Phytoseston and heterotrophic bacteria in the assessment of the waters in the Wełna and Nielba Rivers

The phytoseston flora and heterotrophic bacteria from the two intersecting rivers were studied during the intensive water flow (from October 2006 to May 2007). The physical and chemical measurements indicated that the water quality in the rivers regarding their purity, had slightly improved in the Nielba River and deteriorated in the Wełna River, at the sites behind the intersection zone. It was in the agreement with the studied phytoseston diatom communities (dominated by eutraphentic taxa). Phytoplankton during the winter months was dominated by Aulacoseira granulata. The importance of species from the genera Oscillatoria, Planktolyngbya, Tychonema, Planktothrix, Scenedesmus/Desmodesmus, Nitzschia and Fragilaria increased in spring and autumn. Heterotrophic bacteria occurred in considerably higher numbers in the Wełna River than in the Nielba River, with a significant decrease in the waters of the Wełna River behind the river-intersection. All analyses revealed that the waters in the Wełna River were more polluted with organic compounds than in the Nielba River locations.