This study presents a methodology for assessment of the condition of hiking trails(HTs) and their impact zones in the central part of the Low Tatra mountain range, based on comparison of two complex data sets gathered...This study presents a methodology for assessment of the condition of hiking trails(HTs) and their impact zones in the central part of the Low Tatra mountain range, based on comparison of two complex data sets gathered in 33 years apart. The first field investigation was performed in 1980 and 1981, and the second in 2013 and 2014. The main goal was to perform a landscape typology in order to assess the susceptibility of landscape complexes to occurrence of anthropogenic and natural destruction processes and to assess the condition and prospects of HTs and their impacts on the adjacent alpine environment. Landscape complexes were characterised by selected abiotic, biotic and technical parameters of HTs and their impact zones. Due to the high variability of these parameters over the length of the HTs, we had to decide on how to map them. This was done using a square grid with 100 m-sized cells. For each cell with HT, the parameters were assigned the typical value within that cell. In total, 26.3 km of HT were studied, stretching over 266 grid cells. On comparison of the two data sets, it was seen that, 64%(171 grid cells) display a generally positive condition, with 54%(143 grid cells) even exhibiting significant improvement or continuously positive state of their condition. 36%(95 grid cells) were in bad condition, including 3%(9 grid cells) whose state had deteriorated, and 2%(6 grid cells) whose state had significantly deteriorated, in the time between the two assessments.展开更多
The Swiss stone Pine(Pinus cembra L.) is an alpine species, fairly commonly occurring in the Alps and the Carpathians, close to the timberline. Natural sites of the Swiss stone pine in Poland are found exclusively in ...The Swiss stone Pine(Pinus cembra L.) is an alpine species, fairly commonly occurring in the Alps and the Carpathians, close to the timberline. Natural sites of the Swiss stone pine in Poland are found exclusively in the Tatra Mountains, within the area of the Tatra National Park(TNP). In 2017, the health status of the needles of P. cembra was determined and their mycological analysis was carried out. As a result, 11 species of fungi were isolated from the needles showing disease symptoms, manifested by various shades of discoloration. The most frequently observed species was Fusarium oxysporum. It probably does not bring on disease symptoms, but may affect the development of other frequently isolated species(such as Sydowia polyspora, Lophodermium sp. and Lophodermium conigenum) that are pathogenic to Pinus spp.展开更多
Strong wind events frequently result in creating large areas of windthrow, which causes abrupt environmental changes. Bare soil surfaces within pits and root plates potentially expose soil to erosion. Absence of fores...Strong wind events frequently result in creating large areas of windthrow, which causes abrupt environmental changes. Bare soil surfaces within pits and root plates potentially expose soil to erosion. Absence of forest may alter the dynamics of water circulation. In this study we attempt to answer the question of whether extensive windthrows influence the magnitude of geomorphic processes in 6 small second-to third-order catchments with area ranging from 0.09 km^(2) to 0.8 km^(2). Three of the catchments were significantly affected by a windthrow which occurred in December 2013 in the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains, and the other three catchments were mostly forested and served as control catchments. We mapped the pits created by the windthrow and the linear scars created by salvage logging operations in search of any signs of erosion within them. We also mapped all post-windthrow landslides created in the windthrow-affected catchments. The impact of the windthrow on the fluvial system was investigated by measuring a set of channel characteristics and determining bedload transport intensity using painted tracers in all the windthrow-affected and control catchments. Both pits and linear scars created by harvesting tend to become overgrown by vegetation in the first several years after the windthrow. The only signs of erosion were observed in 10% of the pits located on convergent slopes. During the period from the windthrow event in 2013 until 2019, 5 very small(total area <100 m^(2)) shallow landslides were created. The mean distance of bedload transport was similar(t-test, p=0.05) in most of the windthrow-affected and control catchments. The mapping of channels revealed many cases of root plates fallen into a channel and pits created near a channel. A significant amount of woody debris delivered into the channels influenced the activity of fluvial processes by creating alternating zones of erosion and accumulation.展开更多
Previous lichenometric dating of young geomorphological forms in the Tatra Mountains has been hindered by differences in the determination of initial colonisation of fresh rock surfaces by the Rhizocarpon geographicum...Previous lichenometric dating of young geomorphological forms in the Tatra Mountains has been hindered by differences in the determination of initial colonisation of fresh rock surfaces by the Rhizocarpon geographicum lichen.In order to determine precisely the time needed for the first thalli to appear on newly exposed rock surfaces,two experimental sites were created in 2013.The results from these sites were compared with the measurements taken on boulders in debris formed by a 2013 debris flow.In 2018,the largest thalli measured within the experimental sites and the debris flow area reached a size of approximately 2 mm.Based on this,the time of initial colonisation of rock surfaces was determined to be 5±1 years,which is about half the period previously described in the literature.展开更多
Tree uprooting is an important process which leads to many geomorphic consequences.Some of the most important are the transport of sediment and mixing of soil.The aim of this article is to make a detailed examination ...Tree uprooting is an important process which leads to many geomorphic consequences.Some of the most important are the transport of sediment and mixing of soil.The aim of this article is to make a detailed examination of the magnitude of sediment transport caused by an extreme windthrow event in three severely affected catchments.Also,a comparison is made of the windthrow event with a mass movement event in the aspect of the magnitude of sediment transport and soil mixing.The study was conducted in three second-to third-order catchments in the Tatra Mountains,where a strong foehn wind event caused extensive windthrow in 2013,and a high-magnitude rainfall event triggered mass movements in 2007.The volume of sediment uplifted by the uprooting event was calculated based on the mapping of root plates using high-resolution(0.04 m)aerial images and measurements of root plate volumes conducted in the field.The volume of sediment transported by shallow landslides was determined based on a Digital Elevation Model(DEM1-m resolution).Windthrows affected 34%,76%,and94%of the area of the investigated catchments.Most of the trees had fallen downslope.The direction of treefall was influenced by the slope aspect and steepness.Root plates and pits covered 1.3%,4.8%,and 5.4%of the area of the catchments.Sediment flux generated by the uprooting event,calculated for the entire area of each investigated catchment ranged from 8.1×10^(–4) to 9.9×10^(–3) m^(3) m^(–1) event^(–1).This was notably lower than the sediment flux generated by the mass movement event(also calculated for the entire area of each catchment),which was 1.8-6.1×10^(–2)m^(3) m^(–1) event^(–1).By contrast,uprooting affected a much larger area than the mass movement event,which underlines its significant role in the mixing of soil.展开更多
This research aimed to identify the impact of local climatic and topographic conditions on the formation and development of the ice cover in highmountain lakes and the representativeness assessment of periodic point m...This research aimed to identify the impact of local climatic and topographic conditions on the formation and development of the ice cover in highmountain lakes and the representativeness assessment of periodic point measurements of the ice cover thickness by taking into consideration the role of the avalanches on the icing of the lakes.Field works included measurement of the ice and snow cover thickness of seven lakes situated in the Tatra Mountains(UNESCO biosphere reserve)at the beginning and the end of the 2017/2018 winter season.In addition,morphometric,topographic and daily meteorological data of lakes from local IMGW(Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management)stations and satellite images were used.The obtained results enabled us to quantify the impact of the winter eolian snow accumulation on the variation in ice thickness.This variation was ranging from several centimetres up to about 2 meters and had a tendency to increase during the winter season.The thickest ice covers occurred in the most shaded places in the direct vicinity of rock walls.The obtained results confirm a dominating role of the snow cover in the variation of the ice thickness within individual lakes.展开更多
The periodicity of a river expressed in cycles of various lengths(monthly, seasonal,multiannual) is a result of climatic factors and overlapping environmental conditions within its catchment. In uncontrolled or poorly...The periodicity of a river expressed in cycles of various lengths(monthly, seasonal,multiannual) is a result of climatic factors and overlapping environmental conditions within its catchment. In uncontrolled or poorly surveyed catchments, it is very difficult to determine the duration of a stream’s hydrological activity. This is especially relevant for catchments with complicated water circulation in karstic rocks. The present study concerns the small catchment of the Str??yski Potok river located in the area of the Tatra National Park, in the Western Tatras. The observation period covered the 2015 hydrological year, which differed hydrologically from average conditions. This study aims to develop a simple method to explain the processes shaping the mountain stream discharge periodicity. The research employed periodic field observations linked with climatic and non-climatic factors. Environmental conditions were assessed as four classes reflecting their influence on appearance or disappearance of mountain stream water. Class boundaries were the values of quartiles. The degree of correspondence between environmental factors and stream field observations was described via the Index DC(Degree Correspondence Index) approach.Complete correspondence(Index DC =0) was found in 23% catchments, a weak relationship between conditions favouring discharge and actual condition(Index DC=-1, +1) was noted within 11 catchments,while in 9 catchments, no such relationship was found(Index DC =-2, +2). The obtained results indicate a correspondence or lack thereof between the environmental potential of the catchment and its discharge periodicity. The discrepancies between the assessment of the influence of climatic and nonclimatic factors and the data collected during field observations provide a basis for more detailed studies.Continuation of these studies based on the proposed classifications will allow for a more complete explanation of water disappearance in river channels and the determination of their short-and long-term discharge periodicity.展开更多
Inter Simple Sequence Repeats （ISSR） markers were used to assess genetic diversity within and among populations of dwarf mountain pine （Pinus rnugo Turra） growing in the Tatra National Park （UNESCO Biosphere Rese...Inter Simple Sequence Repeats （ISSR） markers were used to assess genetic diversity within and among populations of dwarf mountain pine （Pinus rnugo Turra） growing in the Tatra National Park （UNESCO Biosphere Reserve） in Southern Poland （Central Europe）. The analyzed population belongs to two different geobotanical sub-districts： the Western and High Tatras. The level of genetic diversity assessed in this study for P. mugo is generally comparable to that reported for the other pine species in the Pinaceae family assessed by ISSR markers, especially with respect to Nei＇s genetic diversity and the percentage of polymorphic bands. Bayesian analysis clustered the analyzed populations into two groups, corresponding to their geobotanical locations in the Tatras. Significant divergence between the two genetical clusters was supported by the results of Analysis of Molecular Variance （AMOVA）. According to the Mantel test, there was no correlation between the genetic distance and the geographical distance. The present study confirms the existence of two genetically distinct dusters of P. mugo populations in the Tatra Mountains. The observed high population-genetic differentiation of P.mugo in the Tatras could be attributed to several genetic, environmental and historical factors occurring in this mountain area.展开更多
According to scientific evidence in general, the disappearance of the Tatras tarns as a result of external geomorphological processes has been accepted since the long term analyses of lake sediments and peat bogs, geo...According to scientific evidence in general, the disappearance of the Tatras tarns as a result of external geomorphological processes has been accepted since the long term analyses of lake sediments and peat bogs, geomorphological mapping, geophysical measurements(– all indirect methods). It is paradoxical that the direct cartographic evidence of such changes has not existed until now. In this paper, we evaluate shore line changes of the small mountain glacial lake in the High Tatras-Litworowy Staw lake using a multitemporal analysis of a series of historical orthophotomaps and a historical map. Over the last 100 years, the tarn has lost 46.4% of open water level area. Significant visual changes were caused by vegetation growth of Carex species(sedges) on the water's surface. The accumulation of fine sediments and dead plant residues in the tarn basin create suitable conditions for this process, all together causing the tarn to become more shallow.展开更多
This paper presents the changes of landscape structure in the Demanovská Valley which ranks among the most valuable protected areas of Slovakia. The area was selected on the basis of changes associated with the r...This paper presents the changes of landscape structure in the Demanovská Valley which ranks among the most valuable protected areas of Slovakia. The area was selected on the basis of changes associated with the rapidly growing tourism industry and the rise of an important destination in the center of Low Tatras National Park, Slovakia. To document any changes, we visually interpreted data from aerial and satellite images in three periods（1949, 2007 and 2013） and for predicting future changes we used land use planning documentation. Interpreted data were analyzed using overlay analysis and landscape metrics. Results showed extensive changes in the landscape structure mainly connected with the development of tourism infrastructure. We also identified long-term changes whose causes stem from the transformation of society and forest management in the past. The dynamics and extent of these changes may increase in the future. We propose to stop future development of ski slopes and expansion of related infrastructure, to focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly operation of the existing ski resort and to invest a substantial portion of profits to support projects aimed to preserve surrounding lands and wildlife.展开更多
基金part of the project Green Infrastructure of Slovakia(Grant No.2/0066/15)from the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences
文摘This study presents a methodology for assessment of the condition of hiking trails(HTs) and their impact zones in the central part of the Low Tatra mountain range, based on comparison of two complex data sets gathered in 33 years apart. The first field investigation was performed in 1980 and 1981, and the second in 2013 and 2014. The main goal was to perform a landscape typology in order to assess the susceptibility of landscape complexes to occurrence of anthropogenic and natural destruction processes and to assess the condition and prospects of HTs and their impacts on the adjacent alpine environment. Landscape complexes were characterised by selected abiotic, biotic and technical parameters of HTs and their impact zones. Due to the high variability of these parameters over the length of the HTs, we had to decide on how to map them. This was done using a square grid with 100 m-sized cells. For each cell with HT, the parameters were assigned the typical value within that cell. In total, 26.3 km of HT were studied, stretching over 266 grid cells. On comparison of the two data sets, it was seen that, 64%(171 grid cells) display a generally positive condition, with 54%(143 grid cells) even exhibiting significant improvement or continuously positive state of their condition. 36%(95 grid cells) were in bad condition, including 3%(9 grid cells) whose state had deteriorated, and 2%(6 grid cells) whose state had significantly deteriorated, in the time between the two assessments.
基金financed from the forest fund under the agreement concluded between the State Forests National Forest Holding and the Tatry National Park in 2017
文摘The Swiss stone Pine(Pinus cembra L.) is an alpine species, fairly commonly occurring in the Alps and the Carpathians, close to the timberline. Natural sites of the Swiss stone pine in Poland are found exclusively in the Tatra Mountains, within the area of the Tatra National Park(TNP). In 2017, the health status of the needles of P. cembra was determined and their mycological analysis was carried out. As a result, 11 species of fungi were isolated from the needles showing disease symptoms, manifested by various shades of discoloration. The most frequently observed species was Fusarium oxysporum. It probably does not bring on disease symptoms, but may affect the development of other frequently isolated species(such as Sydowia polyspora, Lophodermium sp. and Lophodermium conigenum) that are pathogenic to Pinus spp.
基金This research is part of the project“Impact of extensive windthrow areas on the dynamics of slopefluvial system”funded by the National Science Centre,Poland(DS,grant No.UMO-2017/27/N/ST10/00802)Mapping scars created by wood transport in 2016 and recording water levels in 2018 were part of the project“Assessment of large-scale windthrow areas impact on hydrochemical regime and denudation of catchments located in mountain forests(Polish Tatra Mountains)”realized in 2016(MŻ,grant No.K/KDU/000334)and 2018(MŻ,grant No.K/KDU/000494),funded by the forest fund of the State Forests National Forest Holding.
文摘Strong wind events frequently result in creating large areas of windthrow, which causes abrupt environmental changes. Bare soil surfaces within pits and root plates potentially expose soil to erosion. Absence of forest may alter the dynamics of water circulation. In this study we attempt to answer the question of whether extensive windthrows influence the magnitude of geomorphic processes in 6 small second-to third-order catchments with area ranging from 0.09 km^(2) to 0.8 km^(2). Three of the catchments were significantly affected by a windthrow which occurred in December 2013 in the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains, and the other three catchments were mostly forested and served as control catchments. We mapped the pits created by the windthrow and the linear scars created by salvage logging operations in search of any signs of erosion within them. We also mapped all post-windthrow landslides created in the windthrow-affected catchments. The impact of the windthrow on the fluvial system was investigated by measuring a set of channel characteristics and determining bedload transport intensity using painted tracers in all the windthrow-affected and control catchments. Both pits and linear scars created by harvesting tend to become overgrown by vegetation in the first several years after the windthrow. The only signs of erosion were observed in 10% of the pits located on convergent slopes. During the period from the windthrow event in 2013 until 2019, 5 very small(total area <100 m^(2)) shallow landslides were created. The mean distance of bedload transport was similar(t-test, p=0.05) in most of the windthrow-affected and control catchments. The mapping of channels revealed many cases of root plates fallen into a channel and pits created near a channel. A significant amount of woody debris delivered into the channels influenced the activity of fluvial processes by creating alternating zones of erosion and accumulation.
文摘Previous lichenometric dating of young geomorphological forms in the Tatra Mountains has been hindered by differences in the determination of initial colonisation of fresh rock surfaces by the Rhizocarpon geographicum lichen.In order to determine precisely the time needed for the first thalli to appear on newly exposed rock surfaces,two experimental sites were created in 2013.The results from these sites were compared with the measurements taken on boulders in debris formed by a 2013 debris flow.In 2018,the largest thalli measured within the experimental sites and the debris flow area reached a size of approximately 2 mm.Based on this,the time of initial colonisation of rock surfaces was determined to be 5±1 years,which is about half the period previously described in the literature.
基金This research is part of the project“Impact of extensive windthrow areas on the dynamics of slopefluvial system”funded by the National Science Centre,Poland(Grant No.UMO-2017/27/N/ST10/00802)。
文摘Tree uprooting is an important process which leads to many geomorphic consequences.Some of the most important are the transport of sediment and mixing of soil.The aim of this article is to make a detailed examination of the magnitude of sediment transport caused by an extreme windthrow event in three severely affected catchments.Also,a comparison is made of the windthrow event with a mass movement event in the aspect of the magnitude of sediment transport and soil mixing.The study was conducted in three second-to third-order catchments in the Tatra Mountains,where a strong foehn wind event caused extensive windthrow in 2013,and a high-magnitude rainfall event triggered mass movements in 2007.The volume of sediment uplifted by the uprooting event was calculated based on the mapping of root plates using high-resolution(0.04 m)aerial images and measurements of root plate volumes conducted in the field.The volume of sediment transported by shallow landslides was determined based on a Digital Elevation Model(DEM1-m resolution).Windthrows affected 34%,76%,and94%of the area of the investigated catchments.Most of the trees had fallen downslope.The direction of treefall was influenced by the slope aspect and steepness.Root plates and pits covered 1.3%,4.8%,and 5.4%of the area of the catchments.Sediment flux generated by the uprooting event,calculated for the entire area of each investigated catchment ranged from 8.1×10^(–4) to 9.9×10^(–3) m^(3) m^(–1) event^(–1).This was notably lower than the sediment flux generated by the mass movement event(also calculated for the entire area of each catchment),which was 1.8-6.1×10^(–2)m^(3) m^(–1) event^(–1).By contrast,uprooting affected a much larger area than the mass movement event,which underlines its significant role in the mixing of soil.
文摘This research aimed to identify the impact of local climatic and topographic conditions on the formation and development of the ice cover in highmountain lakes and the representativeness assessment of periodic point measurements of the ice cover thickness by taking into consideration the role of the avalanches on the icing of the lakes.Field works included measurement of the ice and snow cover thickness of seven lakes situated in the Tatra Mountains(UNESCO biosphere reserve)at the beginning and the end of the 2017/2018 winter season.In addition,morphometric,topographic and daily meteorological data of lakes from local IMGW(Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management)stations and satellite images were used.The obtained results enabled us to quantify the impact of the winter eolian snow accumulation on the variation in ice thickness.This variation was ranging from several centimetres up to about 2 meters and had a tendency to increase during the winter season.The thickest ice covers occurred in the most shaded places in the direct vicinity of rock walls.The obtained results confirm a dominating role of the snow cover in the variation of the ice thickness within individual lakes.
文摘The periodicity of a river expressed in cycles of various lengths(monthly, seasonal,multiannual) is a result of climatic factors and overlapping environmental conditions within its catchment. In uncontrolled or poorly surveyed catchments, it is very difficult to determine the duration of a stream’s hydrological activity. This is especially relevant for catchments with complicated water circulation in karstic rocks. The present study concerns the small catchment of the Str??yski Potok river located in the area of the Tatra National Park, in the Western Tatras. The observation period covered the 2015 hydrological year, which differed hydrologically from average conditions. This study aims to develop a simple method to explain the processes shaping the mountain stream discharge periodicity. The research employed periodic field observations linked with climatic and non-climatic factors. Environmental conditions were assessed as four classes reflecting their influence on appearance or disappearance of mountain stream water. Class boundaries were the values of quartiles. The degree of correspondence between environmental factors and stream field observations was described via the Index DC(Degree Correspondence Index) approach.Complete correspondence(Index DC =0) was found in 23% catchments, a weak relationship between conditions favouring discharge and actual condition(Index DC=-1, +1) was noted within 11 catchments,while in 9 catchments, no such relationship was found(Index DC =-2, +2). The obtained results indicate a correspondence or lack thereof between the environmental potential of the catchment and its discharge periodicity. The discrepancies between the assessment of the influence of climatic and nonclimatic factors and the data collected during field observations provide a basis for more detailed studies.Continuation of these studies based on the proposed classifications will allow for a more complete explanation of water disappearance in river channels and the determination of their short-and long-term discharge periodicity.
基金supported by Research Grant No. NN304060339 from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland
文摘Inter Simple Sequence Repeats （ISSR） markers were used to assess genetic diversity within and among populations of dwarf mountain pine （Pinus rnugo Turra） growing in the Tatra National Park （UNESCO Biosphere Reserve） in Southern Poland （Central Europe）. The analyzed population belongs to two different geobotanical sub-districts： the Western and High Tatras. The level of genetic diversity assessed in this study for P. mugo is generally comparable to that reported for the other pine species in the Pinaceae family assessed by ISSR markers, especially with respect to Nei＇s genetic diversity and the percentage of polymorphic bands. Bayesian analysis clustered the analyzed populations into two groups, corresponding to their geobotanical locations in the Tatras. Significant divergence between the two genetical clusters was supported by the results of Analysis of Molecular Variance （AMOVA）. According to the Mantel test, there was no correlation between the genetic distance and the geographical distance. The present study confirms the existence of two genetically distinct dusters of P. mugo populations in the Tatra Mountains. The observed high population-genetic differentiation of P.mugo in the Tatras could be attributed to several genetic, environmental and historical factors occurring in this mountain area.
基金produced under the scientific project VEGA 1/0207/17–Development and changes of mountain landscape of the Tatrasthe tarn,and to what extent the anthropogenic factors and climate change make them conditional
文摘According to scientific evidence in general, the disappearance of the Tatras tarns as a result of external geomorphological processes has been accepted since the long term analyses of lake sediments and peat bogs, geomorphological mapping, geophysical measurements(– all indirect methods). It is paradoxical that the direct cartographic evidence of such changes has not existed until now. In this paper, we evaluate shore line changes of the small mountain glacial lake in the High Tatras-Litworowy Staw lake using a multitemporal analysis of a series of historical orthophotomaps and a historical map. Over the last 100 years, the tarn has lost 46.4% of open water level area. Significant visual changes were caused by vegetation growth of Carex species(sedges) on the water's surface. The accumulation of fine sediments and dead plant residues in the tarn basin create suitable conditions for this process, all together causing the tarn to become more shallow.
基金the support of the Scientific Grant Agency of the Slovak Republic through the research grant:"Adaptation strategies to natural and social disturbancies in the forestlandscape"(no.2/0038/14)
文摘This paper presents the changes of landscape structure in the Demanovská Valley which ranks among the most valuable protected areas of Slovakia. The area was selected on the basis of changes associated with the rapidly growing tourism industry and the rise of an important destination in the center of Low Tatras National Park, Slovakia. To document any changes, we visually interpreted data from aerial and satellite images in three periods（1949, 2007 and 2013） and for predicting future changes we used land use planning documentation. Interpreted data were analyzed using overlay analysis and landscape metrics. Results showed extensive changes in the landscape structure mainly connected with the development of tourism infrastructure. We also identified long-term changes whose causes stem from the transformation of society and forest management in the past. The dynamics and extent of these changes may increase in the future. We propose to stop future development of ski slopes and expansion of related infrastructure, to focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly operation of the existing ski resort and to invest a substantial portion of profits to support projects aimed to preserve surrounding lands and wildlife.
