This study was aimed to determine the anthropogenic and natural factors affecting spatial and temporal changes in the physicochemical parameters and bacterial indicators of water quality in the river Białka. The impact of intensive development of the tourist infrastructure on the quality of river water and the potential health threats to tourists was also assessed. Water samples were collected over a period of 2.5 years, once per each month in four sites along the river. Temperature, electrolytic conductivity, pH, and water level were measured onsite; flow rate data were acquired from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management; chemical analyses allowed to determine the amount of fourteen ions, while microbiological indicators included total and thermotolerant coliforms, total and thermotolerant Escherichia coli, and mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria. The combination of hydrological, hydrochemical, and microbiological methods generated large amount of data, which were processed by multivariate statistical analysis. A downstream cumulative effect was observed in the contamination of the river water. Fecal coliforms and E. coli were detected in all sites, suggesting the source of fecal contamination even in the protected areas. Intensive development of a ski resort and the related infrastructure, together with the need to accommodate numerous tourists in the examined region, has an evident environmental impact. The resulting deterioration of water quality poses health risks to tourists, as water from the Białka river is used for a variety of purposes, including as a raw drinking water or for artificial snowing of ski slopes. The seasonal changes in the physicochemical parameters mainly result from varying natural factors that shape the water quality in the studied region. The differences in the number of analyzed microorganisms result from seasonal variation in touristic activity and are affected mostly by point sources of sewage inflow.

The aim of this 2-year study was to examine the temporal changes in the concentration of microbiological indicators of water contamination and selected physicochemical parameters within the Białka river and its selected tributaries in the vicinity of the largest ski station in Białka Tatrzańska. The study involved 24 series of sampling in eight sites throughout the Białka river and on its selected tributaries. Temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC 25°C ) were measured onsite. The microbiological assays included the numbers of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, Staphylococcus spp. and Salmonella spp., as well as coliforms, thermotolerant (fecal) coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and sulfate-reducing Clostridium. The chemical analyses were conducted to determine the concentration of NH 4 + , NO 2 − , NO 3 − , and PO 4 3−. The analyses showed that contrary to common opinion, waters of the Białka river are strongly polluted in some sections. Seasonal variation in the prevalence of microbial indicators of fecal pollution was found, and the largest numbers of microorganisms were observed in winter ski season, followed by summer holidays. Similar seasonal pattern was observed in the examined chemical parameters. There was also very strong spatial variation within the tested microbial and chemical parameters, indicating the presence of pollution hotspots in the course of the Białka river. The employed principal component analysis revealed the presence of two main pollution sources, mainly affecting the quality of river water, i.e., fecal contamination of human origin and the natural source in the form of surface runoff and soil leaching. These factors, depending on the location of the sampling site, occurred in different configurations.

Mountain forest soils contain an important stock of carbon. Their altitudinal gradient can serve as a model for research on the potential risk of increased emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, in a positive feedback of global warming. Using soil samples collected at three elevations (600, 900, and 1200 m a.s.l.) from five separate slopes of the Carpathian Mountains (Poland), we studied the effects of soil physical, chemical and microbial properties controlling the temperature sensitivity (Q10 values) of organic matter decomposition in forest soils. Data of soil basal respiration rate measured in laboratory conditions at six different temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C) were fitted to a Gaussian function. The modelled soil respiration rates differed between altitudes at temperature exceeding 15 °C, and the respiration rate of soil from 1200 m a.s.l. was higher than in soils from the two lower elevations. Based on the modelled respiration values, we calculated Q10 values in the low (Q10L, 0–10 °C), medium (Q10M, 10–20 °C) and high (Q10H, 20–30 °C) temperature ranges. The Q10 values did not differ between elevations. Q10L and Q10M were negatively related only with the C:N ratio. Temperature sensitivity of decomposition of soil organic matter was not affected by bacterial activity and functional diversity (assessed using Biolog® ECO plates), microbial biomass or community structure (inferred from phospholipid fatty acid assays). Our findings support a kinetics‐based theory of the higher temperature sensitivity of more chemically recalcitrant soil organic matter, put forward by other authors.

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This 3-year study was aimed to understand the factors and mechanisms that cause the temporal changes in the concentration of microbiological indicators of water quality and nutrient concentration in selected sites of the Białka river catchment (southern Poland) situated in direct vicinity of the largest ski station in the region. The analysis comprised 35 sampling campaigns conducted in five sites. Water temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity were measured during sampling, laboratory analyses included determination of the selected nutrients content (NH4, NO3, NO2, PO4); and the number of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli. Based on the cluster analysis, the collected samples were grouped into three to four groups, depending on the most characteristic features. Seasonal variation was evident, showing the predominance of either anthropogenic or natural-environment factors, depending on the considered season. On the other hand, principal component analysis revealed clear effect of various forms of land use in different sites.