Hory Mts Research Articles

Tree-ring eccentricity in the dendrogeomorphic analysis of landslides – A comparative study

The chronological aspects of landslide research are of great interest regarding the hazard assessment of landslide triggers. Dendrogeomorphic methods provide a good ratio of chronology length and dating resolution. An alternative to the standard dendrogeomorphic approaches used in landslide research (based on reaction wood analysis – a reaction to stem inclination) is the analysis of tree-ring eccentricity. This study tests three frequently used dendrogeomorphic approaches based on tree-ring eccentricity and verifies the results by comparing them with the results obtained by the standard dendrogeomorphic expert approach. In total, 125 individual Fagus sylvatica L. trees growing on the block-type landslide of Lipová stráň in the foothills of the Orlické hory Mts. (central Europe) were sampled and used for the analysis. The first tested approach identifies landslide signals based on the analysis of mean eccentricity values from two moving windows. The second tested approach determines landslide signals from a series of eccentricity values based on the use of an eccentricity threshold from reference trees. The last tested approach organizes the eccentricity values into categories and identifies landslide signals based on the defined temporal patterns of the individual categories. The limitations of each approach are revealed, and recommendations for increasing the robustness of each approach are presented. Moreover, the sensitivity of F. sylvatica trees to landslide signals was tested using each approach. The obtained results suggest the need for a specific sampling design (regarding tree age) for each tree-ring eccentricity-based approach.

Interaction of granite and basic volcanites (melilitite and bazanite) from the surroundings of Liberec in the Jizerské hory Mts.

Interaction of granite and basic volcanites (melilitite and bazanite) from the surroundings of Liberec in the Jizerské hory Mts.

Perálec and Doly u Luže: two localities with Cenomanian flora from the Železné hory Mts.

Perálec and Doly u Luže: two localities with Cenomanian flora from the Železné hory Mts.

Implementation of the curve number method and the KINFIL model in the Smeda Catchment to mitigate overland flow with the use of terraces

The Smeda catchment, where the Smeda Brook drains an area of about 26 km<sup>2</sup>, is located in northern Bohemia in the Jizerské hory Mts. This experimental mountain catchment with the Bily Potok downstream gauge profile was selected as a model area for simulating extreme rainfall-runoff processes, using the KINFIL model supplemented by the Curve Number (CN) method. The combination of methods applied here consists of two parts. The first part is an application of the CN theory, where CN is correlated with hydraulic conductivity K<sub>s</sub> of the soil types, and also with storage suction factor S<sub>f</sub> at field capacity FC: CN = f(K<sub>s</sub>, S<sub>f</sub>). The second part of the combined KINFIL/CN method, represented by the KINFIL model, is based on the kinematic wave method which, in combination with infiltration, mitigates the overland flow. This simulation was chosen as an alternative to an enormous amount of field measurements. The combination used here was shown to provide a successful method. However, practical application would require at least four sub-catchments, so that more terraces can be placed. The provision of effective measures will require more investment than is currently envisaged.

Evaluation of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loudon) on a provenance plot situated in a formerly air-polluted area of the Krušné hory Mts. at the age of 34 years

The article evaluates 27 provenances of three subspecies of lodgepole pine on the Kovářská research plot (Krušné hory Mts.). The plot is part of a series of three established plots in various stand conditions. Two plots were already evaluated and the findings were published. At 34 years of age, we evaluated height, DBH, trunk shape, trunk forking, branch thickness, bark type, mortality, and defoliation. A total of 1,147 trees were measured. Above-average growth was achieved predominantly by the provenances of Pinus contorta subsp. latifolia (Engelmann ex S. Watson) Critchfield from middle elevations. In the Pinus contorta subsp. contorta Douglas ex Loudon, only the 2099 Port Orford provenance from Oregon demonstrated favourable results, and in the Pinus contorta subsp. murrayana (Balfour) Engelmann it was 2098 Chemult. High mortality was demonstrated mainly in the P. c. subsp. murrayana provenance from high mountainous elevations in California and P. c. subsp. contorta from coastal regions of Oregon. Provenances from middle elevations had relatively lower mortality, especially P. c. subsp. latifolia. The pines usually were of good quality although this was not the case for defoliation and branch thickness. In comparing all plots of the series, growth was fastest at the Sofronka location in western Bohemia and slowest at the south Bohemian Mláka location. Only the best provenances of lodgepole pine can equal the domestic Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris Linnaeus).

Accumulation and dynamics of manganese content in bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.).

In a specific area of the Krušné Hory Mts. (Ore Mountains), Czech Republic, branches and leaves of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) were collected during the growing seasons in 2010-2016 on the low-pH soil (2.77-3.62) with a high total content of manganese (490-6277mgkg-1 dwt.). Mn content in leaves occurred in a wide range (274-11,159mgkg-1) and was markedly increased during the growing season with the exception of year 2015, when the leaves dried out early due to the precipitation deficit. New leaves exhibited the Mn content corresponding to the beginning of the growing season. Mn content in branches was comparable both in the years of collection (including 2015) and in the respective growing seasons (2062-3885mgkg-1). The content of manganese in bilberry leaves was dependent on the cumulated amount of precipitation (p < 10-6; r2 = 0.4962) and on the cumulated amount of water in the soil captured in lysimeters (p = 0.00003; r2 = 0.4520).Hyperaccumulation of manganese in bilberry was confirmed as well as its continuous increase during the vegetation seasons. The manganese content in leaves of bilberry showed positive correlation with soil moisture. For the assessment of bilberry condition (nutrition), the collection of samples should be made towards the end of the growing season, closely before the onset of senescence.

Measurements of ground-level ozone in Czech mountain forests: what we have learnt from using diffusive samplers

Ground-level ozone (O3) is a key atmospheric constituent participating in many important atmospheric reactions, and has many negative effects both on human health and the environment. We have measured O3 ambient concentrations in four Czech rural areas of great natural value: the Orlicke hory Mts., Novohradske hory Mts., Česke Švycarsko and Jizerske hory Mts. For our measurement we used Ogawa diffusive samplers. The measurements were carried out during the vegetations seasons of 2004–2010, the samplers were exposed for two-weeks periods and the filters analyzed in the CHMI laboratory. The aim of this paper is to summarize the experience we have of using the diffusive sampling method in the field.

Reconstruction of a large runout landslide in the Krušné hory Mts. (Czech Republic)

The aims of this study were to summarize current knowledge of a large runout prehistoric landslide, critically review all of the existing data and, in particular, gather new data in order to estimate the age of the accumulation and reveal the movement mechanism. The reconstruction of a large rockslide-rock avalanche in the NW part of the Czech Republic was supported by the analysis and interpretation of 216 boreholes and by GIS analysis of the original 1950s pre-mining surface using digitized old military topographic maps. For the age estimation, we used the Schmidt hammer test. The total volume of the quaternary deposit was calculated to be between 25.4 and 27.4 mil m3, occupying an area of 778,000 m2 and consisting of six to eight generations of colluvial sediments. Three main landslide events were identified based on extensive Schmidt hammer sampling, and the approximate age was established using a regression equation assembled by Engel (2007). All three of the documented events occurred around the time of significant climate change. The oldest event occurred due to the Oldest Dryas warming, the largest event probably occurred at the end of the Younger Dryas (11,700 yBP), and the youngest of the documented events was purely of a Holocene age, with the highest landslide frequency being during the Atlantic temperature fluctuations (approximately 8200 yBP). The slope deformation occurred on a fault slope with a relative height of over 400 m and in tectonically weakened rocks. Sediments in the Most Basin were weakened from meltwater during rapid warming periods, which allowed mobilization of rockslide deposits and runout of up to 1000 m from the mountain foothills.

The effect of slow-release fertilizers on the soil environment of spread windrows in the Krušné Hory Mts.

The current revitalization of forest ecosystems in the Krušné Hory Mts. is carried out through: (i) spreading line windrows, (ii) chemical amelioration. The aim of this research consisted in: (i) assessing basic pedochemical characteristics of spread windrows, (ii) testing the effect of slow-release fertilizers from the Silvamix&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; series and dolomitic limestone on the root ball zone soil five years after application. The results of this study suggest that spread windrows are a suitable environment for forest species: with the only risk being extremely low P concentrations. Our results further show an increase in the amount of soil macrobioelements in the case of Silvamix&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; R and Silvamix&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; Forte, namely P over 125 and 85%; Mg&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt; over 84 and 108%; base saturation (BS) over 44 and 40.7%, respectively, compared with a control. Having applied dolomitic limestone, an increase of BS (by 88%), Mg&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt; (by 250%) and Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt; (by 37%) was observed; there was a reduction in the level of mobile Al&lt;sup&gt;3+&lt;/sup&gt; (by 25%) compared with the control. Stromfolixyl&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; application did not affect the chemistry of the soil environment.

Comparison of water regimes of two dump catchments in the Krušné hory Mts. (Czech Republic) in dry years using a hydrological balance

The dump catchments water regime optimization is one of fundamental recultivation operations in areas devastated after surface coal mining. Two dump catchments (at Radovesice and Loket in the Krušné hory Mts., Czech Republic) were selected to study whether their hydrological balance allows to keep life in them on a sufficiently natural level. The WBCM-6 water balance model was implemented. Different hydrological conditions of the mentioned dump catchments located ca. 90 km apart were compared. The Radovesice catchment lies in a precipitation shadow and suffers from a much greater precipitation deficiency than the Loket one. Its long-term annual precipitation deficit makes about 100 mm. Based on the analysis of the dry year 2003 growing season, biotechnical hydrological measures, in particular cascades of small reservoirs, were proposed.

Local environmental NGO roles in biodiversity governance: a Czech-German comparison

Abstract Recently, the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)s in environmental governance has been widely investigated, especially regarding the issue of mandatory public participation in policy-making within a European context. This paper aims to redirect scientific attention from their pure participation to their field actions, i.e., to the role they play in actual natural resource management, especially at the local level, and reframe local environmental NGO roles and positions based on the criteria for scale and influence. More specifically, this paper seeks to identify factors that promote NGOs as effective complements in the protection of state biodiversity and stresses local impacts of different governance schemes. Determining factors were investigated through a series of in-depth case studies undertaken in the Czech-German border region of the eastern Krušné hory Mts. (Erzgebirge, Ore Mts.). Rather than a quantitatively oriented survey among NGOs, this study focused primarily on a specific territory and, subsequently, on the identification of relevant actor performance (including NGO representatives) within this territory. The method applied for comparison was the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework (IAD Framework). This design enabled a comparison of different social practices in the homogeneous ecosystem present on both sides of the border and captured the influence of specific social and historical cross-border features on environmental NGO performance.

Long-term changes in vegetation and site conditions in beech and spruce forests of lower mountain ranges of Central Europe

In the study of vegetation changes in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests in the Orlické hory Mts. (the Sudetes range, Czech Republic), 34 research plots were surveyed in 1951–2011 using the seven-point Braun-Blanquet scale. The long-term research was motivated by studying the effects of the pollution disturbance in the mountains of the Sudetes system in the 1980s, but also by the understanding of autonomous development of vegetation differing in human interventions. On the studied plots, soil samples were collected periodically from particular soil horizons for physical and chemical analyses. The results document the fact that beech forests showed a slow and almost one-way succession change in 1951–2011 while in spruce stands more pronounced tendencies of cyclic development and much varied dynamics were evident at the level of particular sites. In recent 20years, the populations of younger tree species have augmented both in beech and spruce forests. Especially during the air-pollution disturbance, the species diversity decreased moderately and almost returned to the original values at the end of observations. Moderately increasing continentality of the vegetation composition and retreat of warmth-requiring species are typical of beech forests while an increase in nutrient-demanding species and retreat of light-requiring and moisture-demanding species are characteristic of spruce forests. Undergrowth in beech forests is rather more conservative from the aspect of developmental stages than undergrowth in spruce forests. The effect of forest origin on the temporal development of vegetation and species diversity was not statistically significant in either of the forest types. The test of the effect of chemical properties of soil showed the most important role of available potassium and calcium content in humus horizon and magnesium content in B horizon in beech forests and the crucial role of nitrogen content and soil reaction in A horizon in spruce forests.

Initial Fertilization Impact on Norway Spruce Nutrition and Growth in the Krušné Hory Mts.

The aim of this study consisted in verifying the hypothesis whether the application of tableted fertilizers Silvamix® Forte, Silvamix® R, Stromfolixyl® and calcareous dolomite affected significantly the nutrition and growth of Norway spruce. In order to carry out research investigation, the experimental Suchdol locality has been selected as it represents large‑scale reclaimed sites in the Krušné hory Mts. Ameliorating agents were applied using the initial spot fertilization of Norway spruce plantations. In the course of two years, activities as follows were carried out annually: (1) top shoots measurement, (2) sampling the latest needle year‑class. The applied fertilizers impact on the concentrations of nutrients in needle dry matter was not significant with minor exception. Fertilizers Silvamix® Forte and Silvamix® R can be recommended to support seedlings growth in the area of interest since there had been positive effect on annual height increment found out. Calcareous dolomite showed the most favourable effect on the shoot biomass growth. Stromfolixyl® fertilizer had no effect on the annual increment; its impact on the nutrition can be characterized as insignificant since fertilized individuals showed lower phosphorus concentration in needle dry matter.

Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate game

Abstract Knowledge of the structure and dynamics of near-natural mixed forests is a key factor for ecologically oriented management of forest ecosystems. The development of these model forests mostly takes place continually without any pronounced disturbances. Natural regeneration can be locally limited by ungulate browsing. The paper was focused on the structure and development of forest stands with emphasis on natural regeneration in relation to ungulates in Černý důl Nature Reserve and Trčkov National Nature Reserve situated in the Orlické hory Mts., Czech Republic. The case study was conducted in a spruce-beech-fir forest stand on four permanent research plots (PRP) of 0.25 ha in size. PRP are situated in the same stand and in comparable site and stand conditions, but two PRP has been protected against game by fencing since 1985-1989. The stand volume ranged from 478 to 565 m3 ha−1 in age 143 - 156 year. The results showed that the diversity of tree layer was higher by 19.8% (48.0% in species richness) in the stands protected by fence. In the phase of natural regeneration, the species composition, stand structure and number of recruits were poorer on unfenced PRP (7,990 recruits ha−1) compared to fenced PRP (13,160 recruits ha−1). Admixed silver fir and rowan were completely eliminated by browsing (to 94 - 100% of individuals). Growth analyses statistically confirmed that ungulates were a significant limiting factor for successful forest development (P &lt; 0.001).

The condition of forest stands on afforested agricultural land in the Orlické hory Mts

The paper presents an evaluation of the growth of newly established forest stands on former agricultural land and furthermore describes the state of the upper part of the soils in these stands in comparison with neighbouring grassland in the Orlické hory Mountains. The new Norway spruce stands show an extremely high growth potential, usually significantly higher in comparison with areas forested for more generations/rotations. The formation of the surface humus layer also showed fast progress, the amount of dry mass of soil organic matter reaching values almost typical of permanently forested sites. The soils of newly afforested lands tend to resemble the status of forest soil – there was observed a process of acidification and nutrient depletion, probably connected with accumulation of the tree biomass.

Comparison of actual and critical contents of cadmium, mercury and lead in top organic soils in the area of the Doupovské hory Mts.

Comparison of actual and critical contents of cadmium, mercury and lead in top organic soils in the area of the Doupovské hory Mts.

Comparison of actual and critical contents of cadmium, mercury and lead in top organic soils in the area of the Doupovské hory Mts.

Comparison of actual and critical contents of cadmium, mercury and lead in top organic soils in the area of the Doupovské hory Mts.

New records of the flat-footed flies (Diptera: Platypezidae) from the Czech Republic and Bohemia

Abstract Flat-footed fly (Diptera: Platypezidae) Agathomyia cinerea (Zetterstedt, 1852) is recorded from the Czech Republic for the first time, based on specimens found in the Bukovec Nature Reserve near Jizerka (Kořenov) in the Jizerské hory Mts and Svatý Petr in the Krkonoše Mts. The distribution, seasonal occurrence and habitat preference of this species in Europe are commented. Additionally, two other flat-footed flies, Polyporivora picta (Meigen, 1830) and Seri obscuripennis (Oldenberg, 1916) are recorded for the first time from the territory of Bohemia.

Strongylophthalmyiidae, Tanypezidae and Megamerinidae (Diptera) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: current state of knowledge

Abstract A review of the occurrence of representatives of the families Strongylophthalmyiidae, Tanypezidae and Megamerinidae (Diptera) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia is presented based on literary data and recently obtained records. Strongylophthalmyia pictipes Frey, 1935 (Strongylophthalmyiidae) is a new addition to the fauna of the Czech Republic. Its record from the Jizerské hory Mts is the second from Central Europe and represents a new southwestern most distribution limit of the species. Biology, distribution, faunistics in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and importance for nature conservation (with evaluation of degree of jeopardy) are discussed for all species, including also Strongylophthalmyia ustulata (Zetterstedt, 1847), Tanypeza longimana Fallén, 1820 (Tanypezidae) and Megamerina dolium (Fabricius, 1805 (Megamerinidae).

Geomorphological Inventory as a Tool for Proclaiming Geomorphosite (a Case Study of Mt. Myslivna in the Novohradské hory Mts.— Czech Republic)

The study locality of Mt. Myslivna within the Novohradske hory Mts. (Czech Republic) represents an area which had restricted access prior to 1989. Detailed geomorphological inventory carried out in years 2002–2010 revealed prominent rock landforms developed within late Variscan, Weinsberg-type granite. Destructive as well as accumulative rock landforms were mapped with the use of GPS and include two cryoplanation platform, three frost-riven cliffs, three tors, two low exfoliation domes, two castle koppies, two blockfields, one relic of tor and smaller forms, such as rock ledges and laths. A distinct fissure system that shapes the rock relief consists of two sets of fissures: The primary set is formed by dominant fissures with NE-SW orientation accompanied by fissures with NW-SE orientation; the secondary set comprises of fissures oriented in ENE-WSW and NNW-SSE directions. The north-western slopes of Mt. Myslivna were declared a natural monument in 1992 due to natural beech woodland vegetation. However, the extent of the protected area does not include qualitatively as well as quantitatively the unique rock landforms on the southern slopes of Mt. Myslivna. Therefore, this research led to declaration of this site as a ‘Geomorphologically Significant Locality’ (Geomorphosite) in 2010. In addition, a proposal for extension of the natural monument boundary has been submitted.