Effect of Catchment Land Use on Trophic State Variables of Small Water Bodies (Northern Poland)

Abstract

We examined the land use impact on the water quality of small water bodies located in northern Poland. Twenty nine ponds, located in the urban area or a typical agricultural land were analyzed based on physical-chemical parameters: water temperature, conductivity, oxygen concentration, content of particulate suspended matter and chlorophyll “a”, and nutrients concentration. Additionally, to describe and compare the trophic condition of investigated small water bodies, we used the Carlson type trophic state. Performed measurements showed that nutrient concentrations significantly differentiated the agricultural ponds from urban water bodies. Mean total phosphorus and nitrogen concentration in midfield ponds were about 5 and 3 times higher, respectively, than in urban ponds. Moreover the phytoplankton chlorophyll “a” mean values were on average fivefold higher in agricultural ponds. Furthermore, urban ponds were characterized by lower values of TSI, thus lower trophy level: generally on the border of meso- and eutrophy. The agricultural ponds trophy changed from meso- to hypertrophy.