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Articles

Biodiversity of peat ponds in forest ecosystems of the Polesie National Park: structure, functioning, and implications for climate change

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/jasbb.2026.5650
Submitted: January 7, 2026
Published: 14.10.2026

Abstract

The major aim of this study was to determine the effect of hydrological conditions and physicochemical properties of waters on the functioning of selected groups of hydrobionts in peat ponds. Experiments were conducted in three seasons: spring, summer, and autumn 2025, and covered 10 peat ponds of various trophy status and typology located on the area of the Polesie National Park. Significant fluctuations in water level resulting from insufficient atmospheric precipitation accelerate the drying out and overgrowing of peat ponds, particularly those of alkaline and acidic nature. Substantial restructuring of certain taxonomic groups of hydrobionts is observed in peat pond ecosystems due to deteriorating hydrological conditions. Across zoocenotic communities, a decline is observed in the contribution of planktonic species and an increase in the abundance of littoral or periphyton species. These changes are also reflected in increased species richness and abundance of organisms with broad ecological tolerance (primarily ciliates) and a decline in the species number and abundance of top-predators (planktonic crustaceans and macroinvertebrates).

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