Nature of Polish Tatra Lakes

Abstract

The Tatra Mountains are small range of mountains of alpine character which belong to the Carpathian chain. All components of Tatra nature have a unique character. Tatra lakes are valuable and special environments for hydrobionts. The geological and hydrological attributes as well as water chemistry determining the specificity of those lakes have been described. The uniqueness of life forms present there has been described with regard to epilithic algal, zooplankton, macrozoobenthos and fish communities. The main features determining the structure of Tatra lakes hydrobionts communities are lake altitude, catchment character, water temperature and ice cover period. The influence of anthropogenic activities such as water acidification is also important. Fish introduction to the originally fishless lakes or their natural presence also has significant impact. Vertical distribution of lake organisms is distinctly marked in particular lakes. Based on many parameters, the Tatra lakes can be divided into two groups: of alpine and subalpine character. The water bodies situated on the Polish side of the Tatras are not acidified when compared to those in the Republic of Slovakia. The Tatras and their lakes are the farthest located in Northern Europe centre of endemism and the largest site of high mountain fauna and flora occurrence in Central Europe.