J. For. Sci., 2014, 60(4):133-142 | DOI: 10.17221/8/2014-JFS

Changes of forest abiotic environment in the Western Carpathians assessed using phytoindicationOriginal Paper

W. Żelazny
Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

To avoid ecosystem degradation, forestry planning needs to be based on current information about the state of forest environment. Phytoindication is an inexpensive tool that allows tracking the environmental change at fine spatial scales. The present study uses this approach to assess changes within abiotic conditions of forests in the area of the Moravian-Silesian Beskids Mts. (Czech Republic). Phytosociological relevés collected in 2013 at 118 permanent plots were compared with records from the 1960s and 1970s. The changes were expressed using average Ellenberg's Indicator Values and units of the Czech Forest Typological System. Persisting soil acidification was detected, and linked to industrial deposition and planting of Norway spruce beyond its natural range. Conversion towards a higher share of broadleaved species was suggested to support soil recovery.

Keywords: Beskids Mts.; Ellenberg's indicator values; forest typology; Norway spruce; soil acidification

Published: April 30, 2014  Show citation

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Żelazny W. Changes of forest abiotic environment in the Western Carpathians assessed using phytoindication. J. For. Sci. 2014;60(4):133-142. doi: 10.17221/8/2014-JFS.
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