The influence of plants on water quality in stream flowing through of mid-forest spring niche

In this paper, we evaluated the effects of herbaceous plants and bryophytes on the physicochemical properties of waters flowing through the mid-forest spring niche. The research was carried out in the Kamienna River valley, in Northern Poland. In streams, submerged macrophytes belonging to the Pellio endiviifoliae-Cratoneuretum commutati community were found. Herbaceous plants (Cardamine amara, Glyceria plicata, Mentha aquatica, Stellaria uliginosa) and bryophytes (Brachythecium rivulare, Palustriella commutata, Pellia endiviifolia) of the highest classes of stability and with the highest cover coefficients were chosen for chemical research. During growing seasons, the pH and concentrations of potassium (K+), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-), phosphate (PO43-), iron (Fe3+) and manganese (Mn2+) ions in the stream flowing through the mid-forest spring niche were significantly modified by plants via the uptake and accumulation of macro- and trace elements C. amara had the greatest capacity to modify stream ion concentrations among the plants assessed. The plant stood out against other species with its above-average capacity to accumulate phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). This species accumulated high quantities of nutrients (3,439.7 mmol x kg(-1)), which were mainly comprised of macroelements. On the other hand, in P. endiviifolia thalli, above-average levels of Fe and Mn were noted. The accumulation potentials of C. amara and P. endiviifolia indicate that the presence of these species significantly affect the physicochemical properties of water. This information has an important practical dimension, which is related to the potential use of C. amara and P. endiviifolia as water quality modifying agents.