Long-term monitoring of air pollution effects on selected forest ecosystems in the Bucegi-Piatra Craiului and Retezat Mountains, southern Carpathians (Romania)

doi:10.3832/ifor0565-004

The monitoring studies carried out in the southern Romanian Carpathians (Retezat and Bucegi - Piatra Craiului Mts) provide a scientific support for long term ecosystem research (LTER). Their general objective is to characterize the air pollution and its potential effects upon forest ecosystems’ status and biodiversity in close connection with climatic changes. Two monitoring networks were placed in selected forest ecosystems for each LTER site (11 plots in Retezat and 22 plots in Bucegi - Piatra Craiului, respectively). Both in Retezat and Bucegi - Piatra Craiului Mts, the distribution of mean ozone (O₃) concentrations are significantly correlated with altitude. The location (plot) has a significant influence on ozone concentration and in some cases the exposure period along the growing season has an influence. Ambient ozone (O₃) and ammonia (NH3) concentrations were below toxicity levels for forest trees, their health status (crown condition) and volume growth being insignificantly affected. More than 45% of the rain events were acidic with pH≤5.5, thus contributing to an increased N deposition on forest stands. In Retezat Mts crown condition was relatively better than in Bucegi - Piatra Craiului Mts. As a consequence, in 2009 European beech (Fagus sylvatica) was the least affected species, with a percentage of damaged trees (crown defoliation higher than 25%) between 8.0% (Retezat) and 9.8% (Bucegi - Piatra Craiului), followed by Norway spruce (Picea abies) with 12.9% (Retezat) and 27.7% (Bucegi - Piatra Craiului). The most affected species was Silver fir (Abies alba) with 31.6% of damaged trees (Bucegi-Piatra Craiului). In the last period, both European beech and conifers (Norway spruce and Silver fir) with high defoliation (damaged trees) had lower annual relative increment than trees with low defoliation (healthy trees). A definite trend regarding rapid environmental modifications is not evident and no significant reduction of biodiversity occurred. In addition, all the vegetation biodiversity components of the forest ecosystems are specific to the stand type’s structures and local climate conditions, and no quantifiable consequences of specific air pollutants on ecosystems’ diversity occurred.

Keywords

Long-term monitoring, Air pollution, Forest ecosystems, Crown condition, Growth, Biodiversity

Authors’ address

(1)

Forest Research and Management Institute (ICAS), Eroilor Bld. 128, R-077190, Voluntari, Ilfov (Romania)

(2)

Valahia University, Carol I Bld. 2, R-130024, Targoviste, Dambovita (Romania)

(3)

Bucegi National Park, Principala Str. 21, Moroieni, Dambovita (Romania)

(4)

Piatra Craiului National Park, Toplitei Str. 150, Zarnesti, Brasov (Romania)

(5)

Transilvania University, Eroilor Bld. 129, R-500036, Brasov (Romania)

(6)

Bucharest University, M. Kogalniceanu Bld. 36-46, R-050170, Bucharest (Romania)

(7)

USDA - Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, CA (USA)

(8)

“Stefan cel Mare” University, Universitatii Str. 13, R-720229, Suceava (Romania)

Corresponding author

O Badea
obadea@icas.ro

Citation

Badea O, Neagu S, Bytnerowicz A, Silaghi D, Barbu I, Iacoban C, Popescu F, Andrei M, Preda E, Iacob C, Dumitru I, Iuncu H, Vezeanu C, Huber V (2011). Long-term monitoring of air pollution effects on selected forest ecosystems in the Bucegi-Piatra Craiului and Retezat Mountains, southern Carpathians (Romania). iForest 4: 49-60. - doi: 10.3832/ifor0565-004

Paper history

Received: May 25, 2010
Accepted: Nov 17, 2010

First online: Apr 05, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 05, 2011
Publication Time: 4.63 months

Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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