The impact of environmental factors on the diversity of gastropod communities in sinkhole ponds in a coal mining region (Silesian Upland, Southern Poland)

Abstract

AbstractStudies on the diversity of gastropod fauna were carried out in ten sinkhole ponds with varied sediments types, which were located in a coal mining area (Silesian Upland, Southern Poland). The water bodies with different bottom types were distinguished by their dissimilar water properties and the total organic matter in the sediment. A total of 11 gastropod species from four families were identified. Eleven species occurred in sinkhole ponds with a coal shale bottom, while in water bodies with sandy sediments nine species were found. The gastropod diversity and abundance were lower in water bodies with sandy sediments compared to the ponds with a coal shale bottom. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed the important factors that influence the gastropod distribution in the subsidence ponds that were studied.