"Biological Diversity in Industrial Areas of Upper Silesia and Sustainable Development in the Baltic Region” – Workshop for teachers from Polish BSP schools"
Workshop 4
Macrophytes and macrozoobenthos of water reservoirs created as a result of mining exploitation of the „ Murcki” coal mine in Czułów
Workshop leader: Iga Lewin,
1. The study area.
a/ The characteristics of the study area:
the average depth of the mining subsidence reservoirs ranged from 0,5 to 2,0m. The surface area of the reservoirs amounts: 100 (No. 5), 150 (No. 2, 5,000 (No.1) and 25,000 (No. 7) m2, respectively. The reservoirs have now been reclamed, the waterbanks of the reservoirs are partially concrete-lined and stabilised with waste rock and slag .
b/ Mining subsidence reservoirs:
- reservoir no. 1 is reservoir with flowing water supplied by both surface and deep waters,
- reservoir no. 7 is reservoir with non-flowing water, mining waters do not flow into it.
c/ The Mleczna River.
2. Research equipment.
a/ The analyses of the physical and chemical parameters of the water:
- portable pH/EC/TDS meter (the analyses of the physical and chemical parameters, e. g. pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids),
- thermometer,
- Aquamal-Ökotest Water Laboratory (complete set of reagents for rapid analysis of water for determination of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, total hardness, pH and phosphate),
- water quality table.
b/ Quantitative analysis:
- D-frame dip nets,
- sieves,
- plant keys, animal keys,
- containers, etc.,
c/ Observation forms.
3. Results of the survey.
Quantitative analysis of fauna and flora
- macrophytes: Lemna minor, Sparganium erectum, Typha latifolia, Glyceria maxima, Myriophyllum spicatum, Nuphar lutea
- macrozoobenthos:
molluscs – Potamopyrgus antipodarum, Bithynia tentaculata, Radix auricularia, Viviparus contectus, Musculium lacustre,
other - Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Odonata, Chironomidae.
4. Conclusions.
a/ Mining waters flowing through subsidence reservoirs and then flowing into the Mleczna River considerably worsen its water quality.
 b/ High values of conductivity and the total dissolved solids occurred in the mining subsidence reservoir 1, 3 and in the Mleczna River. According to the water quality table the waters have been classified as V. Low values for conductivity and the total dissolved solids occurred in the reservoir 7.
c/ Despite the strong influence of mining waters there are species in the reservoirs which are considered to be sensitive to pollution and even species considered rare and untypical for the Katowice Upland area.
d/ The examined mining subsidence reservoirs are refuge for many species of fauna and flora. Moreover, they are perfect research areas for biology and ecology of living organisms.
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