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We investigated the accumulation of sodium chloride in roadside soils and common horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum L. under urban conditions to evaluate changes in soil and leaf ionic content and their relationship with foliar damage, considering the visual assessment of trees of the same health status. A total of 15 field sites were assessed in late June 2016. The analysis included soil granulometric composition, pH, electrical conductivity, and the content of Cl−, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ ions in soil and foliage samples. The results showed increased salinity and alkalization of roadside soils together with the decreased magnesium content. Foliage samples manifested significantly higher concentrations of Na+ and Cl−. A wide range of Cl− content was noted in leaves (2.0–11.8% d.w.) regardless of their damage index. On the contrary, leaf damage was strongly correlated with increasing Na+ concentrations and decreasing K+ and Mg2+. A severe imbalance of nutrients, and therefore poor urban tree vitality, can be attributed to the excessive accumulation of de-icing salt. However, further research would be needed to clarify the discrepancy between the extent of leaf damage and chloride content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to compare the patterns of development of macrophytes and macroinvertebrates in different types of reference mountain rivers. The study is based on reference river sites surveyed throughout the mountains in Poland and Slovakia in two European ecoregions (9—Central Highlands, 10—The Carpathians). A wide range of environmental variables were estimated, including water chemistry, hydromorphology, geology, and the spatial factor. Based on the Jaccard index, macrophyte and macroinvertebrate variation was confirmed between four mountain and upland river types. It was found that the biological diversification is mainly influenced by geological and associated chemical factors. In the case of macroinvertebrates, additionally, the importance of the spatial factor was revealed (difference between ecoregions). Finally, the habitat preferences of various taxa were identified. It was found that extreme mountain conditions can sometimes distort bioindicative response, as was detected in the case of macroinvertebrates in the highest mountain sites. We concluded that consideration of two groups of organisms enables more comprehensive and reliable monitoring than assessment based on a single group, especially when standard bioindicative methods can be distorted by extreme local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out from 2007 to 2010 in two ecoregions: the Carpathians and the Central Highlands. The objectives of our survey were to test the existing biological index metric based on benthic macroinvertebrates at reference conditions in the high- and mid-altitude mountain streams of two ecoregions according to the requirements of the EU WFD and to determine which environmental factors influence the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates. Our results revealed statistically significant differences in the values of the physical and chemical parameters of water as well as the mean values of metrics between the types of streams at the sampling sites. RDA analysis showed that the temperature of the water, pH, conductivity, the stream gradient, values of the HQA index, and altitude were the parameters most associated with the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and the values of the metrics. The values of biological indices should be considered according to the stream typology including altitude and geology. At the reference conditions, the suggested border values of biological indices are very harsh. The values of the biological indices of most sampling sites did not correspond to the requirements of the high status in rivers. The streams at altitudes above 1,200 m a.s.l. should be treated as another river type and new reference values should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability of the Phytotoxkit microbiotest for toxicity assessment of sediments in eutrophic freshwater ecosystems was evaluated. Sediments were collected from Turawa dam reservoir (southwestern Poland) which, for years, has been subjected to a marked nutrient enrichment and heavy metal contamination. The test plant species were exposed to whole sediments, solid phases of sediments, and pore waters. Phytotoxicity was estimated on the basis of seed germination and root elongation measurements, combined into an overall germination index (GI). For pore waters, the majority of GI values were not statistically different from the controls, which was consistent with chemical data. For solid phases and whole sediments, GI values showed diversified effects ranging from growth stimulation to growth inhibition. The results obtained vary depending on the plant species and the type of sediment samples. Generally, tests with solid phases of sediments showed phytostimulation, suggesting that higher amount of nutrients adsorbed on organic matter-rich sediments might conceal the inhibitory impact of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). However, this beneficial impact is indicative of a significant nutrient load and, with respect to aquatic ecosystems, its potential resuspention that might accelerate the reservoir eutrophication. Under appropriate conditions heavy metals exerted stronger negative impact on plants. Tests with whole sediments had a higher acidity (pH 5.85) and showed adverse effects, though plant responses vary from inhibition ( Lepidium sativum) to stimulation ( Sorghum saccharatum). The study demonstrated variability in toxicity of contaminated nutrient-rich sediments as well as effectiveness and usefulness of the Phytotoxkit microbiotest as a practical and reliable tool for evaluation of the hazard of eutrophic ecosystems to higher plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]