Dimensional and time span dynamics of forest litter on track (for example NNP "Skolivski Beskydy")

Abstract

The article analyzes the weak and excessive influence of recreational load on forest litter within the track and their roadside by seasons (summer → autumn → spring → summer). It was found that the Skoliv Beskydy region of forest litter in the summer are 2,1−2,4 kg·m⁻², while on the track of first category they are – 1.2 kg·m⁻², and on the trails of IV category – was not detected forest litter. In the autumn on the track litter stocks increase by more than 50% compared to the summer. Litter reserves increase due to the fraction of leaves, the share of which is about 40% of the total mass. In the spring, forest litter stocks decreased almost twice, while within the roadside recorded an increase in the proportion of detrytu. The reason for such a sharp decrease in forest litter stocks on track and increase within the roadside can be considered mechanical movement and shredding of leaves by people in the autumn, and in the spring - leaching and transfer of rain water to the side of the trails. It was found that by the end of the summer forest litter stocks on first category track decreased by about 23% and by 8% - within the roadside. In the summer, no forest litter was found on track IV category, within the boundaries of this track, stocks did not exceed 0,3 kg·m⁻². The accumulation of forest litter within the roadside is due to: slow processes of transformation of forest litter, leaching of forest litter by rain from the «upper trail» to the «lower», the width of the trail and its direction, recreational influence.