Polish Tatra Mountains Research Articles

Environmental and Human Impact on Ice Caves: The Example of the Wielka Śnieżna Cave in the Tatra Mountains (Poland)

Ice caves are characterised by specific microclimate, defined by the external climate as well as cave morphology (hence the location). They are unique components of Earth’s heritage. The ice formed there holds important paleoclimatic information and can be used to assess the global warming effect on the cryosphere in non-glaciated areas. We present an example from Wielka Śnieżna, the deepest cave system in the Polish Tatra Mountains, located in Tatra National Park (Tatrzański Park Narodowy). There have been no recent studies completed on the topic in this location. We provide the first contemporary results of temperature measurements by analysing microclimatic patterns and their response to global warming. There is ongoing ablation of the Ice Fall located in one of the lower entrances (Śnieżna) showing that the ice level has decreased by around 2 m in the last 10 years. The cave is under a minor human impact as it can be accessed only by professional cavers. However, some practices impact the balance of this fragile environment. By comparing our results with the outside temperature records, we aim to understand how dependent the cave microclimate is on the external fluctuations and changes. The ice in the Śnieżna is expected to be gone in the current century.

Climatology and circulation conditions of potential foehn occurrence in the Polish Tatra Mountains

AbstractFoehn wind occurrence has generated great interest among researchers because of the destructive power and impact on the local climate. Based on anemometric data provided by a high-mountain station on Kasprowy Wierch in the Polish Tatra Mountains, the characteristics of the potential occurrence of foehn wind (referred to as halny in the Polish Tatras) are presented, including its speed and duration, as well as the frequency of occurrence on a multiannual, annual and daily basis. Halny winds occur most frequently in the cold period of the year (Oct–Feb), with the frequency peaking in November, and sporadically in the summer. The occurrence of foehn winds is strongly dependent on the synoptic situation. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to identify the circulation conditions conducive to their occurrence on the Polish side of the Tatra Mountains. Circulation conditions responsible for foehn formation were analysed using gridded sea level pressure (SLP) data from the NCEP-DOE (National Centers for Environmental Prediction-Department of Energy) reanalyses. The occurrence of foehn wind in the Tatra Mountains is associated with a low pressure system over north-western Europe, and above normal pressure over south-eastern Europe. The location and intensity of the centres of atmospheric influence on foehn days can vary, as indicated by the three types of pressure systems favouring the occurrence of the phenomenon, distinguished by the hierarchical grouping method. In type 1, the cyclonic centre spreads over northern Europe, in type 2 over western Europe and in type 3 over north-western Europe. In types 1 and 3, the air masses come from the south-west, and in type 2 more from the south. Type 3 is characterised by the greatest horizontal pressure gradients among the three circulation types and with the greatest SLP anomalies.

Fungi associated with shoot dieback of Pinus mugo subsp. mugo in the Polish Tatra Mountains

Fungi associated with shoot dieback of <i>Pinus mugo</i> subsp. <i>mugo</i> in the Polish Tatra Mountains

Involvement of Lophodermella sulcigena in Endemic Disease of Pinus mugo Needles in the Polish Tatra Mountains

Pinus mugo plays a significant ecological role in the natural environment at high altitudes in the mountains including the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, and Balkans. In such severe conditions, it is subjected to the harmful effects of various abiotic and biotic factors. In one of the areas of its natural occurrence in Tatra Mts. (southern Poland), for the last few years, a significant intensification of needle disease has been observed. Symptoms similar to those recorded in Tatra Mts. also occur on other Pinus species in Europe and North America, where they are caused by fungi belonging to the genus Elytroderma, Lophodermella, Lophophacidium or Ploioderma (Rhytismataceae). The current paper presents the results of research which was mainly aimed at characterization of disease symptoms observed for the first time in Poland on P. mugo needles, and identification of the main causal agent with use of the morphological and molecular technique. Based on the analyses performed at different times of the year (2015–2020), it was found that dieback symptoms initially appeared only on first-year needles, a few weeks after their development. Symptoms occur on one or both needles in the bundle. The distal parts of the needles died, while the basal parts remained green. In the following year, mainly in June and July, on the previous year’s needles attached to the shoots, mature ascomata can be seen. The fungus Lophodermella sulcigena has been identified as the cause of these symptoms. So far, the related species L. conjuncta has not been found. The morphological features of the pathogen microstructure produced on P. mugo needles are presented. Attention was drawn to certain features that may make its identification difficult, especially in terms of shapes and sizes of ascospores. The phylogenetic position of the identified causal agent in relation to closely related other species was determined. The current results confirmed that L. sulcigena shows great phylogenetic similarity to L. montivaga, which is found in North America. Nine rDNA barcode sequences of L. sulcigena obtained in this work will enrich the NCBI GenBank database. The obtained results, indicating the presence of other fungi in L. sulcigena ascomata, which may limit the spread of its ascospores, were also discussed.

Variability and changes of the height and duration of snow cover on the Gąsienicowa Glade (Tatras)

AbstractThe oldest meteorological station in the Polish Tatra Mountains is that on the Gąsienicowa Glade (1520 m). In this study, two series of observations for the years 1927–1938 and 1947–2020 are presented for the number of days with snow cover higher than 1 cm (SCD—from 142 to 228 days), maximum snow depth (HSmax—from 43 to 271 cm) and average snow depth (HSmean—from 10 to 93 cm). For the remaining meteorological parameters discussed in this article, the observation series is slightly shorter. From 1927 to 2020, the number of days with snow cover show downward trends (SCD—from nearly 200 days in 1927/1928 to about 175 days in 2019/2020). The decrease in the values of SCD discussed is due to an increase in air temperature and an upward trend in the percentage of the number days with rain over the number of days with snowfall. The increase in mean air temperature started in the 1980s. The strongest temperature trends were recorded in spring (TG in June—from 8.2°C in 1927 to 10.0°C in 2020) and in summer (TG in August—from 9.7°C in 1927 to 12.0°C in 2020). The last two decades, in particular, are exceptional for the Tatra Mountains, both in terms of air temperature, days with snow cover, maximum and mean snow depth. Since the beginning of observations in the Gąsienicowa Glade, no such strong decade‐long increases in temperature and decreases in the number of days with snow cover and in maximum and mean snow depth have been recorded. The observed trends in days with snow cover and maximum and mean snow depth in the Tatras are similar to those observed in studies conducted in the Alps.

Sudden Cardiac Arrests in the Polish Tatra Mountains: A Retrospective Study.

Achieving the optimal survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest in mountains is challenging. The odds of surviving are influenced mainly by distance, response time, and organization of the emergency medical system. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology and outcomes of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in the Polish Tatra Mountains. This was a retrospective analysis of data on sudden cardiac arrest collected from the database of the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service and local emergency medical system from 2001 to 2021. A total of 74 cases of sudden cardiac arrest were recorded. The mortality rate was 88% (65/74). Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 22 (30%) patients. A group of survivors was characterized by more frequent use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) (56% vs 14%, P=0.011), a shorter interval between cardiac arrest and emergency team arrival (12 vs 20 min, P=0.005), and a shorter time to initiation of advanced life support (ALS) (12 vs 22 min, P=0.004). All survivors had a shockable initial rhythm. The majority of survivors (8/9, 89%) had a good or moderate neurological outcome. This study confirms poor survival rate after sudden cardiac arrest in the mountain area. The use of AED, shockable initial rhythm, and shorter time interval to emergency team arrival and ALS initiation are associated with better outcomes.

Changes of the surface area of Morskie Oko and Wielki Staw in the Tatra Mountains

This dissertation has presented the results of measurements regarding the surface area of Morskie Oko and Wielki Staw lakes performed throughout the period of 140-years with the use of various measurement technologies and analyses of cartographic resources. The research has clearly demonstrated that the obtained results are diverse, which could be influenced by various environmental factors and the time difference of surveys conducted at the ana- lysed objects. Wielki Staw is currently the largest lake in the Polish Tatra Mountains. Its surface area in 2021 covered 33.44 ha. Thus, it appeared to be larger than Morskie Oko, the surface area of which is 1.51 ha. It was also concluded that the difference in the size of these two reservoirs might increase over time since Morskie Oko is situated in an environment that undergoes dynamic transformations and, consequently, has an impact on the evolution of this lake. Moreover, the area surrounding Morskie Oko is one of the most popular tourist locations within the Tatra National Park, which may intensify the anthropogenic impact on the course of, among others, the shoreline.

Hydroclimatic Changes in the Polish Tatra Mountains as an Indicator of Natural Variability, Climate Change and Human Alterations

Hydroclimatic Changes in the Polish Tatra Mountains as an Indicator of Natural Variability, Climate Change and Human Alterations

Thermal Sensitivity of High Mountain Lakes: The Role of Morphometry and Topography (The Tatra Mts., Poland)

This study presents the results of a 5-year monitoring program of ice cover, water temperature, and local meteorological conditions carried out in three reference lakes in the periglacial zone of the Polish Tatra Mountains. On the basis of this information, the relationships between the weighted mean water temperature of each of these lakes and the air temperature, wind speed, precipitation, and ice–snow cover in the summer, spring, and autumn seasons, as well as year-round, were described, and the roles of the morphometry of lakes and the topography of their catchments were determined. It was found that the sensitivity of the lakes to climate warming increased with a decrease in their area/depth and shade, and with an increase in altitude and the share of wind-blown snow in the formation of the ice–snow cover. An increase in the mean annual air temperature does not necessarily translate into the warming of lakes, but, paradoxically, may result in their cooling. The current climate may not be best reflected by the most sensitive lakes, but rather by the largest ones located in the subalpine zone.

Fungi associated with disease symptoms on Pinus mugo needles in the Polish Tatra Mountains

Dwarf mountain pine, Pinus mugo, is an important component of the subalpine and alpine zone in Europe. For several years, in one of the natural areas of the occurrence of this species in the Polish Tatras, an intensified decline of the assimilation apparatus has been observed. The studies conducted in 2016–2020 were aimed at determining the types of disease symptoms occurring on P. mugo needles and at identifying the species composition of fungi within symptomless and diseased needles. We isolated 57 taxa from 6 types of disease symptoms and from needles without disease symptoms, identified on the basis of morphological features and molecular analyses. Absolute parasites were represented by only one species of Coleosporium senecionis, which was identified by the aecium stage. The genus Lophodermium was represented by three species: L. conigenum, L. corconticum and L. pini-mugonis. So far, L. corconticum was known only from the Karkonosze Mountains in Poland, and L. pini-mugonis from the German Alps. In addition, the more frequently isolated species included: Sydowia polyspora, Hendersonia sp., Nemania serpens, Leptomelanconium allescheri, Cladosporium spp., Biscogniauxia nummularia and Alternaria spp. Some taxa were associated with only one type of disease symptom, while some species of fungi were found to be associated with different symptoms. Twelve species of fungi were isolated from living symptomless needles, some of which were subsequently found in association with nectrotic areas on needles, e.g., Lophodermium corconticum, L. conigenum and Leptomelanconium allescheri. L. pinastri has not been found in the present studies. In the discussion, an attempt was made to assess the role of some of the identified species of fungi in causing the disease process of P. mugo needles.

ATMOSPHERIC DROUGHT IN THE POLISH TATRAS AND THEIRFORELAND IN THE YEARS 1951–2017

Aim of the study. The aim of this study is to assess the variability of the lowest monthly totals of precipitation, and to evaluate the impact of atmospheric circulation on the occurrence of months with a deficit of precipitation. Material and methods. Material: The monthly totals of atmospheric precipitation for the years 1951–2017 from 19 meteorological stations located in the Polish Tatra Mountains and in their foreland. and the calendar of atmospheric circulation types for southern Poland, which was developed by Niedźwiedź (1981; 2018). Methods: Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Mann-Kendall test Results and conclusions. No statistically significant trend at a significance level of 0.05 was noted in the course of the lowest monthly precipitation totals at any of the meteorological stations. In the 67-year period, all the measuring stations saw a total of 499 (3.3%) dry months with varying drought severity. The largest number of extremely dry months occurred in August and April, respectively. In the case of months when the lowest totals of precipitation occurred in the same month at all or almost all of the meteorological stations, three types of anticyclonic circulation dominated, i.e. eastern, south-eastern, southern, and the anticyclonic wedge.

Forest Disturbances in Polish Tatra Mountains for 1985–2016 in Relation to Topography, Stand Features, and Protection Zone

For more than four centuries, the Tatra Mountains were affected by many factors, such as forest and pastoral management, mining and metallurgy, windthrows, snow avalanches, and bark beetle outbreaks. Due to the availability of the long-running Landsat program enabling acquisition of spatially and spectrally consistent information, it is possible to the use these data for forest disturbance analysis. The main aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between the frequency of disturbances detected over the period of 1985–2016 and selected topographic features, such as elevation, exposure, and slope, derived from a digital elevation model (DEM); stand features, such as vegetation community type, age, structure, and degree of naturalness of the stand; and the management protection zone, which was extracted from thematic layers of the Tatra National Park (TNP). Using the normalized difference moisture index (NDMI), we detected forest disturbances in each year and analyzed them in the context of these topographic features, forest stand characteristics, and the management protection zone. We observed that forest stands in the lower montane zone, slopes between 10°–30°, and eastern exposures were primarily affected by disturbances. These consisted of artificially planted spruce stands aged between 51 and 100 years old.

Characteristics of textural and sensory properties of Oštiepok cheese

Oštiepok is a traditional half-fat semi-hard cheese made in Slovakia. The basic raw material used to produce oštiepok cheese is ewe's milk, a mixture of ewe's and cow's milk or cow's milk. Oštiepok cheese is produced either directly at a small-scale mountainside sheep farm, using the traditional on-farm method of production, or at dairies, using the industrial method. Oštiepok cheese was produced as far back as the beginning of the 18th century. An industrial production of Oštiepok cheese using cow's milk were laid by the Galbavý family in Detva (Slovakia) in 1921. The cheese is originally made by cutting off fresh sweet cheese, which is pressed into a wooden, hand-cut and decorated round shape where it is left to stand. Subsequently, it is removed and immersed in warm salty water, left to stand there until the salt penetrates completely in. Then it is necessary that it pass slightly. In its salty water, the ostrich produces its traditional durability, its surface is slightly peeled, mostly yellowish. This cheese may or may not be steamed and may be smoked or unsmoked. Slovenský oštiepok is a protected trade name under the EU's protected geographical indication. A similar cheese is made in the Polish Tatra Mountains under the name Oscypek. The cheeses differ in ingredients' ratios, cheesemaking process and the characteristics of the final products. In this study we have characterized textural and sensory properties of the Oštiepok cheese produced in Slovakia made from ewe's milk, a mixture of ewe's and cow's milk and cow's milk.

Lokalna prasa a początki turystyki i sportu w Zakopanem

The end of XIX and beginning of the XXth century was the time of rapid development of Tatra tourism. It was also the time during which Zakopane became the leading touristic venue. Polish Intelligentsia, who came in huge numbers to this place from all annexed territories, had the main influence on that process. The achievements of pioneers in Tatra tourism were the major subjects in the local press, whose dynamic development depended on the growing number of visitors coming to Zakopane. During the years 1891–1914 there were altogether 12 journals that described socio-economic development of Zakopane, included science and popular science articles from various fields and, more importantly, promoted tourism, presented accounts of mountain treks and activities carried out by Polish Tatra Society and Tatra Mountains Volunteer Rescue Service. The press in Zakopane described and presented discussions on controversial topics such as, for example, building the mountain cableway to Świnica Peak. At the beginning of the XXth century the local press included articles written by famous sports and recreation promoters as: Leopold Świerz, Stanislaw Bedzikiewicz, Eugeniusz Piasecki, Stanislaw Barabasz i Mariusz Zaruski.

Rendzina soils in the Tatra Mountains, central Europe: a review

Abstract The article presents the overview of the rendzinas found in the Polish Tatra mountains based on literature data and unpublished authors results and observations. Particular attention was paid to soil properties related to the high mountain environment in Poland occurring only in the the Tatra Mountains. The influence of soil forming factors on the genesis of rendzinas and their spatial distribution was described. Furthermore the soils properties were analysed in order of distinguished soil units. Finally the proposal for classification of Tatra rendzinas was given.

Different maximum latewood density and blue intensity measurements techniques reveal similar results

Annually resolved and absolutely dated Maximum Latewood Density (MXD) and Blue Intensity (BI) measurements are frequently used for reconstructing summer temperature variability over the last centuries to millennia. A direct comparison of the outcome of both methods using similar material is needed due to how quickly this method is being adopted. The application of slightly different measuring systems (hardware) and analysis tools (software) in tandem with different wood samples and preparation procedures further challenges any straightforward assessment. Here we process 26 Norway spruce samples from the upper timberline in the Polish Tatra Mountains with the six most frequently used MXD and BI applications. Although offset is found in the raw MXD and BI data (0.04–0.13 g/cm3 and 0.45–1.58 dimensionless blue intensity), interannual and longer-term fluctuations are significantly (p < 0.01) positively correlated between all MXD and BI time-series. Our results emphasize the potential of faster and cheaper, as well as overall more user-friendly techniques to generate reliable MXD surrogates for high-frequency dendroclimatological studies. Although the correlations between MXD and BI were lower than within MXD and BI, the results of growth-climate response performed for both proxies show only marginal differences. The obtained level-offset further questions the suitability of joining different density surrogates for developing long-term composite chronologies to reconstruct low-frequency climate variability.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Leptomelanconium allescheri associated with necrotic lesions on Pinus mugo needles in the Polish Tatra Mountains

SummaryLeptomelanconium allescheri was identified for the first time in Poland in 2016 in the Tatra Mts. on Pinus mugo needles. It produced numerous conidiomata on necrotic lesions on live needles. In our study, we provide detailed characteristics of disease symptoms and describe morphology of the structures of the fungus. The shape and size of macroconidia are proven to be more variable in vitro than in situ. The malt extract agar colonies of the fungus obtained from germinating macroconidia are described for the first time. Our observations prove also that, apart from macroconidia, L. allescheri produces in vitro unicellular, hyaline microconidia, 3.5–10 × 1.8–5.0 μm in size, the previously unknown aspect in the development cycle of this species. The BLAST search with ITS and LSU sequences of L. allescheri resulted in the closest match with Cenangium acuum accessions (94%–95% and 99%, respectively). Two gene based, LSU plus ITS, phylogenetic positioning of L. allescheri proves that it belongs to Pezizomycotina, Helotiales. Further, on family level, placement of L. allescheri, as well as its two closest species C. acuum and Piceomphale bulgarioides, remains undefined. The L. allescheri barcode sequences (accession numbers: ITS—MF573935, LSU—MF573936, IGS—MF573937) and cultures were submitted to NCBI GenBank and CBS Utrecht, The Netherlands culture collection.

Geotouristic values of the Chochołowska Valley (Tatra Mountains, Poland) and their accessibility for people with physical disabilities

The purpose of this contribution is to present the geotourist path in the Chochołowska Valley for the disabled with limited mobility, as well as for the elderly. The Chochołowska Valley is the most westward valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains (Western Tatras). It is the longest and largest valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains, with an area of 35 km2 and 10 km in length. The highest peak located in the Chochołowska Valley is the Starorobociański Wierch at 2176 m a.s.l. The altitude at the end of the valley around Siwa Polana, is about 900 m a.s.l. (from 910 m a.s.l. to 920 m a.s.l.). At the Polana Huciska, where the geotoursit path ends, the altitude is about 1000 m a.s.l. The length of the path is 3.5 km, and the altitude difference over this distance is 100 meters. The Chochołowska Valley is developed in sedimentary rocks (limestones, marls, dolomites), belonging to two nappes: Choč Nappe (e.g. Siwiańskie Turnie outcrop) and Križna Nappe (e.g. Niżna Brama Chochołowska Rock Gate). The valley administratively belongs to the Witów village. A green tourist trail was marked through the valley. It start from the Siwa Polana to the mountain hut named after John Paul II on Polana Chochołowska. An asphalt road is from Siwa Polana to the Polana Huciska. The Chochołowska Valley is one of the most beautiful Tatra valleys with numerous rock outcrops and is considered to have a high geotouristic potential. The proposed geotourist path includes selected outcrops, which can be easily accessed by people with limited mobility, including people in wheelchairs. This path runs along a wide asphalt road, and any additional equipment (e.g. a freewheel for wheelchairs) is not required. A large car parking lot is available at the beginning of the proposed path (Siwa Polana), as well as sanitary and catering facilities.

ACCIDENTS AND RESCUE INTERVENTIONS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN THE POLISH TATRA MOUNTAINS – ANALYSIS FOR 2014 AND 2015

Purpose. Analysis of mountain accidents in the Polish Tatra Mountains during the holiday season 2014-2015, their spatial distribution and indication of objective (natural) and subjective (human) reasons. Method. Analysis of mountain accident chronicles from the 1.07-31.08.2014 holiday season, available on the official website of the Tatra Volunteer Rescue Service. Findings. Mountain accidents happened in the High Tatras and in the Western Tatras. Most mountain accidents in the High Tatras occurred on the alpine species, and in the West Tatras - on the forest species. The greatest impact on the occurrence of mountain accidents in the High Tatras was biotic - an objective factor, and in the Western Tatras – lithological-morphological and meteorological-climatic. Research and conclusion limitations. Empirical studies concern the analysis of mountain accidents in the Tatra National Park and all types of tourist activities undertaken before a mountain accident. Practical implications. The study presents the impact of man and the mountain environment on mountain accidents. Originality. The presented results may help to determine environmental risk zones, tourists will be informed about them before going on the Tatra trails during the holiday season. Type of paper. An article presenting the results of empirical research.

Analysis of microsatellite DNA polymorphism in the Tatra Shepherd Dog

ABSTRACTThe Tatra Shepherd Dog is one of five Polish native breeds of dogs originating from the Polish Tatra Mountains. The objective of the study was to determine genetic variation in a population of 60 dogs of this breed, based on polymorphism of 18 microsatellite (STR) markers, recommended by ISAG for canine parentage testing. The analysis showed considerable genetic variability in the studied loci. The 100 alleles identified in the test material were used to determine the polymorphism of the discussed markers. The highest polymorphism was found in the locus AHT171, in which 8 alleles were identified and PIC and HO values exceeded 0.8. The lowest polymorphism was detected for AHTk211, in which 3 alleles were determined, and PIC and HO values were 0.233 and 0.281, respectively. Average FIS had a low negative value, which suggests zero inbreeding of the studied breed. The probability of parentage exclusion estimated for the 18 markers totalled 99.996%.