<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In addition to ongoing climate change, alpine ecosystems are also threatened by the expansion of non-indigenous species. Expansion of dwarf pine (<italic>Pinus mugo</italic> Turra) in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. is an excellent example of the interactions between a planted alpine shrub and alpine ecosystems dominated by grassland species. Based on a comparison of aerial photographs taken in two different periods (1971/73 and 2003) we analyzed spatial changes in the dwarf pine cover. We focused on an evaluation of the current proportion of dwarf pine stands above the upper forest limit, as well as on the effects of stand texture and environmental variables on dwarf pine expansion over this 30 year period. During this time, dwarf pine stands increased their extent by 63%. Small forest-free areas above the upper forest limit in the northern part of the Hrubý Jeseník ridge are currently covered by dwarf pine on more than 30% of their surface. Expansion of dwarf pine was fastest in open, fine-grained stands, often situated in lower altitudes and on north- to east-facing slopes. The dwarf pine expansion was more intense than predicted by simple model of vegetative growth, especially within open stands with short polycormon margins in low altitudes. This might be explained by more intensive growth in less extreme environment and/or by higher generative reproduction on these sites. Finally, we suggest that expanding dwarf pine shrubs and recessing grassland patches negatively affects the abundance of heliophilous alpine plants and insects. We believe that the results of this study could be relevant to ongoing discussions on the management of summit forest-free areas in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts.</p></abstract>

In addition to ongoing climate change, alpine ecosystems are also threatened by the expansion of non-indigenous species. Expansion of dwarf pine (Pinus mugo Turra) in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. is an excellent example of the interactions between a planted alpine shrub and alpine ecosystems dominated by grassland species. Based on a comparison of aerial photographs taken in two different periods (1971/73 and 2003) we analyzed spatial changes in the dwarf pine cover. We focused on an evaluation of the current proportion of dwarf pine stands above the upper forest limit, as well as on the effects of stand texture and environmental variables on dwarf pine expansion over this 30 year period. During this time, dwarf pine stands increased their extent by 63%. Small forest-free areas above the upper forest limit in the northern part of the Hrubý Jeseník ridge are currently covered by dwarf pine on more than 30% of their surface. Expansion of dwarf pine was fastest in open, fine-grained stands, often situated in lower altitudes and on north- to east-facing slopes. The dwarf pine expansion was more intense than predicted by simple model of vegetative growth, especially within open stands with short polycormon margins in low altitudes. This might be explained by more intensive growth in less extreme environment and/or by higher generative reproduction on these sites. Finally, we suggest that expanding dwarf pine shrubs and recessing grassland patches negatively affects the abundance of heliophilous alpine plants and insects. We believe that the results of this study could be relevant to ongoing discussions on the management of summit forest-free areas in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts.

Assessing the Change in Cover of Non-Indigenous Dwarf-Pine Using Aerial Photographs, a Case Study from the Hrubý Jeseník Mts., the Sudetes

Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague

Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague

Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Cartography, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague

Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague

Journal of Landscape Ecology

In addition to ongoing climate change, alpine ecosystems are also threatened by the expansion of non-indigenous species. Expansion of dwarf pine (Pinus mugo...

Assessing the Change in Cover of Non-Indigenous Dwarf-Pine Using Aerial Photographs, a Case Study from the Hrubý Jeseník Mts., the Sudetes

Published Online: Aug 08, 2012

Page range: 90 - 104

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10285-012-0029-9

Keywords
expansion, Sudetes, Hrubý Jeseník, object-based classification, aerial photographs

This content is open access.

Assessing the Change in Cover of Non-Indigenous Dwarf-Pine Using Aerial Photographs, a Case Study from the Hrubý Jeseník Mts., the Sudetes

Published Online: Aug 08, 2012

Page range: 90 - 104

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10285-012-0029-9

Keywordsexpansion, Sudetes, Hrubý Jeseník, object-based classification, aerial photographs

This content is open access.

Keywords
expansion, Sudetes, Hrubý Jeseník, object-based classification, aerial photographs