Tomáš Chuman

Ecotonal dynamics of the altitudinal forest limit are affected by terrain and vegetation structure variables: an example from the Sudetes Mountains in Central Europe

Abstract At the landscape scale, the response of alpine treelines to increasing temperatures often varies due to second-order factors such as terrain properties, vegetation structure, and land use. In this study, we examined the influence of topographic and vegetation-structure variables on spatial patterns of treeline ecotone shifts in the Sudetes Mountains (Czech Republic). The changing positions of the alpine timberline and alpine treeline were determined from orthogonal aerial images allowing comparisons between 1936 and 2005. Our results showed that the alpine timberline advanced upward at an overall rate between 0.30 m yr-1 in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains (eastern part of the Sudetes) and 0.43 m yr-1 in the Giant Mountains (western part of the Sudetes). Forest infilling was substantially greater than advances above original alpine treeline positions. Forest upward shifts occurred mostly on sites with already established, well-dispersed trees and low levels of prostrate dwarf pine cover. Topographic variables such as altitude and heat load affected forest advance if initial tree cover was low. The occurrence of competitive prostrate shrubs and the presence of climatically extreme convex parts of slopes appear to be important second-order factors affecting treeline ecotone shifts, particularly at wind-affected treelines.

Assessing the Change in Cover of Non-Indigenous Dwarf-Pine Using Aerial Photographs, a Case Study from the Hrubý Jeseník Mts., the Sudetes

Assessing the Change in Cover of Non-Indigenous Dwarf-Pine Using Aerial Photographs, a Case Study from the Hrubý Jeseník Mts., the Sudetes In addition to ongoing climate change, alpine ecosystems are also threatened by the expansion of non-indigenous species. Expansion of dwarf pine (Pinus mugo Turra) in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. is an excellent example of the interactions between a planted alpine shrub and alpine ecosystems dominated by grassland species. Based on a comparison of aerial photographs taken in two different periods (1971/73 and 2003) we analyzed spatial changes in the dwarf pine cover. We focused on an evaluation of the current proportion of dwarf pine stands above the upper forest limit, as well as on the effects of stand texture and environmental variables on dwarf pine expansion over this 30 year period. During this time, dwarf pine stands increased their extent by 63%. Small forest-free areas above the upper forest limit in the northern part of the Hrubý Jeseník ridge are currently covered by dwarf pine on more than 30% of their surface. Expansion of dwarf pine was fastest in open, fine-grained stands, often situated in lower altitudes and on north- to east-facing slopes. The dwarf pine expansion was more intense than predicted by simple model of vegetative growth, especially within open stands with short polycormon margins in low altitudes. This might be explained by more intensive growth in less extreme environment and/or by higher generative reproduction on these sites. Finally, we suggest that expanding dwarf pine shrubs and recessing grassland patches negatively affects the abundance of heliophilous alpine plants and insects. We believe that the results of this study could be relevant to ongoing discussions on the management of summit forest-free areas in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts.

Geochemical reactivity of rocks of the Czech Republic

In this study, we present a map of the geochemical reactivity of rocks of the Czech Republic at a scale of 1:1,000,000 based on a geodatabase of regional geological maps at a scale of 1:50,000, as well as description of the method of how the map was developed. Research for this study was performed by compiling information between a database of regional geological maps and data from the lithogeochemical database to calculate and classify the rocks into eight groups according to carbonate content and coefficient of alkalinity. Rocks in these groups were further subdivided according to the susceptibility to weathering, forming a total of 28 categories. Knowledge of geochemical background is essential for making informed landscape management decisions, as this information determines the areas with higher levels of susceptibility to soil acidification and/or nutrient degradation. The map from this study will therefore provide essential information, albeit incomplete, to aid landscape management practitioners.

Recovery from acidification alters concentrations and fluxes of solutes from Czech catchments

Changes in atmospheric deposition, stream water chemistry, and solute fluxes were assessed across 15 small forested catchments. Dramatic changes in atmospheric deposition have occurred over the last three decades, including a 70% reduction in sulphur (S) deposition. These changes in atmospheric inputs have been associated with expected changes in levels of acidity, sulphate and base cations in streams. Soil retention of S appeared to partially explain rates of chemical recovery. In addition to these changes in acid–base chemistry we also observed unexpected changes in nitrogen (N) biogeochemistry and nutrient stoichiometry of stream water, including decreased stream N concentrations. Among all catchments the average flux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was best predicted by average runoff, soil chemistry (forest floor C/N) and levels of acid deposition (both S and N). The rate of change in stream DIN flux, however, was much more closely correlated with reductions in rates of S deposition rather than those of DIN. Unlike DIN fluxes, the average concentrations as well as the rates of decline in streamwater nitrate (NO3) concentration over time were tightly linked to stream dissolved organic carbon/dissolved organic nitrogen ratios DOC/DON and DON/TP rather than catchment characteristics. Declines in phosphorus adsorption with increasing soil pH appear to contribute to the relationship between C, N, and P in our study catchments. Our observations suggest that catchment P availability and its alteration due to environmental changes (e.g. acidification) might have profound effects on N cycling and catchment N retention that have been largely unrecognized.

Restoration Practices Used on Post Mining Sites and Industrial Deposits in the Czech Republic with an Example of Natural Restoration of Granodiorite Quarries and Spoil Heaps

Abstract Mining of minerals that have significant impact on landscape and landscape functions affects 1% of the land surface worldwide. In the Czech Republic the extent of mining sites is estimated to be more than 800 km2 and according to the state legislation the land affected by mining should be reclaimed. There are several approaches to land restoration, which are shortly reviewed in this article, from pure technical approach to one adopting natural processes. The review shows increasing appeal of scientist and conservationist to use natural processes e.g. natural or directed succession as an alternative method of post-mining sites or industrial deposits restoration due to growing evidence of conservational value of such sites in human dominated landscapes. The natural processes used for land restoration are often argued to be slow therefore the rate of spontaneous vegetation succession was assessed in stone quarries and on spoil heaps using a sequence of panchromatic aerial images. The results showed that natural processes act fast and vegetation can reach 100% cover within 10-15 years in granodiorite quarries and on spoil heaps.

Present Approaches to Landscape Typology in the Czech Republic

ABSTRACT Landscape typologies are widely recognised as useful tools for landscape management and planning. However, there is wide range of different approaches producing diverse outputs, which makes the usage of landscape typologies sometimes difficult or confusing in general practice (Wascher ed., 2005). The same situation is found in the Czech Republic, where a number of holistic, expert-based and quantitative approaches were developed. These differences could be explained by different objectives of landscape classification, different input data and methods used, and by the particular author’s experience and erudition. Nevertheless, landscape typology should be clear both for scientists, landscapeplanners and policy makers. It is necessary to create valid landscape-planning documents which have to reflect regional, cultural and natural landscape specifics, for as effective and sustainable land use as possible. For such a strategic planning, clearly defined and characterised spatial units seem to be an essential base. This paper aims to introduce the fundamental methodological approaches, provides basic comparison of different Czech typologies, and discusses an optimal method for landscape planning.

Comparative study of fluvial lakes in floodplains of the Elbe, Lužnice and Svratka Rivers based on hydrochemical and biological approach

The aim of the thesis was to specify key differences in chemistry and biota (zooplankton communities) among fluvial lakes in three regions of the Czech Republic: the central part of the Elbe River, the upper part of the Lužnice River and the upper part of the Svratka River. The ten studied lakes of the three regions differ in size, geology, shading, connection with the river and the level of anthropogenic impact. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) The water chemistry of fluvial lakes significantly differs in different floodplains. In the central Elbe River floodplain, there are the highest values of conductivity and concentrations of organic matter and nutrients. Fluvial lakes of the Svratka River floodplain show the lowest level of these parameters, and fluvial lakes of the upper Lužnice River have levels intermediate between the two previous regions. (2) The chemistry of fluvial lakes that have contact with the river through surface connection is significantly influenced by the river. (3) The structure of zooplankton differs in different lakes due to the geographical distance between locations, their different altitude and water chemistry. The PCA analysis of selected parameters of the water chemistry revealed a close relationship of locations in the central Elbe River floodplain on the one side and close relationship of the locations in the upper Lužnice River and Svratka River on the other. However, the amount of organic matter, nitrogen (with the exception of nitrates) and phosphorus was independent of the region. The relationship between the extent of the lake-river connection and the water chemistry was not significant. The hypothesis that the zooplankton differ in different lakes was not proved—the species composition was similar in all the lakes.

Development of Soil Consumption Driven by Urbanization and Pattern of Built-up Areas in Prague Periphery since the 19 th Century

th century till 2010. The results show an extensive soil consumption. The average extent of built-up area increased from less than 1% to more than 13% per cadastre. This extensive development caused consumption of high quality soils and changed the pattern of built-up areas from more compact to less compact built-up areas. The average nearest neighbour distance between built-up patches has increased by more than 38%.

COMPARISON OF LAND COVER CHANGE S IN PROTECTED AND UNPROTECTED SITES ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PRAGUE METROPOLIS (THE CZECH REPUBLIC), 1990–2006

The Czech landscapes have been shaped by many driving forces such as sub/urbanisation, construction of transport and logistics infrastructure, afforestation or agriculture extensification. The outskirts of Prague belong to some of the most affected regions despite two protected landscape areas (PLA ) spread out here, protecting unique nature in the national context. The key question is whether and how the land cover changes, their direction and magnitude, differ inside and outside of these two protected landscape areas and thus, whether legislative landscape and nature protection fulfils its role, preventing negative changes e.g. caused by urban sprawl. Therefore two groups of study sites were defined – inside and outside the PLAs – in order to test whether undergoing land cover changes differ. The CORINE land cover layers were used to quantify landscape structure and its change using landscape metrics and land cover changes during the time period of 1990–2006. Obtained data were analysed using methods of direct ordinations (redundancy analysis). The results showed that two groups of study sites differed in landscape structure and landscape composition in the year 1990, but trajectories and intensities of land cover changes since then have been very similar, however landscape structure unlike landscape composition have still remained different. It seems that socio-economic development influenced both groups in comparable ways and though, legislative landscape and nature protection doesn’t restrict land cover changes even those caused by urban sprawl; however, further analyses are necessary.