The Variability of Lake Water Chemistry in the Bory Tucholskie National Park (Northern Poland)

Abstract

The paper presents the results of chemical analysis of lake waters in Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP). The BTNP area is unique due to its location within a single catchment and high variability in geological structure. Moreover, the lakes have different morphometric parameters, represent different hydrological types, trophic types and thermal regimes. Another unique feature is the existence of five lobelia lakes. This name comes from the Latin name of the taxon – Lobelia dortmanna L. which has been included in the Polish Red Data Book of Plants. The chemical analysis included 55 parameters, within macro elements (MEs), trace elements (TEs) and rare earth elements (REEs). Low concentrations of MEs, TEs and REEs confirm the absence of anthropogenic pressure. High variation of ME, TE and REE contents between individual lakes is due to different geological structure. The cluster analysis enabled lakes to be divided into six groups taking into account all analyzed water quality parameters. The lobelia lakes were characterized by the lowest concentrations of MEs and REEs, which mainly result from the small catchment area and their mainly endorheic character. The highest variability of MEs, TEs and REEs occurred in endorheic lakes, where the geological structure was dominant. The lowest variability of MEs, TEs and REEs occurred in the lakes connected by the Struga Siedmiu Jezior stream. The analysis of MEs, TEs and REEs in relation to the environmental factors and trophic, hydrologic and thermal typology allowed a better understanding of their spatial distribution in the BTNP lakes. The obtained results indicate that the values of the studied elements were generally close to the average values noted in surface waters according to the Geochemical Atlas of Europe.