Impact of Land Use Type on Macrophyte Occurrence in Ponds in a Changing Climate

Abstract

Small ponds are essential environmental elements that perform many ecological functions. We tried to answer whether the macrophytes in ponds may be influenced by environmental factors and the neighboring areas’ land-use type. We also tried to determine the trend of changes in the ponds’ depth and size over the decade (2008–2018). The research was carried out on eight ponds in four types of land use (agricultural, horticultural, urban, and industrial areas). The study covered ponds’ morphometric parameters, macrophytes’ occurrence, and physicochemical water parameters. All data collected were statistically processed using CCA, linear regression, and Pearson’s correlation. The results indicated a continuous tendency for the ponds’ size and depth to decrease, particularly in urbanized areas. During the study, most macrophytes’ genera increased their area. Our research allowed us to separate two homogeneous groups of ponds in terms of environmental conditions. The first was horticultural area ponds, for which higher nutrient concentrations in water were determined. Those ponds were inhabited by Ceratophyllum and Sparganium genera. The second was urban and industrial area ponds characterized by higher water temperature, transparency, pH, and were richer in Mg and Ca. Carex, Potamogeton, and Schoenoplectus genera preferred such conditions.