Chapter 11
Monitoring Concept of Climate-Induced
Impacts on Peat Bog Vegetation in Pokljuka
Plateau in Triglav National Park, Slovenia
Tina Petras
11.1 Introduction to the Case Study
The understanding of ecosystems as dynamic systems and considering future
environmental changes and periodical oscillations are essential aspects for conservation planning. In particular, for an appropriate management of ecosystems and
species populations, the knowledge of broad-scale environmental impacts, like
climate change, as well as problems, related to specific habitats or species following
human impacts and natural disturbances, are essential (McComb et al. 2010). On
the other hand, to consider species response to those changes is also important for
taking particular management action. Therefore, the monitoring and analysis of
data on habitats and species populations are crucial for conservation and should
constitute an essential part of management in Triglav National Park (TNP).
TNP is situated in the mountain region in the NW Slovenia (Fig. 11.1) and is part
of Julian Alps. Diverse relief and high variation in altitudes between valley’s
bottoms (with minimum 400 m a.s.l.) and the higher peaks (with maximum
2,864 m a.s.l.) are characteristic for the park. This has a significant influence on
local climate.
In the high mountain regions of the national park where extreme environmental
conditions prevail, habitat changes may be detected earlier. Considering that
climate is one of the most significant abiotic factors which determine the structure,
composition and function of alpine ecosystems, considerable impacts of climate
change on alpine and nivale habitats are expected. Indicator species for monitoring
the effects of global warming in TNP were chosen according to predictions of the
effects of climate changes on main habitat types and expected changes of human
and economic pressures (changes in management) on different ecosystems. In the
following paper, the case study of monitoring of peatland vegetation is presented.
T. Petras (*)
Triglavski narodni park, Ljubljanska cesta 27, 4260 Bled, Slovenia
e-mail: tina.petras@gmail.com
S. Rannow and M. Neubert (eds.), Managing Protected Areas in Central
and Eastern Europe Under Climate Change, Advances in Global Change Research 58,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7960-0_11, © The Author(s) 2014
175
Monitoring Concept of Climate-Induced
Impacts on Peat Bog Vegetation in Pokljuka
Plateau in Triglav National Park, Slovenia
Tina Petras
11.1 Introduction to the Case Study
The understanding of ecosystems as dynamic systems and considering future
environmental changes and periodical oscillations are essential aspects for conservation planning. In particular, for an appropriate management of ecosystems and
species populations, the knowledge of broad-scale environmental impacts, like
climate change, as well as problems, related to specific habitats or species following
human impacts and natural disturbances, are essential (McComb et al. 2010). On
the other hand, to consider species response to those changes is also important for
taking particular management action. Therefore, the monitoring and analysis of
data on habitats and species populations are crucial for conservation and should
constitute an essential part of management in Triglav National Park (TNP).
TNP is situated in the mountain region in the NW Slovenia (Fig. 11.1) and is part
of Julian Alps. Diverse relief and high variation in altitudes between valley’s
bottoms (with minimum 400 m a.s.l.) and the higher peaks (with maximum
2,864 m a.s.l.) are characteristic for the park. This has a significant influence on
local climate.
In the high mountain regions of the national park where extreme environmental
conditions prevail, habitat changes may be detected earlier. Considering that
climate is one of the most significant abiotic factors which determine the structure,
composition and function of alpine ecosystems, considerable impacts of climate
change on alpine and nivale habitats are expected. Indicator species for monitoring
the effects of global warming in TNP were chosen according to predictions of the
effects of climate changes on main habitat types and expected changes of human
and economic pressures (changes in management) on different ecosystems. In the
following paper, the case study of monitoring of peatland vegetation is presented.
T. Petras (*)
Triglavski narodni park, Ljubljanska cesta 27, 4260 Bled, Slovenia
e-mail: tina.petras@gmail.com
S. Rannow and M. Neubert (eds.), Managing Protected Areas in Central
and Eastern Europe Under Climate Change, Advances in Global Change Research 58,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7960-0_11, © The Author(s) 2014
175