A number of well-known forests have been the object of studies by ecological teams. Every ecologist is familiar with the names of forests such as Whytham Woods in England (Elton 1966), Solling in West Germany (Ellenberg 1971), Hubbard Brook in New Hampshire, U. S. A. (Likens et al. 1977, Bormann and Likens 1979), and ladra6s in Central Sweden (Persson 1980). The number of such team studies grew rapidly during the period of the International Biological Programme (Reichle 1981). Each of these forests represented aspects oflocal and general interest. The Niepolomice Forest in Southern Poland (Fig. 1) does not possess any spectacular features and it may be regarded as a typical forest of the lowlands of continental Europe. Situated in the Vistula River Valley, 20 km east of Cracow (50°07' N, 20°23' E) it consists of two major sections: an extensive pine forest of the Pino-Quercetum type, and a smaller, deciduous, oak-hornbeam- Fig. 1. The location of the Niepolomice Forest in Southern Poland VI Preface Tilio Carpinetum forest. This huge forested area (11,000 ha) owes its survival in one of the most densely populated parts of Europe to a long period of protection as a royal hunting ground. The period of royal protection ended abruptly at the turn of 20th century under the devastating blows of two world wars followed by perhaps an even greater danger, the effects of modern developments in heavy industry.

Inhalt

1. The Niepo?omice Forest: Existing Features.- 1.1 Flora and Vegetation of the Niepo?omice Forest.- 1.2 Soils.- 1.3 Climate.- 1.4 History of the Niepo?omice Forest.- 1.5 Bioindication of Environmental Deterioration.- 2. Transport and Input of Air Pollutants in the Niepolomice Forest Area.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Emission of Industrial Air Pollutants.- 2.3 Evaluation of Aerosol Pollution Transport Using Remote-Sensing Methods.- 2.4 Meteorological Aspects of Air Pollutant Spread in Forest Areas.- 2.5 Concentration, Transformation, and Deposition of Sulfur Compounds.- 2.6 Input and Mineral Composition of Dust to the Substrate.- 2.7 Conclusion.- 3. Primary Production in the Niepo?omice Forest Ecosystems.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Growing Stock and Increment of Tree Stands.- 3.3 Photosynthetic Productivity.- 3.4 Productivity of the Herb Layer.- 3.5 Productivity of Nonforest Vegetation.- 3.6 The Concentration of Nutrients and Pollutants in Plant Materials in the Niepo?omice Forest.- 3.7 Conclusions.- 4. Energy and Matter Flow Through Consumers in the Niepolomice Forest Ecosystem.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Ecology, Energetics and the Significance of Phytophagous Insects in Deciduous and Coniferous Forests.- 4.3 Energy and Matter Flow Through Homeothermic Consumers.- 4.4 Flow of Heavy Metals Through Selected Homeotherm Consumers.- 4.5 Impact of Consumers on the Forest Ecosystems of the Niepolomice Forest.- 5. Decomposition in the Pine Forests on Niepo?omice.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Study Areas.- 5.3 Matter Dynamics and Balance in the Litter.- 5.4 Turnover Rate of Matter in Forest Ecosystems.- 5.5 Decomposition Rate of Dead Organic Matter.- 6. The Outflow of Macro- and Microelements from the Niepo?omice Forest Watersheds.- 6.1 The Watershed and Typical Streams of theNiepolomice Forest.- 6.2 Effect of Drainage Systems on the Hydrological Regime of the Niepo?omice Forest.- 6.3 Hydrobiologic Characteristics of Selected Streams.- 6.4 Outflow of Macroelements from the Forest Watershed Affected by Industrial Air Pollution.- 6.5 Outflow and Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Streams of the Noepo?omice Forest.- 6.6 Conclusion.- 7. Energy, Nutrient, and Pollutant Budgets of the Forest Ecosystems.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Biomass Production, Nutrient Uptake, and Pollutant Accumulation by Plants.- 7.3 Energy and Matter Flow Through Consumer Populations.- 7.4 Chemical Budgets in the Forested Ecosystems.- 7.5 Discussion.- 7.6 Appendix.- 8. Concepts of Forest Management in Industrial Regions.- 8.1 Forest Functions in Industrial Regions.- 8.2 Stand Conformity with Site.- 8.3 Site Formation.- 8.4 Selection of Trees and Shrubs for Forest Restructuring in Industrial Regions.- 8.5 The Niepo?omice Forest as an Example of a Forest Affected by Industrial Stress.- References.