ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Hydrogeochemical Conditions
of the Development of Anthropogenic
Carbonate Swamps: A Case Study
of an Abandoned Polish Sandpit
| 1 | Department of Geobotany and Nature Protection, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland |
| 2 | Department of Physical Geography, University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland |
| 3 | Institute of Environmental Protection and Engineering, University of Bielsko-Biala, Bielsko-Biała, Poland |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Submission date: 2018-12-13
Final revision date: 2019-01-25
Acceptance date: 2019-01-29
Online publication date: 2019-09-10
Publication date: 2019-12-09
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(1):561–569
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The hydrogeochemical conditions of the development of a carbonate swamp that had formed in a
previous sandpit were studied. The object is located in the town of Jaworzno-Szczakowa in the Silesian
Upland of southern Poland. It has been shown that the sandpit, which has not been reclaimed since its
operation ceased, underwent spontaneous processes toward the development of calciphilic vegetation.
The Biała Przemsza River plays a significant role in supplying the swamp with water. The water of
this river is highly contaminated because it receives wastewaters from zinc-lead (Zn-Pb) ore mines.
Water that has high concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions favours the occurrence of calciphilic
species (e.g., Liparis loeselii NATURA 2000 species), which form wetlands of carbonate vegetation that
are rare in both Poland and Europe. The population size of this species on the studied swamp is a few
hundred specimens. In addition to Liparis loeselii, there are other species that are protected or rare and
endangered species at the national level and on the “red list” of Poland’s plants, hence such swamps
could represent an important refuge for biodiversity.
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