Microorganisms in selected sulphuric springs of the Polish Carpathians

Microorganisms colonising sulphurous waters were found at the bottoms of the spring niches and along spring outflows. Five springs from the Carpathians and two from the Carpathian Foredeep were selected for investigations. Sulphurous flora is represented mainly by sulphuric bacteria. They occur as individual threads, spider-webs, festoons, encrustations and covers. Their colours may be white, creamy, violet, pink and purple. Altogether 31 microorganism taxa: bacteria (16), cyanoprokaryota (3) and algae (12) were identified and illustrated. The bacterial occurrences have been correlated with physico-chemical state of the waters.