Macroinvertebrate Diversity in Post-Exploitation Limestone Ponds Over a 10-Year Period

The study aimed to investigate the structure and diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages in five small permanent water bodies within a limestone quarry area. Benthic samples were collected monthly from April to November in 2009 and 2019, and basic physicochemical water parameters were measured. The results showed that the assemblages were dominated by mayflies (Baetidae and Caenidae), damselflies (Coenagrionidae), and dipterans (Chironomidae), with a total of 42 taxa recorded. Over the ten years, taxon richness and diversity increased, especially in spring, and became more diverse among the ponds. The abundance and frequency of occurrence of hololimic organisms, such as snails (Lymnaeidae and Planorbidae), oligochaetes, and water mites, also increased. However, macroinvertebrate densities, although they doubled overall, remained low due to the nature of the sediments. The RDA analysis indicated that temperature, seasonality, pond margin shading, and morphometry were the main environmental factors influencing macroinvertebrates, which explained 38.6 % of the total variance in macroinvertebrate abundance. Further research, including analysis at lower taxonomic levels, will help us better understand the factors driving the observed patterns in macroinvertebrate assemblages in small anthropogenic water bodies.