Traces of change: plant ecosystems confronting the challenges of the modern world

Prof. Małgorzata Suska-Malawska with collaborators,
Prof. Wiktor Kotowski with collaborators,
Prof. Bogdan Jaroszewicz with collaborators

Ecosystems, from the deserts of Central Asia to peatlands and forests of Europe, play vital roles in nature. Researchers analyze their responses to climate change and human activity to better understand degradation mechanisms and develop conservation strategies. They study the effects of climate on the formation of plant habitat geo- and biodiversity. 

Scientists in the first team use chemical markers to track changes in desert landscapes. Their research enables the reconstruction of ecosystem evolution processes across natural hot deserts like the Kyzylkum, human-transformed deserts like the Aralkum, and cold, high-altitude deserts of the Pamirs.

Although peatlands cover only 3% of the Earth’s land area, they are invaluable for climate regulation and biodiversity. Researchers analyze the stability and degradation mechanisms of these ecosystems and explore restoration possibilities. The second team focuses on lowland peatlands, their role as carbon sinks and water cycle regulators, and methods to restore their ecological functions.

Forest ecosystems reveal surprising trends as well. Analyses by the third team show that, contrary to expectations of warming climates, species with lower thermal requirements are beginning to dominate beneath the forest canopy. This shift is driven by intensified shading of the forest floor caused by the growth of tree canopies, a result of nitrogen deposition. Plants are developing new survival strategies.

MODERN APPLICATIONS:

The research findings contribute to designing peatland restoration efforts, managing sustainable forest ecosystems, and developing adaptation strategies for climate change.

FIGURE CAPTIONS:

Top: Forest ecosystems in Europe: studies on the impact of climate and nitrogen deposition on species diversity.

Bottom: Research in Central Asia’s high-altitude deserts: scientists analyzing the ecosystems of the Pamir mountain range.

RELATED PUBLICATIONS:

Prof. Małgorzata Suska-Malawska’s group

1. Chibowski P, Zegarek M, Zarzycka A, Suska-Malawska M. (2024) Ecosystem engineers in the extreme: The modest impact of marmots on vegetation cover and plant nitrogen and phosphorus content in a cold, extremely arid mountain environment. Ecol Evol 13:e9948. doi: 1002/ece3.9948
2. Kabala C, Gądek B, Mętrak M, Szymczak K, Suska-Malawska M. (2024) The record of paleolake sediments in soil catena in the arid steppe, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. Catena 246:108433. doi: 1016/j.catena.2024.108433
3. Mętrak M, Wilk M, Jasser I, Khomutowska N, Korabiewski B, Niyatbetkov T, Plocinniczak T, Wrzosek M, Suska-Malawska M. (2023) Morphology and distribution of biological soil crusts and their potential role in soil-forming processes under dry high-altitude periglacial conditions (Eastern Pamir, Tajikistan). Geoderma Reg 33:e00636. doi: 1016/j.geodrs.2023.e00636
4. Kabała C, Chachulski Ł, Gądek B, Korabiewski B, Mętrak M, Suska-Malawska M. (2021) Soil development and soil spatial differentiation in a glacial river valley under cold and extremely arid climate of East Pamir Mountains. Sci Total Environ 758: 144308. doi: 1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144308

RELATED PROJECTS:

Prof. Małgorzata Suska-Malawska’s group

The influence of biological soil crust (BSC) on soil development under semiarid climatic conditions: evaluating C and N sequestration in high altitude ecosystems – Opus grant, National Science Centre (NCN), 2018-2022, PI: M. Suska-Malawska