Relationship between the environmental and hydrogeological elements characterizing groundwater-dependent ecosystems in central Poland

Abstract

Results are presented for a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the relationship between hydrogeological and environmental elements characterizing the areas of groundwater-dependent ecosytems (GDEs) located in the Kampinos National Park in central Poland. Statistical analysis was used to assess the seasonal and long-term variability of groundwater conditions. A geographic information system (GIS)-based model enabled the visualization of the test results. Objectification of spatial relationships between hydrogeological and environmental elements was carried out using factor analysis. The statistical analysis of groundwater levels in the period 1999-2013 confirmed the sequence of wet and dry years. The calculation enabled the determination of the range of groundwater-level changes, but no specific trends were observed with respect to these changes. Moreover, the widespread belief that the lowering of the water table in presented GDEs is due to anthropogenic pressure and climate change was not confirmed. The factor analysis showed that GDE areas are characterized by a considerable homogeneity of abiotic elements and locally occurring heterogeneous regions, mainly related to anthropogenic pressure. Dependency between the type of plant community and depth to the water table in the typical GDEs was not defined by the delimiting factors.