Reconstruction of human influence during the last two centuries on two small oxbow lakes near Warsaw (Poland)

Abstract

Short sediment cores from two small oxbow lakes located in the Vistula valley near Warsaw (Poland) were analysed for chemical composition and zooplankton (Cladocera) remains. The results of these analyses were evaluated using ordination techniques and the results were used to reconstruct the history of human impact of the lakes. The cores were dated using the 210 Pb method. These analyses show that the collected sediments (60 cm-and 67 cm-long-cores) were deposited during the last 150-200 years. Cladocera assemblages were different in the two lakes; however, Bosmina longirostris was dominant among subfossil Cladocera species in both lakes. The presence of this species indicates the high trophic state of the lakes. Changes in Cladocera species composition suggest that a significant increase in the lakes' trophic levels has occurred since the 1920s. The change could be related to the construction of flood dikes along the river Vistula, the isolation of the studied lakes from the river, changes in land use, or some combination of these factors. The chemical composition of sediments, particularly the increase in phosphorus and sulphur concentrations, confirms that the construction of dikes against flood was the major factor inducing eutrophication of the oxbow lakes. This study shows that the Warsaw small water bodies are especially sensitive to local disturbances caused by human activity, mainly water management, land use changes and agriculture.

Mollusc communities of lowland rivers and oxbow lakes in agricultural areas with anthropogenically elevated nutrient concentration

“…Small oxbow lakes are especially sensitive to the local disturbances that are caused by human activity, primarily water management, land use changes and agriculture (GaLBarczyk-Gąsiorowska et al 2009). Oxbow lakes, located within agricultural areas, regulate the nutrient transfer towards rivers, mainly through the retention of matter.…”

Evolution of small valley mire in central Poland as a result of hydroclimatic oscillations

“…Also correlations between Cladocera frequency and climatic conditions have been previously studied (Lotter et al, 1997;Szeroczyńska, 2006Kamenik et al, 2007. The initial interpretive possibilities for palaeoecological studies of Cladocera in flood records have been recently demonstrated, and tested mostly with young sediment (from the last two hundred years) associated with human activity (Galbarczyk-Gąsiorowska et al, 2009). To date there have not been many studies which present the use of Cladocera as a trace indicator of past flood events in oxbow lakes.…”

Reconstruction of flood events in an oxbow lake (Marótzugi-Holt-Tisza, NE Hungary) by using subfossil cladocerans remains and sediments

“…were recorded from shallow lakes and ponds in Hungary in macrophytes belts (Korponai et al, 2010a). Galbarczyk-Gąsiorowska et al (2009) found that remains of A. excisa, and K. latissima were associated with macrophyte occurrence in a lakebog transition zone in Stare Biele mire.…”

“…The low number of remains in this core section therefore can be explained by the slow recovery of the cladoceran community from sediment egg banks. In Cl-2 and Cl-3 zones (between 1950-1970) the co-occurrence of a high proportion of Bosmina longirostris and of phytophyllous cladoceran species indicates the development of a macrophyte bed with large open water patches due to a lentic water regime (Galbarczyk-Gąsiorowska et al, 2009). In Cl-4 zone, the absolute dominance of B. longirostris since 1970 is related to strong human impacts.…”

“…As B. longirostris prefers eutrophic conditions (Korponai et al, 2010a(Korponai et al, , 2011, the authors concluded that the German settlers induced an increase in the lake's eutrophic status, which is in line with results provided by other sediment proxies. Galbarczyk-Gąsiorowska et al (2009) could relate changes in cladoceran communities to decreasing water level in Stare Biele mire in Poland. Planktonic cladocerans gradually disappeared while macrophyte-associated species appeared and increased until finally a poor cladoceran community developed, which consisted of very rare species able to tolerate specific conditions (i.e., low pH, low nutrient levels) in the peat phase.…”