Age and Land Use as Factors Differentiating Hydrochemistry and Plant Cover of Astatic Ponds in Post-Agricultural Landscape

• Main Authors: Mętrak Monika, Pawlikowski Paweł, Suska-Malawska Małgorzata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2014-07-01
• Series: Journal of Water and Land Development
• Subjects: astatic ponds; vegetation; water chemistry; hydrochemia; roślinność; zbiorniki astatyczne
• Online Access: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jwld.2014.21.issue-1/jwld-2014-0011/jwld-2014-0011.xml?format=INT

Small, astatic ponds are important features of post-glacial landscape, which support heterogeneity and biodiversity of agricultural areas. In the presented research we explored differences in hydrochemistry and plant cover of 20 small ponds located in Northeastern Poland, characterized by diverse age and developed in differently managed areas. According to our research, though changes in water level are under direct influence of water balance in the catchment, to which belonged the ponds, their hydrochemistry seemed to be shaped by processes at the level lower than the catchment scale. Age of the ponds appeared to be an important factor influencing density and species composition of vegetation developed on the studied ponds.