Vascular plant and bryophyte species richness in response to water quality in lowland spring niches with different anthropogenic impacts

Abstract

Many freshwater ecosystems face severe threats from anthropogenic disturbances. In the field, we investigated the morphology of spring niches and the species richness of vascular plants and bryophytes in 16 springs, draining the quaternary aquifers, located in two different environments—an urban area (city of Białystok) and a protected area (Knyszyn Forest Landscape Park, NE Poland). In total, 47 vascular plant and 45 bryophyte species were recorded, representing mostly crenophytes including protected species. The most important water quality parameters that can be used to evaluate variations of the spring water chemistry in NE Poland are the mineral-related parameters (electrolytic conductivity, Ca2+, SO42−, and Cl−). The organic-related parameters (DOC) and nutrients (TP, NO3−-N) were negatively involved in water quality variations. Our results show that anthropogenic activity significantly affects the biodiversity of plant communities in lowland springs. The presence or absence of crenophytes and bryophytes is indicative of the ecological status of the groundwater outflow complexes.

Impact of Flora Communities on Nutrients Dynamics in Hyporheic Zone of Urban Spring Ecosystem <sup>†</sup>

“…Large clusters of Lemna minor and Lemna trisulca were also observed. The richness of vascular plants in niches in the suburbs was smaller compared to the flora of lowland springs located in natural areas (Puczko et al 2018). However, in both niches there were observed Nasturtium officinale, that is protected species in Poland.…”

Relation between boundaries of protected areas and the distribution of vulnerable natural habitats – a case study from Sharri National Park, SE Europe

“…The conducted analysis on a continuous basis revealed far higher biodiversity inside the tall herb communities than in degraded ones and also, generally higher diversity compared to the communities belonging the strictly protected area within the massif of Luboten. It is known that freshwater ecosystems compared to others, are characterized with high biodiversity of flora and fauna (Springer & Stevens, 2009;Warncke, 1980) and globally many of these ecosystems face variety of severe direct or indirect threats (Juutinen, 2011;Puczko et al, 2018).…”

Biota communities influence on nutrients circulation in hyporheic zone—a case study in urban spring niches in Bialystok (NE Poland)

“…Organisms associated with the spring niche are called crenobionts. Some of them have the prefix creno in their names, for example crenophytes as specialized plants that are highly tolerant of low water temperature and inhabit crenal (Puczko et al 2018). Spring bryophytes include both species crenophytes and hygrophytic mosses and liverworts with a wider distribution in aquatic habitats (Heino et al 2005).…”