engleski

An ecological assessment of the pristine Prašnik special rainforest reserve

Croatian forest reserves are among the richest in EU. One of them is the Prašnik rainforest, declared as a special forest reserve since 1928, which is located near the major highway linking Western and Eastern Europe. It has the second tallest oak in Europe (39.6 m), the age and girth of which are 350 years, and 7.82 m, respectively. More than 20 years ago, numerous mines were placed in the area because of Croatian War of Independence, having threatened visitors and scholars to this day. During the late August 2015, soil, moss, and mushroom samples (n = 26) were collected from the protected locality. Following their air-drying, grinding, and digestion in acids, elemental analysis was carried out by HR ICP-MS. Soil element values (mg/kg) were following (mean ± SD, range): Pb 37.3 ± 6.5, 29.2-47.1 ; Al 53, 080 ± 3, 420, 44, 090-56, 070 ; Cr 79.2 ± 6.5, 64.5- 85.1 ; Ni 24.4 ± 2.8, 19.4-28.6 ; Cu 17.2 ± 4.1, 13.1-25.3 ; Zn 127.8 ± 33.2, 101.1-216.4 ; Sr 116.2 ± 5.0, 103.2-121.4 ; Ba 388.1 ± 24.1, 327.2-409.7 ; and As 11.2 ± 3.4, 7.3-16.6. By using Sr values, calculated enrichment factor ranges (based on the regional geochemical map) were following: Pb 1.2-1.7, Al 0.7-0.8, Cr 0.9- 1.0, Ni 0.50.7, Cu 0.6-1.2, Zn 1.2-2.7, Ba 0.8- 0.9, and As 0.8-1.7. Except Zn which is moderately enriched in soil (EF 2-5), all other variables showed defi ciency to minimal enrichment (EF < 2). Element ranges (mg/ kg d.w.) in mosses and mushrooms were following: Pb 2.3-6.9, and 1.1-6.4, As 0.4-1.0, and 0.2-3.7, Cd 0.1-0.3, and 0.02-0.2, and Ni 2.0-4.5, and 1.0-8.1, respectively.

ecological ; assessment ; rainforest ; Prašnik

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