History and a present-day of scientific research in the Tatra National Park (Poland) in 1980-2001

The scientific department of Tatra National Park (TNP) has been established in 1980 to attain the educational and scientific objectives of TNP. These aims are achieved by coordination of researches by investigating subjects strictly linked to the needs of the Park, making documentation of researches and by preparing expert opinions and amassing the expertise necessary to the Park. We have observed a permanent increase of the number of scientists engaged and of the numbers of research programs as well. We also have developed our own studies (7 scientific programs in 2001) linked to the current conservation problems of TNP. We present the dynamics of the number of studies performed in TNP listed according to scientific centers involved and to the disciplines studied (earth sciences, botany, zoology, forestry, nature conservation et cetera). We also present rules of obtaining the permissions to make research in TNP and the system of documentation, and we describe as well the way of coordination of the studies and possibility of help for the scientists who perform researches in TNP

New international long-term ecological research on air pollution effects on the Carpathian Mountain forests, Central Europe

An international cooperative project on distribution of ozone in the Carpathian Mountains, Central Europe was conducted from 1997 to 1999. Results of that project indicated that in large parts of the Carpathian Mountains, concentrations of ozone were elevated and potentially phytotoxic to forest vegetation. That study led to the establishment of new long-term studies on ecological changes in forests and other ecosystems caused by air pollution in the Retezat Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Romania and in the Tatra Mountains, Western Carpathians on the Polish-Slovak border. Both of these important mountain ranges have the status of national parks and are Man & the Biosphere Reserves. In the Retezat Mountains, the primary research objective was to evaluate how air pollution may affect forest health and biodiversity. The main research objective in the Tatra Mountains was to evaluate responses of natural and managed Norway spruce forests to air pollution and other stresses. Ambient concentrations of ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) as well as forest health and biodiversity changes were monitored on densely distributed research sites. Initial monitoring of pollutants indicated low levels Of O3, SO2, and NOx in the Retezat Mountains, while elevated levels of O3 and high deposition of atmospheric sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) have characterized the Tatra Mountains. In the Retezat Mountains, air pollution seems to have little effect on forest health; however, there was concern that over a long time, even low levels of pollution may affect biodiversity of this important ecosystem. In contrast, severe decline of Norway spruce has been observed in the Tatra Mountains. Although bark beetle seems to be the immediate cause of that decline, long-term elevated levels of atmospheric N and S depositions and elevated O3 could predispose trees to insect attacks and other stresses. European and US scientists studied pollution deposition, soil and plant chemistry, O3-sensitive plant species, forest insects, and genetic changes in the Retezat and Tatra Mountains. Results of these investigations are presented in a GIS format to allow for a better understanding of the changes and the recommendations for effective management in these two areas