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Microorganisms in summer snow patches in selected high mountain ranges of Slovakia

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Abstract

Snow is not only abiotic component of cryosphere but also a true functional ecosystem. In the past were the Vysoké Tatry Mts, the highest mountains of the Carpathians, the most studied mountain area in the Europe in terms of cryoflora. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of snow microorganisms and its environmental conditions also in other high mountains of Slovakia. Due to climatic conditions of high altitudes, snow patches persist in deep concave relief shapes until late of June. Therefore these conditions are suitable for snow microorganisms. Sampling of snow microorganisms was carried out from May to September of 2013 and 2014. In selected mountains were mostly found snow alga cf. Chloromonas nivalis and we found also the presence of individuals of cyanobacteria, microscopic fungi, ciliates, rotifer and tardigrade. Recorded occurrence of thaw–froze cycles during august and high intensity of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (max. 2133 μmol.m−2.s−1) could be considered as stress factors this harsh environment. The pH values of taken samples were slightly acidified, in some cases neutral. The conductivity of water from melted snow had high coefficient of variation (values characteristic for distilled water until values 160 μS.cm−1). The chemical analyses determined the higher content of N-NO3 in analysed samples of melted snow in compare with content of N-NH4 and P-PO4. Despite these facts paper confirms potential of Slovak high mountains as suitable place for life of snow microorganisms.

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Acknowledgments

This work was accomplished as a part of VEGA projects No.: 1/0589/15, 1/0370/18 of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Science; and the projects of the Slovak Research and Development Agency No.: APVV-0423-10 and APVV-15-0425. The authors thank the agencies for the support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Environment, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 53, Zvolen, Slovak Republic

    Miriam Hanzelová, Jaroslav Vido, Jaroslav Škvarenina & Paulína Nalevanková

  2. Department of Biology and General Ecology, Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 53, Zvolen, Slovak Republic

    Zuzana Perháčová

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  1. Miriam Hanzelová
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Correspondence to Jaroslav Vido.

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Conflict of interest

Author Jaroslav Škvarenina has received research grants from Science Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic VEGA No. 1/0589/15 and from Slovak Research and Development Agency with No. APVV-15-0425. Author Jaroslav Vido has received research grant from Science Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic VEGA No. 1/0370/18. The authors declare that they have no other conflict of interest.

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Hanzelová, M., Vido, J., Škvarenina, J. et al. Microorganisms in summer snow patches in selected high mountain ranges of Slovakia. Biologia 73, 1177–1186 (2018). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-018-0136-0

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