An international cooperative project on distribution of ozone in the Carpathian Mountains, Centra... more An international cooperative project on distribution of ozone in the Carpathian Mountains, Central Europe was conducted from 1997 to 1999. Results of that project indicated that in large parts of the Carpathian Mountains, concentrations of ozone were elevated and potentially phytotoxic to forest vegetation. That study led to the establishment of new long-term studies on ecological changes in forests and other ecosystems caused by air pollution in the Retezat Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Romania and in the Tatra Mountains, Western Carpathians on the Polish-Slovak border. Both of these important mountain ranges have the status of national parks and are Man & the Biosphere Reserves. In the Retezat Mountains, the primary research objective was to evaluate how air pollution may affect forest health and biodiversity. The main research objective in the Tatra Mountains was to evaluate responses of natural and managed Norway spruce forests to air pollution and other stresses. Ambient concentrations of ozone (O(3)), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) as well as forest health and biodiversity changes were monitored on densely distributed research sites. Initial monitoring of pollutants indicated low levels of O(3), SO(2), and NO(x) in the Retezat Mountains, while elevated levels of O(3) and high deposition of atmospheric sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) have characterized the Tatra Mountains. In the Retezat Mountains, air pollution seems to have little effect on forest health; however, there was concern that over a long time, even low levels of pollution may affect biodiversity of this important ecosystem. In contrast, severe decline of Norway spruce has been observed in the Tatra Mountains. Although bark beetle seems to be the immediate cause of that decline, long-term elevated levels of atmospheric N and S depositions and elevated O(3) could predispose trees to insect attacks and other stresses. European and US scientists studied pollution deposition, soil and plant chemistry, O(3)-sensitive plant species, forest insects, and genetic changes in the Retezat and Tatra Mountains. Results of these investigations are presented in a GIS format to allow for a better understanding of the changes and the recommendations for effective management in these two areas.
Ambient ozone concentrations were systematically monitored during the 1998-2003 growing seasons i... more Ambient ozone concentrations were systematically monitored during the 1998-2003 growing seasons in several stations located in the Tatra Mountains (in both Slovak and Polish sides). Concentrations of O3, determined either with ozone analysers or with passive samplers, were different between geographical location of the monitoring stations, monitored periods, and individual years. The average two-week long O3 concentrations ranged from 31
Plant Responses to Air Pollution and Global Change, 2005
... Aerial photographs confirmed problems caused by severe fragmentation of the formerly compact ... more ... Aerial photographs confirmed problems caused by severe fragmentation of the formerly compact stands. ... Germany Koncek M, Bohus I, Briedon V, Chomicz K, Intribus R, Knazovicky L, Kolodziejek M, Kurpelova M, Murinova G, Myczkowski S, Orlicz M, Orliczowa J, Otruba J, Pad J ...
Some modern agrochemicals with antioxidant potential were tested for their protective effect agai... more Some modern agrochemicals with antioxidant potential were tested for their protective effect against ozone injury using clover and tobacco ozone-sensitive cultivars as model plants subjected to ambient ozone at two sites (Kyiv city in Ukraine and Szarów village in Poland). All used agrochemicals showed partial protective effects against ozone injury on clover and tobacco. Conducted studies confirmed the effectiveness of modern fungicides belonging to strobilurin group as protectants of sensitive crops against ozone damage. The effectiveness of new growth regulators "Emistym C" and "Agrostymulin" was showed for the first time. Out of the studied agrochemicals, fungicide "Strobi" and natural growth regulator "Emistym C" demonstrated the best protective effects. These agrochemicals present promise for further studies of their possible utilization for enhancement of ozone tolerance of sensitive crops.
Heavy metals may influence chemical composition of plants, and thus shape elemental stoichiometry... more Heavy metals may influence chemical composition of plants, and thus shape elemental stoichiometry of plant communities. That is because some physiological processes aiming at neutralization of contaminant toxicity require increased acquisition of some nutrients (e.g. N, S, P or Ca). The aim of the study was to evaluate the heavy metal deposition in Poland using moss Pleurozium schreberi as a bioindicator, and check whether C/N, C/S, C/P and Ca/Mg ratios in mosses correspond with the accumulation of heavy metals. Heavy metal concentrations in mosses were highly variable across the study areasouthern parts of the country, industrialized and densely populated, were the most contaminated. There were significant correlations between nutrient ratios and metal accumulation in mosses. Mosses seem to take 1) more N, P and S under Cu contamination, and 2) more Ca under Zn contamination. This increased acquisition of nutrients, mainly N and Ca, may be a response to higher toxicity of heavy metals. Further studies are required to exclude other causes for observed relationships.
This study investigates the air deposition of heavy metals (past and recent) in Poland using a co... more This study investigates the air deposition of heavy metals (past and recent) in Poland using a common bioindicator -moss Pleurozium schreberi. In 2010 moss samples were collected from 320 sites evenly distributed throughout the country; 297 sites coincided with those in which the 1995 survey was carried out. In green parts of mosses, the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn were determined. The 2010 data were compared with those from 1995. The moss concentration of most of the studied metals decreased significantly (P<0.05) between the surveyed years: from 0.45 to 0.30 mg Cd·kg -1 , from 7.6 to 6.0 mg Cu·kg -1 , from 362 to 344 mg Fe·kg -1 , and from 18.8 to 4.9 mg Pb·kg -1 , taking into account median values. This temporal trend was dependent on region (for some provinces decreases were insignificant). The concentration of Zn did not alter in time; median values of this variable were 42.8 and 47.5 mg·kg -1 in 1995 and 2010, respectively. The spatial patterns of the heavy metal concentrations in mosses were similar in both surveys; southern parts of Poland, industrialized and densely populated, were contaminated more than the rest of the country.
An international cooperative project on distribution of ozone in the Carpathian Mountains, Centra... more An international cooperative project on distribution of ozone in the Carpathian Mountains, Central Europe was conducted from 1997 to 1999. Results of that project indicated that in large parts of the Carpathian Mountains, concentrations of ozone were elevated and potentially phytotoxic to forest vegetation. That study led to the establishment of new long-term studies on ecological changes in forests and other ecosystems caused by air pollution in the Retezat Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Romania and in the Tatra Mountains, Western Carpathians on the Polish-Slovak border. Both of these important mountain ranges have the status of national parks and are Man &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; the Biosphere Reserves. In the Retezat Mountains, the primary research objective was to evaluate how air pollution may affect forest health and biodiversity. The main research objective in the Tatra Mountains was to evaluate responses of natural and managed Norway spruce forests to air pollution and other stresses. Ambient concentrations of ozone (O(3)), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) as well as forest health and biodiversity changes were monitored on densely distributed research sites. Initial monitoring of pollutants indicated low levels of O(3), SO(2), and NO(x) in the Retezat Mountains, while elevated levels of O(3) and high deposition of atmospheric sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) have characterized the Tatra Mountains. In the Retezat Mountains, air pollution seems to have little effect on forest health; however, there was concern that over a long time, even low levels of pollution may affect biodiversity of this important ecosystem. In contrast, severe decline of Norway spruce has been observed in the Tatra Mountains. Although bark beetle seems to be the immediate cause of that decline, long-term elevated levels of atmospheric N and S depositions and elevated O(3) could predispose trees to insect attacks and other stresses. European and US scientists studied pollution deposition, soil and plant chemistry, O(3)-sensitive plant species, forest insects, and genetic changes in the Retezat and Tatra Mountains. Results of these investigations are presented in a GIS format to allow for a better understanding of the changes and the recommendations for effective management in these two areas.
Ambient ozone concentrations were systematically monitored during the 1998-2003 growing seasons i... more Ambient ozone concentrations were systematically monitored during the 1998-2003 growing seasons in several stations located in the Tatra Mountains (in both Slovak and Polish sides). Concentrations of O3, determined either with ozone analysers or with passive samplers, were different between geographical location of the monitoring stations, monitored periods, and individual years. The average two-week long O3 concentrations ranged from 31
Plant Responses to Air Pollution and Global Change, 2005
... Aerial photographs confirmed problems caused by severe fragmentation of the formerly compact ... more ... Aerial photographs confirmed problems caused by severe fragmentation of the formerly compact stands. ... Germany Koncek M, Bohus I, Briedon V, Chomicz K, Intribus R, Knazovicky L, Kolodziejek M, Kurpelova M, Murinova G, Myczkowski S, Orlicz M, Orliczowa J, Otruba J, Pad J ...
Some modern agrochemicals with antioxidant potential were tested for their protective effect agai... more Some modern agrochemicals with antioxidant potential were tested for their protective effect against ozone injury using clover and tobacco ozone-sensitive cultivars as model plants subjected to ambient ozone at two sites (Kyiv city in Ukraine and Szarów village in Poland). All used agrochemicals showed partial protective effects against ozone injury on clover and tobacco. Conducted studies confirmed the effectiveness of modern fungicides belonging to strobilurin group as protectants of sensitive crops against ozone damage. The effectiveness of new growth regulators "Emistym C" and "Agrostymulin" was showed for the first time. Out of the studied agrochemicals, fungicide "Strobi" and natural growth regulator "Emistym C" demonstrated the best protective effects. These agrochemicals present promise for further studies of their possible utilization for enhancement of ozone tolerance of sensitive crops.
Heavy metals may influence chemical composition of plants, and thus shape elemental stoichiometry... more Heavy metals may influence chemical composition of plants, and thus shape elemental stoichiometry of plant communities. That is because some physiological processes aiming at neutralization of contaminant toxicity require increased acquisition of some nutrients (e.g. N, S, P or Ca). The aim of the study was to evaluate the heavy metal deposition in Poland using moss Pleurozium schreberi as a bioindicator, and check whether C/N, C/S, C/P and Ca/Mg ratios in mosses correspond with the accumulation of heavy metals. Heavy metal concentrations in mosses were highly variable across the study areasouthern parts of the country, industrialized and densely populated, were the most contaminated. There were significant correlations between nutrient ratios and metal accumulation in mosses. Mosses seem to take 1) more N, P and S under Cu contamination, and 2) more Ca under Zn contamination. This increased acquisition of nutrients, mainly N and Ca, may be a response to higher toxicity of heavy metals. Further studies are required to exclude other causes for observed relationships.
This study investigates the air deposition of heavy metals (past and recent) in Poland using a co... more This study investigates the air deposition of heavy metals (past and recent) in Poland using a common bioindicator -moss Pleurozium schreberi. In 2010 moss samples were collected from 320 sites evenly distributed throughout the country; 297 sites coincided with those in which the 1995 survey was carried out. In green parts of mosses, the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn were determined. The 2010 data were compared with those from 1995. The moss concentration of most of the studied metals decreased significantly (P<0.05) between the surveyed years: from 0.45 to 0.30 mg Cd·kg -1 , from 7.6 to 6.0 mg Cu·kg -1 , from 362 to 344 mg Fe·kg -1 , and from 18.8 to 4.9 mg Pb·kg -1 , taking into account median values. This temporal trend was dependent on region (for some provinces decreases were insignificant). The concentration of Zn did not alter in time; median values of this variable were 42.8 and 47.5 mg·kg -1 in 1995 and 2010, respectively. The spatial patterns of the heavy metal concentrations in mosses were similar in both surveys; southern parts of Poland, industrialized and densely populated, were contaminated more than the rest of the country.
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