Bartłomiej Rzonca

Correlation between microbiological and chemical parameters of some hydrothermal springs in New Mexico, USA

Discharge areas of hydrothermal springs are known to be inhabited by diverse types of microorganisms including archaea, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. A total of 11 hydrothermal samples from the Rio Grande rift and the Valles caldera in New Mexico were analyzed to investigate the correlation between chemical and microbiological parameters of hydrothermal waters. The sampled fluids are categorized into three chemical groups: (I) steam-condensing acid sulfate waters, (II) deep geothermal and derivative waters and (III) thermal meteoric waters. Analyses of the microbial phospholipid fatty acids and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of DNA show that acid sulfate waters were populated by thermoacidophilic organisms and had high biomass content. Mineralized deep geothermal and derivative waters exhibited a high degree of microbial diversity, but had low biomass content. Thermal meteoric waters are low in total dissolved solids, and exhibit very low biomass content and microbial diversity. DNA sequences from several previously unknown microbial species were detected. The results of this study support the hypothesis that microbes can be used as tracers for specific types of subsurface environments.

Seasonal Variation of Lead in Fish Pond Waters of High Hunting Activity Area and Relation to Metals and Ions

Anthropogenic activities such as industry, agriculture, and daily life are related to metal pollution of the environment. Places known of the highest impact are fishponds where intensive fish farming is believed to input a significant amount of various elements to water. Additionally, many studies suspect wetland hunting activity of water lead pollution. The present paper aims to check if hunting is a significant source of lead (Pb) in water as well as to study the temporal trends of numerous parameters (pH, SEC, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH4+, HCO3−, SO42−, Cl−, NO3−, F−) in ponds (n = 48) and inflow (n = 24) waters near Zator in southern Poland, Europe. Most concentrations were measured with ion chromatography and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Lead concentrations in pond waters were low and found not to be linked with hunting activity, as well as they did not differ from the ones found in the inflow water. Moreover, it could be stated that activities led on ponds did not enrich rivers in the studied ions and elements.

From spring sources to springbrook: Changes in environmental characteristics and benthic fauna

Spatial patterns in macroinvertebrate communities and some abiotic factors were examined in three rheocrene springs and their springbrooks (Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, southern Poland). The mean discharge of particular springs ranged from 5 to 11 L s−1, and its annual fluctuations were small. Water temperature was very stable at all sampling sites. In the eucrenon the number of benthic taxa was the smallest (9–14 determined to the family level), but the densities were the highest (approx. 14000 ind. m−2). The biggest changes in macroinvertebrate composition were observed in the modified hypocrenon, which is an artificial pond. The lowest number of taxa were found in a natural, short springbrook with a nondiversified bottom substrate. The density of crenophilic taxa (Drusus trifidus, Dugesia gonocephala, Elmidae) diminished along the springbrooks, while the opposite trend was observed for ubiquitous taxa (some Oligochaeta, Asellus aquaticus and Chironomidae). Even in a very short natural springbrook (30 m), Drusus trifidus, the only species of Trichoptera found in the springs discussed here, goes through the entire development cycle. The strongest influence of a big river was observed at the outflow of one of the natural springbrooks, where the highest number of riverine oligochaete species were found. The benthic fauna of the springs studied here differed from that found in other springs in this area — the absence of the typical crenophilic species Bithynella austriaca (Gastropoda) and the presence of Gianus aquedulcis (Oligochaeta) may indicate the autonomy of the spring fauna in the Mstów area, possibly resulting from the postglacial geomorphological formation of this region or differences in habitat conditions.

Natural Factors Affecting the Chemical Composition of Water in the Catchment of Wołosatka Stream (High Bieszczady Mts.)

The aim of this study was to identify the natural factors determining spatial differences in spring water chemistry in the flysch Carpathians using the Wolosatka catchment (High Bieszczady Mountains, SE Poland) as an example. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to find the regularity in the variance of common and biogenic ion concentrations among the surveyed springs. The PCA identified three factors that altogether explain 85 % of the variance. The first factor explained 51 % of the variance and was best correlated with concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3 −. Generally, the fundamental factor shaping the ions concentration is the lithology of aquifer. The second factor, correlated mainly with the concentration of SO4 2− and Cl−, seems to explain the variation in water chemistry resulting from varying elevation of springs. The elevation controls climate conditions and plant communities in the alimentation area. Generally, higher concentrations of sulfates are characteristic of the upper part of the catchment, while the highest concentrations of chlorides are characteristic of springs located on the valley floors. The third factor, reflecting mainly the concentration of nitrates, seems to be related to the role of shallow groundwater circulation in the alimentation of springs after rainfall events.