Measurements of proton load (H+) in natural environment of the West Carpathians Mountains (passive sampling method)

Abstract

We studied air pollution in selected forest (beech, spruce) ecosystems in Slovakia, the West Carpathians Mts. To monitor forest exposure to air pollutants, we used the method of passive samplers. The comparison between pairs of open plots and forest stands revealed that the load was in general higher on the corresponding open plot. The only exception was the beech experimental site whose former open plot has already been restocked by natural regeneration, and the difference between the load on the regenerated plot and the original stand was not remarkable. The results of the proton load pointed out the dependence on altitude. In comparison with other regions in Slovakia and some other in central Europe, the air pollution with airborne pollutants at the Beech Ecological Experimental Station Kremnické vrchy Mts (470-510 m asl) can be assessed as moderate (9.3 mmol H+ day-1 m -2). The values monitored in beech stands of the Žiarska kotlina basin (470 m asl) in 1992 were 1.3 times higher. The Biosphere Reserve Pol'ana Mts (1,370-1,380 m asl), with dominant spruce, had pollution levels four times higher than the BEES. In the National Park Nízke Tatry Mts (1,440 m asl), was the mean annual value 3.5 higher compared to the corresponding value at the BEES Kremnické vrchy Mts. Assessment of soil resistance against human-induced acidification revealed that the region of the Kremnické vrchy Mts was the most resistant in this case, too. As for the contamination, the most loaded ones are stands at altitudes above 600-700 m asl. On the other hand, the soil acidity in these areas is not extreme, which manifest a strong buffering and regeneration capacity of the local soils. The method of passive samplers is a simple method for mapping pollutants effects in natural environment of forest ecosystems.