Carpathians In Slovakia Research Articles

A new species of Mesoneura (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) associated with a xerothermic oak forest in the Western Carpathians, Slovakia

A new species of tenthredinid sawfly, Mesoneura tematinensis Roller, sp. nov., was discovered in the Tematinske kopce Mountains in the Western Carpathians in Slovakia. Adults of both sexes and larvae of different stages are described and illustrated. Based on morphology and DNA barcoding, the new species is closely related to Mesoneura opaca (Fabricius), a widespread oak sawfly in Europe, with which it occurs in the same locality and shares a common host plant. Larvae of the new species are part of a rich assemblage of a total of 13 Symphyta species that feed on leaves of the pubescent oak Quercus pubescens in a thermophilic supra-Mediterranean forest. A key to the European species of Mesoneura Hartig is provided.

Comparison of DEM-derived determinants for modelling of long-term land cover change in a large scale: case studies from Slovak Western Carpathians

Studies detecting land use/cover change (LUCC) in large scales are increasing in number, and so are the studies identifying spatial determinants of these changes and creating their models. Raster datasets derived from digital elevation models (DEM) belong to a limited group of determinants that are relatively available for LUCC modelling in large scales. This study compares the performance of 12 DEM-derived determinants in models of six distinct land cover changes: urbanisation, industrialisation, agricultural intensification and extensification, afforestation, and deforestation. The changes were identified in the 1949-2010 period in a reference scale of 1:10 000 on a total area of 176 km2 of 12 municipalities systematically selected to partially represent Western Carpathians in Slovakia. Nearly 45% of the area changed; afforestation, agricultural extensification and intensification were the most prevalent changes. Logistic regression and hierarchical partitioning were used to quantify the influence of the determinants on them. Among other commonly used determinants (elevation, slope, cost distance), vertical dissection and duration of solar radiation had an unexpectedly high influence, mostly on agricultural intensity and forest changes. However, further research is needed to verify these influences in other areas and to provide their sufficient causal interpretation.

Porovnanie morfológie kryštálov kremeňa – „marmarošských diamantov“ – zo sekvencií paleogénneho flyšu krosnianskej (sliezskej) a duklianskej zóny v Karpatoch na Ukrajine a vnútrokarpatských paleogénnych sekvencií Západných Karpát

Quartz crystals of “Marmarosh diamonds” type were goniometrically studied in Ukrainian Carpathians from the veins in flysch deposits of Krosno (Silesian) unit (137 crystals, locality 1 – New Beskydy Tunnel) and the Oligocene sediments of the Dukla Zone (77 crystals; loc. 2 – Pryslip pass). They were compared with quartz crystals from intra-Carpathian Paleogene sequences of the Western Carpathians in Slovakia (175 crystals; loc. 3 – Šoltysa stream). The analysis of the obtained results allows to state that the “Marmarosh diamonds” from the studied Ukrainian and Slovak localities are generally similar. The main simple forms represent the hexagonal prism m {101̅0} and the rhombohedra r {101̅1} and z {011̅1}. The following types of crystal habit have been identified: hexagonal-dipyramidal, pseudocubic, hexagonal-prismatic, trigonal-prismatic. For the polyhedra from the Ukrainian Carpathians, minor forms are less typical, such as the trigonal dipyramid s {112̅1} and the trapezoid x {516̅1}. Statistically, the shape of “Marmarosh diamond” crystals from the Ukrainian Carpathians is closer to isometric. For them, elongation along the main crystallographic axis is even less typical than for polyhedra from the Slovak localities. In addition, “Marmarosh diamonds” from the W. Carpathians in Slovakia are more often flattened at {101̅0}. In the process of crystal growth with decreasing temperature, the habit changes from hexagonal-dipyramidal to trigonal-prismatic. Quartz from Krosno (Silesian) zone of Ukrainian Carpathians was found in the association with calcite. There are numerous hydrocarbon inclusions in both minerals. The mineralogical crystallographic and geochemical investigations (especially of the migrating hydrocarbon fluids), are important for oil and gas geology of the Carpathian oil and gas-bearing province.

Allometric models for estimating aboveground biomass of young Norway spruce trees in the Western Carpathians, Slovakia

Abstract In the period of climate change, it is necessary to have biomass models for trees of all sizes to make precise estimations of biomass forest stocks to quantify carbon sequestration by forest cover. Therefore, we created allometric models of aboveground biomass in young Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) trees including main components, i.e. stem, branches and needles. The models used 200 sampled trees from 10 sites located in the central part of the Western Carpathians in Slovakia. The models, i.e. allometric regression relations implemented stem base diameter (diameter d0) and/or tree height. Moreover, using the derived allometric relations and a constant annual diameter increment of 10 mm, we calculated quasi-annual aboveground biomass production with regard to diameter d0. While stem had the largest contribution to aboveground biomass, followed by needles and branches, a different situation was revealed for the annual aboveground biomass production with the largest share of needles followed by stem and branches. Finally, we implemented the allometric models in a specific forest stand, where repetitive measurements were performed within 14 consecutive years. The results showed for example nearly 650 kg of the aboveground biomass per 102 m2 at the stand age of 10 years. The new biomass models can be applied to estimate the aboveground biomass stock in Norway spruce dominating stands in the Western Carpathians. Since the models are based on both diameter d0 and tree height a user can choose which variable is more suitable for particular conditions.

First records of Calamagrostis purpurea (Poaceae) in the Carpathians, a relict species new to the flora of Slovakia, Ukraine, and Romania

The first records of Calamagrostis purpurea, an apomictic wetland grass species with a Euro-Siberian, predominantly boreal distribution, are reported for the Carpathians. This significantly expands the species’ range in Central Europe eastwards from the known localities in Austria and Czechia. Due to in situ finds and revision of the herbarium vouchers, C. purpurea was discovered in the Western Carpathians in Slovakia (the Nízke Tatry Mts) as well as in the Eastern Carpathians in Ukraine (the Chornohora Mts) and Romania (Dorna Depression, the Harghita, Bodoc Mts, Intorsura Buzaului Depression) at 6 sites in total. All these newly found localities are situated within 870–1570 m a.s.l. The locality in the Nízke Tatry Mts is at the highest elevation, while those in the Romanian Carpathians are the southeasternmost in Central Europe. In the Carpathians, C. purpurea is confined to undisturbed wetland habitats, which implies its relict origin in the region. A distribution map, habitat characteristics, morphological description, and images of the plants from the Carpatians are provided. Carpathian populations tested with flow cytometry are DNA-octoploid (the predominant ploidy level of the species in Europe). Because of the species’ rarity and vulnerability, it is suggested to include C. purpurea in the next editions of the Red Data Books and/or Red Lists of the corresponding countries.

Detection of Changes in the Hydrological Balance in Seven River Basins Along the Western Carpathians in Slovakia

Abstract Due to a changing climate, likely changes to a hydrological regime are one of the primary sources of uncertainty to consider in managing water resources. In Slovakia, a decline in the country’s water resources, combined with a change in the seasonality of runoff and an increase in the extremeness of floods and droughts, represents a potential threat. The objective of the paper was to explore trends in the components of the long-term hydrological balance of various river basins to detect the impacts of changing climate conditions along the Western Carpathians. The proposed method is a comparative exploratory analysis of the hydrological balance of the selected river basins. Temporal changes in the catchments’ average air temperatures, precipitation, runoff, and their differences (considered as an index of the actual evapotranspiration), were estimated for 49 years of data; two non-overlapping sub-periods (25 and 24 years) in the seven river basins were also compared. This work also aims at evaluating the applicability of gridded inputs from the CarpatClim database for modelling the hydrological balance over an extended period. The results document the impact of the rising air temperature and, in part, local physiographic factors on the changes in runoff and actual catchment evapotranspiration.

Recharge, élévation retardée du niveau des eaux souterraines et rendement spécifique au sein de l’aquifère karstique du Trias de la montagne Kopa, dans les Carpates occidentales, Slovaquie

Notable delay of more than 1 year (12.5–15.9 months) between precipitation recharge and groundwater-level upturn was recorded in the Triassic karstic aquifer of the Kopa Mt. (1,187 m asl) in the middle of the West Carpathians in Slovakia. The velocity of recharge transit (0.24–0.70 m/day) was affirmed by borehole hydrographs. The groundwater level here is deep (113–300 m below ground surface) but approximately evenly distributed at the same elevation (~467 ± 10 m asl). Dolomites extend over 78% of the surface area of the karstic reservoir, with a Cretaceous marly aquitard boundary on the perimeter and on its base. The whole area is recharged merely by precipitation and entirely discharged by springs and small surface streams. The water balance between recharged and discharged water, and the groundwater-level fluctuation (shift in time), enabled calculation of stored groundwater volumes. The estimated specific yield of the Triassic dolomitic aquifer was unusually high (7.6–23.4%, mean 16.1%). Karstic cavities were also widely found in the borehole logs of nine boreholes that were 87–490-m deep and drilled in Triassic dolomites and limestones along the axis of a planned highway tunnel. Groundwater level monitoring took place over 40 months, between June 2014 and October 2017. Typical seasonal water-level oscillations were absent in the karstic reservoir, but water-level change was relevant to delayed past recharge events. In a borehole situated in the Cretaceous marly aquitard, good seasonal correlation with effective precipitation and also tidal response was observed.

Alpha diversity of vascular plants in European forests

AbstractAimThe former continental‐scale studies modelled coarse‐grained plant species‐richness patterns (gamma diversity). Here we aim to refine this information for European forests by (a) modelling the number of vascular plant species that co‐occur in local communities (alpha diversity) within spatial units of 400 m2; and (b) assessing the factors likely determining the observed spatial patterns in alpha diversity.LocationEurope roughly within 12°W–30°E and 35–60°N.TaxonVascular plants.MethodsThe numbers of co‐occurring vascular plant species were counted in 73,134 georeferenced vegetation plots. Each plot was classified by an expert system into deciduous broadleaf, coniferous or sclerophyllous forest. Random Forest models were used to map and explain spatial patterns in alpha diversity for each forest type separately using 19 environmental, land‐use and historical variables.ResultsOur models explained from 51.0% to 70.9% of the variation in forest alpha diversity. The modelled alpha‐diversity pattern was dominated by a marked gradient from species‐poor north‐western to species‐rich south‐eastern Europe. The most prominent richness hotspots were identified in the Calcareous Alps and adjacent north‐western Dinarides, the Carpathian foothills in Romania and the Western Carpathians in Slovakia. Energy‐related factors, bedrock types and terrain ruggedness were identified as the main variables underlying the observed richness patterns. Alpha diversity increases especially with temperature seasonality in deciduous broadleaf forests, on limestone bedrock in coniferous forests and in areas with low annual actual evapotranspiration in sclerophyllous forests.Main conclusionsWe provide the first predictive maps and analyses of environmental factors driving the alpha diversity of vascular plants across European forests. Such information is important for the general understanding of European biodiversity. This study also demonstrates a high potential of vegetation‐plot databases as sources for robust estimation of the number of vascular plant species that co‐occur at fine spatial grains across large areas.

Research on forest terrain roughness as a source of dynamic action on the vehicle

The issue of terrain conditions is very complex and its description is approached from different perspectives and with different objectives. Because it consists of the gathering of basic information for a mobile object, a wheeled forestry tractor, the terrain-vehicle approach was taken as the basis. Ground conditions are part of the operating conditions of wheeled forestry tractors. Uneven ground can be regarded as a source of vibration in the vehicle – towing truck. In this respect, given the random shape of the surface roughness, the solution to vibrations leads to a terrain correlation analysis in order to obtain a correlation function and power spectral density of the ground surface. Scanning of the ground micro-profile was performed using a device for quick terrain scanning, which from the mechanical aspect consists of a towing vehicle and a measuring carriage. Correlation function and power spectral density are the evaluation based on ground micro-profile measurements and the results of calculations. Measurements of forest terrain (road) micro-profile were done in the area of Little Fatra and Little Carpathians in Slovakia. In geological terms, the measurements were done in an area with the occurrence of gneiss, granite, limestone and flysch. No measurements were performed in a sandy area.

The Landscape Character of the Crofts Vrbovce and Chvojnica (Southern Part of White Carpathians in Slovakia)

The landscape character has become a topical issue in many European countries as well as in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia in the 90s. Since that period a lot of scientists and experts of various disciplines have been solving problems of the landscape character, the question of its terminology and evaluation. The article is based on results of a master thesis, which deals with preventive landscape character assessment (LCA ). Proposed methodology of LCA was applied in the southwestern part of Biele Karpaty Mountains (White Carpathians) in Western Slovakia. The model area is interesting because of the unique cultural landscape with characteristic dispersed settlement and mainly extensive farming. A part overlaps with the Landscape Protected Area White Carpathians, whose boundary has changed during the time. Consequently more valuable places have been separated from less valuable areas from the aspect of nature and landscape protection. One of the aims of the master thesis was whether it applied to the landscape character as well.

Case history: integrated geophysical survey at Katarínka Monastery (Slovakia)

Katarínka (St. Catherine) is the ruin of an abandoned Franciscan monastery from the early 17th century located in the western Small Carpathians in Slovakia. Historical sources and paintings suggest that, beside the remains of the monastery that are still visible, a circle of eight chapels, a pilgrim’s hospice, a cemetery, and garden terraces originally surrounded the main building of the monastery. From 2009 to 2012, geophysical campaigns were performed to find evidences and positions of remains of these buildings of the monastery campus. An initial magnetic overview survey revealed multiple local accumulations of disordered dipole anomalies. Since these accumulations did not allow a structural interpretation, ground penetrating radar measurements were conducted. The ground penetrating radar results clearly showed wall structures beneath almost all magnetic anomaly accumulations. In between the remains of the monastery main building, ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography were performed at different areas that were difficult to access because of a strong cover of vegetation and steep topography.

The wind and fire disturbance in Central European mountain spruce forests: the regeneration after four years

A strong windstorm in November 2004 resulted in a huge blown-down spruce forest area in the southern part of the Tatra National Park in the Western Carpathians in Slovakia, Central Europe. The aim of this work is to study the vegetation composition of spruce forest at differently managed sites four years after this disturbance. Four study areas were selected for this purpose: (<strong><em>i</em></strong>) an area where the fallen trees were extracted and new seedlings were planted; (<strong><em>ii</em></strong>) an area, which was hit by a forest fire after the extraction; (<strong><em>iii</em></strong>) an area where no active management was applied; (<strong><em>iv</em></strong>) a reference forest unaffected by such disturbance. A total of 100 plots were selected, 25 of each area type. The result of DCA and CCA analyses consistently indicated that after this short period the non-extracted and extracted areas are currently most similar to the reference forest area, while the fire affected area differed. A one-way ANOVA comparing species cover for the different plot sizes indicated some significant differences between the extracted and non-extracted plots. The abundance of certain species commonly occurring in spruce forests, such as <em>Dyopteris carthusiana</em> agg., <em>Vaccinium myrtillus</em> and <em>Avenella flexuosa</em>, correlated weli with the non-extracted plots, compared to the extracted plots. Coverage of these species was lowest on burned plots. The lowest Shannon-Wiener’s diversity values were recorded in burned plots. This was most likely a consequence of mono-dominant competitive species spread, (mainly <em>Chamerion angustifolium</em>) which profited from the altered ecological conditions following the fire. Although some differences were also registered in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index between the remaining research plots, however these were not statistically significant. The most important results of our investigations include the extensive influence of fire disturbance on vegetation. Study revealed that the wind-disturbed area is able to regenerate sufficiently without human intervention.

Population genetic structure of Simulium degrangei (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Western Carpathians

Simulium degrangei Dorier & Grenier, 1960 was recorded in southern and central Europe and in the Crimea and Caucasus. Its distribution pattern is scattered. The variability of the mtDNA gene encoding cytochrome oxidase I was studied in populations of S. degrangei from the Western Carpathians in Slovakia and in the northern Hellenides of Greece. In the analyzed samples, 21 haplotypes were recorded, of which twenty were private and occurred in only one mountain range, but one haplotype was found in all three studied populations from the Western Carpathians. Both haplotypes from the Hellenides were private, but these were not isolated and they fit into the haplotype network of the Western Carpathians. Statistics of genetic variability, different designs of analysis of molecular variation with non-significant differences and the pair-wise genetic distances support the hypothesis that there are no differences between the analyzed populations. Similarly, using nested clade phylogeographical analysis, no genetic-geographical structure was found.

Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Two Brown Bears in the Central European Carpathians

The incidence of mycobacterial infections was monitored in brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the National Park Low Tatras in the central European Carpathians in Slovakia. Tissue samples of 20 brown bears were examined microscopically and by culture for the presence of mycobacteria. Acid-fast rods were detected by Ziehl-Neelsen staining in a smear from the kidney of one brown bear, although the culture was negative for mycobacteria. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, the causative agent of paratuberculosis in ruminants, was isolated from the intestinal mucosa of another two brown bears. The isolates were identified by polymerase chain reaction for the specific insertion sequence IS900. Using standardized IS900 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, the M. a. paratuberculosis isolates were classified as RFLP type B-C1, which also were detected in the infected cattle in surrounding area. This study describes the first isolation of M. a. paratuberculosis from a brown bear. Our results confirm that animal species other than ruminants can become infected with M. a. paratuberculosis and can act as potential vectors and/or reservoirs of the infection.

Sympatric populations of Senecio ovatus subsp. ovatus, S. germanicus subsp. germanicus (Compositae) and their hybrid in the Carpathians and the adjacent part of Pannonia: I. Multivariate morphometric study

A multivariate morphometric study of Senecio germanicus subsp. germanicus, Senecio ovatus subsp. ovatus and their hybrid, Senecio × futakii based on 19 population samples, collected throughout the Carpathians in Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania, is presented. Multivariate methods used include principal components analysis, cluster analysis, classificatory and canonical discriminant analysis. As a complementary evidence, the hybrid indices were calculated. In spite of possible problems in classification of certain plants into “pure” types or hybrids, the existence of parental species and hybrids in the area studied was proven.

Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary palaeogeography of the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) and the Eastern Alps (Austria): implications from heavy mineral data

The Late Cretaceous Brezova and Myjava Groups of the Western Carpathians in Slovakia and formations of the Gosau Group of the Northern Calcareous Alps in Lower Austria comprise similar successions of alluvial/shallow marine deposits overlain by deep water hemipelagic sediments and turbidites. In both areas the heavy mineral spectra of Late Cretaceous sediments contain significant amounts of detrital chrome spinel. In the Early Tertiary the amount of garnet increases. Cluster analysis and correspondence analysis of Coniacian/Santonian and Campanian/Early Maastrichtian heavy mineral data indicate strong similarities between the Gosau deposits of the Lunz Nappe of the north-eastern part of the Northern Calcareous Alps and the Brezova Group of the Western Carpathians. Similar source areas and a similar palaeogeographical position at the northern active margin of the Adriatic/Austroalpine plate are therefore suggested for the two tectonic units.

New taxa and combinations inAlchemilla (Rosaceae) (2)

47 names and combinations are published as new, chiefly from the elaboration ofAlchemilla byA. Plocek inL. Bertova (ed.), Flora Slovenska 4/3, Bratislava (in press). The populations recognized as varieties and species new to science (12 and 29, respectively) come from the summits of W. Beskids (9 taxa), Belianske Tatry (12), other parts of Tatra (8), Fatra (5), elsewhere in the Central Carpathians in Slovakia (4), the Low Beskids in E. Slovakia (1), W. and E. Carpathians (1), N. Moravia (1). In addition, three epithets are published in a new combination, and the names for two new subseries and a new forma are proposed.

A rectified map of recent vertical surface movements in the West Carpathians in Slovakia

The first-order relevelling network in Slovakia (International Relevelling Program) was supplemented by second-order relevelling lines measured at the time of the International Relevelling Program (1973–1978) or after its completions, in order to gain more detailed information on the movement activity of the West Carpathians in Slovakia. Mathematical evaluation of relevelling results allowed of drawing a map of recent vertical movements in the region at the scale of 1:1,000,000. The Czechoslovak Uniform Levelling Network of 1947–1962 and the 2nd Czechoslovak Relevelling Network of 1973–1983 constitute the geodetic basis of the map. The relative annual movement velocities, as related to the Initial Fundamental Benchmark Pitelová near Žiar nad Hronom (approximately in the centre of Slovakia) are represented by isolines at intervals of 0.5 mm per year. An analysis of the map 1952–1977 indicates an overall subsidence of lowland regions with respect to the mountanous regions of the West Carpathiams. Central Carpathian morphostructures feature uplifts, with some regions appearing to be stable. Over the entire period under study, the maximal values of vertical movements were + 1.0 mm/year (uplifts) and -4.0 mm (subsidences), the total range being 5 mm/year.