Abstract
This study was aimed at determining whether the origin, morphometry, and hydrology of post-mining lakes affect their hydrochemical and hydrobiological parameters (i.e. water quality). The investigated post-mining lakes were very young compared to glacial lakes and represent early stages of ecosystem succession. Despite their different ages and morphometries, they are all mesotrophic and have good water quality. They have not been supplied with phosphorus and nitrogen, which can cause excessive development of pelagic phytoplankton; as a result, they share low chlorophyll a (Chl a) content, low phytoplankton biomass, and relatively high water transparency. Low abundance and species richness of zooplankton indicate low trophic levels in all of the lakes. Chl a in Lakes Przykona and Bogdałów were within the range typical of mesotrophic lakes, while Lake Janiszew had very low Chl a, typical of an oligotrophic water body. The low N:P ratios (4–6), especially in summer, indicates nitrogen limitation of primary production. There is a risk that such a proportion of the major biogenic elements could lead to harmful cyanobacterial blooms. The lake basins were formed using quaternary deposits (sand, clay) at their bottoms; as a result, the lakes had a slightly alkaline pH (>8), which favors the development of aquatic organisms. Optimum depth helps establish lake stratification and ensures ecological stability. This applies to post-mining lakes as well; an optimum depth should be determined to ensure the development of thermal stratification, which affects lake processes.
Highlights
Global environmental change, together with local environmental change, affect the water balance in many regions (Bockelmann et al 2004)
This study presents the hydro-morphometry as well as hydrochemical and hydrobiological parameters of lakes created at three abandoned lignite mining pits in central Poland (Fig. 1), which had been filled in with debris and flooded after mine dewatering ceased
Our results show that post-mining pit lakes are excellent platforms for investigating community succession and that they enable researchers to test methods traditionally used for studying natural lakes
Summary
Global environmental change (global warming), together with local environmental change (e.g. the economic exploitation of catchment areas), affect the water balance in many regions (Bockelmann et al 2004). Post-mining lakes can be used for recreational purposes (Doupé and Lymbery 2005), can provide new habitats in areas where human activity has degraded wetlands (Brenner et al 1987; Doupé and Lymbery 2005; Klapper and Geller 2001), and can be used for fish farming (Axler et al 1996a, b). Such uses can affect lake water quality,
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