Ionic liquids (IL) are regarded as the solution to the modern world’s need to create and use compounds that exhibit a range of desirable properties while having a low environmental impact. However, recent reports are shattering the image... more
Ionic liquids (IL) are regarded as the solution to the modern world’s need to create and use compounds that exhibit a range of desirable properties while having a low environmental impact. However, recent reports are shattering the image of ionic liquids as environmentally friendly substances, especially in relation to the aquatic environment, revealing their potentially toxic effects. To assess the potential environmental impact of ILs, we conducted an experiment involving 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl), a substance considered to be the least hazardous among the imidazolium chloride ILs, on Baltic microphytobenthic communities. Microphytobenthos collected from the environment was tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and both the cell counts and the chloroplast condition were used as endpoints. It was shown that [BMIM]Cl at concentrations of 10−3 and 10−2, considered safe based on a cumulative impact assessment, has a negative effect on the condition of th...
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The Gulf of Gdańsk environment has supported the development and growth of the local community for centuries but has been significantly degraded as a result of the progressive eutrophication process that started in 1960, the extensive... more
The Gulf of Gdańsk environment has supported the development and growth of the local community for centuries but has been significantly degraded as a result of the progressive eutrophication process that started in 1960, the extensive exploitation of marketable species (plants and fish) and pollution limiting the growth of marine organisms. Multistressors of the Anthropocene era have left their mark on all aspects of the ecosystem, but despite this, the gulf region has been considered to have exceptional environmental value and high biodiversity in comparison with adjacent regions. In 2004, a Natura 2000 site was created in the eastern part known as Puck Bay, and actions were taken to protect endangered habitats and species. Between 2019 and 2020, intensive field studies were conducted in Puck Bay on flora to assess biodiversity and habitat resources. The material was collected for qualitative and quantitative analysis. This allowed observation of species that have not been reported...
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The experiments testing the toxicity of glyphosate Roundup® formulation were conducted on the natural microphytobenthic communities collected from the Gulf of Gdansk. The toxic effect of glyphosate was assessed by changes in the biomass... more
The experiments testing the toxicity of glyphosate Roundup® formulation were conducted on the natural microphytobenthic communities collected from the Gulf of Gdansk. The toxic effect of glyphosate was assessed by changes in the biomass of microphytobenthos cells [mm · ml], chlorophyll a concentration and reduction of efficiency of photosystem II. Negative impact of glyphosate on microphytobenthic communities, both at the cellular and population scale, was determined. Hence it can be concluded that certain concentrations of the herbicide Roundup (glyphosate – active substance), in the marine environment may adversely impact natural microphytobenthic communities, and in consequence also other elements of the ecosystem.
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Research Interests: Environmental Science, Limnology, Ecology, Freshwater Ecology, Benthic Ecology, and 11 moreApplied Ecology, Diatoms, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Resource Management, Ecological Indicators, Water Framework Directive, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Freshwater Benthic algae, Bioassessment, and Harmonization
In this paper a novel settlement and growth assay is presented that uses field-collected marine photoautotrophic biofilms as inoculum. The multitude of indigenous species that are the potential foulers aretherefore included in the assay,... more
In this paper a novel settlement and growth assay is presented that uses field-collected marine photoautotrophic biofilms as inoculum. The multitude of indigenous species that are the potential foulers aretherefore included in the assay, which overcomes the limitation of testing only those species that can be cultivated in the laboratory. The assay was evaluated using eight antifouling biocides. The methodological considerations are discussed thoroughly and full concentration response curves are presented for all testedbiocides. The efficacy ranking based on EC 98 values from the most to the least efficacious compound is as follows: copper pyrithione > TPBP > DCOIT > tolylfluanid > zinc pyrithione > medetomidine > copper (Cu 2+ ). The algaecide irgarol did not cause a full inhibition of settlement and growth but the inhibition leveled out at 95% already at 30 nmol l -1 , at a concentration that is clearly lower than for any other of the tested biocides.
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Research Interests: Oceanography, Biology, Ecology, Medicine, Biological Sciences, and 6 moreArctic, Diatom, Fjord, Nitzschia, Polar Biology, and Navicula
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) like bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) are introduced to the trophic webs through among others phytoplankton. This paper describes BPA, OP and NP concentrations in... more
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) like bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) are introduced to the trophic webs through among others phytoplankton. This paper describes BPA, OP and NP concentrations in phytoplankton in the Gulf of Gdansk (Southern Baltic Sea) in the years 2011-2012. The assays of BPA, OP and NP in samples were performed using HPLC with fluorescence detection. The concentrations of BPA, the most commonly used of the three compounds, were over ten times higher than OP and NP concentrations. The concentrations of the studied EDCs in phytoplankton from the Gulf of Gdansk depended on anthropogenic factors and on phytoplankton properties (species composition, biomass, volume). An increase in phytoplankton biomass did not always result in an increase of BPA, OP and NP concentrations. However, the load of the studied EDCs accumulated in phytoplankton biomass increase with a rise of biomass. An increase in BPA, OP and NP concentrations was effected by biomass growth and the proportions ofciliates, dinoflagellates, diatoms and green algae. A strong positive correlation between OP and NP concentrations and negative correlation between BPA concentrations and biomass of organisms with cells measuring <1000 μm(3) in volume results from the differing properties of these compounds.
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Climate changes in the Southern Baltic Sea region head towards shortening of icing period. The period, in which toxic mercury is reemitted from sediments into nearbottom water and food chain lengthens. In the prolonged warm season mass... more
Climate changes in the Southern Baltic Sea region head towards shortening of icing period. The period, in which toxic mercury is reemitted from sediments into nearbottom water and food chain lengthens. In the prolonged warm season mass phytoplankton blooms are observed in early winter. This, in consequence leads to bioaccumulation of mercury from atmospheric deposition, which is higher at this time of the year. In this situation, metals do not deposit on the bottom of the reservoirs, but they are adsorbed on the surface of algae. The presence of phytoplankton causes intensive zooplankton breeding, which in turn enhances mercury transfer in the food chain. In this way, despite the decreased load of this metal to the Baltic, compared to cold winter, higher mercury load enters the food web per annum. The financial supports provided from National Science Centre (2011/01/B/ST10/07697) 2012-2014.
ABSTRACT European reforms within the education system require not only increased outlays of member states, and making education system reforms a priority of the state policy, but most of all accurate diagnosis of the current condition and... more
ABSTRACT European reforms within the education system require not only increased outlays of member states, and making education system reforms a priority of the state policy, but most of all accurate diagnosis of the current condition and introduction of relevant mechanisms or institutions responsible for their performance. In such context, we need to be aware of the education system transformations and the obstacles that need to be overcome to meet the goals of 2020 Europe Strategy.
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... al. 1999, Kwandrans 2000, Rakowska 2001). ... species. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Bożena Graca and Katarzyna Walenciej for water and sediment analyses and Dr. Gavin Simpson for help with the statistical analysis. ...
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One of the tendencies for climate changes in the southern Baltic region is towards the warming of the cold season (late autumn, winter, early spring), which leads to the disappearance of icing even in the coastal zone and affects the... more
One of the tendencies for climate changes in the southern Baltic region is towards the warming of the cold season (late autumn, winter, early spring), which leads to the disappearance of icing even in the coastal zone and affects the fluxes of chemicals in the surface sediments of the coastal zone. This will lengthen the period in which the deposited chemicals may become remobilized from the sediments into pore and near-bottom water. Studies into the mercury concentration in macrophyto- and macrozoobenthos were conducted at two stations in the coastal zone of the southern Baltic, in the Puck Lagoon, from January 2012 to May 2013. It was estimated that the mean annual Hg pool (mass of Hg in flora or fauna per m−2 of sediments) in macrophytobenthos in a year without icing was higher by 30%, and in macrozoobenthos by 25%, compared to an estimated previous year in which the icing period lasted approximately 90 days (as was usual in the period between 1946 and 1991). Taking into account the combined total mass of flora and fauna, it was estimated that lack of icing on the lagoon increases the mean Hg pool in benthic organisms (macrophyto- and macrozoobenthos) by 30%, which in turn considerably increases the Hg load on the first levels of the trophic chain despite a decrease in Hg emissions. The warming of the cold season has a particular influence in areas where macroalgae species are predominant in the biomass over angiosperms. Of the zoobenthic taxa, Corophiumspp. exhibited a tendency for intense growth and Hg accumulation in late autumn.
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Hg is highly neurotoxic chemical substance. Lack of ice cover during winter, in the Southern Baltic Sea and simultaneous occurrence of storms had an impact on supply of the organic matter to the sediments and the increased concentration... more
Hg is highly neurotoxic chemical substance. Lack of ice cover during winter, in the Southern Baltic Sea and simultaneous occurrence of storms had an impact on supply of the organic matter to the sediments and the increased concentration of Hg. More intense burning of fossil fuels in heating season favored the atmospheric deposition of metals to the sediments. This led to a fourfold increase of the mercury concentration in sediments as compared to fall season. Presence of phytobenthos, zoobenthos in marine environment affects the transfer of mercury into the foodchain. The study area was situated in the coastal zone of Puck Bay: Chałupy and Osłonino. Samples of different species of phyto- and zoobenthos, porewater, sediments were collected once a month during 2012. Additionally bacteria abundance and major cations and anions concentrations were recorded. The financial supports provided from NSC 2011/01/B/ST10/07697.
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Research Interests:
Glyphosate is a very effective herbicide and the main active ingredient in Roundup®—the most extensively used herbicide in the world. Since glyphosate is highly water soluble it reaches water bodies easily in surface water runoff. This... more
Glyphosate is a very effective herbicide and the main active ingredient in Roundup®—the most extensively used herbicide in the world. Since glyphosate is highly water soluble it reaches water bodies easily in surface water runoff. This prompted us to undertake an experiment to evaluate the effects of glyphosate in Roundup® on natural communities of marine microphytobenthos. Microphytobenthos communities were obtained from the environment, and after transporting them to the laboratory and acclimatizing them, they were tested under controlled conditions. Changes in microphytobenthos composition and structure and the deteriorating condition of the cells of community-forming organisms (assessed by analyzing changes in chloroplast shape) were used to assess the impact of Roundup® on endpoints. The tests indicated that microphytobenthic communities were relatively resistant to herbicide. The species richness of the communities probably enabled them to rebuild effectively. Sensitive specie...
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Climate changes in the Southern Baltic Sea region head towards shortening of icing period. The period, in which toxic mercury is reemitted from sediments into nearbottom water and food chain lengthens. In the prolonged warm season mass... more
Climate changes in the Southern Baltic Sea region head towards shortening of icing period. The period, in which toxic mercury is reemitted from sediments into nearbottom water and food chain lengthens. In the prolonged warm season mass phytoplankton blooms are observed in early winter. This, in consequence leads to bioaccumulation of mercury from atmospheric deposition, which is higher at this time of the year. In this situation, metals do not deposit on the bottom of the reservoirs, but they are adsorbed on the surface of algae. The presence of phytoplankton causes intensive zooplankton breeding, which in turn enhances mercury transfer in the food chain. In this way, despite the decreased load of this metal to the Baltic, compared to cold winter, higher mercury load enters the food web per annum. The financial supports provided from National Science Centre (2011/01/B/ST10/07697) 2012-2014.
Hg is highly neurotoxic chemical substance. Lack of ice cover during winter, in the Southern Baltic Sea and simultaneous occurrence of storms had an impact on supply of the organic matter to the sediments and the increased concentration... more
Hg is highly neurotoxic chemical substance. Lack of ice cover during winter, in the Southern Baltic Sea and simultaneous occurrence of storms had an impact on supply of the organic matter to the sediments and the increased concentration of Hg. More intense burning of fossil fuels in heating season favored the atmospheric deposition of metals to the sediments. This led to a fourfold increase of the mercury concentration in sediments as compared to fall season. Presence of phytobenthos, zoobenthos in marine environment affects the transfer of mercury into the foodchain. The study area was situated in the coastal zone of Puck Bay: Chałupy and Osłonino. Samples of different species of phyto- and zoobenthos, porewater, sediments were collected once a month during 2012. Additionally bacteria abundance and major cations and anions concentrations were recorded. The financial supports provided from NSC 2011/01/B/ST10/07697.
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Research Interests:
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ABSTRACT The use of instruments such as toothbrushes for sampling diatoms from hard surfaces is a potential source of uncertainty in ecological status assessments as diatoms may be inadvertently transferred from one sample to another. The... more
ABSTRACT The use of instruments such as toothbrushes for sampling diatoms from hard surfaces is a potential source of uncertainty in ecological status assessments as diatoms may be inadvertently transferred from one sample to another. The scale of this contamination was investigated by sampling two sites differing in a number of key environmental properties resulting in different diatom assemblages. Fewer than 1% of the total valves counted represented taxa that might have been transferred between samples and this had no significant effect on the values of diatom-based indices calculated from the two sites.
Research Interests: Plant Biology and Diatom
Freshwaters face multiple environmental problems including eutrophication, acidification, salinization, and climate-change, all of which can lead to impairment of ecosystem structure and function. Furthermore, these stresses act in... more
Freshwaters face multiple environmental problems including eutrophication, acidification, salinization, and climate-change, all of which can lead to impairment of ecosystem structure and function. Furthermore, these stresses act in combination. Benthic algal-based assessments to quantify impairment are used in both the EU and USA. Using case studies, experience, and the literature, we compare concepts, approaches, and methods between the EU and USA to offer an updated picture of benthic algal-based assessments internationally. Both the USA and EU are federal entities within which member States have a reasonable amount of flexibility to adopt individualized methods. We attempt a synthesis of the following key topics: Water-Framework Directive (WFD) – Ecological Quality Ratios (EQR) vs. Biological Condition Gradient (BCG): how similar/different are they; what is the extent of divergence in assessment approaches across States/Countries within USA/EU, does it prevent comprehensive assessments, and how does it affect approaches to remediation; relationships between State/Country level monitoring programs and US/EU level programs; which metrics are used (and which algal groups are included); which pressures are assessed and are pressure-response relationships demonstrated; sampling design and methods; taxonomic resolution and harmonization; intercalibration and ring tests vs. quality assessment/quality control (QA/QC); setting of targets; decoupling of biodiversity inventories from environmental assessments; harmonic and strategic integration of the emerging molecular tools/metagenomic approaches in the existing knowledge-framework of environmental phycology.