Tom 41 (2022): Zeszyt 4 (December 2022)

Freshwater bodies of Akwa Ibom State North-West District, Nigeria, were studied between May and December 2021 at seven sampling stations based on human activities. The indices used were water quality index (WQI) for drinking water purpose, comprehensive pollution index (CPI) for aquatic life sustainability, and Palmer pollution index (PPI) for organic pollution. Thirteen physicochemical parameters were scrutinized using standard methods and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. All the physicochemical parameters evaluated were within the acceptable limits, except pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), and nitrate in some stations. The phytoplankton identified comprised13 genera of pollution indicators out of 41 genera of the total population, among which Bacillariophyceae accounted for 46.55%. The WQI values ranged between 38.86 and 54.63 based on weighted arithmetic method. The CPI values ranged from 0.35 to 0.46, while the PPI score ranged between 1 and 23. The values of WQI and CPI obtained in stations I, III, and IV revealed poor water quality which was unfit for human consumption and sustenance of aquatic life. The obtained value for PPI revealed that stations I, III, IV, VI, and VII were organically polluted. The occurrence of pollution indicator genera in these stations further proved that the water bodies were moderately polluted owing to anthropogenic perturbation. The activities of humans within the watershed should be of concern to the relevant authorities; regulation of these activities should be enforced to minimize the situation of water deterioration and for regaining the natural water quality to support aquatic life and health and make it fit for domestic usage.

Nitrates and heavy metals are two of the most significant groundwater pollutants that have an impact on people’s health all around the world. In order to assess their risk to children’s health, this study aims to determine the total iron, manganese, and nitrate content in drinking water sources of non-centralized water supply of the educational institutions in the rural settlements of Zhytomyr region. A total of 114 water samples from wells and bores used by the educational institutions to supply domestic and drinking water to rural residential areas were collected. The Measurement Laboratory of Polissia National University conducted analytical studies. The danger to children’s health was evaluated using the hazard quotient and following the methodology recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The software ArcGIS Pro was used to identify risk zones.

The average total iron content in the drinking water of the Berdichev, Zhytomyr, and Novohrad-Volinsky districts was 1.5–2.8 times higher. In all regions, the average manganese concentration did not go above the allowable level. On average, the nitrate content was also below the threshold, but in 22.6–42.9% of the samples, it exceeded the allowable level. Children aged 6–12 years were at the highest risk, and children living in Berdichev district had the highest hazard quotient at 1.972. The fact that nitrates accounted for 67–84% of the total risk indicates the danger associated with the intake of nitrates, even in amounts below the allowable concentration.

The high-mountain ecosystems of Central Asia consist of very rich biodiversity with unique plant communities and many endemic species. High human pressure and long drought periods due to global warming have caused habitat destruction in these areas and a parallel increase in the number of endangered species. In Uzbekistan, the number of red listed plant species has risen in the last 30 years, from 163 in 1984 to 324 in 2009. Among those red-listed species are 23 species in the Lamiaceae family. The aim of this study was to estimate the current populations of red-listed species Salvia submutica. This species is endemic to the Nuratau ridge, and it is growing under climatic changes and human pressure. We found two populations of this species in the Nuratau ridge. For each population, we measured the plant density and determined the population spectrum. We also describe the plant community where each population grew. At all sites, the population density was low, with most populations being classified as mature with centered ontogenetic structure. These results indicated this species might, in the near future, become extinct in the wild.

Global warming is becoming a major concern affecting many components of the biodiversity at a global scale and disproportionately affecting the integrity of ecosystems, particularly the habitat of endemic species. Understanding its impacts on most vulnerable species is essential to improve knowledge on the ecology of these species and for their long-term management and conservation. Abies marocana Trabut (Moroccan fir), a remarkable forest tree of the Mediterranean basin, is an endangered species that is present in discreet small areas of the Rif Mountains, which is highly vulnerable to the ongoing climate warming and facing severe anthropogenic pressures. For conservation and management purposes, our work focused on improving understanding of the impacts of future climate change on the distribution of this species through its habitat suitability modeling. The maximum entropy approach was used, which achieved good predictive abilities. Habitat suitability was identified and then predicted under current and future climate conditions. A significant change and a gradual regression of the habitat suitability to A. marocana was shown under different future climate scenarios. The magnitude of the simulated changes is important and tends to have negative consequences for Moroccan fir conservation. For this purpose, outputs from models are useful to improve our knowledge about the ecology of A. marocana, and predictive maps produced under current and future climate conditions constitute reflection tools available to scientists and managers to better integrate actual and future climate impacts into existing and upcoming management strategies to prevent any future locale extinction.

Antioxidant enzymatic activity and soluble protein content in Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust), invasive tree in Europe, plants were determined under feeding conditions of the caterpillars of Parectopa robiniella Clemens, 1863, invasive miner in Europe, in trees of three (I, II, III) age groups (5–10, 15–25, and 40 years). Biochemical analysis data showed significant differences between reference and experimental leaf samples in different urban ecosystems. There was no association between changes in catalase and peroxidase activity and protein content under the influence of leaf blotch miners depending on the tree age. Significant variability of proteins under P. robiniella influence was noted; the highest of its values were recorded in the leaves of ІІІ-aged trees. In most plantings (and especially in trees of age group III), an increase (1.2 to 2.7 times) in GPx activity or the absence of its changes was registered both in the ecologically favorable zone and in the locations affected by emissions from road transport and industrial enterprises. Plants of age groups I and II in the emission areas of metallurgical, pipe-rolling, and chemical industries experienced a significant decrease in GPx activity (by 20.2–44.6%) in the leaves damaged by the phytophage. In most of the plantings studied, catalase showed an increase/stability of its activity in all age groups of trees under condition of pest attack. The highest increase in САТ activity (2.1 times) was recorded in young R. pseudoacacia plants in an ecologically favorable area of the city.

Astacus astacus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a vulnerable species. Through comprehensive monitoring, we have determined the current spatial distribution of the populations in two streams of the Western Carpathian Massif. In the investigated part of the streams, we did not detect the presence of a source of chemical contamination with hazardous substances causing aquatic animal mortality or significant deterioration of the environmental quality. We sampled at 30 study sites and examined 223 individuals, more than a third of which showed abnormalities, physical damage, body deformation, or the presence of ectosymbionts. External abnormalities were related to the carapace and abdomen; in both sexes, the most frequent were on the claws (amputation, stunting, and mechanical damage); in males, we frequently observed amputation of antennae, carapace damage, or commissural damage; in females, we also found very low egg counts or stunted antennae, deformities of the pleopods, or telson deformities. On the bodies of crayfish, we confirmed the presence of ectosymbionts from the genus Branchiobdella as well.

The paper discusses proposals for measures to protect the environment by promoting ecological stability and biodiversity conditions of agricultural land. It is a proposal of elements of the local territorial system of ecological stability (LTSES) for the purposes of land consolidation project (LCP) projects in compliance with specified methods, by way of the example of cadastral unit of Horný Vinodol. The proposal of the LTSES project comprised analytical, synthetical and design parts. Within the proposals, 12 elements of local importance were selected: two biocorridors, seven interacting elements and three windbreaks. In order to increase the ecological stability of the landscape, 10 framework management measures were proposed. The proposals were fully transferred into the LCP in the so-called general principles of the functional organisation of the territory. At the same time, all allocated elements of the LTSES meet the criteria of green infrastructure elements, providing ecosystem services.

In Algeria, the mountainous zones represent 11% of agricultural land of the country and are home to 25% of the population. The economic development and the associated urbanization have led to environmental degradation in the Traras Mountains, which are part of the Atlas Mountains. With the aim to evaluate the degradation consequences of this region, we focused on the evolution of land use and land cover over 36 years (1984–2020). Accordingly, we used Landsat and Google Earth Pro images, topographic and ecological inventory maps, as well terrain truth; our analysis tools were mainly based on ArcGIS, Global Mapper, and ENVI software. The diachronic analysis showed that the Traras Mountains lost 8,100 ha of agricultural and forestland between 1984 and 2020. Relating to this, we point out the destruction of 9,200 ha of forested area by the fire. The urbanization also contributed to the loss of agricultural and forested areas (6,300 ha), of which 27% are located in the coastal zone. The built-up situation led to an increase of soil impermeability which causes flooding during heavy rainfall.

Study area – Vranov reservoir on the river Dyje lies in the South Moravian region in the Czech Republic. A multipurpose reservoir, Vranov, is a significant hydraulic structure whose primary purpose is water retention, including managing flood conditions. The reservoir itself and its surroundings are intensively used for recreation, and a hydroelectric power station has also been built there. In 1982, the reservoir began to be used as a source of drinking water. The objective of this study is to elaborate hydrological data – daily total precipitation and daily surface runoff – from 1981 to 2019, evaluate the influence of the Vranov water work, focusing on the hydrological extremes, and evaluate individual functions of this reservoir.

The results showed an increase in the number of days of hydrological drought. The influence of the dam as a flood protection element is significant – in summer 2006, a peak of flow rate value of 551 m³ s⁻¹ was transformed to 234 m³ s⁻¹.

The reservoir itself and its catchment area have multipurpose usage. Problems may arise in connection with extreme hydrological events when the reservoir cannot perform all its functions at the same time as it does at normal water levels and runoffs. Whether in times of flood or drought, it is necessary to resort to emergency manipulation of the reservoir and choose which of the purposes of the reservoir will be primary at that time.