The use of benthic diatoms in estimating water quality of variously polluted rivers

Abstract

Two rivers situated in Central Poland, the Bzura and the Pilica, were selected for analysis of their water quality using benthic diatom species as indicators. The Bzura River has previously been strongly contaminated with organic pollutants, while the Pilica River has been classified as having good water quality. Samples were collected from nine sites along the Bzura in April 2003 and seven sites along the Pilica in April 2006. The main aims of the study were to determine the dominant diatom species present in the rivers and to assess their usefulness as biological indicators. Water quality of the rivers was estimated on the basis of the SPI -Specific Pollution sensitivity Index (CEMAGREF 1982) and the GDI -Generic Diatom Index (Coste, Ayphassorho 1991) while trophic status was estimated using TDI -Trophic Diatom Index (Kelly, Whitton 1995 18Indices determining saprobic water pollution (SPI, GDI) indicated water quality of class III and IV for the Bzura River and class II and III for the Pilica River. The trophic status determined on the basis of the TDI index revealed the Bzura water to be classified in the eutrophic-tohypertrophic zone and that of the Pilica River to the oligo-mesotrophic-to-eutrophic zone.The diatom taxa that dominated in the Bzura River were species that are generally considered to be tolerant and resistant with respect to organic water pollution, including: Cyclotella meneghiniana Kützing, Gomphonema parvulum (Kützing) Kützing, Nitzschia palea (Kützing) W. Smith, Nitzschia paleacea Grunow, Sellaphora pupula (Kützing) Mereschkovsky, Stephanodiscus hantzschii Grunow, Ulnaria ulna (Nitzsch) Compere. In the Pilica River diatoms from groups that are sensitive and tolerant to organic pollution were seen to dominate, such as:

Relationships between epipelic diatoms, aquatic macrophytes, and water quality in Akarçay Stream, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

“…Palmer (1969) reported that N. palea was the diatom species most tolerant of organic pollution. Similar reports on N. palea were noted by a number of researchers (Gómez and Licursi 2001, Soininen 2002, Bellinger et al 2006, Szczepocka and Szulc 2009). This species is also commonly found in polluted Turkish rivers (Gürbüz and Kivrak 2002, Dere et al 2006, Kalyoncu et al 2009, Solak 2011.…”

The use of the Biological Diatom Index (BDI) for the assessment of water quality in the Pilica River, Poland

“…This rating corresponds with the analysis of the physicochemical parameters of water in this river (Szczepocka & Szulc 2009, Szulc 2009). Descy and Ector (1996) have proposed a range of values for dividing the BDI into corresponding classes used to assess the ecological status of a body of water.…”

“…Previous research in Poland primarily used the SPI and GDI (Zgrundo & Bogaczewicz-Adamczak 2004, Szczepocka & Szulc 2009). The BDI has never been applied in Poland so there have been no attempts to adjust the ranges of values for this index, as have been done for the SPI and GDI (Dumnicka et al 2006, modified).…”

Diatom indices in the biological assessment of the water quality based on the example of a small lowland river

“…Moreover, IPS and GDI were in the group of indices proposed for the assessment the quality of water of the Gulf of Gdansk (Bogaczewicz-Adamczak, Dziengo 2003; Zgrundo 2004). They were also used in the water quality assessment in two rivers in Central Poland: Bzura and Pilica (Szczepocka, Szulc 2009;Rakowska, Szczepocka 2011).…”