Application of benthic diatoms to assess efficiency of conservation management: a case study on the example of three reconstructed soda pans, Hungary

Abstract

The number of shallow soda pans decreased drastically all over the world and their conservation needs to be urgently forced. Due to their unique physical and chemical features, the lack of appropriate management plans has been a worldwide issue. The aim of present paper was to study the efficiency of the applied water management in three Central European reconstructed soda pans based on their benthic diatom communities, physical and chemical parameters in the years 2012 and 2014. The diatom composition and the diversity metrics indicate unequivocally a worse ecological status of Borsodi-dűlő and Nyeki-szallas than it is characteristic for their natural conditions, which is attributable to their irregular water level modifications. The ecological status of the Legeny-to was far from the required because its conductivity was constantly low, diversity was high and the flora was dominated by mainly freshwater diatom species due to the lack of the natural hydrological cycle. However, these pans have significant conservation values; their good ecological status should be completely reached by restoring their natural hydrological and disturbance regimes.