Teresa Noga’s research while affiliated with Rzeszów University and other places

Przedstawiciele rodzaju Fucus od wieków mają zastosowanie jako źródło pożywienia dla ludzi i zwierząt, w rolnictwie oraz jako środek leczniczy w medycynie ludowej. Charakteryzują się wysokimi wartościami odżywczymi, stanowiąc dobre źródło błonnika pokarmowego i minerałów, zwłaszcza jodu. Fucus vesiculosus – najczęściej badany – zawiera znaczne ilości specyficznych związków fenolowych (florotaniny PT), barwnika fukoksantyny, minerałów (głównie I oraz Ca) a także bioaktywnych polisacharydów (fukoidanów, laminaranów i alginianów). Uważa się, że makroglony będące podstawowym pożywieniem w wielu krajach azjatyckich, mogą także stać się żywnością lub składnikiem żywności i pasz na rynkach europejskich. Świat zachodni interesuje się makroglonami i postrzega je jako „superżywność”, przede wszystkim przez zwiększone zainteresowanie zdrowym stylem życia i dietą oraz bardziej zrównoważoną produkcją żywności. Praca prezentuje przegląd najnowszego piśmiennictwa dotyczącego możliwości wykorzystania glonów z rodzaju Fucus w rolnictwie, także w kontekście retardacji niekorzystnych przemian ekosystemów.

The concept of using algae as a raw material for biofuel production has been gaining popularity in recent years due to the surging cost of crude oil, the rapidly declining natural resources of oil, and issues related to global warming (caused by the burning of fossil fuels). Algae, characterized by lipid contents ranging from 20 to 70%, exhibit considerable potential as energy crops in cultivation. Various biofuels are produced from algae, including biodiesel, bioethanol, biobutanol, methane, and biogas. The main factors influencing algae growth are the availability and intensity of light, temperature, nutrient concentration, and CO 2 availability. Microalgae are grown in open systems (ponds) or closed systems (photobioreactors). Macroalgae, on the other hand, are cultivated in coastal zones of seas or similar aquatic reservoirs. Among microalgae, Botryococcus braunii and Chlorella vulgaris are taxa that produce significant amounts of oil, while the macroalgae commonly cultivated and used for biofuel production is Macrocystis pyrifera.

Spirulina and chlorella are among the microalgae most commonly cultivated in aquaculture as well as used in the agriculture and food industry. Both algae are characterized by a high protein content (up to 60% chlorella and up to 70% spirulina), and also contain fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and dyes. For this reason, and in connection with the current trend for healthy eating, products containing spirulina, chlorella or their extracts have become increasingly popular in recent years. These microalgae are commonly used as feed additives for various species of farm animals and in fish feeds, while their extracts are used e.g. as fertilizers in organic farming and biostimulators.

For thousands of years algae have been used for food and agricultural purposes in Asian countries. In recent years they have become increasingly popular in aquaculture, especially in the integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA), in which they process waste produced by fish, rich in, among others, into ammonia, phosphates and carbon, while producing new biomass. Products containing algae are characterized by a high content of protein, vitamins and minerals and are more often chosen by consumers, e.g. due to the trend towards healthy eating. Commercially grown species of the genus Neopyropia (syn. Porphyra, nori) are a valuable source of nutrients and can contribute to meeting the growing nutritional needs in the world. The article summarizes the latest literature on the use of Neopyropia macroalgae in aquaculture and food industry. Attention was also paid to the potential dangers resulting from contamination of algae products, mainly with heavy metals.

Although many studies have examined the algae associated with various habitats in tree trunks, the diatoms in these environments are still poorly studied. Studies of corticolous algae mainly focus on green algae and cyanobacteria, which are usually immediately visible, while diatoms are mostly overlooked or not reported. During the research, 143 species of diatoms were identified, including two new representatives of the genus Luticola: L. bryophila sp. nov. with a relatively large central area and short distal raphe endings and L. confusa sp. nov. characterized by the presence of small depressions on central raphe endings. Both are described herein based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations and compared to similar taxa based on literature data. Basic morphological data for almost all the diatom taxa are noted, and their habitat requirements and photographic documentation are also presented. The present research showed that the occurrence of diatom assemblages on tree trunks is influenced by various factors like host tree species, the area where the host tree grows, and the availability of suitable microhabitats within the trunk. However, the species composition of these assemblages depends mainly on the tree species.

Background Ice-free areas in the Antarctic region are strongly limited. The presence of marine mammals and birds in those areas influence soil properties and vegetation composition. Studies on the terrestrial diatom flora in soils influenced by sea birds in the Maritime Antarctic region are scarce. Methods Samples were collected from two transects on the western shore of the Admiralty Bay region. Light and scanning electron microscopic observations and statistical analyses were conducted to consider the impact of penguin rookeries on soil diatom assemblages. Results The disturbance associated with the presence of penguin rookeries clearly influences the soil diatom diversity. Assemblages from areas with the highest nutrient input were characterized by a much lower diversity with only few species dominating the flora. One of recorded taxa could not be assigned to any of the known species. Therefore, based on the combination of morphological features analyzed using light and scanning electron microscopes and comparison with similar taxa in the Antarctic region and worldwide, the species is described hereby as new to science– Luticola kaweckae sp.nov. The new species is characteristic for soil habitats with strong penguin influence.

The Kobayasiella genus develops mostly in oligo- or dystrophic freshwaters with low to medium electrolyte content. The studies carried out from 2008 to 2016 in southern Poland showed the presence of four Kobayasiella species. These species usually occurred individually in peatland areas or in the upper sections of small rivers and streams. The species presented in the study were most frequently found in oligotrophic peatbogs, characterized by acidic or very acidic waters with low or medium conductivity values.

The aim of our research was to trace changes in the composition and structure of diatom communities and diatom ecological traits under the influence of drought. We also examined the impact of drought on the results of the Polish Diatom Index (IO) and the Indice de Polluo-Sensibilité Spécifique (IPS), which is the most commonly used diatom index in European countries, as a preliminary assessment of how changes in watercourses during climate-change related drought affect environmental quality assessments. The studies were conducted on watercourses in an area devoid of significant anthropogenic pressures, i.e., the protected area of Magura National Park in the Carpathian Mountains, Poland. The chemical parameters and ecological condition based on diatom analysis permitted classifying the watercourses as having good and very good status. Drought periods had a significant impact on some water parameters such as electrolytic conductivity, pH, nitrogen compounds, chlorides, and sulfates. Changes in the composition and structure of diatom communities were observed; however, in larger watercourses they were much smaller than those in smaller watercourses of a higher order. During drought periods, the share of diatoms from the motile guild and terrestrial species increased significantly in the streams. Drought had positive effects on the increased biodiversity of benthic diatom communities. Diatom index values showed statistically significant differences between drought-free and drought periods. In the present study, the differences observed were small enough to not affect the final ecological status classification. However, given the significant increase in the abundance of motile species, which are often classified as indicators of pollution, we believe that in watercourses with lower ecological statuses the occurrence of motile taxa related to drought symptoms (e.g., low water current, formation of depository habitats) could have had an impact on lowering statuses during ecological water assessments.