Microbial Activity in Alpin Karst Spring Water

01.07.2005 - 01.07.2009
Forschungsförderungsprojekt
In mountainous areas like Austria, groundwater resources from alpine karst aquifers play a fundamental role for high quality public water supply. Consequently, alpine karst research has to provide the basic scientific understanding which enables to take all necessary steps for long term maintaining the ecological integrity of the respective alpine catchment areas. Recently conducted studies by our research group for the first time demonstrated the occurrence of a diverse microbial community including prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms as well as viral particles in spring water of alpine karst aquifers. The so called ¿autochthonous microbial endokarst communities¿ in the spring water are likely to originate from sloughed cells attached to the rock surfaces and deposited sediments in the aquifer or occur simply suspended in low - flow interstitial areas. The question arises about the consequences of these microbial communities? Are they simply a passive collection of living organic matter or do they constitute a giant active bioreactor in the karst aquifer with all ecological consequences? The proposed study will set the first crucial steps in evaluating the relevance of microbial metabolism in alpine karstic spring water and respective biofilm compartments. The proposal focus on the investigation on prokaryotic activity as it is considered the catalytic thriving force of dark - heterotrophic processes. Prokaryotic community composition, active cell compartments and total community production in spring water and respective biofilm compartments by means of catalysed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridisation (CARD-FISH), microautoradiography and in situ prokaryotic production measurements (3H-Leu incorporation) wil be determined. Furthermore, by using hydrological and chemographical information of the respective spring catchment itself, evaluation of the significance of prokaryotic activity for karst aquifer ecology and biogeochemical processes can be undertaken. A seasonal variation analysis covering two summer and one winter season and additionally two flood investigations will be undertaken. The selected ¿model¿ alpine catchment areas of the DKAS1 and LKAS2 spring have already proved an excellent setup in previous studies. It should be mentioned that this research involves the close cooperation of microbial ecologists, hydrologists and public water works.

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Projektmitarbeiter_innen

Institut

Grant funds

  • FWF - Österr. Wissenschaftsfonds (National) Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Forschungsschwerpunkte

  • Beyond TUW-research focus: 100%

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
WasserqualitätWater Quality
prokaryotischer Metabolismusprokaryotic metabolism
mikrobielle Ökologiemicrobial ecology
Alpines Karstquellwasseralpine karst spring water
Selbstreinigungspotentialselfpurification potential

Externe Partner_innen

  • Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
  • Joanneum Research Forschungs GesmbH Institut für WasserRessourcenManagement Hydrogeologie und Geophysik
  • Magistratsabteilung 31 (Wiener Wasserwerke) der Stadt Wien

Publikationen