330
v. Banasova
visible symptoms of damage. The tree, shrub and herb layers were normally
developed. The shrub layer consisted mostly of Sorbus aucuparia, Coryllus
avellana, Sambucus nigra and Rubus idaeus. The herb layer with a dominance of
Senecio fuchsii did not manifest visible damages. Calamagrostis epigeios did not
occur in this stand. The floristic composition was close to the spruce forests in
wider surroundings (c.f. Hajduk 1963). The average number of species was 27 and
that of the woody plant species 8.5. Mercury levels in the soil fluctuated from 9.1
to 54.3 mg/kg.
Second Stage. The damage was much more obvious at 2 km from the smelter
works. Rapid decrease in tree vitality occured. The lower twigs of spruces lost their
needles, their crowns were strongly opened and the surviving needles were
necrotic. The seedlings from natural regeneration were dwarfed, the increments
were inhibited and bizzare malformations occurred. The cover of Picea excelsa was
reduced and replaced by a higher cover of Sorbus aucuparia (Fig. 6). In general,
tlIe cover of the tree layer was reduced. The shrub layer was well developed.
An obvious decrease in vitality was observed in Rubus idaeus. It reached
maximally 80 cm, did not branch, and its fructification was reduced. Due to the
forest opening, the herb layer cover increased. The common species in the herb
layer were Sesleria albicans, Festuca pallens, Brachypodium pinnatum and others.
Senecio fuchsii, the plant of original forest communities, was still present, but its
cover was reduced (Fig. 6). Patches of Calamagrostis epigeios appeared in the
stands. The average number of species was 10.5 and that of the woody plant
species 3.
Mercury levels in the soil ranged from 40.8 to 87.0 mg/kg. pH was 7.0.
Third Stage. The contamination of soil by mercury increased at the distance of
about 1 km from the smelter works and reached about 120 mg/kg. Soil pH (7.53)
was still slightly alkaline. A sudden decrease in the number of species was
recorded. The tree layer is missing in the stands. The conifers disappeared totally
from the stands and the deciduous trees like Betula verrucosa reached only the
height of the shrub layer and occurred sporadically there. Rubus idaeus had only
simple, unbranched shoots and reached a height of only 10-30 cm. They were
sterile, without flowers and fruits, and had necrotic leaves. Cover of Senecio
fuchsii, a species of the original forest community, was low (Fig. 6). Plants like
Origanum vulgare, Campanula carpatica and Coronilla varia survived in the
herb layer. Calamagrostis epigeios become a dominant species, but apical
necroses occurred sometimes on its leaves. The undecomposed litter from the
preceding year formed a layer about 2 cm thick.
Fourth Stage. A simple community was developed on large areas in the front of
the smelter works. The tree and shrub layers did not occur and the herb layer
consisted only of monocoenosis of Calamagrostis epigeios (Fig. 6). Its populations exhibited a reduced vitality, manifested by a large number of sterile
individuals and by necroses on the leaves.
Sporadic tufts of Festuca duriuscula and Gallium mollugo and sterile individuals of Coronilla varia occurred. The undecomposed detritus formed a layer of lOIS cm. Small leaves and shortened branch axes in birches formed bizzare broomshaped trees. The average number of species was 3.1. Mercury level in the soil was
very high and reached 160-200 mg/kg. Soil pH decreased rapidly to 4.2.
v. Banasova
visible symptoms of damage. The tree, shrub and herb layers were normally
developed. The shrub layer consisted mostly of Sorbus aucuparia, Coryllus
avellana, Sambucus nigra and Rubus idaeus. The herb layer with a dominance of
Senecio fuchsii did not manifest visible damages. Calamagrostis epigeios did not
occur in this stand. The floristic composition was close to the spruce forests in
wider surroundings (c.f. Hajduk 1963). The average number of species was 27 and
that of the woody plant species 8.5. Mercury levels in the soil fluctuated from 9.1
to 54.3 mg/kg.
Second Stage. The damage was much more obvious at 2 km from the smelter
works. Rapid decrease in tree vitality occured. The lower twigs of spruces lost their
needles, their crowns were strongly opened and the surviving needles were
necrotic. The seedlings from natural regeneration were dwarfed, the increments
were inhibited and bizzare malformations occurred. The cover of Picea excelsa was
reduced and replaced by a higher cover of Sorbus aucuparia (Fig. 6). In general,
tlIe cover of the tree layer was reduced. The shrub layer was well developed.
An obvious decrease in vitality was observed in Rubus idaeus. It reached
maximally 80 cm, did not branch, and its fructification was reduced. Due to the
forest opening, the herb layer cover increased. The common species in the herb
layer were Sesleria albicans, Festuca pallens, Brachypodium pinnatum and others.
Senecio fuchsii, the plant of original forest communities, was still present, but its
cover was reduced (Fig. 6). Patches of Calamagrostis epigeios appeared in the
stands. The average number of species was 10.5 and that of the woody plant
species 3.
Mercury levels in the soil ranged from 40.8 to 87.0 mg/kg. pH was 7.0.
Third Stage. The contamination of soil by mercury increased at the distance of
about 1 km from the smelter works and reached about 120 mg/kg. Soil pH (7.53)
was still slightly alkaline. A sudden decrease in the number of species was
recorded. The tree layer is missing in the stands. The conifers disappeared totally
from the stands and the deciduous trees like Betula verrucosa reached only the
height of the shrub layer and occurred sporadically there. Rubus idaeus had only
simple, unbranched shoots and reached a height of only 10-30 cm. They were
sterile, without flowers and fruits, and had necrotic leaves. Cover of Senecio
fuchsii, a species of the original forest community, was low (Fig. 6). Plants like
Origanum vulgare, Campanula carpatica and Coronilla varia survived in the
herb layer. Calamagrostis epigeios become a dominant species, but apical
necroses occurred sometimes on its leaves. The undecomposed litter from the
preceding year formed a layer about 2 cm thick.
Fourth Stage. A simple community was developed on large areas in the front of
the smelter works. The tree and shrub layers did not occur and the herb layer
consisted only of monocoenosis of Calamagrostis epigeios (Fig. 6). Its populations exhibited a reduced vitality, manifested by a large number of sterile
individuals and by necroses on the leaves.
Sporadic tufts of Festuca duriuscula and Gallium mollugo and sterile individuals of Coronilla varia occurred. The undecomposed detritus formed a layer of lOIS cm. Small leaves and shortened branch axes in birches formed bizzare broomshaped trees. The average number of species was 3.1. Mercury level in the soil was
very high and reached 160-200 mg/kg. Soil pH decreased rapidly to 4.2.