property which is significantly correlated with various other habitat attributes.
Indicators built on metrics provided by measurements and observations of species
and populations are regarded as integrative indicators of chronic changes in ecosystems. Integrative indicators represent summary responses reflecting ecosystem
stress (ecosystem sensitivity) due to climate change and other pressures and, at the
same time, may be simple and easy to apply. The summary response of habitats to
climatic stress can be assessed, among others, by quantifying changes in community biodiversity and in soil properties and as well as in water, carbon and nutrient
cycles. To this end, integrative indicators derived from metrics build on community
biodiversity and soil properties are of special significance.
Soil properties can be used for constructing a variety of climate change sensitive
indicators, and particularly the properties of peat soils built of organic matter
(Ostrowska et al. 2006). Progressing climate warming is detrimental to hydrological regime of peat soils and results in disturbance of production and accumulation
of organic matter and its decomposition, shifting the balance towards the latter
process. The loss of organic matter is accompanied by the release of CO 2 and
leaching of mineral elements, especially of nitrogen to groundwater. All the
properties of peat soils are predefined by the content and quality of soil organic
matter (SOM) and SOM decomposition is a highly sensitive indicator of temperature changes (Ostrowska et al. 2006). SOM mineralisation and CO 2 emission show
a high assignment to climate change at habitat level. Therefore, carbon content of
soil may be applied as basic metric of long-term processes of SOM decomposition
as changes in this content will reflect, in an integrative way, the changes in peat soil
quality. Accelerated SOM mineralisation results also in an increased migration of
nitrogen to the soil environment. Likewise, a change in the content of soil nitrogen,
and particularly of its mineral form, constitutes an integrative basic indicator of the
above process. The indicator evaluates the rate of SOM mineralisation at a given
moment of time; therefore it may be applied as a short term indicator (Ostrowska
and Sienkiewicz 2011).
Wetland habitat sensitivity to climate change may be estimated using integrative
indicators based on changes in plant communities. Accelerated SOM mineralisation
causes a “quasi eutrophication” of soils due to an increase in plant nutrient
availability. The increase in the pool of available nutrients leads to the expansion
of species which have a high nutrient demand and are not typical of respective
wetland communities (invasive species).
6.5 Validation of Climate Change-Related Indicators – The
Case Study of Biebrza National Park
An attempt was made to validate integrative indicators derived from vegetation
study and soil metrics which may be used to predict habitat sensitivity to climate
change and applied for short and long term monitoring in wetland areas. Wetland
6 Indicators for Monitoring Climate Change-Induced Effects on Habitats. . .
85
Indicators built on metrics provided by measurements and observations of species
and populations are regarded as integrative indicators of chronic changes in ecosystems. Integrative indicators represent summary responses reflecting ecosystem
stress (ecosystem sensitivity) due to climate change and other pressures and, at the
same time, may be simple and easy to apply. The summary response of habitats to
climatic stress can be assessed, among others, by quantifying changes in community biodiversity and in soil properties and as well as in water, carbon and nutrient
cycles. To this end, integrative indicators derived from metrics build on community
biodiversity and soil properties are of special significance.
Soil properties can be used for constructing a variety of climate change sensitive
indicators, and particularly the properties of peat soils built of organic matter
(Ostrowska et al. 2006). Progressing climate warming is detrimental to hydrological regime of peat soils and results in disturbance of production and accumulation
of organic matter and its decomposition, shifting the balance towards the latter
process. The loss of organic matter is accompanied by the release of CO 2 and
leaching of mineral elements, especially of nitrogen to groundwater. All the
properties of peat soils are predefined by the content and quality of soil organic
matter (SOM) and SOM decomposition is a highly sensitive indicator of temperature changes (Ostrowska et al. 2006). SOM mineralisation and CO 2 emission show
a high assignment to climate change at habitat level. Therefore, carbon content of
soil may be applied as basic metric of long-term processes of SOM decomposition
as changes in this content will reflect, in an integrative way, the changes in peat soil
quality. Accelerated SOM mineralisation results also in an increased migration of
nitrogen to the soil environment. Likewise, a change in the content of soil nitrogen,
and particularly of its mineral form, constitutes an integrative basic indicator of the
above process. The indicator evaluates the rate of SOM mineralisation at a given
moment of time; therefore it may be applied as a short term indicator (Ostrowska
and Sienkiewicz 2011).
Wetland habitat sensitivity to climate change may be estimated using integrative
indicators based on changes in plant communities. Accelerated SOM mineralisation
causes a “quasi eutrophication” of soils due to an increase in plant nutrient
availability. The increase in the pool of available nutrients leads to the expansion
of species which have a high nutrient demand and are not typical of respective
wetland communities (invasive species).
6.5 Validation of Climate Change-Related Indicators – The
Case Study of Biebrza National Park
An attempt was made to validate integrative indicators derived from vegetation
study and soil metrics which may be used to predict habitat sensitivity to climate
change and applied for short and long term monitoring in wetland areas. Wetland
6 Indicators for Monitoring Climate Change-Induced Effects on Habitats. . .
85