Effect of agricultural landscape characteristics on the hydrobiota structure in small water bodies

Abstract

Understanding the influence of environmental factors on the hydrobiota structure of small aquatic ecosystems is essential for effective landscape management. In this study of 165 small water bodies situated in the lowland high-productive agricultural landscape of western Poland we evaluate the effect of catchment, buffer zone, water body and water quality parameters on macrophyte functional groups (nymphaeids, elodeids, pleustophytes, helophytes) and zooplankton diversity. The potential pressure of the catchment on ponds was high (mean Ohle index 140). For macrophytes, shore length and depth of pond were highly significant and, subsequently the type of catchment and buffer, while for zooplankton, apart from water depth, trophic features of the habitat were decisive. Cluster analysis was used to identify functional types of water bodies on the basis of catchment and buffer zone attributes. Regardless of physicogeographical macroregion, water bodies of arable catchments with herbage buffer prevailed in a landscape. For protection and prevention of ecological deterioration of ponds and stability of trophic conditions the optimal situation is a buffer which is created by shrubs and trees around the pond.

Characterizing hydrological processes within kettle holes using stable water isotopes in the Uckermark of northern Brandenburg, Germany

“…Studies of kettle holes within central European postglacial landscapes have until recently, focused predominantly on biological interactions between macrophyte plant species and zooplankton with internal water quality parameters and internal biogeochemical cycling at the local scale (Joniak et al, ; Joniak, Kuczynska‐Kippen, & Gabka, ; Joniak, Nagengast, & Kuczynska‐Kippen, ; Kuczynska‐Kippen & Joniak, ; Patzig et al, ). Though the degree of biological interaction among kettle holes is an important current prominent research topic, a detailed hydrological investigation of central European depressional wetlands is presently lacking.…”

Species Richness and Taxonomic Distinctness of Zooplankton in Ponds and Small Lakes from Albania and North Macedonia: The Role of Bioclimatic Factors

“…are to be considered of secondary importance. A number of studies have unequivocally indicated that they can directly affect zooplankton species richness ( [66,67] and references cited in the introduction; but see also further in this section). In addition, lake age [68,69], connectivity, and, in general, the spatial arrangement of the habitat have been acknowledged to play an important structuring role (e.g., [70]; see also [71] for a marine example).…”

“…The positive influence of the non-arboreal vegetation cover on species richness is consistent with the results of studies that were focused on macrobenthos in lotic habitats (e.g., [73] and literature cited). This could be ascribed to a positive, indirect effect of lateral trophic enrichment on aquatic primary producers, increasing zooplankton diversity by a phytoplankton-mediated bottom up effect or, alternatively, promoting habitat heterogeneity through an increase in aquatic vegetation [66,74,75].…”

Response of Zooplankton Indices to Anthropogenic Pressure in the Catchment of Field Ponds

“…Water was also sampled for measurements of nutrient concentration (total phosphorus and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, which was the sum of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium nitrogen) and chlorophyll a concentration. Detailed methods for nutrient determination and chlorophyll a concentration (corrected for pheopigments) were described in the previous paper [31].…”