Identification of the factors determining the concentration and spatial distribution of Zn, Pb and Cd in the soils of the non-forest Tatra Mountains (southern Poland)

We investigated trace-metal (TM)––Zn, Pb and Cd––concentrations and spatial distributions in the uppermost layers of non-forest soils from Tatra National Park (West Carpathians). We aimed to determine the main factors affecting the distribution of TMs, as well as the risk they posed to the environment. TM concentrations were compared to the target and intervention values established by the Dutch Ministry. Principle component analysis was used to identify the potential factors affecting TM accumulation, with two-factor analysis being applied to further examine the importance of any given factor. To examine the regularity of the TM distribution, semivariograms were created. The semivariograms of Cd and Pb were similar, suggesting a moderate spatial dependence for these metal concentrations, while the Zn variogram indicated a lack of spatial continuity for this metal. We established that the Zn, Pb and Cd exceeded target levels and at some sites, Cd exceeded the intervention values, posing a strong ecological risk to the environment. Our study confirmed that the parent rock was the most important factor affecting the TM accumulation. The carbonate-free soils differed from carbonate soils in the second important factor affecting TM accumulation, for carbonate-free soils it was location when for carbonate soils–TM content in the parent material. The Zn, Pb and Cd distribution patterns indicated that Cd, but also to a lesser degree Pb and Zn, accumulation mainly resulted from long-range transport from industrialised areas, while the Zn concentrations were also affected by local sources, such as the historical mining of Zn ore.

Pinus mugo shrubs on peat bogs in the Tatra National Park

Pinus mugo shrubs on peat bogs in the Tatra National Park (TNP) were for the first time described as a separated plant association by Obidowicz (1975) from only two mires. Since then, there have been no studies on peat bogs in the TNP and they have not been mentioned in the list of vegetation types of the Park. The research regarding the dwarf pine shrubs on mires in the Tatra Mountains was carried out in 2019. We mapped all patches of such vegetation (total – ~2 ha) on which we made 26 relevés. P. mugo shrubs on peat bogs occur within the complex of mire habitats, such as Norway spruce bog woodlands, raised bogs and poor fens. The shrub layer is dominated by Pinus mugo with admixture of dwarfish Picea abies. Typical plants of the herb layer are Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, Eriophorum vaginatum and Oxycoccus palustris, whereas the most common mosses are Sphagnum magellanicum, S. capillifolium, S. russowi, Pleurozium schreberi. P. mugo shrubs on peat bogs in the TNP belong to the association Sphagno magellanici-Pinetum mugo.

Heavy Metal Content in the Plants (Pleurozium schreberi and Picea abies) of Environmentally Important Protected Areas of the Tatra National Park (the Central Western Carpathians, Poland)

This work concerns the content of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and determines the effect of absolute altitude on the content of metals in the plants of the Tatra National Park (TNP). The metals were determined in two species of plants, i.e., in the moss (Pleurozium schreberi (Willd.) Mitten) and in the Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst). Plant samples were collected in two test areas every 100 m of the altitude of the area, starting from 1000 m above sea level in the Lake Morskie Oko test area and from 1100 m above sea level in the Kasprowy Wierch test area, and ending at 1400 m above sea level for Lake Morskie Oko, and 1750 m above sea level (the moss) and 1550 m above sea level (the spruce) for Kasprowy Wierch. The two test areas are different from each other in terms of natural and physico-geographical conditions (geological structure, landform, climatic conditions). The conducted research showed that both plant species accumulated greater amounts of heavy metals in the Lake Morskie Oko test area than in the Kasprowy Wierch test area. The moss accumulated higher values of metals compared to the spruce. In both the moss and the spruce, the highest values, exceeding the natural content, were found for Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ni. For these metals, natural values were significantly exceeded: 20 times for Cr; 10 times for Pb; 4 times for Cd; and 3 times for Ni. For both examined areas, an increase in the quantity of accumulated metals in plants was also observed with the increase in altitude. The work focuses on the spreading around of heavy metals and their deposition on plants in protected high mountain (alpine) areas, in connection with altitude. Based on the obtained research results, Spearman’s and Kendall’s rank correlations were performed, and showed statistically significant relationships between the values for the content of metals and altitude. There are no heavy metal emission sources in the study area, so it is assumed that the metal content in the plants of the TNP is affected by long-range emissions.

Planning for Sustainable Development of Tourism in the Tatra National Park Buffer Zone Using the MCDA Approach

This study aims to develop practice guidelines for the preparation of local regulations promoting sustainable tourism planning for the area located at the entrance to the Tatra National Park, Poland. Included in the study was a set of tourism activities put forward by the local community. These activities were divided into two priorities: sustainable tourist activities (hiking and walking, cycling, horseback riding) and investments that would have an environmental impact (downhill skiing, recreational infrastructure, commerce, catering). The analysis criteria covered the tourist attractiveness of the area and its suitability for a given activity (benefit), as well as requirements concerning the protection of nature, topographical relief, landscape, and traditional land use (cost). These criteria were evaluated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and summarized using the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC). The results showed the high attractiveness of the area for both priorities. However, due to the area's unique nature, investments having an environmental impact must be limited to the vicinity of the existing built-up areas. The use of MCDA supports decision-making at the local scale, significantly enhances the transparency of the results, and facilitates communication with local communities. The comparison with the current local law provisions showed the shortcomings of the methods used to date when preparing planning instruments.

Polytrichum formosum and Vaccinium myrtillus as Phytoindicators of Pollutants from Long-Range Emissions of Environmentally Important Protected Areas (The Tatra National Park, the Central Western Carpathians, Poland)

The study determined the influence of altitude on the content of heavy metals in selected plant species of the Tatra National Park (TNP). The metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were identified in two species of plants, i.e., in the moss (Polytrichum formosum Hedw.) and in the blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). Plant samples were collected in two test areas every 100 meters of altitude of the area, starting from 1,000 m above sea level in the Lake Morskie Oko test area and from 1,100 m above sea level in the Kasprowy Wierch test area, and ending at 1,400 m above sea level for Lake Morskie Oko and 1,550 m above sea level for Kasprowy Wierch. The two test areas are different from each other in terms of natural and physico-geographical conditions (geological structure, landform, climatic conditions, etc.). The conducted research shows that the content of heavy metals in the studied species of plants increases with the altitude above sea level. Both P. formosum Hedw and V. myrtillus L. can be good phytoindicators in mountainous areas. In the tested plant species, the contents of heavy metals were also found to be higher than the natural contents, which is most likely related to long-range emission. Long-distance transport of pollutants causes that important natural protected areas, such as the Tatra National Park, are exposed to excessive pollution, including the accumulation of heavy metals in plants.

Effects of invasive japanese knotweed on diversity and structure of soil nematode communities

In this study we investigated the communities of soil nematodes in the forest habitats invaded and uninvaded by Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr., in Tatra National Park, Slovakia. We found that invasion by F. japonica altered nematode communities and their structures. Total nematode abundance, species number and nematode biomass were significantly lower in invaded than uninvaded plots, but species diversity remained unaffected throughout the study. The overall abundance of all nematode trophic groups well represented the negative impact of F. japonica invasion on soil food webs, supported by low values of all maturity indices, a structural index and the Jaccard index of faunal similarity. A weighted faunal analysis similarly characterized the food webs of invaded plots as poorly developed or highly disturbed, with bacterial decomposition and a low C/N ratio. Our findings thus suggest that dense plots of knotweed simplify the structural complexity of the soil environment by reducing the richness of plant species, which may have contributed to the negative changes in the structures of the nematode communities.

Diversity and prevalence of entomopathogenic fungi (Ascomycota, Hypocreales) in epidemic populations of bark beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in spruce forests of the Tatra National Park in Slovakia

Bark beetles are serious forest pests in Slovakia. Their outbreaks may have significant ecological and economic impacts on spruce forests. There is a variety of natural enemies that activate themselves during population outbreaks of insects and entomopathogenic fungi belong to important antagonists with a potential to regulate populations of their hosts. In 2014–2016, species richness and prevalence of entomopathogenic fungi were evaluated during the bark beetle outbreaks in spruce forests affected by windstorms in the Tatra National Park in Slovakia. Three Beauveria species, B. bassiana, B. caledonica and B. pseudobassiana, with Metapochonia bulbillosa were identified from 271 specimens of three bark beetle species, Ips typographus, Ips amitinus and Pityogenes chalcographus. Beauveria bassiana was the dominant pathogen and infected all three bark beetle species. Phylogenetic analysis identified three phylogenetic groups of B. bassiana in the evaluated host populations. M. bulbillosa was reported for the first time from bark beetle hosts and Slovakia. The prevalence of fungal infection in natural populations of I. typographus was low, varied between 0.07 and 0.72%, and have little influence on the bark beetle abundance.

Genetic Characteristics of Brown Trout Salmo trutta from the Tatra National Park in Poland

In the present study the genetic diversity and structure of the brown trout in the Tatra National Park (TNP) was analyzed by application of ten microsatellites and one mitochondrial DNA markers. For this purpose, a total of 96 fish from 7 main streams located on the territory of the TNP were sampled. Examined fish was characterized by a moderate level of the genetic diversity (I=1.196-1.549) and PIC=0.567-0.707). The mean values of observed (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) varied from 0,577 to 0,760 and from 0,609 to 0,723, respectively. Based on genetic analysis, five haplotypes were identified, and the computed haplotype diversity (h) and nucleotide diversity (π) values were 0.561 and 0.001, respectively. Assessed genetic differentiation between the examined groups varied from 0.016 do 0.085 and the global test of differentiation (Fst=0.062) among groups provided statistically insignificant values. Constructed Bayesian skyline plot revealed stable population size, however an evidence of a historical decline of the population size in the studied fish was detected. Similarly, to microsatellite DNA analysis, the obtained data on mtDNA analysis showed weak genetic clustering, where two genetic clusters were identified, however, haplotype frequencies did not follow geographical pattern.

Do pheromone trapping always reflect Ips typographus (L.) population level? A study from the Tatra National Park in Poland

Pheromone traps are used for monitoring I. typographus populations in Norway spruce stands of the Tatra National Park (TPN) in Poland. The presented study is based on the set of pheromone traps of precisely known location (23) located in the whole area of the TPN and operated continuously in 2010–2019. The data on the captures of beetles were compared with two kinds of data concerning the mortality: the area covered by standing dead trees (airborne photographs) in the no-intervention zone, and the volume of trees infested by bark beetles processed in the active protection zone. No relationship was found between the mean numbers of beetles captured yearly in all pheromone traps in the whole TPN area and the volume of infested trees removed from the stands in the active protection zone. The captures in the two selected study areas were correlated with the area of spots with dead trees in the 500 m circle around the traps, however, this correlation is not statistically significant. There is no relation of captures to the volume of processed infested trees. The captures decreased in the growing seasons after the wind damage, and increased markedly after the drought started in 2015. The results of pheromone trapping are affected by several factors, as wind damage and defence potential of trees resulting from their physiological status. Pheromone traps represent valuable source of information about the bark beetle I. typographus population dynamics, although the collected data do not enable direct definition of its population level, especially in the protected areas with different and unstable (changed in 2017) approach to the protection of stands. As most of the information on beetles is captured in the first half of the growing season, the data collected till the end of July are sufficient for monitoring purposes; thus, the trapping should be reduced to the period May–July.