On June 20, on the first day of the annual educational and field practice, the young people of the eco-center and the children of IDP made an excursion to the Black Lakes in order to study the biodiversity of this interesting ecosystem. Information about the origin of the Black Lakes, the most common representatives of the plant and animal world, was shared by Olga Velychkanych, Oksana Strychko, and Hanna Andrus who are teachers of the eco-center. The system of man-made, so-called Black Lakes, located in the southwestern part of Uzhhorod, near the border with Slovakia, was formed as a result of taking clay for the production of bricks at a local brick factory. It is worth noting that few people dare to swim in the lakes due to the rather high level of water pollution. They are very dangerous because of the possibility of infection with leptospirosis. These lakes are known only to local residents and a certain number of fishermen. Perhaps that is why aquatic animals and plants feel free here.
The study of the flora and fauna of the area began with an acquaintance with a family of whooper swans that chose this peaceful place. They recently had three children, whom they zealously protect and teach about adult life. By the way, married pairs of whooper swans are formed for life. The diet of swans consists of aquatic plants with the addition of small fish, frogs, and various insects. Children know that birds should not be fed bread under any circumstances, so they treated them with chopped apples. Aside from swans, common coot and mallard live on the lake, and also have nestlings. Therefore, it is necessary to keep silent so as not to frighten the birds.
In addition to reeds and cattails, which are common for lakes, on the Black Lakes, we also met Red Book species of plants, such as water caltrop and floating moss. The unusual plant is water caltrop (Trapa natans) which has several names. It is an annual herbaceous aquatic plant common in lakes and ponds. It has an unusual fruit, very nutritious and tasty – a nut with two to four bent pointed spines. Uncontrolled nut manufacture, climate changes, and deterioration of the ecological situation have led to a sharp reduction in the number of plants, as a result of which the water caltrop is listed in the Red Book. Floating moss or Salvinia natans is a small annual variegated fern that floats on the surface of still and slowly flowing water. Salvinia thickets serve as a good shelter for fish in the first weeks of their development. The decrease in the number of plants is primarily due to the pollution and drying of freshwater bodies.
The youth noted that last year at this time Salvinia was observed in large numbers on the lake, and this year only isolated specimens are found. On the other hand, unlike last year, the number of water caltrop, which covers the bank strips of water, has increased. Much attention was also paid to medicinal plants as well as to the insects that were possible to observe there. Young researchers led by Hanna Andrus conducted simple comparative experiments to determine the pH of drinking and lake water. Observing the color of the indicator, the participants concluded that the water in both samples was neutral.
The participants of the excursion had the opportunity to consolidate the acquired knowledge with the help of the game “Correctly identify the representatives of the flora and fauna of the lakes”, solving anagrams and crosswords, and finding options for solving problematic questions, etc.
The event was held within the framework of the project “Churches, religious and public organizations for the environmental education of national minorities”, implemented by the Interreligious and Environmental Civil Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) (head by Alexander Bokotey) in cooperation with the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU Bundesverband NABU International ) with the support of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Auswärtiges Amt) project coordinators Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).
Olha Velichkanych, Head of the Biology Department y and Natural Conservation Work of the TRENCSY