river, four sections have been selected, where restoration measures can efficiently improve the river habitat condi...

Environmental factors affecting vegetation development in the newly constructed lowland reservoir Stare Miasto located in the central part of Poland, were determined. The reservoir is divided into two parts and the majority of sediments are deposited in the upper part. The vegetation in both parts of the reservoir was surveyed. Moreover, extensive...

Monitoring of water ecosystems in Kazakhstan is based generally on chemical indicators. Biological indicators, such as macroinvertebrates and a phytoplankton are rarely used. Sometimes some macrophyte species of are used for the assessment of water quality. The aim of the study was to analyse the possibilities of the introduction of the Polish moni...

The aim of the study was to estimate perception of the value of the Wielkopolski National Park (WPN) among different groups of people living in Poznan agglomeration (western Poland). The study was based on questionnaires conducted in the year 2012. Analyses were carried out on the basis of 1350 records. The questionnaire included questions about ge...

Celem pracy było określenie czynników różnicujących wysokość rekompensaty w przypadku uniemożliwienia korzystania z Wielkopolskiego Parku Narodowego. Materiały źródłowe do realizacji postawionego problemu pozyskano podczas badań w formie wywiadu standaryzowanego, przeprowadzonego w latach 2012–2013 wśród mieszkańców miejscowości położonych w obrębi...

The objectives of our survey were: to analyze the structure of macroinvetebrate communities in mountain streams in national parks and Biosphere Reserves (Poland, the Slovak Republic), to determine the environmental factors that influence the structure of macroinvertebrate communities and to assess the stream habitats including the bank and channel...

We 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 struct...

The aim of the study was to identify the vegetation pattern in the different types of watercourses basing on survey in reference conditions in a wide geographical gradient, including mountain, upland and lowland rivers. We tested relationship between composition of macrophytes to environmental variables including: altitude, slope, catchment area, g...

The aim of the study was to identify the vegetation pattern in the different types of watercourses basing on survey in reference conditions in a wide geographical gradient, including mountain, upland and lowland rivers. We tested relationship between composition of macrophytes to environmental variables including: altitude, slope, catchment area, g...

The study focused on modelling of macropyte indices against physico-chemical parameters of waters by artificial neural networks. Several macrophyte diversity indices were analysed (species richness—N, the Shannon index—H′, the Simpson index—D, and the Pielou index—J) as well as the ecological status index (the Macrophyte Index for Rivers—MIR). The...

IntroductionAquatic plants are important components of aquatic ecosystems (Chambers et al., 2008). They produce consumable materials that form the basis of trophic networking, they influence the hydrological, geomorphological and chemical environments and they interact in different ways with microbial and animal compartments and ecosystem processes...

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the relationship between macroinvertebrate assemblages and aquatic vegetation interacting with chemical and geomorphological factors. The survey was carried out in the catchment of a lowland river in Poland in the year 2009. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected on 19 river sites during two campaigns (spri...