7
Abstracts
IV. Microbiology of the mineral waters
The autochthonous and alocthonous microbiota of two mineral springs have been studied in
the Spa “El Raposo” (Badajoz). The total number of microorganisms present in the water
was of 9.1 x104/mL, being the majority alive (70.3 %). Neither faecal indicators nor
pathogenic microorganisms were founded so these waters comply with Spanish legislation
on drinking water. The autochthonous microbiota predominantly correspond to
oligotrophic aerobic Gram negative bacteria (73%), belonging to the Class
Gammaproteobacteria and in smaller proportion to Gram positive bacilli (23.5 %) and cocci
(3.5%). On the other hand, ammonifying, proteolytic, amylolytic, and cellulolytic bacteria
as well as fungi were detected in 100 mL of water. The microbial mats that grow in the
garden´s channels of the Spa were studied as well. An association of green alga, filamentous
and spherical cyanobacteria and diatoms forms these mats.
V. Vegetation of the botanical environment
The work studies the vegetation in the surroundings of the Raposo, Puebla de Sancho Pérez,
(Badajoz), with floral, bioclimatic, biogeographic and pedological aspects being considered.
This has allowed us to identify and delimit the most important vegetable communities and
their more representative serial stages. In the general order of work, we have followed a
systematic vegetable series, beginning with the foremost of the climatophilous, edaphofilous
and edaphoxerofilous series. With a view to offering a greater understanding of the different
vegetable communities under study within the present text and also of the more
representative medicinal plants, we have presented a series of colour photographs of the
different biotopes, as well as of the wild medicinal plants in the area. In this study we have
tried to paint out the enormeous ecological value of the landscape involved. This is, without
doubt, one of the best conserved areas of the Iberian Peninsula.
VI. Geology and Hydrogeology
The mineral-medical waters of the El Raposo Spa, arise through a gallery 51 meters long,
2.12 meters wide and 2.67 meters high, covered with bricks, dug superficially in Cambrian
