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Dynamics and structure of diatom communities in glacier and/or groundwater-fed streams.
Prüherová, Alžběta ; Kulichová, Jana (advisor) ; Žárský, Jakub (referee)
Alpine streams and their algal communities have been increasingly challenged in recent years by the effects of climate change, particularly associated with glacier retreat and their melting. Glaciers in particular are an important hydrological source for alpine ecosystems, which are threatened by rising temperatures, that are more influential in these areas than at lower altitudes. Due to the ongoing retreat of glaciers, glacier meltwater is increasingly being added to tributary streams. This glacier water has significantly different characteristics and may thus be a significant contributor to changes in the diatom biodiversity of alpine aquatic ecosystems. The manipulated experiment of this thesis took place from July to September 2020 in the Swiss Alps. Using permanent diatom slides created out of samples taken from the experimental channels, changes occurring when glacier meltwater was added to ground water-fed tributary streams and changes occurring when ground water was added to glacier-fed streams were analysed. Changes in diatom abundances were compared with environmental factors such as temperature, pH, turbidity or conductivity. Glacial streams were characterised by significantly lower temperature, higher values of conductivity and turbidity, higher oxygen saturation and also higher pH...
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