NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE FORMING OF THE SPRING AND BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES IN THE KARST AREA OF CRACOW-CZĘSTOCHOWA UPLAND (POLAND)

Abstract

Abstract. The authors have carried out their investigations at the karst carbonate massif of the Cracow-Częstochowa Upland (CCU) since the 1990s of the XX century. The Upper Jurassic aquifer, which is a Major Ground Water Basin (MGWB No 326), was delimited in this area. It is closely connected with surface waters including living biocenoses and other dependent from the state of water. At the area of the CCU exist several hundred springs. At the drainage areas of springs authors conducted interdisciplinary investigations, including hydrogeological, geocheinical, geological studies performed in spring drainage areas. The communities of benthic invertebrates were determined as the biomarkers of the environmental state. In natural springs remarkable groups of species such as oligostenothermic, crenophilic or crertobiontic prevailed whereas in springs under anthropopression mainly eurybiontic species could be stated. Stygobiontic species were also found in a few springs. The study, done together with the recognition of regional land management and pollution sources, allow to estimate the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on water environment and its biotic elements within the karstic area of the CCU.