Analysis of the physicochemical properties of a habitat, together with data on the ecological requirements of individual organism groups, makes it possible to determine the current state of the environment with high precision. Testate amoebae thrive in biogenic sediments, and their analysis thus provides an opportunity to reconstruct the developmental history of a peatland, including any potential impacts of nearby mining operations. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the LW Bogdanka SA coal mine on the peatland ecosystems of Polesie National Park. Monthly water samples were collected at two peatlands within the Park from May through November. At each sampling event, we measured the water’s physical and chemical parameters and examined the qualitative and quantitative structure of the testate-amoeba community. Our results indicate that testate amoebae exhibit greater taxonomic diversity, abundance, and biomass in the peatland adjacent to Lake Moszne, where water-quality parameters – particularly dissolved oxygen levels and concentrations of bioavailable nutrients – remain relatively stable. In contrast, the Orłowskie Peatland shows clearer signs of anthropogenic influence: elevated nutrient concentrations here correspond with both quantitative and qualitative shifts in the testate-amoeba assemblage.
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