Habitat conditions of astatic pools and differentiation of vegetation connected with them

Abstract

In 12 astatic pools, each of which was characterised by the dominance of phytocenoses of one of three plant associations, investigations were performed on the physico-chemical properties of the water and bottom sediments, in order to establish the relations between the habitat conditions and vegetation. The criterion of the degree of saltiness of the bottom sediments and the specific conductivity of water in these water bodies allows to order them according to their decreasing fertility as follows: 1) water bodies with dominant phytocenoses of the association <em>Equisetetum limosi</em>, 2) with <em>Caricetum elatae</em>, 3) with <em>Typhetum latifoliae</em>. The type of vegetation indicates also connections with other properties of the water (hardness, oxidability, pH, chloride content) and of the bottom sediment (organic matter content, chlorides, magnesium and various forms of nitrogen). Correlation between the chemical composition of the water and depostis has only been demonstrated in the case of chlorides.