The Role of Springs in Maintaining the Biodiversity of Freshwater Algae

Springs are globally abundant. They are classified according to many typologies primarily due to the combination of a very diverse geological formation and hydrology of their area. In hydrobiological research the most important are the type of a niche, water quality and catchment area. The high diversity of these parameters is reflected in a broad range of spring habitats and a development of different algae communities. The aim of the presentation is to report the springs as a refuge for freshwater algae. The presence of many rare, endangered and new to science taxa has been documented in many springs. Diatoms are amongst the most common and abundant organisms. The diatom flora of springs in Europe has been extensively studied for over 200 years and is therefore the best recognized in the world. The most studies on algae occurring in the springs, however, were limited to upland and mountain areas. In the case of Poland, the researchers also focused on such areas. The results of my research on diatom assemblages in the lowland springs of north-eastern Poland confirm the important role of the springs in maintaining the biodiversity. Alongside cosmopolitan and widespread species, many rare ones have been described. Among them were Navicula striolata (Grunow) (Lange-Bertalot 1985), Cocconeis pseudothumensis E. (Reichardt 1982), Diploneis krammeri (Lange-Bertalot & E. Reichardt 2000), and Diploneis alpina (F. Meister 1912) which was first recorded for Poland.