Methodological approaches to phytomediation of productive processes in chalk quarry reservoirs of Belarus

As concerns field work, bathymetric measurements as well as measurements of physical and chemical parameters of water were conducted, and samples were collected for laboratory tests, which included quantitative and qualitative hydrobiological analyses concerning e.g. the abundance, biomass and species composition of phytoplankton, seston and chlorophyll. Six water bodies (situated in flooded chalk pits) with different morphometric parameters (areas ranging from 2.22 to 37.67 ha, depths ranging from 5.1 to 23.0 m and nearshore shallow areas ranging from 0.39 to 2.64 ha) and with different bioproductive characteristics of water mass (eg. transparency - 1.2-6.8 m, phosphates - 0.002-0.110 mg/dm3, nitrates - 0.040-0.600 mg NO-3/dm3, biomass of phytoplankton - 0.075-1.801 mg/dm3, seston - 0.73-5.56 mg/dm3) were selected for the study of the phytomediation mechanism. The specificity of structural and functional relationships between the abiotic and biotic components of productive-macrophyte and productive-phytoplankton reservoirs is determined. It was established that macrophyte water bodies in flooded chalk pits are able to maintain their basic production and trophic characteristics in the long term under anthropogenic influence conditions. An algorithm is proposed for calculating the level (E - 89.58-115.13), productivity index (K - 11.16-54.15) and gradient (E - 2.1-9.8) of eutrophication of chalk (limestone) quarry reservoirs using the morphometric specificity indicator of the trophogenic epilimnial layer (S tau - 0.05-0.270). The revealed dependence of the productive and functional organization and trophic status of a quarry reservoir on the morphometric features of a technogenic basin is proposed to be used in the design of sustainably functioning macrophyte-type aquatic systems at the stage of mining and engineering reclamation. The possibility of creating ecologically sustainable lake-type aquatic systems on the site of resource depleted chalk quarries in the process of phytomediation of productive processes is substantiated. Research on innovative methods of reclamation of flooded chalk pits is in line with several sustainable development goals.

Automated summary

The study focused on field work related to bathymetric measurements, as well as physical and chemical parameter measurements of water. Samples were collected for laboratory tests, including analyses on the abundance, biomass and species composition of various aquatic components. The research identified the ability of water bodies in flooded chalk pits to maintain their production and trophic characteristics in the long term under anthropogenic influence. The study proposed an algorithm for calculating eutrophication levels in chalk quarry reservoirs and suggested the use of morphometric features in the design of sustainably functioning aquatic systems.