DEIMS.iD: https://deims.org/4c3159e4-4630-4309-940b-8ece71514b77
Site coordinator: Institute of Forest Ecology SAS, Ing. Milan Barna, PhD.,
Kremnické vrchy Ecological Experimental Station
• The Ecological Experimental Station is a long-term research site located in a European beech forest ecosystem
• European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is among the tree species with the largest natural distribution area in the temperate zone of Europe and forms the structural core of mixed and beech forests
• In Slovakia, beech is the dominant tree species, covering approximately 36% of the forest area (2024: 35.8%)
• Beech forests form the backbone of ecologically stable Carpathian forests, making the EES a highly relevant model site for long-term ecosystem research
Natural conditions
The Ecological Experimental Station (EES) is situated in the Suchá dolina locality, on one of the southward-descending lateral ridges of the Kremnické vrchy Mountains, in the upper part of the Kováčovský Brook catchment (48°38′ N, 19°04′ E). The elevation ranges from 470 to 510 m a.s.l., with a west–southwest exposition and slope inclination of 12–20°.
The soil-forming substrate consists of andesitic tuff agglomerates, from which a base-rich Cambisol of andic character has developed, with a high proportion of skeleton increasing with depth (20–60%). The soil profile is relatively uniform across the EES plots. The surface Ol horizon (1–3 cm) is composed of leaf litter from broadleaved, less frequently coniferous tree species and herbs. The Of horizon (0.5–1 cm) consists mainly of beech leaves, twigs and herbaceous litter. The Al horizon (6–10 cm) is dark, loamy to clay-loamy. The Bv horizon (50–70 cm) is dark brown, clay-loamy to clayey with sand, mottled by tuff fragments. The transitional B/C horizon (25–45 cm) has a high skeleton content. The underlying C1 horizon is formed predominantly by weathering tuff, while the Cn horizon consists of compact, unweathered tuff.
Climatically, the EES belongs to the moderately warm, moderately humid upland climatic region (B5). According to the SHMÚ meteorological station Sliač (5.5 km east of the site), the mean annual air temperature is 8.0 °C and the mean annual precipitation sum is 687 mm (1961–1990 normal). During 2008–2014, the mean annual temperature at the EES ranged between 8.6 and 10.2 °C. The absolute minimum temperature recorded was –20.75 °C (3 February 2012), and the absolute maximum was 40.80 °C (8 August 2013).
From a forest typological perspective, the site belongs to the 3rd forest vegetation zone, nutrient-rich series B, forest type group Fagetum pauper inferiora (forest type 3312 – sedge beech forest of the lower zone). The herb layer is dominated by typical beech forest species, particularly Dentaria bulbifera and Carex pilosa. In areas with reduced canopy cover, Impatiens noli-tangere, Rubus hirtus and Rubus idaeus become more abundant. Two forest communities characteristic of submontane beech forests in Slovakia are present: Carici pilosae-Fagetum and Dentario bulbiferae-Fagetum.
Research plots
At the time of establishment of the EES in 1986, the forest stand was a mixed, approximately 85-year-old pole-stage forest dominated by European beech (Fagus sylvatica, 62%), silver fir (Abies alba, 22%), sessile oak (Quercus petraea, 7%), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus, 6%) and small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata, 3%). Prior to the start of research, the stand had been managed according to a valid forest management plan.
In early 1989, regeneration fellings of different intensities were carried out in order to establish a series of experimental plots representing different stages of shelterwood management and a small-scale clear-cut. Stand density was reduced to 0.3 (intensive intervention – plot I), 0.5 (medium – S) and 0.7 (low – M). One plot was clear-cut (H), while another was left unmanaged as a control (K). The plots share very similar site conditions, allowing direct comparison of the effects of different management intensities.
Fifteen years after the first intervention (February 2004), a second shelterwood cut was applied: final felling was carried out on plot I, while stand density on plots S and M was reduced to 0.3 and 0.5, respectively. Final felling on plots S and M followed in 2009. After the removal of the parent stand (2012), the area of all plots was unified to 0.35 ha (70 × 50 m). The entire site is fenced (1.6 m height) to exclude large herbivores.
At present, research continues on the control plot with a mature beech stand (125–130 years), while the remaining plots are focused on the development of beech ecosystems originating from natural regeneration, currently in the sapling to pole stage.
Studied parameters
Research at the EES is designed as a long-term, multidisciplinary study of a beech forest ecosystem, aimed at understanding its structure, functioning and response to different forest management regimes. The focus is on linking abiotic factors (light, temperature, precipitation, soil, soil water and atmospheric deposition) with biotic components of the forest, including the tree layer, natural regeneration, herb layer, soil organisms, fungi and selected animal groups.
The establishment of a series of stands differing only in management intensity created a unique experimental framework for studying both short- and long-term ecosystem responses. Reduced stand density resulted in pronounced changes in within-stand microclimate and triggered significant growth responses of beech trees even at advanced ages. Differences among treatments were expressed mainly in the intensity and duration of these responses, as well as in the dynamics and structure of natural regeneration.
Long-term research at the EES covers a wide range of thematic areas, including air quality and atmospheric deposition, within-stand climatic conditions, soil chemistry and soil water regime, growth and biomass allocation of the tree layer, leaf morphology and physiology, belowground biomass, dynamics of the herb layer, mycological and phytopathological relationships, tree health status, phenology, vegetation dynamics, natural regeneration processes, and interactions between forest ecosystems and selected faunal groups.
Research history and future perspectives
The Ecological Experimental Station was established in the broader context of increasing concern over forest health in Europe during the 1980s, particularly related to air pollution and other anthropogenic pressures. At the same time, the concept of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) was being developed internationally, emphasizing continuous observations at permanent sites and an integrated view of ecosystem structure and processes.
The EES Kremnické vrchy was founded in 1986 and is managed by the Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (v. v. i.). Since 2008, it has been part of the national LTER Slovakia network and is registered within the international ILTER network. This integration enables comparison with other long-term research sites and participation in joint international research activities.
Current research projects at the EES focus on soil water deficit and adaptive mechanisms in beech forests, phenological responses of trees and herbs as bioindicators of changing environmental conditions, and ecological impacts of immission residues and forest management on mycological and phytopathological relationships.
Future research at the EES will primarily address the impacts of climate change, weather extremes (especially drought and heat waves), changes in soil water regime, and long-term trends in productivity and stability of beech forests. The site represents an important model area for linking ecosystem research with the development of adaptive and sustainable forest management strategies.
Publications
Barna, M., Mihál, I., 2024. Indicators of restoration in beech stands after air pollution: trees and macromycetes. Folia Oecologica, 51 (2): 185–195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2024-0018
Rastislav Janík, Martin Kubov, Branislav Schieber. 2023. The ground-level ozone concentration in forest and urban environments in central Slovakia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195: 24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10605-8
Konôpka, B., Barna, M., Bosela, M., Lukac, M. 2020. Biomass Allocation to Resource Acquisition Compartments Is Affected by Tree Density Manipulation in European Beech after Three Decades. Forests, 11, 940. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11090940
Černecká, Ľ., Mihál, I., Gajdoš, P., Jarčuška, B. The effect of canopy openness of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests on ground-dwelling spider communities. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2020, vol. 13, iss. 3, p. 250-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12380
Martin Kubov, Branislav Schieber, Rastislav Janík. 2019. Seasonal dynamics of macronutrients in aboveground biomass of two herb-layer species. Biologia, 74: 1415-1424. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-019-00317-9
Branislav Schieber, Martin Kubov, Rastislav Janík. 2017. Effects of climate warming on vegetative phenology of the common beech Fagus sylvatica in a submontane forest of the Western Carpathians: two-decade analysis. Polish Journal of Ecology, 65: 339-351. https://doi.org/10.3161/15052249PJE2017.65.3.003
Kukla, J., Bublinec, E., Schieber, B., Kellerová, D., Bičárová, S., Janík, R. Immission-load-related dynamics of S-S-SO42− in precipitation and in lysimetric solutions penetrating through beech ecosystems. Folia Oecologica, 2017: 96-106. https://doi.org/10.1515/foecol-2017-0012
Černecká, Ľ., Mihál, I., Jarčuška, B. 2017.Response of ground-dwelling harvestman assemblages (Arachnida: Opiliones) to European beech forest canopy cover. European Journal of Entomology, 114: 334-342. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2017.042
Horemans, J.A., Bosela, M., Dobor, L., Barna, M., Bahyl, J., Deckmyn, G., Fabrika, M., Sedmak, R., Ceulemans, R. 2016. Variance decomposition of prediction of stem biomass increment for European beech: Contribution of selected sources of uncertainty. Forest Ecology and Management, 361: 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.10.048
Barna, M., Bošeľa, M.: Tree Species Diversity Change in Natural Regeneration of a Beech Forest under Different Management. Forest Ecology and Management, 2015, 342, p. 93 – 102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.01.017
Barna, M., 2015. Produktivita a fungovanie bukového ekosystému: Ekologický experimentálny stacionár – Kremnické vrchy (Západné Karpaty). Productivity and functioning of the beech ecosystem: Ecological Experimental Station – Kremnické vrchy Mts. (Western Carpathians). In Lesnícky Časopis – Forestry Journal, 61, 4, 252–261.
Schieber, B., Kubov, M., Pavelka, M., Janík, R., 2015: Vegetation dynamics of herb layer in managed submountain beech forest. Folia oecologica, 42:35–45.
Schieber, B., 2014: Effect of altitude on phenology of selected forest plant species in Slovakia (Western Carpathians). Folia oecologica, 41:75–81.
Stašiov, S., Svitok, M., 2014: The influence of stand density on the structure of centipede (Chilopoda) and millipede (Diplopoda) communities in the submountain beech forest. Folia oecologica, 41:195–201.
Dubová, M., 2014: Sodium in precipitation in a beech forest ecosystem in the Kremnické vrchy Mts (Western Carpathians). Ekológia (Bratislava), 33:36–47.
Kuklová, M., Hniličková, H., Hnilička, F., Kukla, J., 2014: Physiological reaction and energy accumulation of dominant plant species in fir-beech ecosystems affected by air pollution. Folia oecologica, 41:53–61.
Janík, R., Bublinec, E., Dubová, M., 2014: Space-time patterns of soil pH and conductivity in submountain beech ecosystems in the West Carpathians. Folia oecologica, 41:141–145.
Kellerová, D., Janík, R., 2014: Analysis of ambient ozone in a foothill area in the Western Carpathians. Folia oecologica, 41:146–152.
Schieber, B., Janík, R., Snopková, Z. 2013. Phenology of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along the altitudinal gradient in Slovak Republic (Inner Western Carpathians). Journal of Forest Science, 59: 176-184.
Janík, R., Bublinec, E., Dubová, M., 2012: The concentration of SO42– and amount of S-SO42– in soil water and throughfall in beech forest of Štiavnické vrchy Mts, Slovakia Folia oecologica, 39:28–35.
Mihál, I.: Species Diversity, Abundance and Dominance of Macromycetes in Beech Forest Stands with Different Intensity of Shelterwood Cutting Interventions. Folia oecologica, 2012, 39, 1, p. 53 – 62.
Barna, M. 2011. Natural regeneration of Fagus sylvatica L.: a Review. Austrian Journal of Forest Science, 128:71–92.
Barna, M., Schieber, B. 2011. Climate response to forest management in beech stands. Folia oecologica, 38:8–16.
Barna, M., Kulfan, J., Bublinec, E.: Buk a bukové ekosystémy Slovenska. Bratislava: VEDA, 2011, 636 s.
Barna, M., Sedmák, R., Marušák, R.: Response of European Beech Radial Growth to Shelterwood Cutting. Folia oecologica, 2010, 37, 2, p. 125 – 136.
Barna, M., Schieber, B., Cicák, A. 2009. Effect of post-cutting changes in site conditions on the morphology and phenology of naturally regenerated beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.). Polish Journal of Ecology, 57:461–472.
Schieber, B., Janík, R., Snopková, Z.: Phenology of Four Broad-Leaved Forest Trees in a Submountain Beech Forest. Journal of Forest Science, 2009, 55, 1, p. 15 – 22.
Barna M., 2008: The effects of cutting regimes on natural regeneration in submountain beech forests: species diversity and abundance. Journal of Forest Science, 54:533–544.
Schieber, B. 2007. Changes of flowering phenology of six herbal species in a beech forest (Central Slovakia): a decade analysis. Polish Journal of Ecology, 55: 233-244.
Jamnicka, G., Bucinova, K., Havranova, I., Urban, A., 2007: Current state of mineral nutrition and risk elements in a beech ecosystem situated near the aluminium smelter in Ziar nad Hronom, Central Slovakia. Fores Ecology and Management, 248:26–35.
Schieber, B. 2006. Spring phenology of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in submountain beech forest stand with various stocking between 1995-2004. Journal of Forest Science, 52: 208-216.
Sedmák, R., Barna, M., Marušák, R. 2006. Radial growth responses to shelterwood cutting in beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands. In: Fürst C. et al. (Eds.): Future-oriented Concepts, Tools and Methods for Forest Management and Forest Research Crossing European Borders, Forstwiss. Beitr. Tharandt Contrib. Forest Sc. 28: 111-119.
Bublinec, E., Dubova, M., 1993: Annual dynamics of deposition of calcium and its ecological consequences for forest ecosystems. Lesnícky Časopis – Forestry Journal, 39:405–413. Střelec, J. 1992: Vplyv ťažbového zásahu v bukovom poraste na zmeny osvetlenia. Lesnícky Časopis – Forestry Journal, 30:551–558.