Bioindicators in environmental protection

obligatory courses

The course is focused on presenting the theoretical assumptions of bioindication, the most important concepts and definitions, the role of indicator organisms and biomarkers in assessing the natural environment and the use of specific bioindication methods. As part of the research task, the students will evaluate the trophy of a water reservoir on the basis of concentrations of photosynthetic plant pigments (biomarkers of different groups of phytoplankton).

The course comprises the following thematic blocks:

- Basic concepts and definitions: bioindication, indicator species, biomarkers, tolerance, resistance and sensitivity of organisms,

- Bioindication methods used at different levels of nature organization: from the cell to the landscape: field and laboratory methods, biotic and biocenotic methods, passive and active bioindication, accumulation indicators, indicators of response, biological monitoring,

- The use of bioindicators and biomarkers in assessing the degree of air pollution: types of plant injury resulting from pollution and mechanisms of their formation,

- Practical task - based on the analysis of the composition and shape of the arboreal lichen thalli, the students assess the degree of air pollution in a selected area,

- Biomonitoring of the state of a forest community: damage to leaves and tree crowns (chlorosis, degree of defoliation), changes in the efficiency of photosynthesis, biochemical indicators of oxidative stress, change in the concentration of xanthophyll cycle pigments as indicators of plant response to stress, composition and abundance of leaf-eating insect assemblages, phytopathological hazards, health status of seed banks,

- Practical task: on the basis of the results of analyzes of chlorophyll a and pigments of the xanthophyll cycle in leaves of different tree species, as well as heavy metals and sulphur concentration in soil, the students prepare a status report for the Karkonosze Mountains, Bełchatów and Knyszyn Forest,

- Application of bioindication in assessing water quality in reservoirs: species diversity index method, saprobic method, biotic index, analysis of phytoplankton assemblages,

- Practical task: on the basis of the indicator species list, the students determine the water purity class using the Baur method,

- The use of biomarkers in the analysis of historical changes in environmental conditions: analysis of concentration of photosynthetic plant pigments, isotopes, hydrocarbons and other biochemical markers, analysis of diatom, ostracod and foraminifer assemblage composition, palynological analysis,

- Practical task: on the basis of the obtained data (concentration of characteristic plant pigments, trophic group of diatoms, content of different plant species pollen in bottom sediment samples and historical data), the students try to recognize historical environmental changes in a lake,

- Organisms used in soil assessment: microbiological indicators, phyto- and zoocoenotic indicators, functional indicators at the level of species or ecosystem, biochemical indicators, use of bioassays,

- Practical task: based on species composition of the undergrowth, the students evaluate soil conditions in different types of forests using the Zarzycki ecological number,

- Integrated strategies of bioindication: system of biological elements (BSP), bank of environmental standards (ESB)

- Practical task: students evaluate the trophy of a water reservoir, based on the analysis of the concentration of photosynthetic plant pigments (biomarkers of different groups of phytoplankton).

On completion of the course, the student:

 understands and uses the basic concepts of bioindication: indicator organisms, biomarkers, tolerance and resistance, sensitivity of organisms, biological monitoring,

 knows and uses in practice the most important bioindication methods in assessing the degree of air pollution, the state of forest communities and the quality of water and soil,

 is able to study historical changes of environmental conditions based on the analysis of the concentration of various types of biomarkers in aquatic sediments,

 is able to plan and carry out research tasks (collect the samples, analyze the concentration of specific biomarkers, elaborate the results graphically and statistically), and draw conclusions.

Testing knowledge gained during the course, Preparation of a report presenting the results of the research tasks.