Constraints on the biological recovery of the Bohemian Forest lakes from acid stress

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Vrba ◽  
Jindřiška Bojková ◽  
Pavel Chvojka ◽  
Jan Fott ◽  
Jiří Kopáček ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Stress ◽  
Biological Recovery ◽  
Bohemian Forest ◽  
Forest Lakes ◽  
The Bohemian Forest

Integrated ecological research of catchment-lake ecosystems in the Bohemian Forest (Central Europe): A preface

Biologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Kopáček ◽  
Jaroslav Vrba
Keyword(s):  
Central Europe ◽  
Acid Deposition ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Climatic Effects ◽  
Lake Ecosystems ◽  
Bohemian Forest ◽  
Forest Lakes ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research ◽  
The Bohemian Forest

AbstractThe Bohemian Forest (Šumava, Böhmerwald) is situated in Central Europe and is among the most acidified lake districts in the world. Deposition of S and N compounds in the area rapidly increased between 1950 and 1980, and reached a maximum in the 1980s. During the 1990s, acid deposition decreased substantially, and current levels are comparable to the early 20th century for SO42− and NH4+, and to the mid 1960s for NO3−. These changes in acid deposition have led to a partial recovery of the Bohemian Forest lakes. This paper provides an overview of previous research, and details on the organization and aims of current research on the Bohemian Forest lakes. Available historical data and regular monitoring (since 1984) provide a valuable background for long-term ecological research of the catchment-lake ecosystems that currently focuses on (i) chemical reversal and biological recovery of the lakes, (ii) acidification impacts on in-lake nutrient cycling, (iii) climatic effects on water chemistry, and (iv) catchment processes, including soil biogeochemistry and acidification impacts on vegetation.

Biological recovery of the Bohemian Forest lakes from acidification

Biologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Nedbalová ◽  
Jaroslav Vrba ◽  
Jan Fott ◽  
Leoš Kohout ◽  
Jiří Kopáček ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Food Web Structure ◽  
Oligotrophic Lakes ◽  
Biological Recovery ◽  
Bohemian Forest ◽  
Ciliate Species ◽  
Plankton Biomass ◽  
The Bohemian Forest

AbstractA limnological survey of eight small, atmospherically acidified, forested glacial lakes in the Bohemian Forest (Šumava, Böhmerwald) was performed in September 2003. Water chemistry of the tributaries and surface layer of each lake was determined, as well as species composition and biomass of the plankton along the water column, and littoral macrozoobenthos to assess the present status of the lakes. The progress in chemical reversal and biological recovery from acid stress was evaluated by comparing the current status of the lakes with results of a survey four years ago (1999) and former acidification data since the early 1990s. Both the current chemical lake status and the pelagic food web structure reflected the acidity of the tributaries and their aluminium (Al) and phosphorus (P) concentrations. One mesotrophic (Plešné jezero) and three oligotrophic lakes (Černé jezero, Čertovo jezero, and Rachelsee) are still chronically acidified, while four other oligotrophic lakes (Kleiner Arbersee, Prášilské jezero, Grosser Arbersee, and Laka) have recovered their carbonate buffering system. Total plankton biomass was very low and largely dominated by filamentous bacteria in the acidified oligotrophic lakes, while the mesotrophic lake had a higher biomass and was dominated by phytoplankton, which apparently profited from the higher P input. In contrast, both phytoplankton and crustacean zooplankton accounted for the majority of plankton biomass in the recovering lakes. This study has shown further progress in the reversal of lake water chemistry as well as further evidence of biological recovery compared to the 1999 survey. While no changes occurred in species composition of phytoplankton, a new ciliate species was found in one lake. In several lakes, this survey documented a return of zooplankton (e.g., Cladocera: Ceriodaphnia quadrangula and Rotifera: three Keratella species) and macrozoobenthos species (e.g., Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera). The beginning of biological recovery has been delayed for ∼20 years after chemical reversal of the lakes.

scholarly journals Sulphur and nitrogen fluxes and budgets in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains during the Industrial Revolution (1850-2000)

2001 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kopácek ◽  
J. Veselý ◽  
E. Stuchlík
Keyword(s):  
Forest Soils ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Alpine Lakes ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Tatra Mountains ◽  
Alpine Soils ◽  
Bohemian Forest ◽  
Forest Lakes ◽  
The Bohemian Forest ◽  
Atmospheric Inputs

Abstract. Major fluxes of sulphur and dissolved inorganic nitrogen were estimated in Central European mountain ecosystems of the Bohemian Forest (forest lakes) and Tatra Mountains (alpine lakes) over the industrial period. Sulphur outputs from these ecosystems were comparable to inputs during a period of relatively stable atmospheric deposition (10-35 mmol m-2 yr-1) around the 1930s. Atmospheric inputs of sulphur increased by three- to four-fold between the 1950s and 1980s to ~140 and ~60 mmol mm-2 yr-1 in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains, respectively. Sulphur outputs were lower than inputs due to accumulation in soils, which was higher in forest soils than in the sparser alpine soils and represented 0.8-1.6 and 0.2-0.3 mol m-2, respectively, for the whole 1930-2000 period. In the 1990s, atmospheric inputs of sulphur decreased 80% and 50% in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains, respectively, and sulphur outputs exceeded inputs. Catchment soils became pronounced sources of sulphur with output fluxes averaging between 15 and 31 mmol m-2 yr-1. Higher sulphur accumulation in the forest soils has delayed (by several decades) recovery of forest lakes from acidification compared to alpine lakes. Estimated deposition of dissolved inorganic nitrogen was 53-75 mmol m-2 yr-1 in the Bohemian Forest and 35-45 mmol m-2 yr-1 in the Tatra Mountains in the 1880- 1950 period, i.e. below the empirically derived threshold of ~70 mmol m-2 yr-1, above which nitrogen leaching often occurs. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen was efficiently retained in the ecosystems and nitrate export was negligible (0-7 mmol m-2 yr-1). By the 1980s, nitrogen deposition increased to ~160 and ~80 mmol m-2 yr-1 in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains, respectively, and nitrogen output increased to 120 and 60 mmol m-2 yr-1. Moreover, assimilation of nitrogen in soils declined from ~40 to 10-20 mmol m-2 yr-1 in the alpine soils and even more in the Bohemian Forest, where one of the catchments has even become a net source of nitrogen. In the 1990s, nitrogen deposition decreased by ~30% and DIN output decreased to < 70 and 35 mmol m-2 yr-1 in the Bohemian Forest and Tatra Mountains, respectively. New steady-state conditions, with negligible nitrogen export, could be reached in future but at lower nitrogen depositions than in the 1930s. Keywords: emission, deposition, acidification, nitrogen-saturation, recovery, sulphate, nitrate, ammonium, mountain lakes

Structure of chironomid assemblages along environmental and geographical gradients in the Bohemian Forest lakes (Central Europe): An exploratory analysis

Biologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bitušík ◽  
Marek Svitok
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Variation Partitioning ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Bohemian Forest ◽  
Historical Factors ◽  
Chironomid Assemblages ◽  
Forest Lakes ◽  
The Bohemian Forest

AbstractEight glacial lakes of the Bohemian Forest (Czech Republic and Germany) were characterised by the distribution of chironomids collected as pupal exuviae. Twenty-eight taxa were identified, including some faunistically interesting species of the region. Two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) was used to classify lakes according to their taxonomic composition. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and multiple regression were used to relate the chironomid assemblages to two sets of explanatory variables: (i) local environmental variables, and (ii) broad-scale spatial variables. The TWINSPAN classified the lakes into four groups, whereas presence/absence of three taxa was indicative for this classification. The CCA of assemblage composition on environmental variables showed that chironomids respond significantly to altitude and alkalinity. The ordination of composition data on geographical variables revealed strong longitudinal gradient in chironomid distributions. Altitude and alkalinity accounted for 36.2% of the total variation, while the geographic gradient explained 20.5%. As revealed by the variation partitioning procedure, the significant effect of these variables was, in large part, independent of each other. Overall taxonomic richness appeared to be governed by altitude only. Causal ecological and historical factors underlying these results are discussed. This paper may provide a basis for hypothesis testing in future research of the Bohemian Forest lakes.

Annual changes in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) diet in the Bohemian Forest, Czech Republic/Germany

2009 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslava Barančeková ◽  
Jarmila Krojerová-Prokešová ◽  
Pavel Šustr ◽  
Marco Heurich
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Bohemian Forest ◽  
The Bohemian Forest ◽  
Annual Changes
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document