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Tůmova D., Zahora J., Tůma I. 2014: The biological activity of soil in Norway spruce forests and in fern Athyrium distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz stands on deforested polluted sites in the Beskydy Mts. – Beskydy, 7 (1): 9–20 The study is focussed on the biological activity of acid forest soil with aim to characterize some of its parameters. Activity of acidic soil phosphatase, basal and potentional respiration were compared and viable plate counts of microorganism colonies were evaluated. The soils of the Kněhyně region in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids Mts. are intensively influenced by acid deposition. They were sampled from area where often occurrence of fern Athyrium distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz was recorded. Above mentioned characteristics (values of parameters) were determined in soil samples collected in fern stands (close to the periphery of fern individuals with rich root system), from site between individual ferns and from the rest of neighbouring spruce community without distinct herbage layer. In majority of studied cases, increased values of all monitored parameters were found in space of A. distentifolium roots accumulated close by fern base. Bare soil between individual fern plants often shows on a lower biological soil activity, however these differences were mostly not statistically significant. On the contrary, values of studied soil parameters recorded in the rest of neighbouring forest community without distinct herbage layer, reached mostly the lowest values and they often differ significantly from values assessed in soil taken near the A. distentifolium roots.

This research is a continuation of investigations on the biogeochemistry of metal accumulation of the fern Athyrium distentifolium in the Tatra National Park in Poland. This species, abundantly growing throughout the Tatra mountains, was sampled from sites with identical type of bedrocks (granites/gneisses) at various altitudes between 1000 and 2050 m a.s.l. Concentrations of the elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in the fern. This investigation was done to verify the hypothesis that differences in the elemental composition of A. distentifolium (growing on the same type of substrate) reflect the differences of the atmospheric metal deposition at various altitudes. We verified this hypothesis using the Market Basket Analysis technique. MBA revealed that at low altitude (1000–1500 m a.s.l.) A. distentifolium contains very low concentrations of Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. At a medium altitude (1501–1700 m a.s.l.) the fern contains a very high concentration of Pb and at a high altitude (1701–2050 m a.s.l.) the fern contains very high concentrations of Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni and Zn. The different altitudes on which A. distentifolium grew influenced the concentrations of elements accumulated in this species. Our investigation pointed out that A. distentifolium is able to accumulate elevated levels of metals and therefore may be used in controlling metal pollution. In addition A. distentifolium gives comparable bioindicative results as the moss P. schreberi in the same Tatra mountains. As the investigated species has a wide circumpolar distribution in mountains of the Northern hemisphere therefore it may be used in controlling long range metal pollution in such mountainous areas.

Vegetation dynamics of three forest communities were studied by resampling of releves recorded in the 1970s in the Bohemian Forest (Sumava Mountains). Results of multivariate analysis (RDA) confirmed significant time changes in species composition of the climax (Calamagrostio-Piceetum) and waterlogged (Bazzanio-Piceetum) spruce forests. The changes in the sphagnum-rich waterlogged spruce forests (Sphagno-Piceetum) are close to the level of significance. The main vegetation changes are represented by a decrease in cover and/or frequency of hygrophilous or sciophilous species (e.g. Athyrium distentifolium, Oxalis acetosella) in climax spruce forests, and an abundant increase of species, indicating a preference to drier stands or better light conditions (e.g. Calamagrostis villosa, Vaccinium vitis-idaea or Avenella flexuosa), in waterlogged spruce forests. We also found a higher proportion of meadow species (e.g. Anthoxanthum odoratum, Festuca rubra or Luzula multiflora) in the newly recorded releves from waterlogged forests. Analysis of species number per plot showed a remarkable shift to species-rich communities, especially in waterlogged stands. We tried to find the possible factors responsible for the observed changes. Unfortunately, only indirect measurement of environmental factors using Ellenberg's indicator values could be used and did not yield sufficient results. Thus, the changes observed in climax spruce forests were ascribed mainly to a decrease in canopy cover, which was directly estimated. In waterlogged forests, a complex of several general factors, which influence the climax spruce forest, had to be taken into account, such as: (i) a decrease in atmospheric acidification during the last 10-15 years and subsequent improvement in soil conditions, especially in waterlogged stands; (ii) fragmentation of forests as a result of bark-beetles attack; (iii) climate warming documented by long-term local meteorological measurements. # 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The field-layer structure relative to the distribution of canopy gaps was analysed in a subalpine spruce forest in the Babia Gora massif – one of the highest in the Polish West Carpathians. Nineteen synusiae (floristically, physiognomically and ecologically homogenous one-layered vegetation units) in the field-layer were distinguished on the basis of the dominance of 8 vascular plants and 1 moss species. The presence of synusiae was noted in a grid of points spaced at 10 × 10 m which was established in a 14.4 ha area. This grid was then laid over a map of gap distribution. The main results are: 1. Nearly 2/3 of the area was covered with two mono-dominant synusiae: Athyrium distentifolium and Vaccinium myrtillus. 2. The spatial structure of the field layer was related to the distribution of gaps. A significant departure from a random distribution was noted for eight synusiae, which together covered 88% of the area under the spruce canopy and 92% in gaps. 3. The percentage of area covered by Athyrium distentifolium in gaps was nearly twice as great as outside them. A positive relationship to gaps also showed patches dominated by Calamagrostis villosa and Dryopteris dilatata + Rubus idaeus, while a negative relationship occurred for synusiae dominated by: Dryopteris dilatata, Vaccinium myrtillus, V. myrtillus + D. dilatata, and V. myrtillus + Polytrichum formosum. 4. There were significant differences in the structure of the field layer between the understory of closed stands and in gaps larger than 50 m2. This means that even a small-scale disturbance touching a few trees and causing only a small modification in light and soil conditions can result in considerable changes in the field-layer vegetation in subalpine spruce forests.

Species composition of the understory of spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests subjected to intense air pollution stress in the Krkonose Mts., Czech Republic, showed directional changes over the last 15 years. The changes were documented with repeated observations of 29 permanent plots, initiated in 1980 and analysed with constrained ordination methods (Canonical Correspondence Analysis). Ground layer changes were mainly associated with the loss of canopy foliage from air pollution stress. The increased amount of the light at ground level resulted in increased herb cover. The initially dominant species (e.g., Calamagrostis villosa (Chaix) J. F. Gmelin, Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) P. B., Vaccinium myrtillus L., Athyrium distentifolium Tausch) were those that increased in cover. Moss cover, and moss and herb richness, declined over the course of the study. Thus, the changes in tree canopy are accompanied with changes in the forest understory, which in turn can affect the dynamics of these forests.

The distribution and abundance of Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium distentifolium, and Matteuccia struthiopteris are modelled statistically in relation to 14 environmental variables along the major climatic, topographic, and edaphic gradients in western Norway. The data are from 624 stands from which measurements or estimates of mean January and mean July temperatures, humidity, altitude, aspect, and slope are available. From 182 of these stands eight soil variables have also been measured. The species responses are quantified by two numerical methods: Gaussian logit regression and weighted averaging (WA) regression. The estimated WA optima suggest that A. distentifolium has an ecological preference for low July and January temperatures, high altitudes, and soils of low-medium pH and base content. The species shows statistically significant Gaussian responses with summer temperature, humidity (= Martonnes humidity index), altitude, slope, aspect, pH, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation with optima of 8.7 °C, 188.9, 1220 m, 28°, 29°, 4.8, 13.77 mEq 100 g dry soil-1, and 13.4%, respectively. These suggest that the occurrence and relative abundance of A. distentifolium are well predicted by summer temperature, topography, and soil pH and base status. T. limbosperma has WA optima that suggest that it favours moderately high winter and summer temperatures, high humidity, medium altitude, and soils of low pH and base content. It has significant Gaussian responses to summer temperature (optimum =12.6 °C), winter temperature (-1.8 °C), humidity (179.2), altitude (459.5 m), slope (22.5°), and Na (0.7 mg 100 g dry soil-1). These suggest that climatic factors, altitude, and slope are significant predictors for its occurrence and abundance. M. struthiopteris has high WA optima for summer temperature, pH, Ca, Mg, K, Na, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation, and a low optima for humidity and winter temperature. Of these, summer temperature (16.0 °C), Ca (63.1 mg 100 g dry soil-1), Mg (41.0 mg 100 g dry soil-1), K (23.6 mg 100 g dry soil-1), Na (5.0 mg 100 g dry soil-1), CEC (60.7 mEq 100 g dry soil-1), and base saturation (56.3%) have significant Gaussian logit responses, as do aspect (150.2°) and loss-on-ignition (9.4%). These results suggest that the occurrence and relative abundance of M. struthiopteris are well predicted by high soil base cations, a generally southern aspect, low organic content in the soil, and high July temperatures.

Concentrations of the elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in the fronds of the fern Athyrium distentifolium from the Sudety and Tatra mountains (Poland). The A. distentifolium sites in the Sudety mountains which were influenced by long-range metal transport from the former Black Triangle were distinguished by the principal component and classification analysis (PCCA). These sites were situated on the west side slopes of one of the ranges in the Sudety mountains (within a 150-km radius of the heart of the former Black Triangle) at an altitude of 700 m asl, and exposed to prevailing winds. This most affected area had significantly higher foliar concentrations of Cu, Cr and Ni which are typical for long-range transported airborne elements occurring in coal fly ash emitted by lignite combustion industry.