The Beskids Bulletin -- Content of 1/2010

Abstract: Čermák, P., Rybníček, M., Žid, T., Kolář, T., Bočková, H., Přemyslovská, E. 2010: The effects of climatic factors on radial growth of Norway spruce Picea abies in the Silesian Beskids. -- Beskydy 3 (1): 9--18

Monitoring of Picea abies according to a standard tree-ring and correlation analysis was carried out on 9 plots in three forest districts of Jablunkov Forest Administration (Nýdek, Písek, Horní Lomná) in the course of 2008. At each of the plots, 30 samples were always taken by means of a Pressler increment borer. Based on the regional standard annual-ring chronology particularly the increase is evident of radial increments in the second half of the 1990's, which was interrupted in 2000. A two-year period with increased radial increments followed, which was interrupted again in 2003 and then in 2006. The diameter increment significantly correlates with precipitation in September of the previous year (Nýdek, Písek, the group of all three districts) and precipitation in June of the current year (Nýdek, Písek, the group). The growth of spruce also significantly correlates with temperatures in October of the previous year (Písek, Horní Lomná), in March of the current year (Nýdek, Písek, Horní Lomná, the group) and in April of the current year (Horní Lomná). The negative statistically significant correlation of the increment was found for temperatures in September of the previous year (Písek). Further, negative pointer years were identified. On the basis of results obtained it is possible to conclude that climatic factors of last circa 20 years markedly affected the vitality of stands. In the 1990's, their effects can be particularly evaluated as predisposition. However, dry and warm weather in 2003 can be considered to be an initiation stressor showing a substantial or even key role in the present health condition of stands.

Keywords: Silesian Beskids, Picea abies, tree-ring analysis, temperature, precipitation


Abstract: Grodzki, W. 2010: The decline of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands in Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki: theoretical concept and reality. -- Beskydy, 3 (1): 19--26

From 2003 the Norway spruce decline started in the Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki (western edge of the Carpathians). The attempt to formalize this process using the Manion's spiral forest decline concept is presented in the paper. The selected characteristics of stands (species composition, age) and the Armillaria sp. root rot are identified as predisposing factors, the climatic drivers -- as inciting and contributing factors, and among the latter ones -- also the wind damage and stress to trees are considered. The main contributing factor that determines the spruce decline are bark beetles, which outbreak is shortly characterized in spatio-temporal dimension. The relation of the described real decline process to the spiral forest decline concept is discussed.

Keywords: forest decline, spiral decline concept, Picea abies, western Carpathians


Abstract: Hadaš, P. 2010: The state of climate and air pollution in the Silesian Beskid. -- Beskydy 3 (1): 27--42

The region of Moravian-Silesian Beskids has been in recent years affected by expressive yellowing of Norway spruce stands, which leads to a gradual drying and dieback of individual trees. The analysis of stress factors in the region of Silesian Beskids demonstrated a persisting occurrence of predisposition factors whose synergic action has a potential to provoke gradual decline, degradation and dieback of forest stands. The damaging of forest stands is apparently very complex. In the situation when chemical stress adds to climatic stress, the climatic stress assumes the role of predisposition factor. Damages to forest stands occur particularly in locations with exceeded limits of acid deposition critical load. It also follows out from the analysis that climatic stress induced by insufficient precipitation in years 1992, 1993 and 2003 in the studied locality of Silesian Beskids can be considered one of main predisposition factors of health condition worsening and damage to Norway spruce stands with a flat and often disturbed root system e.g. by increased soil acidification, established in upper soil horizons. The analysis of the occurrence of temperature reversals showed that frost shock is one of potential stress factors affecting the health condition of Norway spruce stands in the spring and in the autumn. The process of disturbance manifested by yellowing with the symptoms of chlorosis and necrosis of the youngest needle years is further entered by the synergic action of the ground ozone concentrations and the increasing intensity of UV-A and UV-B radiation. Trigger factors for local defoliation can be for example one-time extreme air temperature fluctuations in early spring or recurrent spells of drought and damage to assimilatory organs of the tree species due to ozone, UV radiation or direct and indirect synergic effect of acidic depositions of hydrogen ions in the soil environment.

Keywords: sulphur, nitrogen and acid deposition, temperature, precipitation, frost shock, ozone concentrations, Moravian-Silesian Beskids.


Abstract: Holuša, J., Křístek, Š., Trombik, J. 2010: Stability of spruce forests in the Beskids: an analysis of wind, snow and drought damages. -- Beskydy, 3 (1): 43--54

During the past 150 years, only a few incidents have been recorded of more than 50,000 m3 being damaged by wind activity in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids. Such events occur with a frequency of approximately 25 years. Wind damage correlates with prevailing winds. Scattered forest damage is more prevalent than extensive areas of wind-fallen trees. The relative area of comprehensively damaged forests significantly correlates with increasing elevation above sea level. Historical references to snow-caused tree falls during which the volume of damaged wood exceeded 20,000 m3 are documented for several years. These occur with a frequency of approximately 10 years. No significant logistic regression has been determined between the maximum elevation of snow cover at the Lysá hora station and the probability for the incidence of damages to exceed 20,000 m3. No significant relationship has been determined between the duration of drought and unregulated fellings in the following year. For the period 2006--2008, the maximum snow cover was recorded at the end of the winter of 2005/2006. The greatest damage to spruce stands caused by snow was documented after the winter of 2005/2006. The share in damaged trees decreased with increasing age. Entirely undamaged stands were recorded in all age classes with the exception of forests 21--60 years old. The proportion of trees damaged by snow was not dependent on the elevation above sea level. The share of damaged trees was relatively even at all exposures. Damage on the steepest slopes (incline greater than 50%) is significantly different from the damage on inclines of 0--33%, as is true of the damage on slopes of 34--50% versus the damage occurring on inclines of 11--33%. Tree damage corresponds positively to the slenderness coefficient.

Keywords: wind, snow, drought, damage, spruce, Beskids


Abstract: Kmeť, J., Ditmarová, Ľ., Priwitzer, T., Kurjak, D., Baláž, P., Blaženec, M. 2010: Physiological limits -- a possible cause of spruce decline. -- Beskydy 3 (1): 55--64

Dieback of spruce stands was studied in the regions Kysuce and Spiš (Slovakia). Possible causes of spruce decline were analysed through observations of the following characteristics: genetic background, provenience, influence of root system, physiological processes (photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, content of pigments), water stress, climatic conditions, soil condition, immission load, diameter increment, defoliation, and influence of fungal pathogens and insects. Our research results do not allow identifying a single primary cause of spruce decline. Separate factors act in concert, and it is not possible to rank them according to their significance. In general, however, there is an evident strong influence of biotic pests, wind, exhausted soil and impaired physiological fitness since young trees. A special interest was put on monitoring possible influence of drought stress. Across the whole research period we have not recorded noticeable drops in amounts of soil water accessible for plants. Nevertheless, we suppose that importance of this factor will grade, especially in areas relatively rich in precipitation.

Keywords: spruce decline, stress factors, drought, stress markers


Abstract: Kulla, L., Hlásny, T. 2010: Multi-factorial analysis of spruce forests decline in the Slovak part of Beskydy region. -- Beskydy, 3 (1): 65--72

Paper deals with analysis of circumstances of so called "new type" of spruce forest decline in the Slovak part of Beskydy region (northern Slovakia). Stand damage level was visually assessed on more than 500 sample plots allocated along the sample transects across the Kysuce and the Orava region. Critical damage level was defined and probability of its occurrence was analysed by logistic regression in relation to 6 site-related, 5 stand-related and 2 anthropogenic factors. Cross validation of derived models showed correctness of classification about 80%, but only about 70% for critically damaged class 1. Some differences appeared between studied regions in circumstances of decline, but generally, it can be stated, that most affected by decline were older stands with higher proportion of spruce and located closer to the focus of biotic pests activity. Exploitability of the derived regression models for risk prediction in the forest management is discussed.

Keywords: spruce decline, environmental factors, logistic regression, risk analysis, forest management


Abstract: Mauer, O., Palátová E. 2010: Root system and the decline of Norway spruce (Picea abies /L./ Karst.). --  Beskydy, 3 (1): 73--82

The paper analyzes the growth and health condition of the root system in declining and healthy trees of Norway spruce in different parts of the Czech Republic. The analyses included stands of all age classes (from young plantations up to stands aged 90 years) from both artificial and natural regeneration. The root system analyses were combined with the analyses of soil chemical characteristics, assimilatory apparatus and weather behaviour. The analyses showed that a predisposition factor to decline in all studied areas was the recent change of weather behaviour. The reason of decline is a very small and conspicuously superficial root system deformed at planting or due to the stratigraphy of soil horizons and soil acidification, which induces negative changes in the nutrition, with magnesium in particular. Fertile sites in lower forest altitudinal vegetation zones exhibit aggressive infestation by honey fungus (Armilaria sp.). Trees from the natural regeneration are more susceptible to decline than trees from the artificial regeneration by planting (trees from natural regeneration have smaller root systems than planted trees of identical height).

Keywords: Norway spruce, decline, root system, malformation, fine roots, honey fungus


Abstract: Půlpán, L., Kula, E. 2010: The protective measures as a tool to eliminate the gradations of bark beetles on Norway spruce in the Beskids. -- Beskydy, 3 (1): 83--92

The target of this paper was to evaluate the protective measures against Ips typographus (L.). and Ips amitinus (Eichh.) in the conditions of the Forest districts: Jablunkov, Ostravice, Frýdek Místek and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm (the Beskids) and the definition of factors that influence the efficiency of the protective measures in 1999--2009.
The population of bark beetles gradates in the summit area of the Beskids only exceptionally. Therefore the protective measures do not influence the abundance of bark beetle population in a fundamental way. Outbreak of the bark beetles occurred in the lower altitudes of the Beskids, in the Forest district Jablunkov. The increase of the protective measures in 2008 and 2009 has contributed to the stop of the outbreak, and to the decrease of the size of the bark beetle population.

Keywords: the Beskids, Ips typographus, forest protection, protective measures


Abstract: Sitková, Z., Pavlenda, P., Pavlendová, H., Priwitzer, T., Hlásny, T. 2010: Air pollution load and nutrient status of Norway spruce forest stands in the north-western part of Slovakia. -- Beskydy, 3 (1): 93--102

The article summarizes the results of research of air pollution load, site conditions, and nutrition of spruce stands in the Kysuce and Orava regions (Beskydy Mts.). The region was intensively exposed to air pollution from emission sources in neighbouring countries mainly in the 1970s and 1980s. At present, this region is affected by a vast decline of spruce stands, which is thought, at least partly, to be related to air pollution. Long-term research during the last decade indicated: i/ decrease in SO2 and NOx concentrations, ii/ although the trend of sulphate concentration in precipitation is decreasing, the deposition of sulphur and especially nitrogen remain relatively high, iii/ in general, there is no evidence of continued forest soil acidification, and the share of the area with an exceedance of critical load of total acidity is decreasing, iv/ the nutrition status of spruce is relatively good, v/ ground-level ozone exceeds the concentration that could damage the trees.

Key words: air pollution, atmospheric deposition, forest soils, trees nutrition, spruce stands