The ExpeER call for Transnational Access (TA) proposals provides a unique opportunity for research teams and individuals to access some of Europe's major research infrastructures focused on ecosystem research. Each month, we will focus on one or two of these sites.

Focus on the Tatra Windstorm observational site (Slovakia)

INSTITUTE: Research Station and Museum of Tatra National Park.
MAIN PURPOSE: Long term ecological changes, biodiversity.
ECOSYSTEM TYPE: Spruce forest.
EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENTS: Ecological status under changing environmental conditions, natural versus traditional forestry.
MORE INFORMATION: Map - Access, supports offered and possible accomodation.
CONTACT: Peter Fleischer (+421 52 4780390 or +421 903 987 515)

Tatra Windstorm facilities

After heavy windstorm in 2004, more than 12 000 ha of mostly natural/seminatural Norway spruce forest was laid down in the Tatra National Park. In 2005, international scientific community started joined research on ecological consequences and erected 3 eddy covariance towers for carbon balance study. Despite the fact that eddy towers were dismantled in 2007, research activities still continue. Global and NET radiation, vertical profile of air temperature and humidity, wind, rain amount and chemistry, soil moisture and temperature, heat and CO2 fluxes are still measured on former eddy sites. Physical and chemical parameters support biodiversity monitoring (flora, insect, small mammals) based on terrestrial and aerial methods. Unique feature is parallel comparable observation of mountain forest ecosystem parameters and behaviour on large scale windfall site with contrast management (traditional forestry versus “natural devices only”).

Picture: Larch spruce forest suffered from widthrow and bark beetle outbreak.

One project has been accepted so far

Spruce seedling recruitment (SpruSeR). - more

New developments since the beginning of ExpeER

Participation in ExpEER consortium was a reason for increased support. New sensors (soil heat flux, soil moistue, temperature, soil) and Instruments (soil CO2 efflux, ground vegetation NEE). Former 4 research and monitoring sites (1. disturbed by wind and managed, 2. disturbed by fire and managed, 3. disturbed by wind and unmanaged, 4. undisturbed, reference) were enlarged by the 5th site – forest killed by insect. At present insect killed almost 7000 ha of mostly natural spruce forest in National Park. New site is located in core zone of National Park, so it remains unmanaged. Beside continuos micrometeorology, soil respiration is intensively monitored by manual chamber method. Automatic soil CO2 chamber is tested and soon will be on site. Weather data are used for online calculation of fire index (Angstrom) available for visitors and Park staff via internet (see also www.lesytanap.sk).

Pictures: Forest killed by bark beetle. - Soil fluxes in reference forest.

Recent publications

Lóšková, J., Ľuptáčik, P., Miklisová, D., Kováč, Ľ., 2013: The effect of clear-cutting and wildfire on soil Oribatida (Acari) in windthrown stands of the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia). European Journal of Soil Biology 55 (2013) 131-138

Don, A., Bärwolf, M., Kalbitz, K., Andruschkewitsch, R., Jungkunst, H.F., Schulze, E.D., 2012: No rapid soil carbon loss after a winthrow event in the High Tatra. Forest Ecology and Management 276 (2012) 239-246

Holko, L., Fleischer, P., Novák, V., Kostka, Z., Bičárová, S., Novák, J., 2012: Hydrological effects of a large scale windfall degradation in the High Tatra Mts, Slovakia. In: Kreček, J., Haigh, M., Hofer, T., Kubin, E., (eds.). Management of Mountain Watersheds. Springer, p. 164-179

Čuchta, P., Miklisová, D., Kováč, Ľ., 2011: Changes within collembolan communities in windthrown European montane spruce forest 2 years after disturbance by fire. Annals of Forest Science. DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0114-y.

Gömöryová, E., Střelcová, K., Fleischer, P., Gömöry, D., 2011: Soil microbial characteristics at the monitoring plots on windthrow areas of the Tatra National Park (Slovakia): their assessment as environmental indicators. Environ Monit Assess (2011) 174:31-45, DOI 10.1007/s10661-010-1755-2