Distribution and habitat conditions of Pinus cembra forests in the Tatra Mountains

Abstract

Relic Pinus cembra forests were among the least studied plant communities in the Western Carpathians. Their distribution in this mountain range is limited only to the Tatras. The lack of comprehensive research on the Polish and Slovakian sides of the Tatras led to considerable discrepancy regarding their distribution (300-1170 ha) as well as habitat conditions. Their occurrence on limestones and in the Western Tatras was contested. Therefore, the aim of this work was to determine the distribution and habitat conditions for the occurrence of Swiss stone pine forests in the Tatras. We mapped the entire range of the distribution of these forests, using the topographic method and digitized it in ArcGIS 10.2.2. Afterwards, we undertook spatial analysis, using DEM regarding their occurrence, depending on: altitude, inclination, solar radiation, exposure, geology and soil. To determine the preferable site conditions we used the logistic regression model. The total area of P. cembra forests in the Tatras is 916.93 ha. They occur in all mountain ranges within the Tatras. Altitude, inclination and solar radiation have significant impacts on the occurrence of these forests. The odds of the occurrence of P. cembra forests increased by 0.5% for every 1 m of altitude, by 2% for every 1° of inclination and decrease by 0.1% for every 1 MJ/m 2 /year of solar radiation. The majority of these forests grow in the altitude range 1300-1650 m a.s.l. (95%) and on slopes with 20-60° inclinations (80%). Swiss stone pine forests occur both on slopes with low (1900 MJ/m 2 ) and high annual solar radiation (3400 MJ/m 2 ). They prefer slopes with North-western exposure. They may grow both on granite and limestone, while the majority of them were mapped on granite. Pinus cembra forests grow on diverse soils, both acidic and alkaline. Nevertheless, most of them occur on Haplic Podzols (52%). The results may be applicable to the Tatra National Park for the conservation and monitoring of this Natura 2000 habitat.

Natural calcareous Norway spruce woodlands in Slovakia and their syntaxonomical classification

“…of the alpine forest line in comparison to other (mittelgebirge) mountain ranges with native Norway spruce belt and simultaneously with Arolla pine absence (Plesník, 1971;Kučera, 2012a;Zięba et al, 2019), the respective high mountain mixed P. cembra woodlands could be labelled with the adjective "altimontane" (= occurring in the very high montane altitudes).8 In the Pyrenees the similar role is taken by high-altitude Pinus uncinata woodland (cf. Rivas-Martínez, 1968).…”

“…the Tatra Mountains (equivalently to the Alps), whereby this species change has also considerable effect on the altitudinal rise of the upper forest line in comparison to the other Western Carpathian mountain ranges (Plesník, 1971); however, historical deforestation considerably reduced or destroyed native mixed Arolla pine forests, especially in their western (Západné Tatry Mts) or eastern part (Belianske Tatry Mts) (cf. Kučera (2019b, chapter 3.3), andZięba et al (2019), detailed distribution map in their el. appendix).6 6 As the last glacial mixed Pinus cembra woodland was present in the Podtatranská kotlina Basin lying between the Tatra Mountains and the Low Tatras as well as in other rather unexpected regions (Jankovská, 1984;Jankovská, 1991;Jankovská et al, 2002;Jankovská et al, 2018;Pokorný et al, 2015), it may be expected that Pinus cembra was a native tree of the lowest parts of Low Tatras' slopes during the more favourable periods of the Würm glaciation and after its ending the species probably survived the Atlantic period -similarly like within the Tatra Mountains -also in the uppermost elevations of the highest parts of the Low Tatras and on other ecologically extreme habitats, as for example rugged rocky terrain of some carbonate summits (Krakova hoľa Mt.…”

“…The respective woodland stands were significantly negatively influenced by historical land management and only their fragments were preserved or they are completely missing in large continuous areas (cf. Kanka, 2008;Zięba et al, 2018;Zięba et al, 2019;Kučera & Barančok, 2021). Similar process could be presupposed also for large areas of the Alps outside of regions where the continuous Arolla pine woodlands were preserved up to the 20 th century.…”

Daily Climatic Data Better Explain the Radial Growth of Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra L.) in High-Elevation Cliffs in the Carpathians

“…The study site was located in the upper treeline ecotone in the Tatras (the Western Carpathian Mountains) (49 • 12 54.48 N; 20 • 4 34.68 E) (Figure 1). The Tatra Mountains, having classic alpine terrain and elevations of over 2600 m a.s.l., represent the highest and most rugged Carpathian mountain range [22,34]. The studied stone pines grow in high-elevation cliff forests on steep, granite slopes (ca.…”

“…A low nutrient supply, as well as significant disruptions produced by gravity-rock and avalanche, snowfall and snow accumulation, and winds-contribute to the harsh environment of cliffs [17]. The Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) is a taxon with scattered populations (the Alps and Carpathian Mountains), exhibiting the finest adaptations for colonisation and growth in high-elevation cliffs [9,[20][21][22][23][24]. Previous studies from the Alps [9,[24][25][26] and Carpathian Mountains [20,27,28] have shown that the response of this species to climate changes is not stable over time.…”