EJPAU 2008. Radecki-Pawlik A. , Skalski T. A NEW CONCEPT OF BANKFULL DETERMINATION USING INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES

Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.

2008
Volume 11
Issue 1

Topic:

Environmental Development

ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES

Radecki-Pawlik A. , Skalski T. 2008. A NEW CONCEPT OF BANKFULL DETERMINATION USING INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES – THE OCHOTNICA STREAM, POLISH CARPATHIANS, EJPAU 11(1), #12.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume11/issue1/abs-12.html

A NEW CONCEPT OF BANKFULL DETERMINATION USING INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES – THE OCHOTNICA STREAM, POLISH CARPATHIANS

Artur Radecki-Pawlik¹, Tomasz Skalski²
¹ Water Engineering Department, Environmental Engineering and Geodesy Faculty, Agricultural University of Cracow, Poland
² Department of Entomology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland

ABSTRACT

The paper presents the results of an investigation of bankfull discharge using a proposed IBA method (Invertebrate Bankfull Assessment method). The research was performed in one of the Polish Carpathian streams in the Gorce Mountains region: the Ochotnica Stream. As the index of determination of bankfull volume the size of terrestrial invertebrates (carabids) was advocated which were present in the investigated research cross-section and were resistant to specific water discharge conditions. Thus, three so-called invertebrate benches (levels) were recognised which were characterised by selected specific invertebrate species. Next the discharge values were calculated up to those bench levels employing the proposed IBA method (biotic method) and analysed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. At the same time bankfull was calculated in classic ways using several methods based on hydrological and geomorphological approaches (abiotic methods) as well as based on the Woodyer method which refers to changes in riparian plant communities and their resistantce to flooding (Woodyer’s method is also biotic). Finally, some of the discharges obtained using the IBA method were recognised as lying within the range of bankfull discharges determined using classic morphometric methods. Consequently, a main aim of the paper is to advocate the proposed IBA method to geomorphologists, hydrologists and river engineers to be used and applied in interdisciplinary studies connected with river management, catchment management and small-scale river training works when the conservation value of the systems should not be overlooked.

Key words: bankfull discharge, mountainous stream, ground beetles, biomass, Polish Carpathian Mountains, IBA method.

Artur Radecki-Pawlik
Water Engineering Department,
Environmental Engineering and Geodesy Faculty,
Agricultural University of Cracow, Poland
Al. Mickiewicza 24-28, 30-059 Cracow, Poland
Phone: (48-12) 633-11-70
email: rmradeck@cyf-kr.edu.pl

Tomasz Skalski
Department of Entomology,
Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
Ingardena 6, 30-060 Cracow, Poland
Phone :(48-12) 634-37-15
email: tomasz_skalski@yahoo.co.uk

Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.