A study conducted on 255 peatlands in Poland analyzed the relationships between the properties of peat soils and the chemical composition of plants. Stoichiometric ratios of biogenic elements (C:N) and relationships between nutrients in different types of organic soils were assessed. The results indicate that the degree of peat decomposition significantly affects nutrient cycling and the functioning of wetland ecosystems.
Piaszczyk W., Szlachta A., Łyszczarz S., Szymański N., Jasik M., Żelazny M., Małek S., Lasota J., Błońska E. (2026). Stoichiometry of peatlands and plants: Mutual interactions in biogeochemical cycles. Geoderma, 466, 117687.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706126000157The study covered 233 peatlands distributed across Poland, focusing on the assessment of heavy metal content in surface waters of different peatland types. It was demonstrated that hydrochemical properties, especially water pH, electrolytic conductance and organic carbon content, significantly affect the mobility and concentration of heavy metals. Raised bogs showed greater variability in cadmium, copper, lead and zinc concentrations, while groundwater-fed peatlands more frequently showed elevated iron and manganese concentrations.
Łyszczarz S., Szymański N., Jasik M., Piaszczyk W., Szlachta A., Żelazny M., Błońska E., Lasota J., Małek S. (2026). How the Physical and Chemical Properties Affect the Heavy Metal Content in Surface Water in Different Types of Peatlands. Land Degradation & Development.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ldr.70633The study covered 277 peatlands in Poland and aimed to assess the degree of contamination of peat soils with heavy metals and to identify factors affecting their accumulation. It was shown that heavy metal content is strongly related to soil chemical properties, especially pH, organic carbon content and basic cation concentration. The highest contamination levels were recorded in highly decomposed peatlands, particularly in southern Poland subjected to greater anthropogenic pressure.
Piaszczyk W., Szlachta A., Łyszczarz S., Szymański N., Jasik M., Żelazny M., Małek S., Lasota J., Błońska E. (2025). The effect of soil chemical properties and ecological implications on the distribution of heavy metals in different types of peatland. Ecological Indicators, 178, 113922.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25008520A study conducted on 262 peatlands assessed the content of heavy metals and biogenic elements in the needles of Norway spruce and Scots pine. Analyses showed that the accumulation of heavy metals in plant tissues is more related to atmospheric deposition than to the properties of peat soils. The results confirm the usefulness of spruce and pine as indicator organisms in environmental monitoring.
Szymański N., Łyszczarz S., Jasik M., Piaszczyk W., Szlachta A., Żelazny M., Błońska E., Lasota J., Małek S. (2026). Concentrations of heavy metals and biogenic elements in needles of Norway spruce and Scots pine from Polish peatlands. Scientific Reports.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-51610-yThe study uses Landsat satellite imagery and climate data to assess changes occurring in the Bagna Izbickie reserve from 1984 to 2024. Over four decades, the area of open peatland habitats decreased from 37% to 10%, while forest cover increased from 52% to nearly 84%, indicating intensive tree succession. The results confirm the high usefulness of remote sensing methods in long-term wetland monitoring.
Cichosz R., Łyszczarz S., Jasik M., Szymański N., Małek S. (2026). Four decades of hydroclimate-driven change and ecological condition in a Baltic raised bog assessed with Landsat and RSEI. Scientific Reports, 16, 14912.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-44890-x
