Assessment of the degree of synanthropization of vegetation in the urban lakes in Ostróda (Masurian Lake District)

Abstract

Analyses were carried out of the structural and spatial character of the littoral vegetation in four urban lakes in Ostróda: Jakuba, Morliny, Kajkowskie and Perskie. Phytosociological studies made it possible to distinguish 20 phytosociological units representing plant communities from the classes: Potamogetonetea and Phragmiteta. The extent of anthropogenic changes in the littoral vegetation was examined using synanthropization index calculated for individual lakes. According to the classification proposed in the methods, Lake Morliny was classified as a natural reservoir, Lake Kajkowskie as belonging to the group of synanthropic water bodies (these two lakes were within the series of harmonic development). The other two lakes were classified as anthropogenic, characterised by disharmonic development due to high trophy. These results were confirmed by data on the area occupied in the lakes by particular alliances: Potamogetonion, Nymphaeion, Phragmition and Magnocaricion.