Most of the world's freshwater supplies are underground. Despite its prevalence, this largest land-based biomass from the microbiological point of view is poorly researched, although it is known that microbes play an active role in the biogeochemical circulation of elements and matter. Even in Slovenia, many aquifers are already subjected to human influence, which is not reflected only in the changed physico-chemical properties of the environment, but also in the accompanying microbiota. In the research, which was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency, we included the karst spring of Krajcarca in the Zadnjica valley, which is located at the interface between the upper limestone limestone and the dolomite and partly overlaps the sea. The spring, partly used for water supply, was sampled within the one-year hydrological cycle (2016-2017). The measured parameters indicate a stable geochemical environment. We give average values: temperature - 5.5 ° C, pH-8.14, electrical conductivity - 166 μS / cm, dissolved oxygen - 12.02 mg / l, alkalinity - 87 mg CaCO3 / l, nitrates - 1.6 mg / l, chlorides - 1.1 mg / l, sulphates - 1.0 mg / l. In milliliter of spring water there were ~ 5,07 × 104 cells. The microscopic particles in spring water, the size of 0.1 μm, contained the highest proportion of DNA (an average of 65.1%) followed by a 0.45 μm fraction (27.6%) and a 5 μm fraction (7 , 3%). A detailed metagenomic analysis of the nucleic acid sequences of individual fractions is in progress, which will provide key data for understanding the dynamics and destiny of microbial populations, species diversity and metabolic potential. Such a detailed analysis of the source of Krajcarca is not important only from the perspective of understanding the functioning of systems across different size classes and over time (systemic biology), but primarily for water resource managers, in order to reduce environmental pressures and increase the protection of untouched underground karst ecosystems as drinking water resources for future.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 4256900525th International Karstological School Classical Karst, [Postojna, 2017]
B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting
COBISS.SI-ID: 290302720