Ecohydrological Changes and Resilience of a Shallow Lake Ecosystem under Intense Human Pressure and Recent Climate Change

Abstract

In this work we present the complicated situation of a faunistically and floristically valuable ecosystem of the Rakutowskie Lake wetlands complex, which is part of the Special Protection Area for Birds of “Błota Rakutowskie” (PLB40001) and “Błota Kłócieńskie” Habitats Directive Sites (PLH040031) included in the Natura 2000 network. Numerous ornithological observations have drawn our attention to the problem of rapidly progressing overgrowth of the lake and significant fluctuations in its water surface area. These fluctuations, especially in the spring period, significantly limit safe reproduction possibilities of very rare species of water–marsh birds. A multidirectional and comprehensive spectrum of research works allowed us to determine the genesis of the ecosystem and show that the shallow lake is undergoing the final stage in its evolution. The economic aspect of human activity (changes in land use and land development works) has contributed to serious degradation of the ecosystem. Climate changes observed in recent years (increased air temperature and, consequently, higher evaporation) additionally deepen and accelerate this process. The research made it possible to determine how the ecosystem functions today, but it is also an attempt to determine our predictions about its future.

Stages of soil development in the coastal zone of a disappearing lake—a case study from central Poland

“…The average sum of annual precipitation within the Płock basin and surrounding areas measured at three meteorological stations (Baruchowo, Brześć Kujawski, Duninów) was 523 mm, which is lower than average for Poland (about 600 mm) (Bartczak 2007;Bartczak et al 2019). The study area is located within the rain shadow (e.g., latitudinal zone of low precipitation (< 550 mm)) which extends from the eastern part of Poland through the center to the western borders of the country.…”

“…Climate projections for Poland foresee warming in all seasons and changes in the distribution and quantity of precipitation (Szwed 2015). Analyses of climatic water balance (the difference between precipitation P and evapotranspiration E) conducted by Bartczak et al (2019) for the investigated area showed a negative trend for the years 1967-2015. The projected further decrease in the summer climatic water balance (Szwed et al 2010) may adversely affect shallow lake ecosystems, such as Lake Rakutowskie, causing increased vegetation overgrowth and transformation into wetland.…”

“…In the early phase of the lakes functioning, they were mainly dependent on precipitation, river water inflow, evaporation, and the variable relationship between natural erosion and accumulation processes leading to gradual lake shallowing (Tobolski 2000;Kramkowski et al 2014;Ott et al 2017). Analysis of archival cartographic documentation of the immediate vicinity of Lake Rakutowskie indicates the increased impact of human activity as early as the beginning of the twentieth century (Kramkowski et al 2014;Bartczak et al 2019). Initially, this work consisted of the regulation of watercourses, and then by 1930, a network of drainage ditches was established.…”

Small peatland with a big story: 600-year paleoecological and historical data from a kettle-hole peatland in Western Russia

“…It is particularly important to conduct paleoecological investigations in peatlands in order to study long-term environmental changes (Gauthier et al, 2019). Thanks to paleoenvironmental research, knowledge about reference conditions has improved enabling to perform successful restoration processes (Bartczak et al, 2019; Lamentowicz et al, 2019; Słowiński et al, 2019). Therefore, obtaining key information about the past evolution of peatland ecosystems is essential, including past hydrological conditions and past vegetation on the peatland and in its catchment (Dietze et al, 2019; Fiałkiewicz-Kozieł et al, 2016; Lamentowicz et al, 2019; Zawisza et al, 2019).…”

Disturbance and resilience of aSphagnumpeatland in western Russia (Western Dvina Lakeland) during the last 300 years: A multiproxy, high-resolution study

“…Droughts that we currently observe, and predictions inspire to study disturbances and resilience of ecosystems. The long-term ecosystem monitoring (Bartczak et al, 2019; Lamentowicz et al, 2016; Marcisz et al, 2014; Słowińska et al, 2010) or experiment (Jassey et al, 2018; Rastogi et al, 2019; Reczuga et al, 2018; Samson et al, 2018) provide a short temporal look at a disturbance. In contrast, palaeoecological multiproxy studies provide a long-term perspective (Marcisz et al, 2016; Zawisza et al, 2019).…”