Determinants of a traditional agricultural landscape

The study aim was to define the landscape determinants as certificates of natural and cultural heritage which identify the young glacial landscape under traditional agricultural management. These studies were conducted in the upper Parsęta basin (Pomerania, Poland) covered by the many annual environmental monitoring programs since 1994. The aim of this monitoring is to observe changes in geoecosystems of the temperate climate zone. The parameters of the abiotic landscape subsystem have been monitored in a wide range of terms, whereas biotic elements and cultural resources only in a very limited way. This was the reason for undertaking complementary studies. The paper presents the so-called “zero-state” for 2014, which will be a reference point from which to track the direction of landscape changes in the future. The abiotic, geobotanical, and cultural determinants of this state chosen have been characterized on the basis of field mapping data and the available literature. They were chosen based on the methodology of landscape audit to define the specificity of the traditional agricultural landscape. They were selected on the basis of assessment criteria for landscape structure: complexity (diversification of land use and cover), naturalness (syngenesis of plant communities, hydrochemical properties of surface waters), coherence of composition with natural conditions, stewardship (intensity of use, crop weeds, ecological succession, fallows, anthropogenic denudation), aesthetic and visual perception, historicity (continuity of natural landscape elements, continuation of traditional agricultural use, architectural objects), and disharmonious elements

Hydro-morphological and hydrochemical conditions of the Parsęta River

Rivers are hydro-morphologically assessed in line with the Water Framework Directive. In order to assess the quality of the Parsęta River environment, the River Habitat Survey method was applied. The research studies conducted in June 2016, apart from hydro-morphological issues, also covered measurements and laboratory analyses on the quality of its waters. There were 24 measuring sections selected along the whole river. The selection of these sections took into account the representativeness of genetically various types of river valley, its size and discharge as well as the variability of anthropogenic pressure. The conducted assessment showed that the Parsęta River is characterised by a varying degree of its natural quality (its HQA index ranged 17-61) and a variable but generally low modification of its valley (its HMS index ranged 0-33). 79% of the analysed sections was classified to the second (II) and third (III) hydro-morphological class while 8% - to the first (I) one and 13% - to the fourth (IV) one. The central section of the Parsęta River is characterised by the highest degree of naturalness and the smallest degree of its transformation. The river valley sections of kettle-hole origin are more transformed than the ones of fluvial origin. The quality of the Parsęta River waters assessed on the grounds of the their physico-chemical parameters indicates that the river is in good condition. The individual river water parameters are most often within the first (I) and second (II) classes. The lowered quality of waters below the 'good' level is related to the concentration of phosphates beyond the second (II) class and includes a 15 km stretch of the river below Białogard. The river section with a high degree of hydro-morphological naturalness is characterised by the worst quality of waters

Old melioration systems: the influence onto functioning of geoecosystems of river valleys in the Parsęta basin (NW Poland)

Meliorations and their specific forms – irrigations – are one of the forms of anthropopressure within geoecosystems. The research studies conducted within the Parsęta basin focused on the sub-irrigation (seepage irrigation) systems formed in the 19th century. Query of archive materials and maps, hydrochemical and phytosociological terrain mapping and laboratory testing of water samples collected were used in the studies. In the study area were found the remains of the thirty old irrigation systems, which together occupy 2% of the Parsęta basin area. For many years most of them have not fulfilled their primary economic functions. Still, these systems have an impact on the cycle of waters and have become an important factor in increasing the geo- and biodiversity within the postglacial landscape. By expanding a range of wetland riparian areas, they fulfil relevant functions to protect surface waters against the supply of biogenic components. Some of them could be used to enlarge wetlands and floodplains within river valleys

Hydrogeochemical and biogeochemical processes in Kaffiøyra river catchments (Spitsbergen, Norway)

The paper presents the results of hydrogeochemical and biogeochemical studies in the area of Kaffiøyra river catchments in the ablation season 2004. Vegetation, hydrological regime, mineralization and ionic composition of circulating waters, rate of annual chemical denudation and biogenic CO2 content in soil air in relation to the concentration of dissolved and transported HCO3- ions were documented. The waters represented the type HCO3- – SO42- – Ca2+ – Mg2+. Most of ions showed a good correlation with electrical conductivity. A good correlation between dissolved and transported mass and the discharge was shown. The value of the chemical denudation in non-glacierized catchments of the Kaffiøyra plain was 0.07 and 0.13 t km–2 d–1, in glacierized catchment – 0,21 t km–2 d–1. The biogenic CO2 concentrations in tundra soil air ranged from 0.03–0.08%, while the average was 0.046%. The mean rate of CO2 ionic transport was 3 kg d–1, while of HCO3- – 0.63 t d–1. A low correlation between the concentration of biogenic CO2 in soil air and HCO3- was found, which indicates the involvement of other, unexamined bio- and physico-chemical processes

Old Melioration Systems: The Influence Onto Functioning Of Geoecosystems Of River Valleys In The Parsęta (NW Poland)

Meliorations and their specific forms – irrigations – are one of the forms of anthropopressure within geoecosystems. The research studies conducted within the Parsęta basin focused on the sub-irrigation (seepage irrigation) systems formed in the 19th century. Query of archive materials and maps, hydrochemical and phytosociological terrain mapping and laboratory testing of water samples collected were used in the studies. In the study area were found the remains of the thirty old irrigation systems, which together occupy 2% of the Parsęta basin area. For many years most of them have not fulfilled their primary economic functions. Still, these systems have an impact on the cycle of waters and have become an important factor in increasing the geo- and biodiversity within the postglacial landscape. By expanding a range of wetland riparian areas, they fulfil relevant functions to protect surface waters against the supply of biogenic components. Some of them could be used to enlarge wetlands and floodplains within river valleys

Hydrogeochemical and biogeochemical processes in Kaffiøyra river catchments (Spitsbergen, Norway)

The paper presents the results of hydrogeochemical and biogeochemical studies in the area of Kaffiøyra river catchments in the ablation season 2004. Vegetation, hydrological regime, mineralization and ionic composition of circulating waters, rate of annual chemical denudation and biogenic CO2 content in soil air in relation to the concentration of dissolved and transported HCO3- ions were documented. The waters represented the type HCO3- – SO42- – Ca2+ – Mg2+. Most of ions showed a good correlation with electrical conductivity. A good correlation between dissolved and transported mass and the discharge was shown. The value of the chemical denudation in non-glacierized catchments of the Kaffiøyra plain was 0.07 and 0.13 t km–2 d–1, in glacierized catchment – 0,21 t km–2 d–1. The biogenic CO2 concentrations in tundra soil air ranged from 0.03–0.08%, while the average was 0.046%. The mean rate of CO2 ionic transport was 3 kg d–1, while of HCO3- – 0.63 t d–1. A low correlation between the concentration of biogenic CO2 in soil air and HCO3- was found, which indicates the involvement of other, unexamined bio- and physico-chemical processes

Hydrogeochemical and Biogeochemical Processes in Kaffiøyra River Catchments (Spitsbergen, Norway)

The paper presents the results of hydrogeochemical and biogeochemical studies in the area of Kaffiøyra river catchments in the ablation season 2004. Vegetation, hydrological regime, mineralization and ionic composition of circulating waters, rate of annual chemical denudation and biogenic CO2 content in soil air in relation to the concentration of dissolved and transported HCO3 - ions were documented. The waters represented the type HCO3 - - SO42- - Ca2+ - Mg2+. Most of ions showed a good correlation with electrical conductivity. A good correlation between dissolved and transported mass and the discharge was shown. The value of the chemical denudation in non-glacierized catchments of the Kaffiøyra plain was 0.07 and 0.13 t km-2 d-1, in glacierized catchment - 0,21 t km-2 d-1. The biogenic CO2 concentrations in tundra soil air ranged from 0.03-0.08%, while the average was 0.046%. The mean rate of CO2 ionic transport was 3 kg d-1, while of HCO3 - - 0.63 t d-1. A low correlation between the concentration of biogenic CO2 in soil air and HCO3 - was found, which indicates the involvement of other, unexamined bio- and physico-chemical processes

Bioaccumulation of Trace Metals in Groenlandia densa Plant Reintroduced in Western Pomerania

The phytoremediation role of aquatic plants in situ is extremely important today when, due to repeated droughts and periodical shrinkage of surface water resources, the load of biogenic and toxic substances in these waters is increasing dramatically. The aim of the study was to assess the bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn and Zn) by the Groenlandia densa reintroduced in the area of its historical occurrence in the habitat of rivers characterized by Ranunculion fluitantis vegetation. Research material was collected from 3 sites in the Natura 2000 area in Western Pomerania on areas differing in anthropogenic load, from sites on streams in agricultural, urbanized and forested catchments. The study showed varying content of trace metals in Groenlandia densa. Plants and sediments collected from the site with the highest anthropogenic load, located in an urbanized catchment, contained more metals. The tolerance of Groenlandia densa to elevated Mn levels in water/sediment was confirmed