Indicators of restoration in beech stands after air pollution: trees and macromycetes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2024-0018Keywords:
beech bark disease, defoliation, Fagus sylvatica L., fluorine, fungal diversity, ecosystem recoveringAbstract
The aluminium smelter in Žiar nad Hronom has operated since 1953. As a result, the surrounding area is now one of the most polluted regions in Slovakia. Since the implementation of new production and filtration technologies in 1996, the amount of emissions has significantly decreased. Our aim was to evaluate the long-term restoration of an environment that has been damaged by fluorine-based air pollutants. We analysed the contamination of forest ecosystems in three beech stands at various distances from the emission source (2, 7, and 18 km). Signs of restoration in adult beech trees were observed through a decrease in defoliation and a reduction in the necrotic disease of the bark in tree crowns. However, the impacts of air pollution on ectomycorrhizal associations persist. In the reduced number of ectomycorrhizal fungal species (16 species in the polluted stand compared to 38 species in the control stand), the low representation of sensitive fungal orders (Cantharellales, Gomphales, and Boletales), and the indices of species richness and heterogeneity (Hill, Margalef, Simpson, and Shannon–Weaver). In some respects, the findings indicate that the beech ecosystem is capable of revitalization within 25 years after a reduction in air pollution. However, much more sensitive indicators of successful restoration, compared to the characteristics of the trees, are the communities of macromycetes.
References
Annual Report, 2021. Edited by SLOVALCO, a. s., Žiar nad Hronom. 117 p. [cited 2024-05-19]. https://www.slovalco.sk/wp-content/uploads/Vyrocna-sprava-2021.pdf
Arnolds, E., 1981. Ecology and coenology of macrofungi in grasslands and moist heathlands in Drenthe, the Netherlands. Part 1. Introduction and synecology. Bibliotheca Mycologica, 83. Vaduz: Cramer. 410 p.
Augustaitis, A., Kliučius, A., Marozas, V., Pilkauskas, M., Augustaitiene, I., Vitas, A., Staszewski, T., Jan-sons, A., Dreimanis, A., 2015. Sensitivity of European beech trees to unfavorable environmental factors on the edge and outside of their distribution range in northeastern Europe. iForest, 9: 259–269. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor1398-008
Bučinová, K., 2008. Makromycéty ako indikátory biodiverzity a ekologickej stability bukových lesných ekosystémov [Macromycetes as indicators of biodiversity and ecological stability of beech forest ecosystems]. PhD thesis. Zvolen: Ústav ekológie lesa SAV. 189 p. (In Slovak).
Cale, J.A., Garrison-Johnston, M.T., Teale, S.A., Castello, J.D., 2017. Beech bark disease in North America: pver a century of research revisited. Forest Ecology and Management, 394: 86–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.03.031
Cicák, A., Kellerová, D., Kulfan, J., Mihál, I., 2011. Imisie ako škodlivý činiteľ porastoch [Immission as a harmful factor]. In Barna, M., Kulfan J., Bublinec, E. (eds). Buk a bukové ekosystémy Slovenska. Beech and beech ecosystems of Slovakia. Bratislava: VEDA, vyda vateľstvo SAV, p. 555–573.
Cicák, A., Mihál, I., 1997. Metodika hodnotenia nekrotizácie kôry kmeňov buka [Methodology for the assessment of necrotic bark of beech stems]. Lesnictví-Forestry, 43: 104–110.
Cicák A., Mihál, I., 2005. Development of beech necrotic disease in the growing phase of maturing stand under air pollution stress. Journal of Forest Science, 51: 101–107.
Chazdon, R.L., Falk, D.A., Banin, L.F., Wagner, M., Wilson, S.J., Grabowski, R.C., Suding, K.N., 2021. The intervention continuum in restoration ecology: rethinking the active–passive dichotomy. Restoration Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13535
Dighton, J., Jansen, A.E., 1991. Atmospheric pollutants and ectomycorrhizae: more questions than answers? Environmental Pollution, 73: 179–204.
Dubová, M., Bublinec, E., 1994. Acid deposition and its chemistry. In Cicák, A. (ed.) Rámcové projekty nápravných opatrení vo vybraných oblastiach – Žiar nad Hronom [Framework projects for remedial actions in selected areas – Žiar nad Hronom]. Reference report. Zvolen: Ústav ekológie lesa SAV. 200 p. (In Slovak).
Egli, S., 2011. Mycorrhizal mushroom diversity and productivity – an indicator of forest health? Annals of Forest Science, 68: 81–88.
Eichhorn, J., Roskams, P., Potočić, N., Timmermann, V., Ferretti, M., Mues, V., Szepesi, A., Durrant, D., Seletković, I., Schröck, H.W., Nevalainen, S., Bussotti, F., Garcia, P., Wulff, S., 2020. Part IV: Visual assessment of crown condition and damaging agents.Version 2020-3. In UNECE ICP Forests Programme Coordinating Centre (ed.). Manual on methods and for harmonized sampling, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests. Eberswalde, Germany: Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems. 49 p.
Eickenscheidt, N., Augustin, N.H., Wellbrock, N., 2019. Spatio-temporal modelling of forest monitoring data: modelling German tree defoliation data collected between 1989 and 2015 for trend estimation and survey grid examination using GAMMs. iForest, 12: 338–348. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2932-012
Fodor, E., 2020. Summary bipartite networks: trees in Romanian forests – wood pathogenic and sapro-pathogenic fungi. Journal of Plant Pathology, 102: 89–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-019-00386-4
Frey, S.D., Knorr, M., Parrent, J.L., Simpson, R.T., 2004. Chronic nitrogen enrichment affects the structure and function of the soil microbial community in temperate hardwood and pine forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 196: 159–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.03.018
García-Gil, J.C., Kobza, J., Soler-Rovina, R., Javoreková, S., 2013. Soil microbial and enzyme activities response to pollution near aluminium smelter. Clean – Soil, Air, Water, 41: 485–492. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201200099
Georgieva, M., Petkova, M., Molle, E., 2024. Tree growth and vitality of a 33-year-old Douglas-fir provenance test in northwest Bulgaria. Folia Oecologica, 51: 175–185. https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2024-0017
Hawryło, P., Bednarz, B., Wężyk, P., Szostak, M., 2018. Estimating defoliation of Scots pine stands using machine learning methods and vegetation indices of Sen tinel-2. European Journal of Remote Sensing, 51: 194–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/22797254.2017.1417745
Hill, M.O., 1973. Diversity and evenness: a unifying notation and its consequences. Ecology, 54: 427–432.
Hlôška, L., Saniga, M., Chovancová, G., Chovancová, B., Homolová, Z., 2022. Temporal and spatial changes in small mammal communities in a disturbed mountain forest. Folia Oecologica, 49: 9–22. https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2022-002
Horemans, J.A., Bosela, M., Dobor, L., Barna, M., Bahyl, J., Deckmyn, G., Fabrika, M., Sedmak, R., Ceulemans, R., 2016. Variance decomposition of prediction of stem biomass increment for European beech: Contribution of selected sources of uncertainty. Forest Ecology and Management, 361: 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.10.048
Jamnická, G., Bučinová, K., Havranová, I., Urban, A., 2007. Current state of mineral nutrition and risk elements in a beech ecosystem situated near the aluminium smelter in Žiar nad Hronom, Central Slovakia. Forest Ecology and Management, 248: 26–35.
Kałucka, I.L., Jagodziński, A.M., 2016. Successional traits of ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest reclamation after surface mining and agricultural disturbances: A review. Dendro-biology, 76: 91–104. http://dx.doi.org/10.12657/denbio.076.009
Kirk, P. (ed.) 2024. The CABI Bioscience Database of Fungal Names [online]. Kew, Great Britain. [cit. 2024-04-04]. http://www.indexfungorum.org
Kontrišová, O., Holub, Z., 1991. Znečistenie Žiarskej kotliny fluórovými imisiami [Pollution of the Žiarska kotlina basin by fluorinated immissions]. In Sympozium chemie ’91. Ústí nad Labem, říjen 1991, Česká společnost prům. chemie. Sv. 2, Fluorová chemie. Ústí nad Labem: Dům techniky ČSVTS, p. 69–75. (In Slovak).
Kowal, J., Arrigoni, E., Jarvis, S., Zappala, S., Forbes, E., Bidartondo, M.I., Suz, L.M., 2022. Atmospheric pollution, soil nutrients and climate effects on Mucoromycota arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Environmental Microbiology, 24: 3390–3404. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16040
Luptáková, E., Parák, M., Mihál, I., 2018. Structure of fungal communities (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota) in Western Carpathians submontane forest stands under different managements. Mycosphere, 9: 1053–1072. https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/9/6/1
Maňkovská, B., Steinnes, E., 1995. Effects of pollutants from an aluminium reduction plant on forest ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment, 163: 11–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(95)04489-N
Margalef, R., 1958. Information theory in ecology. Gen Systematic, 3: 36–71.
Merganič, J., Merganičová, K., Marušák, R., Tipmann, L., Šálek, L., Dragoun, L., Stolariková, R., 2016. Relation between forest stand diversity and anticipated log quality in managed Central European forests. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 12: 128–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2016.1150883
Michel, A., Prescher, A.K., Schwärzel, K. (eds), 2020. Forest condition in Europe: the 2020 Assessment. ICP Forests Technical Report under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention). ICP Forests Technical Report, 2020. Online supplementary material. Eberswalde: Thünen Institute. 59 p. [cit. 2024-05-13]. http://icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-technical-report
Michel, A., Kirchner, T., Prescher, A.K., Schwärzel, K. (eds), 2023. Forest condition in Europe: the 2023 asessment. ICP Forests Technical Report under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention). ICP Forests Technical Report, 2023. Online supplementary material. Eberswalde: Thünen Institute. 48 p. [cit. 2024-05-13]. http://icp-forests.net/page/icp-forests-technical-report
Michopoulos, P., Kostakis, M., Kaoukis, K., Bourletsikas, A., Solomou, A., Pasias, I., Thomaidis, N., 2023. Cycling and status of cobalt in some forest types. Folia Oecologica, 50: 72–79. https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2023-0006
Mihál, I., Barna, M., 2022. Imisie fluórového typu z hlinikárne ako významný stresor pre mykobiotu [Fluorine-type imissions from the aluminium plant as a significant stressor for mycobiota]. Zprávy Lesnického Výzkumu, 67: 129–137.
Mihál, I., Bučinová, K., 2005. Species diversity, abundance and dominance of macromycetes in beech forest stands. Journal of Forest Science, 51: 187–194.
Mihál, I., Marušák, R., Barna, M., 2019. Dynamics of Fagus sylvatica L. necrotization under different pollutant load conditions. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 28: 2755–2763. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/92209
Mikulenka, P., Prokůpková, A., Vacek, Z., Vacek, S., Bulušek, D., Simon, J., Šimůnek, V., Hájek., V., 2020. Effect of climate and air pollution on radial growth of mixed forests: Abies alba Mill. vs. Picea abies (L.) Karst. Central European Forestry Joournal, 66: 23–36. https://doi.org/10.2478/forj-2019-0026
Pavlík, P., 1997. Druhové spektrum makromycétov ako odraz imisnej záťaže bukových porastov [The macromycete species spectrum as a reflection of the immission load of beech stands]. In Križová, E., Kodrík, J.(eds). Les– drevo–životné prostredie ’97. Zborník. Zvolen: Technická univerzita vo Zvolene, p. 253–260.
Ruotsalainen, A.L., Kozlov, M.V., 2006. Fungi and air pollution: Is there a general pattern? In Rhodes, D. (ed.). New topics in environmental research. New York: Nova Science Publishers, p. 57–103.
Salerni, E., Barbato, D., Cazau, C., Gardin, L., Henson, G., Leonardi, P., Tomao, A., Perini, C., 2020. Selective thinning to enhance soil biodiversity in artificial black pine stands – what happens to mushroom fruiting? Annals of Forest Research, 63 (2): 75–90. https://doi.org/10.15287/afr.2020.2006
Schwarz, M., Lalík, V.L., Vanek, M., Dado, M., Hnilica, R., 2009. Environmentálne vplyvy výroby hliníkaminulosť a súčastnosť [Environmental impacts of aluminium production – past and present]. Acta Facultatis Ecologiae, 21: 57–65.
Shannon, C., Weaver, W., 1949. The mathematical theory of communication. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press.
Sharma, R.P., Štefančík, I., Vacek, Z., Vacek, S., 2019. Generalized Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Individual Tree Diameter Increment Models for Beech Forests in Slovakia. Forests, 10: 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050451
Simpson, E.H., 1949. Measurement of diversity. Nature, 163: 688.
Šmelko, Š., 2008. Methodical problems of the quantification of tree species diversity in forest ecosystems. Lesnícky Časopis – Forestry Journal, 54: 371–392.
Štefančík, I., Mihál, I., 1993. Vplyv imisií na lesné porasty Žiarskej kotliny [The influence of immissions on the forest stands of the Žiarska kotlina basin]. Čistota Ovzdušia, 23: 7–15.
Šušlík,V., Kulfan, J., 1993. Húsenice motýľov (Lepidoptera) ako indikátory a škodcovia buka v imisnej oblasti hliníkárne pri Žiari nad Hronom [Butterfly caterpillars (Lepidoptera) as indicators and pests of beech trees in the immission area of the aluminium plant near Žiar nad Hronom]. Lesnícky Časopis, 39: 387–394.
Tóth, T., Kulich, J., Kopernická, M., Halásová, K., Lackóová, L., 2014. Environmental impact of sludge dumps to the quality of agricultural soils in region Žiar nad Hronom. Journal of the Polish Mineral Engineering Society, July-December: 67–72.
Vacher, C., Piou, D., Desprez-Loustau, M.L., 2008. Architecture of an antagonistic tree/fungus network: the asymmetric influence of past evolutionary history. PLoS One, 3 (3): e1740. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0001740
van der Linde, S., Suz, L.M., Orme, C.D.L. et al. 2018. Environment and host as large-scale controls of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Nature, 558: 243–248. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0189-9
Zábojníková, L., Oxikbayev, B., Korec, F., Nociar, P., Janiga, M., Haas, M., 2024. Mercury in Zhongar Alatau (Kazakhstan) and Carpathian mountains (Slovakia): songbirds and mice as indicators. Folia Oecologica, 51 (2): 154–164. https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2024-0015
Žel, J., Schara, M., Svetek, J., Nemec, M., Gogala, N., 1993. Influence of aluminium on the membranes of mycorrhizal fungi. Water, Air and Pollution, 71: 101–109.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This journal provides immediate open access to its content under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Authors who publish with this journal retain all copyrights except for commercial rights (transfer of commercial rights) and agree to the terms of the above-mentioned CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.
