Zooplankton diversity of drainage system reservoirs at an opencast mine

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the structure of zooplankton in three artificial water reservoirs, the technological function of which is to pre-treat waters from a drainage system of a brown coal open mine by removing inorganic suspension. The background for the zooplankton qualitative and quantitative analyses was the hydrochemical conditions in the individual reservoirs. The greatest zooplankton abundance (N), number of taxa (n), Shannon’s diversity (H'), and species eveness (J') was noted in reservoir Chabielice (Nmean = 1311 ind. L−1, n = 26, H' = 2.09, J' = 0.64) which was dominated by eurytopic Rotifera species (Keratella cochlearis,Keratella tecta,Keratella valga,Polyarthra longiremis,Filinia longiseta). Their abundance was positively correlated with water pH and nutrient concentrations. Reservoir Kamień was characterized by the highest mean values of total suspension (9.6 mg L−1), chlorophyll a (Chl a) content (10.4 μg L−1), and water temperature (20.0 °C). These factors significantly correlated with crustacean biomass. The thermal-oxygenation conditions, low trophic level, and low productivity of the water (Chl a = 5.4 μg L−1) in reservoir Północny determined the overall low zooplankton abundance (Nmean = 153 ind. L−1). Artificial water bodies of opencast mine drainage systems are biologically unstable, but they do have some characteristics of natural ecosystems, and they do take over their functions. Zooplankton is an indicator of their ecological functionality. Knowledge gained about such reservoirs could contribute to decision-making about strategies for water reclamation and how to manage it.

Effects of recreational fishing on zooplankton communities of drainage system reservoirs at an open‐pit mine

“…Investigations initiated on the ecosystems of post‐mining reservoirs to reduce suspended matter found that the water variables, zooplankton abundance and diversity were similar to natural aquatic ecosystems (Goździejewska, Skrzypczak, Paturej, & Koszałka, ). The aim of the present study was to determine the dynamics of the zooplankton structure as an indicator of ecosystem processes in three reservoirs of the drainage system where different fishing models were applied.…”

“…All three reservoirs are of similar construction, each comprised of three functional zones (Figure ): (A) the inflow zone collects water from the separating well and facilitates gravitational sedimentation of the coarsest suspended‐matter fraction; (B) water enters the main basin of the reservoir where fine inorganic fractions are deposited; and (C) sedimentation concludes in the plant filter zone, which consists of several macrophyte species (Goździejewska et al, ). Water exits the filter zone (C) through an outflow, and the water flows from each reservoir into a common discharge canal.…”

Effects of suspended micro- and nanoscale particles on zooplankton functional diversity of drainage system reservoirs at an open-pit mine

“…The reservoirs were dominated by eurytopic Rotifera ( Polyarthra longiremis , Ascomorpha ovalis , Filinia longiseta , Keratella spp., Synchaeta spp.) that tolerate a wide range of environmental parameters and were often reported to be components of artificial, post-mining waters 1,36,49–52 . Note that the concentrations of suspension did not fluctuate enough among the reservoirs to elicit environmental stress, which is important factor for the zooplankton to generate appropriate adaptive mechanisms 37,46 .…”

“…To reduce pollution and sustain required water quality, drainage water is directed to settling reservoirs prior to discharge into the rivers. Apart from this primary function, however, settling reservoirs are also used as fisheries and places for various socio-recreational activities 1 .…”

“…Goździejewska et al . 1 were the first who studied the relation between physico-chemical parameters of post-mining waters and the structure of zooplankton assemblages in settling reservoirs. They confirmed the effect of good feeding conditions on zooplankton abundance similar to that in natural aquatic ecosystems except for the concentration of suspensions.…”