Epilithic diatoms as indicators of water quality and ecological status of streams of Sudety Mountains (South-Western Poland)

Abstract

Epilithic diatom communities in high-altitude streams in the Polish part of Sudety Mountains were studied in the years 2004-2006 to assess water quality and ecological status. In the Polish river typology, these water bodies have been separated as the type 3: the Sudety stream characterized by a small catchment area (< 100 km 2 ), V- or U-shaped valley, high velocity of flow, significant channel slope and a bed composed of boulders, stones and cobbles. The stream sections under study are located in Karkonosze Mountains and in Snieznik Massif and have been chosen following the European Union's recommendations for reference sites. The Karkonosze streams possess slightly acidic or neutral waters, with very poor electrolyte content, low total hardness and low total P content. Streams in Snieznik Massif have alkaline waters, with poor or medium electrolyte content, higher total hardness and higher total P content. Altogether 184 diatom taxa were determined. Species diversity ranged from poor (8-9 taxa) to moderately rich (82 taxa). The most abundant were Diatoma mesodon, Eunotia exigua, Achnanthidium minutissimum, Fragilaria capucina var. rumpens, Encvonema minutum, Fragilariforma virescens, Gomphonema gracile and Tabellaria flocculosa. Three diatom indices were applied in order to assess water quality: the Trophic Index (TI), the Saprobic Index (SI) and the Index of Pollution Sensibility (IPS). The TI values varied from 0.53 to 1.83 and in majority of the streams indicated ultraoligotrophic or oligotrophic waters. The SI values changed from 1.09 to 1.55 and indicated none (oligosaprobic) or slight (oligo-β-mesosaprobic) organic pollution. The IPS values were usually not lower than 17.7 and indicated waters of low trophy and unpolluted or imperceptibly polluted. Most of the streams studied may serve as reference sites for the Polish type 3 of running waters, i.e. the stream of Sudety Mts.