Transect Studies of Pine Forests Along Parallel 52°N, 12–32°E and Along a Pollution Gradient in Central Europe: General Assumptions, Climatic Conditions and Pollution Deposition
Abstract This research program describes the response of pine forest to changing climate and environmental chemistry. All 15 selected pine forest stands belong to the Dicrano–Pinion alliance and include two associations of pine forest: sub-continental pine forest Peucedano–Pinetum and sub-oceanic pine forest Leucobryo-Pinetum, as well as mixed forest of the Querco–Pinetum type. This program consists of two transects following pollution and continentality gradients across Poland: one from the western border to the eastern border (in the area of Bialowieza National Park) along the 52nd parallel, and the second from industrial Upper Silesia (SW Poland) to the same point in the Bialowieza area. We assumed that the first west-to-east transect of sites followed a gradient of cooling and continentality. The western–eastern site difference in mean annual temperature averages is 1.8°C (from 8.5 to 6.7°C); average differences between July and January for most western sites are 18.8°C and for the eastern site is 22.3°C. Extension of the continental transect to the west (Germany) and the east (Belarus) became possible two years after the program had been initiated. This so-called ‘large transect’ spans 20° (from 12°25′ to 32°60′E) of latitude, with a difference in mean annual temperature of 3.5°C (from 5 to 8.5°). The second transect was established along a decreasing pollution gradient of sulphur deposition. The content of sulphur in Scots pine needles varied between 0.17% dry mass in Upper Silesa to 0.12% in Bialowieza National Park. In each forest stand climatic elements (temperature and precipitation), the rate of radial growth of pine trees, diversity of plant species and forms, some measures of biomass, organic matter turnover measured by litter fall and decomposition, and diversity of selected groups of epigeic and soil fauna (invertebrates) were measured. Detailed descriptions of important measurements will be presented in two subsequent papers included in this volume.